OK, one more post for today! I was just typing in the books we've been opening and reading on our Advent list over to the right ... and could not believe how crazy that we are using two totally different books and yet they are both teaching about The Star tonight!!
What are the chances that it would line up so perfectly like that? I love when God aligns really cool stuff like that to happen!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Little Christmas Moments around our house ...
OK so these are not so much traditions, as in something we do every year ... but rather some fun little happenings around our house in the past few days.
Keep in mind these little moments have happened in the midst of all the sickness that has been going on around here. After all, Christmas doesn't wait for sickness to go away so we'd better make the most of the moments while they're here!
Thursday - the girl scout troop made almost 60 cards for military personell and their families!
The girls then came home with a desire for card making and have been making Christmas cards ever since. Who are they making them for? Everyone they can think of!
Saturday - we made our first Advent wreath with some greens from the yard and some candles from Walmart. The purple candles represent hope, peace & love, the pink represents joy and the white represents Jesus Christ.
Saturday - we made SNOW! ...well, not the real stuff but this really cool non-toxic stuff you mix with water that grows to a huge bowlful of snow! The girls and I had fun sprinkling it all around the decorations that are around the house.
I let the girls use this little houses and figures as their own little area. They were allowed to set them up as they wished and decorate any way they wanted. It looks kind of festive with the snow!
My nativities got some snow too!
Today - the girls and Daddy opened Christmas coloring books (from our book tradition) and spent the afternoon coloring pictures together.
Also, since we've done a lot of laying around with sick bellies this weekend - we watched some great Christmas movies together ... Shrek the Halls & The Polar Express. And we're still reading lots of books from under our tree every night! Yesterday the girls opened a fun book called "365 things to make and do" - filled with lots of crafts and projects - right up their alley!
More fun coming as the month moves on ...
Keep in mind these little moments have happened in the midst of all the sickness that has been going on around here. After all, Christmas doesn't wait for sickness to go away so we'd better make the most of the moments while they're here!
Thursday - the girl scout troop made almost 60 cards for military personell and their families!
The girls then came home with a desire for card making and have been making Christmas cards ever since. Who are they making them for? Everyone they can think of!
Saturday - we made our first Advent wreath with some greens from the yard and some candles from Walmart. The purple candles represent hope, peace & love, the pink represents joy and the white represents Jesus Christ.
Saturday - we made SNOW! ...well, not the real stuff but this really cool non-toxic stuff you mix with water that grows to a huge bowlful of snow! The girls and I had fun sprinkling it all around the decorations that are around the house.
I let the girls use this little houses and figures as their own little area. They were allowed to set them up as they wished and decorate any way they wanted. It looks kind of festive with the snow!
My nativities got some snow too!
Today - the girls and Daddy opened Christmas coloring books (from our book tradition) and spent the afternoon coloring pictures together.Also, since we've done a lot of laying around with sick bellies this weekend - we watched some great Christmas movies together ... Shrek the Halls & The Polar Express. And we're still reading lots of books from under our tree every night! Yesterday the girls opened a fun book called "365 things to make and do" - filled with lots of crafts and projects - right up their alley!
More fun coming as the month moves on ...
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Update
OK the 24 hour bug was a lot more like a 72 hour bug ... so all day Saturday I thought I was feeling better until the middle of the night when J was starting with the stomach bug - which made me get sick all over again!
I was seriously in shock over how I could have felt better one minute and be right back in the throws of it the next! My amazing hubby took care of J so I didn't feel more sick and took care of everything around the house all day.
So today was somewhat of a lost day - with two of us sick we decided it was best to keep our germs contained and no one went to church.
On the bright side ... today was the first beautiful morning that we woke up to SNOW! H (who had no idea what a rough night of sickness and sleeplessness we'd had) came bounding into our room this morning totally dressed from head to toe in her winter wear! "When can we go out and play in it?!" she exclaimed. So even though Bob had pretty much no sleep and cleaned up after two sick people all night he took H out to play in the snow. What an awesome Daddy!
I am slowly feeling better, bit by bit ... and hoping for a good night of sleep tonight. J seems to be a little better too, not throwing up anymore but still somewhat feverish and lethargic. Now we wait to see if the other two get sick ....
I was seriously in shock over how I could have felt better one minute and be right back in the throws of it the next! My amazing hubby took care of J so I didn't feel more sick and took care of everything around the house all day.
So today was somewhat of a lost day - with two of us sick we decided it was best to keep our germs contained and no one went to church.
On the bright side ... today was the first beautiful morning that we woke up to SNOW! H (who had no idea what a rough night of sickness and sleeplessness we'd had) came bounding into our room this morning totally dressed from head to toe in her winter wear! "When can we go out and play in it?!" she exclaimed. So even though Bob had pretty much no sleep and cleaned up after two sick people all night he took H out to play in the snow. What an awesome Daddy!
I am slowly feeling better, bit by bit ... and hoping for a good night of sleep tonight. J seems to be a little better too, not throwing up anymore but still somewhat feverish and lethargic. Now we wait to see if the other two get sick ....
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Christmas Tradition #3
Our third Christmas tradition is all about Christmas cards, letters or photos. We always like to send something out to all our friends and family. Some years we've written a letter, some years we've sent a card, and we almost always send a photo of our family or of just the girls.
This year we opted to type a Christmas letter and do a photo collage for our picture. We're sending out nearly a hundred letters - we have so many friends and family - especially so many that live far away. We know this doesn't substitute for seeing people in real life, but it's a nice way to catch up at least once a year.
