and to all a good night...

Tonight we were checking the NORAD Santa tracker with Trevor.  We were listing off to him the places Santa was visiting and in the graphic, Santa and his reindeer started to fly over some water.  Trevor asks us, "Santa is going to the Navy ships too, right?"  Wow, little man gets it.

So as we are enjoying our together-again Christmas.  We are definitely taking the time to remember the men and women who aren't home enjoying the same with their loved ones, so that we can.

Twas the duty day before Christmas. ..

And all through the house, not one Navy brat was stirring.  Not even the (usually very squeaky) mouse.

Be still my Grinchy little heart....Miss O passes out after a long day under the Christmas tree.  Swoon.

Happy Birthday Tiff!

In honor of my sister-in-law Tiffni's birthday, I thought I'd share some photos of her and my brother-in-law Brian as he returned from Afghanistan this October.  Grab the tissues before you continue scrolling!  I am in no way a legit photographer (just an overzealous mom with a nice camera) so if anything, I am just moonlighting (hah! gotta pay for the Midtown tunnel toll somehow! ...kidding...i couldn't charge two nickels for this stuff)

Anyway, here we go:

Tiff got ready for her big reunion by spending the day with me and the kiddos...to include going to a pediatrician visit with Olivia and I where Miss O got shots.  Moral support, you know.

So Brian's Seabee unit came home through the Norfolk Space-A terminal.  Very, very different than the Navy homecomings I am used to.  You get to the terminal and wait at these dark windows, to basically see your loved one come off the plane and walk through this glass hallway, pray that you have a spot that they can see you as they walk though.....

and then you book it to the lower level of the airport where they actually come out of the secured zone and you are able to have your reunion.  For Brian and Tiff their reunion took place at the bottom of the stairs  (Thanks again Tiff for not taking the escalator, b/c these would have been ten times more blurry).  

This shot is my absolute favorite of the evening:

And after Tiff and Brian reunited, it was Trevor's turn to welcome his Uncle home.  

Yep, nope, they aren't related at all.  Goofballs.  

This was my first time ever attending a homecoming that I wasn't meeting Shaner at and let me tell you....regardless of whether it is your servicemember or not, the emotional high is still there.  No joke.  These photos are from the beginning of October and I still get choked up looking at them.  

Happy Birthday Tiffni!  Thank you for letting me capture these special moments for you and Bri.  

Quality v Quantity

We are supposed to strive for quality instead of focusing on quantity, correct?  Ah, I guess during the holiday season it depends on who you ask.  Major retailers push the more-more-more mentality, where the value of our holiday experience is based upon how much is spent on others and how much we receive.
I know I had set out to do a post a day between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and clearly that hasn't happened.....but really, that is because I have tried to focus on being present to people as much as I can.  I know that one happy reader from the cornfields does get a little disappointed (apparently my 'exciting' east coast life is riveting compared to the snowy frozen tundra she is currently facing--hah) when I don't post every day.  But right now, quality is taking priority over quantity....I am taking the time to soak up all the twinkly lights that shine back at me from their reflection in Olivia's eyes.  I am soaking up every snuggle that Trevor has to offer while we read Christmas books and watch holiday movies.  Once the kids are asleep, I can return to my rushed craziness between work and school where productivity and quantity do matter, but other than that, I am trying to just be present.

After all, quality has allowed for moments like these:

And in a peace offering for again bailing on a post-every day promise, I can promise that I have something exciting coming your way soon!  Hint:  Oprah   

Christmas Lights....

Saturday afternoon Shane finished putting up his Christmas lights for the year.  Thankfully, he has stopped trying to keep up with the Jones' when it comes to lights and has settled on a design that complements the style of our house and our big sitting porch instead of trying to make it feasible to land a 747 in our front yard.

He did though, make sure I noticed that our neighbors down the street added a few deer to their display this year.  I think he may have been trying to hint at something.  I think I may have decided to ignore the hints.

North Pole Breakfast

Saturday morning, our elf Franklin arrived from the North Pole to spend the rest of December with us.  He brought Trevor some Christmas books, as well as shared some recipes with Daddy for some of his favorite foods.  Shane followed the directions and a fun time was had by all!

Hijacked By a Man Dressed In Red

The Chapman household has been taken over by this character:

He promises to arrive tomorrow morning with a surprise.

Be back tomorrow to let you know what it was!!