Here Comes Santa Claus!

It’s our favorite time of year in the Thome home! Everyone all caught up on their holiday shopping? We did pretty good this year, not needing sitters to accomplish it all was quite the task.  We tackled a bit on Amazon and I took full advantage of the 90 minutes I have free in between Owen’s school schedule.  We spent the other night wrapping up half of the presents, it took us a full 2 hours to do so – and finishing tonight is our goal.  By the way, how cute is my husband? Vodka by his side and a santa hat with pride wrapping away at 11:30pm with me … I tell you, he is seriously a far better wrapper than I – I’m awful.

He was beaming with pride with his meticulous corners, and I ripped and bunched up every present I wrapped.  I told him he should go work at the mall and be a holiday wrapper 🙂

Quick selfie in the car last week, I had too.  Look at that BUMP! It’s officially popped here at 20 weeks.  Weeks prior I would wake up a little “flatter” and grow through the day, now I wake up and it’s right there for all to see and I love it! We have our 20 week ultrasound today which I am probably more nervous than excited about.  Just praying for a healthy little one – that is all we want for Christmas! You all will get to find out with us on Christmas morning as to if it is a boy or a girl when we do our little gender reveal with the boys that morning! I am hoping there will be no tears involved, because Brody + Owen are just convinced they know what it is already (it’s a split house.)

We’ve got SO much to do this week it’s a bit nutty.  We’ve got an appraiser coming out to evaluate our house ( not to worry, we’re not moving, yet.) Totally kidding MOM – we are just curious as to what we have raised the value too, we are total nerds and all about this investment we made.  Hosting Christmas Eve again, this year it’s a bit smaller at 35 people so it’ll be nice and cozy.  I have a ton of errands to run and food to prep, but it’s all good.  Look at those two helpers up there, I am sure they will keep the rest of the house clean while I bust it all out 🙂

And we are so glad to say that B-mac is BACK! Steroids stopped early last week and there has been such a difference in his personality and we are so relieved that not only is his Ulcerative Colitis on the mend for now, but he is in much better spirits.

It goes without even having to say that the holidays are NOT about the presents.  BUT, I’ve got to be honest and say that we are all about the presents (is that fair?).  How ridiculously shallow does that make us sound? Eek.  Not for Dan or I – just the kids.  They’ve been through a lot this year and we just love spoiling them rotten and giving them a shock-worthy Christmas morning.  Keep in mind that we are ALWAYS instilling GIVING not receiving with these boys.  All the time in our house we go through closets and belongings and donate items left and right.  Even items we use, but know someone else could use more we just give it.  All of our baby gear we gave away, even with one right around the bend – simply because we are in a position to purchase what we need, we always stress that someone else may need it more.  So, they get it, we are not raising brats – not to fear.

I just had to stop by with these ramblings, as I know many of you are oh so busy this week as well.  Just keep in mind that it will all go so fast – take a few minutes or hours if you will to just step back and enjoy it all.  Leave out dirty plates and keep your vacuum in the closet and focus on the important things.  It’ll all get done, so just breath.

I cannot wait to see these boys light up in a few days – EEK! And for a really good laugh, I’d like to introduce you to the new Santa Claus