Christmas Eve (Myla's First One!!!)

Today was a great Christmas Eve!!  We woke up and started getting ready to head to Gran's house.  Myla slept until after 9am, which was great because we knew it would be a long day for her.  We got all our stuff gathered up and headed to see the Conner family!
We had a great time together!  My cousins were there and I was so happy because this is two times in one week that I've been able to see them!  Uncle Tim and Aunt Cince were there from Kentucky, too!  It was so great to have everybody together and I especially loved that Uncle Tim and Uncle Patrick could talk my mom into letting me have lots of brownies, cookies and juice boxes.  Yep, we have got to get them together more often!!!  We had a great lunch (I love ham) and we watched some Netflix (Levi picked a wonderful movie, Gnomeo and Juliet).  And THEN we got to open presents!!!
Oh man, me and Myla are so very blessed!!  We loved our new toys.  Myla did a great job because she let me and Levi open her presents for her.  She got some great stuff that makes noise AND she can put it in her mouth...her two favorite things!!
I tried to keep my great-uncles in line...but that is serious work!  I am already learning that all THREE of them are a tad crazy.  It is a good thing I am around to let them know how things REALLY ARE.
We stayed at Gran's as long as we could before going to get Myla a little nap.  She was a trooper, but we knew she was very tired.  So, we gave lots of hugs and said lots of thank you's and then came home for Myla to get a nap.  She fell right to sleep and I played with some of my new toys AND I changed clothes because, while I LOVE to dress up and wear dresses, I LOATHE tights!!  So I opted for some comfy pants before heading to Grandpa Joe's house!
Tonight we had another great celebration at Grandpa Joe and Grammy's house.  The adults ate something called stir fry.  I decided there were way too many veggies for my liking, but I ate a few things so I could have some birthday cake later (for Jesus' birthday)!!  It was great to see Aunt Emily, Uncle Adam and Aunt Christy, as well as Grammy, Grandpa Joe and G.G. Mary.  I always love spending time riding on the rocking horse when we go there...so I spent a lot of time doing just that!
Again, me and my sister opened MORE presents!!  And, again, we realized just how blessed we are!  There was lots of laughing and fun to be had.  After everyone was finished opening presents, I decided to wear my new princess gloves.  You won't believe it, but they are Super-Powered Gloves just like Super Heroes wear!!!  I was running around using my powers all night!
We stayed at Grandpa Joe's house until it was time to come home and get ready for Santa!!!  I told our elf, Snowflake, that I love him and that I hope he has fun playing with his friends at the North Pole this year.  I told him that we'll see him next Christmas!  Then I got the cookies I made for Santa out and some milk.  Then we said our prayers and I was off to bed.  AND BELIEVE ME, I AM NOT GETTING UP TONIGHT LIKE I USUALLY DO!!!  Mommy said Santa doesn't stop at a house if the children are awake, so I am just going to close my eyes and start dreaming as soon as possible!!!
Yes, it was a wonderful Christmas Eve and I am so thankful for our family and the time we spent with everyone today!  It was a super special day!!

Pictures!

Lynley Under the Bright Lights

Last night I sang "Away in a Manger" in front of the whole church!  It was during the Christmas Sing Along and mommy wasn't really sure if I would do it or not.  ESPECIALLY after we realized that there would be a spotlight on me that was REALLY bright!  However, I did it!!  I sang all the words and I really loved it.  The first thing I told mommy at the end of the service was, "Pastor Bruce said I rocked the house!"  And I was smiling so big!!  And then when mommy asked me if I liked singing up there I said, "Yeah, especially when they all clapped!"  Everyone said really wonderful things to me afterward and I am glad I did it.  Here is my debut at our church...

