Pre Christmas festivities part 2

It has been so much fun to see Allie's personality really come out this past year.  One thing she LOVES to do is play with her babies and line them up according to size all over the house.  Here they are watching Cailou with her.

Actually she loves to line up anything and everything!

This was how I found her room during "naptime" a few weeks back.

And here she is "memory" and she is actually pretty good already!

And here all her babies are taking a nap on their "nap mats"!

And here they are on the stairs...

Dancing in the rain!

My niece Julia does Ballet and had a few parts in a "Nutcracker" performance.

My parents and nieces.

Helping me bake!  She loves to wear hoodies!

She also LOVES to paint and as you can see she even paints within the lines already!   Her teachers have even remarked at how neat she is!

This was the first year that our Sunday school class did not have a Christmas party so Jon and I decided to host one at our house.  We had 11 adults and 11 kids and we started at about 5 and by 7:45 everyone was gone! Parties are so different with little kids!  It was crazy but I am glad that we did it.  We cooked all the meat and everyone else brought the sides.

Bonnie had just had baby Kampbell  less than a week before!!  We were so impressed that she was out and about!

Dinnertime!

I had a few games for the kids and adults; this is pin the nose on Rudolf.

Jim and Jon playing Rudolf!

Nick and Chris are not quite so sure about this!

The Stellings

Kids' turn!

Allie as Rudolf!

Kirsten and Katie taking a turn!

Nick and Stacie

We tried to get a good picture of all the kids, but it didn't quite happen!  Out of 11 kids, 2 were boys- the oldest and the youngest!

Allie and Meagan were just cracking up the entire time!

The older kids and a Stelling twin

All the girls!  I think I must have shrunk over the years!!  I look so short!

I also tried to teach the kiddos about why we open presents at Christmas.  I explained that not only was is Jesus' birthday, but that He is also a present to us and we can "unwrap" it and have him as our own.  Then I had a present for each of them to open.  you never know how much they actually get or when it will sink in, but as a teacher, I know that it never hurts to teach them as much as possible!  A week later, on our way to our Friday Fun group Christmas party Allie asked me what I was going to teach her and her friends while we were there!  Too cute!

Alicia has her hands full!

We are so blessed and thankful for our friends!  

On another note...

 I had Allie switch classes at her Mother's Day out program and it is a night and day difference!!!!!  I am SO glad that I spoke up and asked that she be moved up to the older two/three's class.  Her teachers are great and she gets to do SO much more in her class!

Her new teacher even tried to do the hula hoop! 

 Allie was helping me wrap presents and put them under the tree and then she sat under the tree and said "Momma, I am a present too!"  Yes, she is- the best present we could ever ask for!  We could not have asked for a sweeter girl!

M.E.N.D. Christmas celebration 2011

December 3rd, we went to our second annual MEND Christmas candlelight service.  We are always so impressed with the quality of everything this organization does and it really is a testimony to how much they  care about our babies who are no longer with us on earth. 

 It was a beautiful ceremony and Jaimie did a great job sharing the Gospel and helping us understand how much God really does care about us and how much He understands our pain.

Our friends, Mitzi and Glen lighting a candle for their son, Christian.
Each family goes up to the front and says "We remember (in our case) Baby Klubnik; miscarried June 2010, Michael David and Jake Thomas; born too early September 7, 2010."  And we light a candle in remembrance of them.

 Our candles that we lit.

Jon and I afterwards.  The slender tall candle remains unlit to symbolize all the families that will be joining us in the next year on this new journey.  We Hated seeing that candle last year and hate even more that 2 of my friends have lost their babies since that time.

This is the ornament that we got.  It has all their name's on it and inside is a purple heart with a needle and tread through it and the verse Psalm 147:3 "He heals the broken hearted"
I  have been SO thankful and grateful for MEND this past year for so many reasons, but mainly because we have a way to celebrate and acknowledge their lives.  Our children are a blessing from God so matter how long we have them here on earth and each time I go I remember that and it helps to focus on that.
I wish every one who has lost a child could be a part of a group like this because no one else can understand what it is like to be responsible for your child's life and yet not be able to do anything about it when something horrible goes wrong.  Death is a part of life and we all know it is inescapable, but there is just something horribly wrong with giving birth knowing that they will never get to live a full life and in fact they will die in your arms.
I think in spite of all of this and everything we have gone through this past year, Jon and I are doing very well.  As odd or bad as it may sound, I actually don't find myself missing them all the time.  I have moments when it hits me; like taking pictures with Santa, doing our Christmas cards, and when Allie wants to kiss them goodnight (picture).
I know God had a purpose and a reason and we are OK with it.  Someday we will know them and  it will be so fun! So until that day comes....

Pre Christmas festivities

Lots of fun things to do in December to get ready for Christmas!

 Decorating Allie's tree.  I found all the ornaments last year after Christmas at 75% off and this year Allie got to pick out the ribbon and beads for it.  IT looks so cute!  And I put it up on a table so it won't get knocked down!

 We made this foam winter scene to go under her tree.

 We have a Holiday in the Park each year with Santa, snow, sledding, horseback rides, train rides, music and food.  This has to be her 15th or more time on a pony in the last year!  And I love the way she is just sitting there like a pro!

 In front of the big tree.

 Our Friday fun group went to the mall to take pictures with Santa.  This was one of the VERY few times that I actually left the house without a bow in Allie's hair...  Luckily we borrowed one for the actual picture!

 To our surprise, Meagan and Allie were dressed almost exactly the same!  Too funny!

 Not a great picture of me...

 She was getting a little nervous about seeing Santa!  She was SO brave before we got there and the night before at the festival, but when it came time to actually SIT with Santa, it was a whole different story!  Santa was a hour late so we went to the castle to play and wait!

 the kids and Allison!

 Allie did NOT want to sit with Santa and she would not let go of me.  I had already decided to let Allie take her picture with Lindsey and Meagan so she would not be so upset. As you can see, Meagan was all smiles!!!  Allie was so funny though because as soon as I actually got her on his lap she started talking to him and had this mischievous grin on her face!  And she was fine!

 We had lunch and then did the merry go  round.  I love this mall as it is so kid friendly!

Allie and Meagan

Visiting with Jon's parent's at Gringo's restaurant which is a favorite place to go!

 I took her to Bass Pro shop to see Santa again and take some pictures.  I love this side shot but she is getting ready to pick at the chapped lips!

 My sweety pie!

 She is growing up into a little girl and it amazes me when I look back on photos how much she has changed within the last year!

 My silly goose!

 This time, she was excited to see Santa and told him "we saw you last week. " and she wanted to know where the rubber duckies were that he gave out last time!  I had to explain to Santa that he gave those out at the mall and must have run out!  She was a chatter box with him this time!  It was really cute.

I love this one and that is the mischievous look that she had last time as well!  We may have to go back and visit this Santa again as it was free and we got a free kids meal out of it as well!!