Christmas Parade

Every year a Christmas Parade takes place in Old Town Clovis. This year, my mom and Ally wanted Nevaeh to go, but I thought it was too cold to take Taylor outside...especially since she won't stay bundled up in her stoller...she has to be held. So, we got Neve all bundled up and she went on a little outing with MaMa and Auntie Ally.

She had a fun time getting a cookie, a stuffed puppy dog, and seeling lots of Christmas lights.

Opposites

This weekend I wondered how I could be so happy, and so devastated at the same time. Some good friends of ours gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl, and we were overjoyed. We got to meet her today and she is just so small and cute. A newborn you just want to cuddle and kiss.

However, a tragedy occurred this weekend as well, leaving me conflicted between joy at this new life, and despair over a life that ended way too soon. My cousin Alyssa, a smart, well-behaved, sweet girl got into an accident, falling off of a quad-not wearing a helmet. She was pronounced irreversibly brain dead almost immediately. The only choice my dad's cousin Tommy and his wife Rene had was whether to keep her on life support or donate her organs. What kind of decision is that for parents of a 16-year old to have to make? She passed away last night after some other testing. But, they knew all along the outcome would not be good.

I've been struggling with this. So shocking. So horrible. So unfair. Of course I don't blame God, I know that He does not cause these things to happen. Instead I have to draw strength from my faith, that something good will come of this. And yet all I can think about is how I used to babysit her and her twin brother Jordan. I loved babysitting them because they have a Nintendo, and we were never allowed to have one at my house....I think because my mom gets addicted to them. And I loved playing with them, even though they were 9 years younger and always beat me. One time I was watching them, I was supposed to make Mac-N-Cheese. I was young and forgot to add milk until it was already in their bowls. So, I just added it to their bowls, just a little to make up for it. Well, as soon as their dad Tommy got home, Alyssa says, "Dad, Corie forgot to put milk in our macaroni and cheese!" They thought that was the most hilarious thing in the world. And none of us ever forgot that incident. Ally, who goes to school with Alyssa, told me last night that Alyssa just mentioned that story to her recently. How precious our memories are, to get us by in times as devastating as this. I cling to that memory of her.

When I think of her relationship with her 2-year-old half-sister, I think of Ally's bond with Nevaeh...and it breaks my heart that little Morgan won't have that cool, older sis to hang out with, immitate, and confide in. If I let my mind wander, I just cry thinking of her parents, her brother, her grandparents, my dad who was like a brother to Tommy, all my relatives who are so stunned and broken by this.

So, please pray. Please ask God to reveal himself in all of this, to lessen our grief with the knowledge that she is with Him. We are really saddened by our loss, because she is in a better place, by far.

Hallmark

Neither of us know how it started, but each year Kaleb and I buy Hallmark Christmas Tree Ornaments, one for the two of us and one for each of our children. On our way home from purchasing our 2008 ornaments, we talked about other ornaments we had at home, from 2005-2007. We found it hilarious that not only did we purchase an ornament for ourselves in 2005, commemorating our first year of marriage, but also a Cutest Kitty ornament, because at that time, Diogie was our little baby. Here are some of our favorites, and the ones we bought this year. We are really glad that we started this tradition, because each year we will decorate our tree with ornaments that remind us of special memories we might not otherwise have been reminded of...

Our first ornament: First Christmas Together 2005

Cutest Kitty 2005: Diogie was such a spoiled little cat

2006: Nevaeh's 1st Christmas

Our Harry Potter ornament, that I think is from 2005, but we bought it after the holidays on sale. :-)

2008: Our ornaments from this year are special because we have another Baby's First Christmas ornament, and one that will always remind us of Nevaeh's obsession with Winnie-the-Pooh.

Hope you all have a fun time with your families as you decorate your own homes and participate in your own family traditions.

My Thesis, or Lack Thereof...

