Our Finley Christmas Eve and Morning

This was the first year we spent Christmas Eve just the four of us. It was actually really laid back and nice (no offense to our other family members).

Emma and I made homemade sugar cookies for Santa!Jameson gave me kisses while we made the cookies
After a yummy dinner, we decorated our cookies with buttercream frosting and sprinkles

Emma was really excited about Santa visting this year. She came into our room Christmas morning and whispered in our ears "Merry Christmas." I thought it was too cute that she was respectful of us sleeping, and she didn't yell her head off.

Here is Jameson with his new cell phone, fortunately Santa new he was wanting to use ours all of the time, so he brought J one so he would stop using ours ; ) Yea, he still wants to use ours!

See the Barbie and the Diamond Castle in the background? In Emma's words, "it's gynormous!"

How on earth did Santa ever fit it on his sleigh? Personally I wish he would have left it at the North Pole, I really don't know how we are going to make room for all of this stuff!

Anyways, Maddie is sitting nicely for the treats that Santa brought her, he is so thoughtful!

Checking out their toys, Christmas is so much fun!

Posing in their PJ's

Emma and Jameson ready to go to AA's house (will be in next post)

Lots of fun this Christmas Season

We have had so much fun during this month of December, and I haven't had much time to make posts, so here is a recap of the past few weeks. December 6th, Emma, Jameson and I had breakfast with....SANTA!!! We had a fabulous meal, got to see an elf make neato balloon creations like candy canes, reindeer, snowmen...so entertaining. And the big man himself came around to all of the tables and talked to the kiddos.

Emma and Jameson at our table

Where is Santa?

I want Barbie and the Diamond Castle, and a Snow Globe

Emma says "I've been a good girl", Jameson says "who are you and where did you come from?"

Last weekend, the 13th, we headed down to Medical City for the Heart-n-Hands Christmas Party. It is so much fun to see all of the kiddos doing so well. We also had an opportunity to meet another family who is about to have a baby boy in February with HLHS. I hope we encouraged them by letting them see how well Jameson is doing. I also met a mom whose little boy Maverick has been in the picu for 15 weeks. He is having a difficult time coming off of the ventilator, so please say a prayer for him. They live in Oklahoma and have 3 more children at home. They were in the hospital for Thanksgiving so my prayer is they will ALL be home for Christmas. After talking with her, I counted my many blessings.

Jameson and Nurse Stacy (one of our faves!)

They had so many fun booths, like caricatures and face painting. Radio Disney was there with lots of fun activities and gifts!
Smile for Santa! Not so much...J had a big block of cheese in his mouth!

Jameson and his awesome surgeon, Dr. Mendeloff. We are so thankful for this man!

J and nurse Kim. Another favorite nurse, he kept giving her kisses.

J and Kathy. Dr. M's right hand woman.

Finally yesterday, Emma had her school presentation of Christmas around the World. Our country was Mexico. Thank you Kimberly for helping get all of the authentic Mexican stuff we were able to share with the class. First Emma gave a presentation of how they celebrate in Mexico. She did awesome, my girl is reading from note cards!!! I don't think I learned how to read until 2nd grade? She wasn't flenching at words like unique and traditions!!! Then we had King Cake (not worthy of a picture although it could be on the worst cake blog) and finally everyone had their shot a the pinata! Another thanks to my neighbor Jenny, she totally helped me pull this off! She helped keep J quite during the presentation, helped me video, hang the pinata, and took this great picture of Emma!

Emma giving it her best shot!!!

Happy Birthday Blake!

Today would have been my nephew Blake's second birthday. He was born on December 7, 2006. After 3 months and 9 days of having this precious miracle in our lives, he was tragically taken by SIDS. I want Emma and Jameson to remember their sweet cousin, that is why I am sharing this story on their blog. It's hard to make sense of why God takes little babies and children, although I know all things are for His glory. Today I found my own way of making sense of it and here's what I came up with. Babies are a little piece of Heaven, and Heaven is the most wonderful, perfect place. If there were no babies in Heaven, to me, that would make Heaven less than perfect. I know Blake is up there making some of the older ones smile, so that is what I will cling to until I see him again one day. Happy Birthday sweet boy, we will never forget you!

9 days old

Emma 4 years, Blake 2 months

2 months

3 months 8 days