Christmas is Coming

This week has been another busy one!  The good thing is that in all the business we have visited with my Aunt Emily and Uncle Tim and Levi and Evan.  They are people we don't get to see much, especially Emily and Tim.  Texas is VERY far away!!!
Sunday evening they got to Muncie and so we met them at Pizza King!!  I was super excited to see them, and just as excited to see their BIG dog!!!  We visited, I went to the Christmas Candlelight service at church, and then I got to stay on night with Grandma Donna and Emily!!!  As a matter of fact, mommy says I have never been better in a church service in my life (and it was because I had to be good to stay all night)!
Monday the three of of shopped and I got to play with Irie a whole bunch and then we met mommy, daddy and Myla for dinner.  I really didn't want to leave Aunt Emily when it was time to go home, but after crying a few I fell right to sleep for the drive home.
Yesterday we went to Granny's house and it was super special!  Levi, Evan, Aunt Sara, Uncle Lawrence, Grandma, Tabatha, Jacob, Aunt Lesa, Uncle Jeff, and Aunt Ruthie were all there.  It was so great!!  I got to play with my cousins a lot!!!  Evan had to go to Indianapolis for a doctor appointment, so me and Levi played and watch Netflix most of the afternoon.  (BTW, Evan is okay!!  He has a heart murmur but they are just watching it and it isn't something they are worried about right not.)
Last night I went to church to practice singing, "Away in a Manger."  I am supposed to sing it for the offering time tonight.  We'll see what happens.  It was SUPPOSED to be two short songs with the piano, and then it turned into 2 songs without the piano, and then I decided I just want to sing one song without the piano...into the microphone, of course!!  Mommy isn't really sure if I will do it, so there is something on stand by just in case.
After practice we went to Chili's to celebrate Grandpa Joe's birthday (a few days later).  It was really good food and company.  I played lots with Uncle Tim and did a really good job in the restaurant.  Myla did great, too.  She ate some sweet potatoes and played with her toys!  We stayed until it was getting close to bedtime.
Today is shaping up to be a great day, too!  Daddy is making waffles in the kitchen, Myla is playing on the floor, I am playing dress up and I think we don't have to go anywhere today until church time.  It is the calm before all our trips for Christmas time!!!

Cleaning Up Date

Today was a cleaning day at our house.  I went to school and when I came home there was so much to be done.  We got together bags of trash, bags of donations for the mission, and we had to put everything up where it went!  Mom and dad worked really hard and I helped some, too.  When I would get frustrated because I wanted to quit, I would just think of yesterday and how much fun I had going to Indianapolis!

Me, my parents, Myla and grandma went to Indy for a quick trip.  I got to go to Build a Bear and make a Brittany Doll (from Alvin and the Chipmunks).  I also got to pick out an outfit for her and I chose a brides outfit.  THEN we went to a Christmas store where i put on several puppet shows for my family.  THEN we got to eat at Johnny Rocket's.  THEN we walked through the mall.  THEN we went to the bookstore. THEN we went to Trader Joe's.  AND THEN we came back to Muncie!!!  

Yes, That is what I thought about when the going got tough today!!!

Precious on Many Levels

When in the midst of tantrums and stubbornness, it is important to cling to the precious conversations like the one we had tonight.

Lynley:  Mom, where are you guys going?

Mommy: Daddy is a deacon, so we are going to the deacon Christmas dinner for church.

Lynley: A what?

Mommy: A deacon.

Lynley:  I thought daddy was a Douglas.

Mommy: Yes, daddy is a Douglas.  But one of his jobs is to be a deacon for the church.  You know how some people are teachers and some people are preachers?  Those are jobs that they have and one of daddy's jobs is to be a deacon and help the people at church.

Lynley: You know what my job is?  I'm a missionary because I told Peyton about Jesus.  And I told Palmer about Him, too.


Yes, there are tantrums and there is a whole new level of stubbornness that this mommy didn't know was possible, but there is also a tender heart who loves Jesus and who knows that Jesus loves her.  Thank you, Lord, for that heart and for every adult who pours God's love into her each week.  Thank you for giving us these tender moments when we least expect them and exactly when we need them.

Getting Gifts is Fun, Giving Gifts is GREAT!

The last two days have sure been great.  Yesterday we went to Granny's house and Myla and I got Christmas gifts from Aunt Clata and Uncle Bob.  They are leaving this week to go to see their grandchildren in North Carolina, so we celebrated our little Christmas with them.    We had a great afternoon with everyone and then after nap time me and Myla went to Grandma and Grandpa Filler's house with Pa while mommy went to her children's team Christmas party!
Today has been super great, too!  Mommy went to school with me!!  She went on our Polar Express field trip, where we made picture frames, heard the First Christmas story about Jesus being born, sang some Christmas carols, talked to Santa and Mrs. Claus and played some Christmas games.  THEN we went to our classroom and had our Christmas party!  We had great snacks that the parents brought in and we all got a present from Mrs. Clinger (a great book).  AND THEN Mrs. Clinger and Mr. Andy opened presents that people brought for them.
I was SUPER EXCITED because me and mommy worked really hard on Mrs. Clinger's present this week.  We bought a shadow box and then we broke lots of crayons and then I did my VERY BEST writing and wrote Mrs. Clinger's name on paper.  THEN we glued down crayons into the shape of a big letter C with special glue.  The finished product was really special and I LOVED IT when Mrs. Clinger opened it!  She loved her present!!!  Also, I got Mr. Andy some movie money so he can go to the theater and watch a movie.  I love doing that so I think he probably loves doing that, too!!

Yes, it was a very special two days and I can honestly say that I was as excited about giving my gifts as I was about getting gifts!!