Tackett Style Christmas

Warning I was a little camera happy because I haven't been home in three years for Christmas Eve/Day, it was Blair's first time to celebrate, and I was using Tori's fancy schmancy camera, so it might be picture overload!

Looking Through Old Christmas Photos

My mom loves to scrapbook and one of the yearly traditions is to look through all the old Christmas photobooks and talk about our favorites. In honor of that, here's one of Blair (top) wearing the same Christmas pjs as Bailey (bottom) did her first Christmas. Bailey is 3.5 months old here.

 

Decorating Baby Jesus Fetus Cookies

Tara, the one who started this tradition, with her baby Jesus fetus pre-decoration.

My mom sewed all the girls new aprons. I think last years mess justified these.

Here are Bailey and I with ours on.

The sister picture (Tori- you must have been standing on your toes)

Luke and Robby joining the fun. Anytime you get these boys together, they are bound to do something silly.

But, it better be clean, silly fun because the eyes of Santa are always upon you.

Bailey's Baby Jesus Fetus

Tori with her winning "Sweet Baby Party Jesus"

Robby's 2nd place "Sweet Baby Blair"

Christmas Eve

Growing up it was always spent at my Nana's house for pizza and gift opening from my dad's side of the family.

Here's Nana getting to meet Blair.

This year we might have had a record crowd of 17 people!

We took ALOT of pre-present opening pictures, but here are a few.

One silly, random tradition we have is to steal pecans off of the pecan pie and try not to get caught. The adults DO NOT approve, but it doesn't stop the "kids". : )

 With 17 people opening presents, you found a spot and "tried to keep your head above water". 



Christmas Eve Pjs

A tradition I have stolen from my mom.

Christmas Day

We start with stockings.

 Here's Bailey with the hand-stitched stocking my mom made her.

And new this year is Blake's stocking.

It seemed odd to me that Blake disappeared once the present opening started, but we quickly found him here. He is probably going to hate this when he is older, but anytime he needed to "do his business" this is where he would hide. My dad was trying to intice him out with his new fishing pole.

Once he did come out, he and that fishing pole were inseperable.

 More present opening.

At some point each year this outfit or an old Christmas sweater makes it's appearance. 

AND here's Ms. Blair just hanging out with whoever would hold her.

Redeeming herself to Tara- a no blowout hold!

And since I was behind the camera I had to get a few of me and the kids.

Silly

And sweet.

Hang tight for pictures of Christmas round 2 with the Mezgers.

Blair Kathryn's Namesake

Back when we were pregnant with Blake, but before we knew he was a boy, Luke said that he would really like to use the name Kathryn if we had a little girl. When I ask why, he mentioned how much he liked it, plus, he said we could name her after my Aunt Kathy (Nora Kathryn Jordan). I loved the idea immediately! My Aunt Kathy is a person I have always looked up to and admired, but it warmed my heart that Luke had picked up on her qualities too. She is the type of person you want for an aunt- she takes the time to write thoughtful hand written letters, enjoys sending care packages, and seems to have a scripture ready for whatever situation you are going through. The first two things that come to mind when I think about her is that she is kind and thoughtful and that is exactly what I would want someone to say about my Blair Kathryn. 

I have eagerly looked forward to introducing Blair Kathryn to her namesake and this Christmas was the perfect time. It was so sweet. 

Here they are getting to meet each other.

Spelled with a K and a Y

 
So on a completely random note, it seems like every time we tell people what her middle name is they ask us how we spell it. I have learned that in the world of Kathryn's I either get an "oh" meaning I spelled it right with a k and a y or an "oh" you spelled it that way. This is interesting to me. I will say that the "ohs" from the "you spelled it that way" are very forgiving when I tell them why I spelled it the way I did.

Merry Christmas

A Few Holiday Happenings

I haven't intended to not blog as much lately because this blog has turned into my journal through motherhood and I have tried to document it well, but my real life has required alot of me lately. I thought John Piper said it well in his recent tweet: There is a blessed neglect. "Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

We all know the story, but I have tried this busy holiday season to be a Mary. 

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

    “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

Blessed neglect to me is really having fun with the kids, spending quality time with friends and family, truly NOT stressing about doing it all, and spending time in the word & in the Valley of Vision.

 Our church did an amazing sermon series from The Valley of Vision. If you have never heard of The Valley of Vision, here is one of the prayers:

The Gift of Gifts

O Source of all Good,
What shall I render to Thee for the gift of gifts,
Thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
my Redeemer, Proxy, Surety, Substitute,
His self-emptying incomprehensible,
His infinity of love beyond the heart's grasp.

