Christmas open house

Today your parents hosted a great open house at their new beautiful place.  The food was delicious and the company even better.  Unfortunately my pictures are awful, but I was blessed to see your parents, your sis, your nephew, aunt Joanie, Aunt Wendy, friends and more.  You have the best family!  I had a great time talking with your Uncle Allen for the first time too.  It is not hard to see when I am surrounded by your remarkable family just how you became you - not sure if it was nature, nurture or a killer combo of the two. . but you had no choice but to be remarkable, hard working, loving and optimistic - or they might not have let you stick around!

 GREEN CRAP!!! Your favorite!!  Love this stuff!!

 And your daddy with his big guns and big turkey knife!!!

Your Aunt Wendy said she still checks this blog every morning. . boy did I feel so sheepish I was so behind!!  Tis the season for ca-razy!!!

I stopped by your old place for the first time in months and months!!  You wouldn't believe everything Ben and Marina have done- from furniture to Venetian plaster to paint - to new flooring. . they are going to town I tell ya!!  It might not be quite your mansion in the sky but it is looking just gorgeous.  They are anxious to see Marina's boys who fly in tomorrow!  They are ready to feel like a complete family unit.  Did I tell you that Marina is expecting a little boy?  Ben thought for sure it was a little girl, but God has other plans I guess.  Must admit I never though Ben would have more kiddos than the rest of us!  I can't wait to meet this new squishy soul!!

Christmas Family Time!!

This year Lans we have be blessed with Josh (Ben's Bro) and T Iffy and their girls in town! It had been two years since their last visit- shortly before your diagnosis.  So we have partied it up!  And sadly did not capture any photos from the party last weekend where we celebrated Ben's birthday!  I'm losing it!

But this weekend we had our annual Nativity with the kiddos where we sang and read Luke 2.  Andrew was not overly thrilled about the whole costume thing, so Matthew represented your fam as one of the three wise guys.  He did such a great job at his part mama. 

 With the help of these angels, how could he not?

 5/6 siblings were here and some of our first cousins as well with their kids.

 I go nuts for wise man butts.  Andrew took a look at baby Jesus too. . .:)

It was a fun night full or hymns, food, family and laughs!  I love our family!!

Kidnapping fun!

So the wonderful thing about having a long-time friend (Miss Cynthia)  watching your boys is that when I am just aching for them, I can stop in to her house and love on them or steal them for a bit!!  

My J was so excited to see Matthew and Andrew!  We started our date with a little picnic in the park.  The boys had so much fun, but it was one of those moments for me when missing you just hurt a little more than usual and I just watched those gorgeous boys of yours with tears streaming down my face.  They have so much of you in them, and truthfully the best of them was the best of you!    Matthew got your inner energizer bunny and just runs around a million miles a minute with a smile on his face laughing like crazy. And An-juice of course your sweet face and your peaceful countenance.  He is such a gentle giant that boy of yours!!!  

I so enjoy being with them.  

 Then we decided to go and see Santa.  Andrew was  a little bit timid, but Matthew hopped on up.  When Santa asked if he was a good boy he said, "Nope!  I'm a bad boy!!" then proceeded to laugh that darling euphoric giggle - such a funny monkey pants!  Santa gave them some candy cane so I brought him back to Cynthia all covered in sticky!  Whoopsie!!  I love your boys!!!  Be proud mama!  They are doing sooooo well!!  

Special birthday coming up!

Marina just sent this darling text:

"Andrew and I having a special "One on one" day due to his coming birthday.  We went to the store and he picked his toy, now we are in the restaurant having a special lunch :).  I had this tradition with my boys, each gets a special day for their birthday and I am going to continue this with the little ones and probably include Ben. . . if he will behave. . hahaha. . . "

"We are trying silly faces :)  He is adorable. . . no doubt about that!!!"