Scrub-a-dub-dub....3 Babies in the Tub

We wished you a Merry Christmas.....

Well, here I am....back from the land of NO BLOGGING....I hope that each of you had a very Merry Christmas! The last few weeks have been full of cleaning, wrapping, shopping, cooking, and "refereeing" children....I am happy to report that everyone was feeling well for this holiday celebration...except for Cole...he is working on his first 2 bottom teeth..nothing that a little Tylenol won't fix! :) Speaking of our precious boy..we just celebrated his 4 month milestone!! He is just so perfect right now---laughing and cooing all of the time...he is cuddly and sweet--what a blessing he is!! I only say "perfect" because I just appreciate the gentleness about him after dealing with the terrible 2's and terrible 1.5's!! Just kidding! They all are precious...and even my little Cole is going to be heading toward the "terribles" before long!

Our Christmas was very eventful....as always....every day Christmas week was spent at some part of the family's house...we opened gifts here at home on Christmas Eve night--much fun especially for Gracie and Ty!! It is great to have all of our kids together to share special family times....who knows how many more Christmas' before the older kids will have families and kids of their own!!

We always have Christmas at my dad's parents house on Christmas Eve...growing up it was such a magical thing to drive home wondering if Santa was in the air yet....to lay in bed quivering with anticipation about when he would arrive at my chimney. I had the passing thought this year driving home....what about Jesus? Do I anticipate the celebration of His birth like I did Santa coming to bring me gifts? Jesus gave the ultimate gift..which is His life! He gave His life because someone had to be the sacrifice for my sin. If He had not come, the only option would be for me to die---but He loved me so much that He gave up His life for mine....and He IS coming..."like a thief in the night"......He loves each one of you, too....enough to give His life so that we could all be blameless before Him...are you ready?

Happy 2009 !! I always love a fresh start!! Here are some pics of our Christmas memories!

Thanksgiving Day-Throwing Up---Oxymoron??

Well, this years Thanksgiving celebration has been very different....good for the scales but bad for tradition. To make a long story short....we have been sick here at the Holland patch for the entire Thanksgiving holiday---I have had a terrible bladder infection which included a high fever and throwing up, and Ty was throwing up simultaneously as he had picked up a stomach virus....this all started Wednesday night and last night Eric was up throwing up....we have spent today nursing him back to good health. Ugh...we missed all of our holiday plans....my brother came home and we have not seen him at all....Devan came from Toccoa with a friend from school....needless to say we haven't been very good "house hosts"....and Eric's sister and her family are here from Arkansas and we have only seen a little bit of them.

My precious husband has taken the kids and house over for several days while I rested...and Thanksgiving morning he told me "Happy Thanksgiving" and then reminded me that we had a lot to be thankful for...and we do... I obviously had a lot of time to reflect on the many blessings in our lives and there are so many that I take for granted.....but over and over I have had the reoccurring thought of how grateful I am that we were able to bring our little Cole home from the hospital. What a blessing he is to us....I am so grateful that he is ours to hold for a little while...

I hope that all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving celebrations!! I am sure that someone out there ate enough for me, too!!

MOOOVE over Chick-fil-A Cows...here come the Holland babies!!

Wednesday night was our Trunk or Treat at church...this year was a competition and so I flexed my creative muscles....but my husband beat me for first place as he was "Bubba" the mechanic with old, greasy clothes and "Bubba" teeth as well!! Oh well, it was cute....and I really do love Chick-fil-A!!! :)

Little Cole.....

Well, on the 29th Cole will be 2 months old!! I can't believe how he is growing!! He continues to do well--eating and sleeping...he is a great baby!!! His new trick is smiling...so cute!! Yesterday, he looked at me and smiled like "Momma!!" It just melts your heart!! He and Eric have frequent conversations with each other and Cole almost laughs at what Eric is saying!! He is just precious!! Sorry the pics are blurry....I don't know why they are...but his face was too cute to delete!! :)

the Corn Maize....

Yesterday we went to the Rock City Corn Maize with some friends from church. I was a little bit disappointed because the corn was dead....it wasn't full and tall like I expected. It was still fun..the babies enjoyed riding the "cow train" and the hay ride...they had the luxury of being carried through the maize...and of course Cole was tucked warm and cozy in his seat the entire time! Maybe next years crop will be better!!