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Happy Christmas & Hanukkah Season

I was just finishing up putting together our Christmas cards complete with pictures of the kids and the address of our blog when it occurred to me....I need to update the blog. If I had put the cards in the mail the day I put them together and you would have come to visit our page you would have found palm trees, info about our summer and promises that I would write soon....Lucky for you I'm a procrastinator and the cards still haven't gotten to the mail ;0)

We are doing well. All settled into our new home, mostly unpacked and decorated for Christmas.

Kevin had a successful G-20 event at the DLCC in the fall and much to our excitement was promoted shortly after. He is now the Security Manager and enjoying his job. I'm slowly crossing things off my to do lists and will be happy to start vacation Dec. 22nd. Since Kevin is no longer in retail we were able to work things out so that we will both be off most of the week before Christmas and the week between the holiday and New Years. That's not happened for us before so we are very excited to be spending time with each other and we might get a chance to visit Kevin's family in Ephrata, PA.

Mackenzie and Morgan are doing well!

I'm happy to report that MOST of the time they get along ok. Now that Morgan is mobile we have some issues with toy sharing but since Mackenzie is 3 that's pretty normal.

Kenzie has been managing her Asthma well. I feel a little apprehensive when I look at the calendar, it was this time last year we were living in a hospital room wondering whether we'd be able to spend Christmas at home. Luckily we have managed to keep colds to a minimum and when she does have a flare up we've been able to manage it with maintenance and rescue medicines. She is still using a breathing treatment and taking an allergy pill once a day, but I'd much rather deal with that then a stay in the hospital. She's also become quite comical. She loves to sing and dance and play pretend. We've been working a lot on her creative abilities, her new favorite things are making cards and helping me cook.

Morgan is into EVERYTHING. Crawling, climbing, pulling up on things, pulling things over. I swear they are out to give me a heart attack. Earlier this week I put her in the highchair secured her straps and started to clean up the kitchen. I left the room to put something in the living room (not a far walk) and when I came back in she was standing up in the highchair smiling away. She looked at me like I was the insane one when I snatched her up and explained that you cannot stand in a highchair because you could fall out and crack your head open. As if she understood any of that.

Abby is still in our home and our hearts. We had thought about giving her away but when you have an animal for 8 years, that is easier said than done. It's so hard because she deserves so much more love and attention than we have time for but she can be such a sweet and loving companion that it's hard to part with that.

As challenging as it is to have two very small children, a full-time job, a pet, and a hubby when I think of all the memories we are creating I can't help but feel lucky to be a mommy and a wife. I hope all of you find that same kind of joy in your lives.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas, a festive Hanukkah and sending hope that you will find Peace, Love and Happiness throughout 2010.... (HOLY CRAP ....2010!!!!!)

Hugs and Kisses,

Karla, Kevin, Mackenzie, Morgan and Abby

Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself...~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976