Christmas made me semi MIA.  If you follow me on Instagram you know what we’ve kind of been up to.  I’m pitterpatterart if you want to follow along.  It’s kind of sad how few pictures I took with my real camera.  It was a wild and crazy Christmas Eve and Day.

Festive running shoes…yes, please.

For our Christmas Even kindness advent we took in our neighbor’s trash can.  It was freezing, but we rocked it in just our jams.

Yesterday we were going to gift a store worker with a gift card and I totally forgot.  So the gift card is still in my purse and hopefully we’ll surprise someone today instead.  And that will end our kindness advent which was leading us up to Christmas.  So until next year.  Kind of excited to think through all the possibilities for next year.

So how was your Christmas?  Do anything exciting…get any crazy thoughtful gifts?  This is the best picture I got of the kids. Can you imagine what the other ones look like if this is the best?!?!  Yeah, they’re amazing.

We typically try and make cookies for Santa, but this year we opted out.  The amount of germs and finger licking that goes into kid made cookies was too much for this year.  We opted for just slicing off a piece of cake for good ole’ Saint Nick instead.  Harper deliberated between Bunny’s Cake and Chocolate Bavarian Torte.  She went with Bunny’s Cake in the end and Josh was very pleased.

Christmas Eve ended up being a super weird night because Josh and I were actually in bed by like 9:30 #neverhappens But the weird part came at 11pm.  The kids had gone to sleep around 7 and Huddy awoke at 11pm, came down stairs, saw that Santa had come and just assumed it was Christmas morning.  Never mind it was still dark.  He then went upstairs and woke Sol and Harper up and told them all about Santa’s arrival.  Next thing we know, they are all down stairs beside our bed declaring it’s Christmas morning.  We were so confused.  I then had to explain it was still Christmas Eve and they still had a good 7-8 hours of sleep left.  2 hours later and three more occasions of excited Kelley children showing up beside our bed and I was wishing Santa brought a time telling book and clocks for each child.

Opening presents at our house was super fun this year.  Everyone was really excited.  Each kiddo received three gifts.  I later asked what their favorite was.

Harper:  Our Generation Willow Doll

Hudson: Navy Seals MP5 submachine gun (he wasn’t specific at all…ha)

Solomon:  Crossbow

Amon had kind of domesticated Christmas and loved it.  He can vacuum, dust bust, sweep and push a baby with the best of them.

Speaking of Amon, as I fixed what I have deemed his “holiday hair” I decided Josh was right and a haircut is in his near future.  I mean, really, nothing says Happy Birthday baby Jesus more than a toddler with a mullet.

And the rest of our Christmas was full of more presents…giving & receiving…and yummy food and family and amazing friends and the constant reminder of God’s goodness and mercy.

I was very well aware it was coming and yet I’m surprised it’s already gone.  It was kind of weird this year for me and it all took me by surprise really.  I kind of thought last year would have been the hardest year, but as Courtney and I talked about on Christmas Eve, this Christmas was definitely the hardest and it really caught me off guard.  Like who goes into a full on 30 minute weep session after watching Jim Carrey’s version of the Grinch?!?!  I was a tad disappointed in myself.  I feel like I should have saved the weeping for the reading of the Christmas story from Luke or that Amon is celebrating another Christmas with us or maybe for our kids sweet faces on Christmas morning, but no, I just want to save my good tears for Jim.  But it was a place where joy and sadness coexisted.  Where people rallied around hearts and ate delicious chili together.  Who knew right?!?!  It was a very different and strange and hard and joyous Christmas.  Nothing like I expected, but as always His love and grace and mercy showed up to saturate our lives in the best way.  And in a way no one really expected…a baby.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas.

Happy Thursday!

Today for our kindness advent we took cookies and treats to our pediatrician’s office.  Here’s the deal people…our pediatrician is the bomb dignity.  I remember when I first found out I was pregnant with Harper one of the first things my mom told me was she had the perfect pediatrician as a client of hers.  She told me I HAD to use him…she was pretty much putting her “mom” foot down.  I’ve always been a little stubborn and told her I’d think about it.  The more I read and heard from others about Dr. Eidson, I quickly realized Mom was right.  And I have since been just thrilled to have him care for all our kiddos.  His entire office is crazy awesome.  They are kind and loving and caring.  They totally deserve cookies.

All the kids started out helping with the baking, but then there was some fighting and tears and gnashing of teeth and yeah, then some kids were sent to bed.  It started off all magical and sweet and ended with me wanting to curse.  It’s not really Christmas until there’s crying and cursing right?!?!?!

Amon still completely loves the kitchen aid mixer which is easily my favorite baking utensil along with my cookie scoop.

For tomorrow’s kindness we are babysitting.  Yeah, Harper and I are pretty pumped about having a baby girl in our care for a bit.

So I’m pretty excited about the weekend.  I have dinner planned with some sweet friends tonight.  And Harper’s last day of school was today.  I just sat in Susan’s classroom thinking how light I felt.  I have almost all my shopping done and not one thing on my to-do list.  I have a few projects in mind and all of Harper’s end of school stuff is finished with.  It just feels good.  Light.  I like it.  Huddy, Sol and I are currently laying on the couch watching Monster University.  I like today a lot.  Here’s to a fantastic weekend.  Hope everyone enjoys it.

Happy Friday.

Today for our kindness advent we asked Ms. Flowers about some supplies she needed for her class, went shopping and then delivered them this morning…bright and early…and in PJs.  We completely adore our teachers and want to make sure they know how much we appreciate all they do.  I think this advent will forever remain on the list.

Tomorrow we are delivering cookies and goodies to our pediatricians office.  They take really good care of our kiddos and that totally deserves a cookie.

In other random news…Amon is still randomly falling asleep.  I made Josh watch some fainting goat videos on youtube the other night and we just laughed and laughed.  It’s so Amon.  He loves to lay on our floor vents when the heat comes on and the other day he just fell right asleep.  I love him.

We couldn’t remember what our elf’s name was from last year, so we just re-named him.  Meet Frody.  Huddy came up with it and Harper said she preferred Brody, but we just rolled with it.  He forgets to move…like a lot.  I’m always like, “He must just be tired.”  AKA Josh and I are tired…and forgot.

Christmas lights and letting our kids hang out our van windows like yahoos?  Yes, please.  Before I get emails, these were lights in a little camp ground…not out on a road.  #safetyfirst

I’m still running.  I haven’t been posting about it because I just never remember.  Lately we’ve been braving some cold weather, but cold running is always best with friends.

Susan may win the award for the gift our boys absolutely flip out over this year.  She found army coveralls in their size at a local army surplus store and then went through all their old military patches.  She even found a “Hudson” and a “Kelley”…no Solomon, but he won’t care…he gets his last name…even spelled correctly.  While sewing on the patches I got just down right excited.  They are going to absolutely love these.  I’m thankful for creative, fun friends who love my kids like they are her own.

Speaking of crazy boys…these two have been cracking me up lately.  I took this picture in a store the other day and right after they had an intense conversation about playing weenie ninjas when they got home.  I have no words…and no clue.

And I saves the best for last.  My cousin Rebecca sent me a text yesterday that included this picture and it said, “I asked Grant to write down his iPod password.”  Grant is the sweetest kid and a huge baseball fan and loves Jesus.  I laughed out loud…and continued to laugh every time I looked at it.

That’s it for today.  See you tomorrow.

Happy Thursday.