Being Brave

Tucker pretends to be his daddy a lot.

He picked a really great guy to pretend to be like.

Tucker has a pretty strong shy streak these days.

He does not enjoy being watched or noticed if he's somewhere new or what he thinks is uncomfortable.

Like church, the grocery store, the playground, his grandparents' house…you know places he shouldn't be at ease. What?

Yeah. Sometimes it makes me a little nutty when he rudely tells people not to look at him or tries to pull up my shirt to hide under (not my most glorious moments in public- I did just have a 4th baby & don't really love showing off my muffin top to just anyone. I digress.).

All because someone said hi or they like his shoes or something.

But as much as it can make me crazy that my awesome little boy hides like a turtle when people come near, I've noticed it bothers him too.

That's a tough one to take as a mom.

To me he is the picture of God's most perfect handiwork.

He's funny, silly, talented, cute, so handsome, has awesome curls in his hair, my only brown headed one, & is a tremendous friend to his sister, brothers & his favorite buddies (most of the time).

Naturally, I think he should be confident & not suffer from being shy at all.

But that is not his reality right now. That is my big picture goal for him.

So for now, we talk about being brave.

I told him a story the other day about his greatest hero, his dad.

How when he was a little boy he would hide his face in his Mimi & Papa's legs or shoulders.

How his uncle teased him about not knowing what he looked like unless he could see the back of his head...

"Dad used to be shy like me?"

And it hit me. "Yes. He did. But, God made him so brave.

And he's making you brave too."

I'm learning that being a mom is so much more about letting God work in my heart, than me trying to figure out how to change my kids.

Letting go & trusting God to work on the big stuff.

And isn't being brave what life's all about?

I have to be brave every morning when I climb out of bed & step into my generally messy kitchen to make breakfast for my tiny tribe, because every day holds something new & usually challenging.

Life is about trusting God when we really don't want to do something or are afraid of what's staring us in the face.

That never changes.

So Tucker & I have decided to be a little bit braver each day.
It's hard work for both of us.
Him tolerating being told he has cool shoes, me remembering God is in control of everything, if I let Him.
And together I think our bigger picture will be even better than what we could ever imagine.
God is good. I'm loving today with my shy guy & excitedly looking to all God has in store for him as he grows.
Even when my muffin top is showing.

Our Merry Christmas 2014

*Warning: Christmas photo overload coming your way. You have been warned. You're welcome.*

The end of 2014 came quick & brought with it some really great memories.

Having a baby near the end of a year can really make things seem a little out of the norm & feel a little rushed.

We spent the end of October, early November hibernating & just learning how to be a family of 6.

It was awesome.

Once Thanksgiving came, we hit the ground running with Christmas fun.

We love this season at our house & had lots of fun celebrating as the season went on.

Here's a look at our family Christmases…there were so many! Looking back through photos, I realized how truly blessed my little family is to be loved by so many wonderful people!

To kick things off every year, we celebrate with my Nana the Sunday before Christmas.

This is my Dad's side of the family. This is also the Nana my kids & I visit every week.

I love that my kids not only know their great-grandmother & great aunts, but they love them & get to experience the love I grew up with as well.

 Love those guys.

 We always have a Christmas lunch together.

I can remember as a kid being so excited to be there, eating that lunch as fast as I could, & then having to wait for grown ups to finish, dishes to be washed, & presents to be passed out before getting to dive into gifts.

My kids had to suffer the same, however their Grammy (my mom) & their aunts save the dishes until after presents for them.

They have no appreciation for how lucky they are for that.

 There's the whole family, minus my sister & her family.

 Lincoln got lots of love that day too.

It was a great kick off to the official week of Christmas!

We spend Christmas Eve with Mitchel's family.

This year Mimi, Mitchel's mom, insisted on a family photo.

I'm so glad she did.

It was terribly cold & windy that day, but we got a couple of great shots & headed out.

Our Christmas Eve is also spent at church.

One of my cuties waiting for the service to start...

 One of my other cuties singing in the kids' choir.

They sang "Happy Birthday Jesus."

My girl loves the stage.

 After church, we head to Mimi & Papa's for dinner, gifts, & just enjoying family, anticipating the fun the next day holds…

I caught Truett snuggled up next to his cousin, Mikey.

It's a totally blurry picture, but still way too cute not to remember!

It is somehow the only picture I took that night. Bummer.

I guess when there are 10 kids hanging around a house full of Christmas hoopla, a mama can forget to capture moments on her camera. But. We had a great night. And I had fun visiting with people I love instead of having a camera to my face. That's better anyway, right??

 Then there was this.

Cookies for Santa, carrots for reindeer. All neatly labeled by our girl. 

And a squash, that had seen better days, was left out by Truett.

For Santa? The reindeer?

No one really knows. But he also very confidently placed a spoon inside the milk cup 

& proudly walked away.

 Christmas morning brought scooters, 

 stockings filled with love (& fun things!),

 the cutest baby's first official Christmas, 

 happy kids,

 sleepy ones,

 Olaf slippers,

 & lots of sweet presents.

Then around lunchtime, we pack up & head to Grammy & Poppy's house (my parents).

 This year, they opened a couple of presents that day & saved the rest for when my sister & her family came in town.

Happy fun on both days. 

Mitchel & I & my parents opened all our presents.

Waiting is overrated.

 Christmas was a nice day, which called for lots of scooter rides!

 And even though the mom forgot to bring coats, Grammy saved the day & the scooter riding continued after nap time.

A few days later, with the rest of my family here, we all gathered together at my cousins' house.

For more celebrating.

 Everyone enjoyed little Lincoln.

 Camo & Christmas.

Also, he didn't appreciate the photo.

Whatever.

 Now I'm hungry.

 Cousins & friends.

Love those sweet girls.

They were the only little ladies in attendance that day.

Because they're the only ones we have!

 My very un-animated nephew.

Ha!

 Lincoln got diapers in that big silver package.

His mama requested them for him.

 This is my mom's family.

We haven't all been together for a while.

And we're missing my grandparents & cousin.

They celebrated Christmas in heaven.

With Jesus. It was probably better.

 My Aunt Sha (Sherrie), Uncle Barry, & my mom.

Siblings.

 There may or may not have been a quick rendition of "Sisters" from White Christmas sang after this lovely photo.

And by quick, I mean my aunt sang it while my mom just laughed, danced, & walked away.

Sisters forever.

 Brother cousins.

Happy to be together again.

 The grown up cousins.

I have lots of memories filled with these boys.

And, yes, there's more.

The next day, just us, my parents, & my sister, brother in law & nephews.

 Dads & babies.

The rest of the presents were brought out & opened & enjoyed.

And it was just nice to be together.

We were also visited by some pretty awesome super guests.

And one lovely princess.

Love that baby.

 Geez. That kid.

Just cute. And spunky. And handsome. And crazy!

Nana & my aunts came for a visit a couple days later.

So, we joined in the fun.

 My Aunt Carolyn with Lincoln man.

 Just missing my 2 littlest ones…

Sweet picture of some sweet people.

 Lots of hanging out.

Relaxing.

Playing.

 Cuddling.

 Eating.

 Being goofy.

 Cleaning.

And being together.

Our Christmas season was so busy this year.

Hectic on some days.

I love being intentional during the Christmas season, & this year was a struggle.

We celebrated Jesus amidst our busy.

And I reminded myself that some years are like that.

Once Christmas actually hit, it was so nice being with family.

And we are completely grateful for Jesus & the gift He brought us when He came as a baby.

Maybe next year will be a more intentional season.

If not, I'm still so thankful for all He did & for my family.

Merry 2014 Christmas.