As many of you know, writing my thesis has really been challenging. I'm sure it is difficult for anyone, and with two little ones I am struggling to find time. I feel bad not playing with Nevie, and I feel bad not holding Tay, and I feel bad not working on my thesis. Through all of this, there are some things I have learned that I wish I knew before, or wish I had done towards the beginning of my Masters Program and I wanted to share them...

1. Pick a topic early on in coursework. That way you can choose classes that may help in your understanding of, and research for, you paper. You may even be able to use work from your term papers for those particular courses for your thesis. Also, by starting early on, you have the student mindset. Trust me, once you are done with your coursework, the last thing you want to do is write a 120-page paper in order to get your dregree. Do it as you go, if you can.

2. A tip I just got was to work on it a little bit EVERY day, no matter how much, or in my case, how little you actually accomplish.

3. Don't have kids until you are DONE! Just kidding. Designate certain time to work on it, when the kiddos won't be a distraction. I absolutely cannot do it during the day when one baby is breastfeeding, two are in diapers, and one is a smart, stubborn two-year-old. But at night, or even during nap time, I MIGHT get a chance.

4. Use CSUF Writing Center skills. I should definitely have been using these LONG before now. Those tutoring skills are not only for our students. Duh!

5. Have someone you can talk to about your thesis, and who is willing to dedicate some time to it, and you, by reading and commenting and suggesting.

Now, I am going to get back to it. Pray that I finish it. :-) Oh, and one that I should probably add to that... Don't get mad at your husband, or significant other, when he pretends to be mad that you aren't working on it...he's just trying to help get you motivated.

The Home Front

Well, Kaleb and I have really put a lot of time, energy, and money into our home. Our most recent improvement was to have some concrete work done. In fact, we got a nice, large patio put in the backyard, and a walkway from the back patio to the front driveway. It's so nice when we can afford to just pay someone to do the work for us! The only thing Kaleb had to do was to trim the gate to accommodate the height of the concrete as opposed to just the dirt ground. We are excited to have a landscaped backyard for the girls to play in, but decided to wait on the sprinklers and grass until next year. This'll give us time to save up, and really, with it almost being winter, they won't be going outside much anyway. Although, it has been in the high-70's, low 80's here, still!

We're still gradually working on organization-both in the house and the garage. All that matters is that we are making progress, and having fun in the process. Nevaeh loves her space. We find her in all the rooms of our home, with small toys left as her tracks.

Cute: Grandma took Nevaeh to a elementary school production of the Jungle Book, and now every day she says, "Ayeah (Nevaeh), Ally, and Mama go outside, see Jungle Book." Also, Taylor is laughing now...as soon as she lets me catch her on the video camera I'll share that with you.

Love,
Corie

Pismo Weekend

November 7-11 Kaleb, Nevaeh, Taylor and I went to the beach with my parents. We stayed a couple nights in the timeshare and the other nights in the RV. We had a lot of fun, although we were VERY sleep deprived when we got back. Nevaeh had a blast at the playgrounds, playing in the sand, running around the beach, and getting lots of yummy treats! We went to Solvang and walked around. Taylor enjoyed the stroller ride; Nevaeh enjoyed the candy and pastries. :-)

Nevaeh still loves holding "her" Baby Tay. But, she did admit that Taylor was getting heavier.

Happy Halloween!!!

Before leaving for the Fall Family Festival at my parents' church, Nevaeh gave her little Bee a kiss! Taylor had to be given her binkie because she was a pretty cranky Bee...not able to really stretch her 24in. body in the 0-9 month size costume. Yes I have giant children!

With her costume only half on, Taylor was much happier, showing her priceless smile to anyone who looked. Isn't she cute?

Mama is really loved by Taylor and Nevaeh! Pop-Pop walked around with them too, but I didn't get any good pics.

Mommy and her girls.

Nevaeh and some friends, Aiden and Tanner Marsh.

Nevaeh did not really understand the concept of Trick-or-Treating. She had no problem being given candy, but here she is taking our bowl of candy for the kids in our neighborhood away from the door-trying to keep it for herself!

We had a very fun night, and can't wait until next year when Taylor, too, is running around!