Archive for December, 2008

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Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas! This is a great time to celebrate and remember that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born into this world and lived as we do, with lots of stresses and pressures, yet He was perfect. Then Jesus died for us and rose again, so that we could live with God forever – the way it was meant to be. We have been transformed by this good news and pray that God’s great love will change your life as well.

One way our lives are changing is that we are eagerly expecting another baby boy this spring. With two fun little red-headed children, the real question is what color hair will this baby have (although many people are wondering what we’ll name him, including his parents)!

Brian continues to work at ePrize doing web development and as manager. In his free time, he is still part of the Bell Creek Church worship band and also joined a guild for World of Warcraft this year. In the evenings, after dinner he often wrestles with the kids or plays some Candyland before reading them stories. He has redesigned his website and entered the twitter world. Most recently, he successfully undertook a number of home improvement projects. Strangely, he struggles to find time to shave and get a haircut.

Shannon (that’s me) continues to head up the MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) ministry at our church and was able to attend the International Convention in Dallas this fall. This was her first time away from both kids for an overnight and everyone survived! In addition to the exciting daily chores of laundry, cooking and loving on her family (which also means keeping them out of too much trouble – harder than it sounds…), she is also slowly realizing (finally!) that she is not perfect.

Eila is our fun, whiny, bossy and loving big girl – almost four years old. She loves to learn and read stories; she asks to do school almost everyday with Mom as her teacher. She also loves an audience and will tell a story or sing and dance, in costume, for any willing bystander. Eila has taken a wide variety of classes this year, like ballet, swimming, gymnastics, and Tae Kwon Do; she enjoyed each one and has a hard time deciding what to take next. She is very excited about her new baby brother especially since it meant that she’ll have a new bedroom all to herself.

Josiah is two years old, but not too terrible. He loves to climb, run, jump, hit and throw. He is very ticklish and laughs uncontrollably at just the threat. While Eila loves all things princess, Joe is a fanatic of all things Thomas or train-related. He always talks loudly and possibly even more than Eila, who he is ever trying to imitate. Despite some tough times due to food sensitivities, he is a fun if fearless little boy. He is really happy about the new baby and will show others where he has a baby in his tummy (or neck sometimes) too.

As a family, we were able to spend a couple of weeks this summer up north with our extended families. We also ventured on a camping weekend with some friends. We are really looking forward to our final trip this year to Phoenix to ring in the new year.

For all the latest info and pictures throughout the year, check out our family websites.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love, The Yees

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Not So Silent Night

I have never been one to struggle with falling asleep. I think I need more sleep than the average person, but for the last few weeks, I have been up so late because I can’t seem to wind down and go to sleep before midnight. If my kids slept through the night, this would still afford me plenty of sleep. It seems that as soon as I am just asleep or almost there, one of my lovely little ones comes in and needs to cuddle or a drink or something else for which I am the only one who can help. So, I am getting to sleep around 2am and then being awakened at around 4:30am to welcome a young boy who sleeps best in Mama’s bed until around 6:30am when he doesn’t sleep anymore and insists – very, very loudly – that it’s 8 o’clock and time to wake up.

If I seem a little irritable or look a little rough around the edges, you now know one possible reason why. Of course, there are lots of other excuses I could dream up as well.

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I Want a Re-Do

Today was one of those days that I wish I could start over and change just about everything. It was rainy and gloomy all day – still raining steadily.

I stayed in bed too long and didn’t enjoy a few moments with my husband before he left for work.

While I was in the shower, I was greeted by whines and screams as Josiah couldn’t make the blanket stay on the pillows.

When I got out, I realized that he had also peed on the couch, dumped out all the baskets in my bedroom and emptied the huge cedar chest at the end of my bed.

Eila ran around yelling at him to clean it up; she really didn’t want to wear shoes or a coat, until she saw the rain and then had to change completely. She ran through all the puddles as she went to the car and “ruined” her shoes (with great sobs.)

We were late for the meeting I was heading to. We never made it to the library or the grocery store.

Returning home, Josiah dumped water all over the rug in the living room. I yelled at him and put him in time out for getting more water after I told him to stop. He then tried to flush Eila’s sweater. I yelled again and sent him away and then lectured him.

Eila and I played Wii and then she whined and cried because I tried to help her navigate. I yelled at her that she can’t yell at me like that. She then threw a huge fit while I left to give her and me some space; it lasted for about 40 minutes when she was suddenly quiet – and asleep.

A few moments later Joe woke from his short nap and needed lots of cuddling and requesting candy.

Josiah asked me to help him put socks on his hands and then tried to climb into the oven – because that’s where Joshie was waiting for him.

While I tried to awaken Eila from an impromptu and late nap, he squished up all her orange slices and made orange juice. I yelled some more. I am very good at yelling, but now my throat hurts a little.

While I emptied the dishwasher and Josiah “helped” me and then went to play somewhere. He was actually painting with real house paint – one-half gallon dumped in the laundry room and on the already painted and previously ready-to-hang door for Eila’s new room. He got paint on the very few maternity clothes that fit me well and look okay… Fortunately, Brian came home at this point for about an hour before he left for a work dinner party. So, he got assigned to try to wake up Eila again.

Eila whined and whined. Then, Eila screamed and yelled and kicked and threw one of the biggest tantrums I’ve ever seen from her, which is really saying a lot, since she is a drama queen.

I moped and pouted about not going to a girls’ night out dinner with my friends and did puzzles with Eila until I couldn’t do any more.

I guess it was just a typical day, but I had a bad attitude all day and wish I had responded differently at so many points throughout the day…

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