Herein is wonder of wonders:
He came below to raise me above,
He was born like me that I might become like Him.

Herein is love;
when I cannot rise to Him He draws near on wings of grace,
to raise me to Himself.

Herein is power;
when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart
He united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreated and the created.

Herein is wisdom;
when I was undone, with no will to return to Him,
and no intellect to devise recovery,
He came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,
as man to die my death,
to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
to work out a perfect righteousness for me.

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds,
and enlarge my mind;
let me hear good tidings of great joy,
and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,
my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father,
place me with ox, ass, camel, goat,
to look with them upon my Redeemer's face,
and in Him account myself delivered from sin;
let me with Simeon clasp the new-born Child to my heart,
embrace Him with undying faith,
exulting that He is mine and I am His.

In Him Thou hast given me so much that heaven can give no more.


Arthur Bennett, ed. Valley of Vision (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), 16.

Despite trying to have "blessed neglect" there have been some fun holiday happenings around the Mezger household.

Luke and Joel headed to the Kidstuff Christmas Party. They were just wearing these sweaters for fun (it was not a tacky Christmas sweater party). I actually wore the sweater on the left to a 5th or 6th grade Christmas dance back in the day. I hope I didn't think I looked "cool"!?!

 Preschool Christmas party. Christmas cookie decorating #1.

Christmas Cookie Decorating #2.

Our old small group had a cookie decorating competition (thanks Daniel) and Luke took home the Best in Show, Manliest Cookie, and Most Original with this ankle high Hanes with leg hair cookie.

Mezger Homes had it's first Christmas Dinner.

 A good excuse for Luke, Blair, and I to get all dressed up!

We have also enjoyed our oranament Advent tree with Bailey! I am going to see if I can get a video of her telling the Christmas story.

And we are looking forward to a Tackett Christmas, the possibility of snow, cookie decorating event #3- baby Jesus fetus, and Happy Birthday Jesus cupcakes with the other Mezgers at Frannys.

Happy One Month Sweet Blair

Time flies by so quickly! Happy One Month (one day late)!

Improvements

This was my view at 4 a.m. this morning. You would have to be a sleep deprived mama to celebrate and blog about this, but Blair was asleep!!! Usually she will nurse, but not go back to sleep from about 2:30- 5:30. I think my body is adjusting to the lack of sleep because despite my best efforts, I could not go back to sleep even though she was fast asleep, so I just enjoyed snuggling with my little girl and soaking in the moment. Also, sometime this week nursing got increasingly less painful. A huge praise!!!

In other improvements, one morning this week Luke reported to me that Blake woke up saying green, green, green and was pointing to the clock and he is sleeping somewhere from 7- 7:30. Good job Blakers!!! And my normal Bailey girl has also reappeared from where ever it was she went for two weeks. Woo Hoo!!!

 

Lastly, I have now made 2 trips to the grocery store with all three, and we have even made it to MOPS and church on time. A quick story about the grocery store: Blair cried the entire time we were there. On every aisle some sweet elderly person would comment to me about how hungry she must be. I had just nursed Blair before leaving so I knew she wasn't hungry, so I would kindly tell the elderly person that I think she is just being fussy. Each time they would come back with well, she must be cold or tired or maybe she has gas. Anyways, by the fifth time Bailey (very respectfully) told the elderly person that sometimes babies just cry. You should have seen the look on the elderly person face.

 

Anyways, all this to say that I woke up this morning feeling like we are adjusting to our new normal. I am sure that's premature to say, but I can hope.

Rainy & Cold Day Randomness

So the rain, although greatly apprecited, is really throwing us off of our routine and combined with the cold is keeping us indoors. Can you say cabin fever? I am trying to get out more, but it's alot of work getting everyone ready.

Nothing really to report, but here is a random collection of photos from the last week and a half.

The other night I made all the kids get in their Christmas jammies after bathtime. Not a great picture, but a rare one of all three together.

Bailey doing what I call "Geo Designs"- marshmallows  +  toothpicks.

 

Our little reindeer.

Bailey loves her Little People nativity set.

Blake & Blair.

He is SO sweet with her. He will usually come and get my hand and lead me to her if she is crying and likes to softly rub her head saying "shhh". I love that in the last picture he was trying to brush her teeth.

Both kids like pretending to be a baby.

Blake laying in the boppy.

Bailey got swaddled by daddy.

 

Bailey in Blair's bathtub.

 

Fun on Nana's new riding toy

 

A new favorite of Blair. No worries about the poor third child who doesn't have as many pictures as the first two. She might actually be the winner of most photos taken.