The end of 2012

October through December came and went and I hardly posted at all.  I was in survival mode.  You know, when you shut down all superfluous activity and just try to make it one more day.

Everyday.

Ugh.

In early November, when bad got worse, and back pain... on top of sickness... on top of Britton being out of town... on top of parenting responsibilities (and did I mention that my kids were sick too!) was almost more than I could bare, my mother-in-law came to save the day and help us get back on our feet.  Thanks!

We don't seem to have pictures of that time...?

Thanksgiving came a couple of weeks later.  My parents came to town and we had dinner at our house with my friend, Cassandra, and her daughter, Celeste.  Again, we forgot to take group pictures... but here are our adorable kids:

Love Nathan's little smiles!

Celeste and Greyson

Greyson and Celeste "wave" to the camera.  Aiko wants to know why their hands always smell like milk, "where are they getting it from!!!"

I also found this picture on my camera which was taken sometime between Thanksgiving and late December... it's cute so I'll post it:

Brotherly love!

In late December, we were all relatively healthy for about 2 weeks, hooray!  During that time we went to a Christmas Party at the YMCA:

They had a bounce house!

And cookie decorating!

And cookie eating!

Good thing we got a family photo...

before his face was stained with delicious icing!  Who wants a kiss?!

Then Christmas came and I was sick.  Again.  The kids too.  Britton was working 24 on, 24 off for four days (immediately following two weeks of 6 night shifts/week) and then two 15 hour day shifts before he finally had vacation on December 28th!

This was a tough Christmas, alone and sick with two little kids.  Next year, I'll just hope for health and a bag of coal, a considerable upgrade! ;-)  Still we were all together for a bit and Nathan got to open a couple of presents for him and for Greyson.

In our hearts, we know what's important to us.  It's not presents under a tree or celebrating on a certain day.  It's enjoying our friends and family whenever we can see them and giving each other daily gifts (love, kindness, respect, patience, empathy, a shoulder, an ear, a laugh - these are a few of my favorite things!) We are truly thankful for our little family and for all the love we share.

But I think we were too tired to take pictures! ;-)