The E-Novella: Holiday Edition 2017
Our Christmas theme (2017) is based on the scripture (in Helaman), after Samuel tells the people of the signs and wonders that will occur when the Christ child is born. He tells them: “…and it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed...”. This year has been full of signs and wonders. We’ve explored much of the world; and while visiting each new place I have, clearly, seen the hand of the Savior.
I have been amazed.
It’s been a year of celebration…and growth. Some of the growth has been painful, and some of it has been exciting. It’s been a year of great change; and a year of tremendous amounts of gratitude. 2017 will be a year we won’t soon forget.
The babies are growing and changing like never before. The winds of change have been SO difficult for me – especially this year – and I keep trying to stop the march of time. In an effort to avoid intense rounds of therapy, I’ve really prayed to meet the changes of time with grace and, mostly, gratitude. Being wrapped in the present is becoming more and more of a necessity for me these days.
I have heard a lot of moms talk about not appreciating “it” until its gone, but I think I’ve appreciated it too much; and now I need to allow myself to grow with them. Being a mother of babies has been the greatest thing I’ve ever done. My new phrase: being a mother is the greatest thing I will continue doing.
Harper Anne has grown up the fastest this year. No longer fitting in the age 0-5 category, she’s moved to the big leagues. She is our fearless leader; and she leads us all (by brute force) into each and every new phase.
An avid lover of butterflies since the beginning of time, our “theme” this year, at the start of Kindergarten, was: follow your butterflies. She’s managed to follow her figurative (and literal) butterflies to full days away from us, violin, gymnastics, dance, and endless amounts of “crafts, glitter, scissors, and glue”. She still gathers “rocks and crystals” on the playground, and continues to collect and gather anything she finds of importance.
There’s nothing like the experience of “venturing into the next stage” with your oldest; and I’ve come to find out just how much we’ve grown into each other over the past six years. It was a happy (and sad) realization that she is among my greatest friends; and her presence during the day is large. I miss her about my feet all day, napping in the room up the stairs, and crafting at the table; but she’s learning more than ever before, can (almost) write her name the correct way (left-hand problems), read, and recite the Preamble on command.
Our tiniest tot runs the household; but is quick to make sure each and every person is well taken care of. She’s assumed her role as “biggest sister”, by bossing Cohen around, and letting us all know that she “LOVES US FOREVER”.
At four years, she weighs 26 pounds and now fits into a size 2T. It is my saving grace (not lost on me that it is also her middle name), that she has stayed my forever baby. Since birth she’s been a daily dose of medicine for me, and it continues (although she cannot separate herself from me without rounds of tears…so we’re working on that).
She hauls our white bunny (Tulip) around (along with her choice of “dolly”) each and every day; and we’ve dubbed Tulip her “therapy” rabbit. Anywhere Monroe goes, Tulip is by her side. Even the car seat.
Monroe gives a million kisses a day, and attends one day of arts preschool, as we’ve decided it will be best for her to wait another year for Kindergarten. We go on “preschool adventures” #theuniversityofmonroegrace each week, and I’m thrilled I get another year of her all to myself.
Cohen is our prodigy. HA.
In all honesty, he came to our family completely capable to do everything himself. He’s never had a baby gate, he feeds himself, attempts to dress himself, and is riding scooters and talking at 22 months. His tiny “thank you” can be heard from miles around: if there is one thing we are certain of, he is thankful.
Kevin has cut his binkies ten times (he calls them “babies”), and, out of self-preservation, I keep buying more of them. He’s too tender. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m sure he won’t be sucking a binky at age ten. That’s the goal.:) He also drags his blanket EVERYWHERE we go; and I let him; because…I just get him.
He brings a significant amount of peace into our home, and loves purely. He reminds me so much of his dad; and they have an inseparable bond wrought by their love of…cars. He purrs like a car when you ask him what a car says (Kevin had tangible tears in his eyes: “My boy!”).
Kevin continues to run Bowcutt Dental, heading into our third year in Austin. He loves his work, his cars, and his boy’s trips.
Among his highlights of 2017 were the fishing trip to Alaska (with his dad and brothers), and the Great Elk Hunt (in New Mexico) with his friend. We are now proud owners of a new freezer filled with salmon, halibut, and elk (which I won’t touch).
He serves in the church, plays basketball on Thursdays, and keeps up with the travel schedule we both love.
His specialties include: “family movie nights”, staircase racing, and grilling on the Traeger.
I (happily) continue to be buried in diapers; but have now added “UBER driver of children” to my resumé. I dabble in photography and writing, and almost took the leap of jumping back into the university realm (but didn’t). These years of babies are short and fleeting; and I love every minute of museums, parks, and afternoon naps. I’m thankful I get to keep my babies next to me at all times.
My passion is traveling; and I’ve schlepped myself and my family to many new (and old) favorites this year…even venturing out on a road trip from Utah to California with my kids and my mom.
I spent the spring in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with Harper, before she started school #onegoodyear; and the girls and I kicked off our yearly “girl’s trip” to Florida.
Kevin and I took a life-changing trip to London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Holland this spring; and since then, the wanderlust will not stop. The world is an incredible place; and the Eiffel Tower was everything I thought she’d be. I will never get over the bicycles in Amsterdam, or the Tulips at Keukenhof (in Holland). It was a dream that I would love to keep having.
These pictures were taken on the shores of Destin, Florida, where we celebrated Thanksgiving this year. The sugar-sand was a great stage for our final bow of the season; and we are looking forward to new adventures in 2018.
Just as Samuel prophesied, we do stand all amazed at the rich blessings we enjoy. We are grateful for the gospel, our family, and for all the good people in our lives. We find joy, at this Christmas season, for the knowledge of our Savior and his birth.
I am thankful for my daily goal of trying to be like Jesus; and I hold on to it all year through.
Merry, merry Christmas from our home (in Austin), to you!
Love,
Kevin, Allyson, Harper, Monroe & Cohen