And we also love receiving Christmas cards and photos ... hint, hint!
This year we opted to type a Christmas letter and do a photo collage for our picture. We're sending out nearly a hundred letters - we have so many friends and family - especially so many that live far away. We know this doesn't substitute for seeing people in real life, but it's a nice way to catch up at least once a year.
And we also love receiving Christmas cards and photos ... hint, hint!
From sickness to SWEEEEETTTT deals ...
OK, I'm just getting over a nasty 24 hour stomach bug. ICK, hate those things! I won't even go into ANY details as I'm sure you do NOT want to know them!
So, today I was still a bit groggy, achy and sore all over so I went to see the Chiropractor. Just getting all those kinks worked out seems to help me feel a lot better.
On our way home we stopped at this discount store - it's like one of those overstock places (I think in other states they are called BIG LOTS?). Anyway, the girls and I found this awesomely sweet deal on a Hooked on Phonics spanish program! It typically retails for $250, but since HOP has a sale going they've marked it to $99 ... but at this store I got the whole kit for $19.99!!!!!!!!!!!! woohoooooo!
I also saw some really cool gifts for the girls but since they were with my I'll have to go back another day. Gotta love those bargains!
.
So, today I was still a bit groggy, achy and sore all over so I went to see the Chiropractor. Just getting all those kinks worked out seems to help me feel a lot better.
On our way home we stopped at this discount store - it's like one of those overstock places (I think in other states they are called BIG LOTS?). Anyway, the girls and I found this awesomely sweet deal on a Hooked on Phonics spanish program! It typically retails for $250, but since HOP has a sale going they've marked it to $99 ... but at this store I got the whole kit for $19.99!!!!!!!!!!!! woohoooooo!
I also saw some really cool gifts for the girls but since they were with my I'll have to go back another day. Gotta love those bargains!
.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Christmas Tradition #2
In keeping with our Christmas traditions series I want to share the next thing we do every year. Our next tradition is putting up our Christmas tree and decorating the house. We do have a fake tree, we've had it for about 8 years. We talked about getting a real one this year but decided to save ourselves the money and just use what we had.
We do this sometime around or after Thanksgiving. Some years when we've been away for Thanksgiving we have put it up before but most years we do it the weekend after.
Anyway, usually Bob and the girls put together the tree. It's a long, tedious process where you have to sort through all the different sized branches, figure out where they go on the tree, and then fluff and spread out all the little branch pieces. The girls are fabulous helpers for Daddy.
While they do the tree, I do most of the rest of the house. I have lots of snowmen and way too many Christmas decorations ... so it takes me awhile to get them all situated just right. Of course I forgot to take photos of the finished product - so I'll have to add them to another post. but for now you can see the tree in progress by Daddy and the girls ...
We do this sometime around or after Thanksgiving. Some years when we've been away for Thanksgiving we have put it up before but most years we do it the weekend after.
Anyway, usually Bob and the girls put together the tree. It's a long, tedious process where you have to sort through all the different sized branches, figure out where they go on the tree, and then fluff and spread out all the little branch pieces. The girls are fabulous helpers for Daddy.
While they do the tree, I do most of the rest of the house. I have lots of snowmen and way too many Christmas decorations ... so it takes me awhile to get them all situated just right. Of course I forgot to take photos of the finished product - so I'll have to add them to another post. but for now you can see the tree in progress by Daddy and the girls ...
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Traditions continued ...
Christmas traditions have begun in our household! As I spoke of in this post
we always open a book a day for the month of December. We missed Dec. 1st because I was so not prepared for December to come so soon, so we started yesterday on the 2nd. We opened two books that day and I've decided we'll start a list on the right side bar. If you are interested in any of the books we post about let me know and I can give you more details. We have some really cool books we're going to open.
The ADVENTure of Christmas is one of my favorites from last year. It's written by Lisa Welchel and it helps children find Jesus in each of our holiday traditions. I loved it last year and I love it again this year! ADOREnaments is a new book to us which goes through 12 different names of Jesus. Immanuuel, Light of the World, The True Vine, etc ... each day you read about a name of Jesus and put the ornament on the tree.
SO keep watching our list and see what we've been reading each day! Hope you are enjoying your own family traditions!
we always open a book a day for the month of December. We missed Dec. 1st because I was so not prepared for December to come so soon, so we started yesterday on the 2nd. We opened two books that day and I've decided we'll start a list on the right side bar. If you are interested in any of the books we post about let me know and I can give you more details. We have some really cool books we're going to open.
The ADVENTure of Christmas is one of my favorites from last year. It's written by Lisa Welchel and it helps children find Jesus in each of our holiday traditions. I loved it last year and I love it again this year! ADOREnaments is a new book to us which goes through 12 different names of Jesus. Immanuuel, Light of the World, The True Vine, etc ... each day you read about a name of Jesus and put the ornament on the tree.
SO keep watching our list and see what we've been reading each day! Hope you are enjoying your own family traditions!
12 Years!
This past Sunday my wonderful husband and I celebrated 12 years of wedded bliss! I'm so thankful for our marriage, I'm thankful for him, and I'm thankful that we've had 12 healthy, happy years together. On Monday we went out to one of my favorite restaurants to celebrate. My Mom was gracious enough to watch the girls for us. It was a perfect evening.
I love you hon!
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving 2008. Seems like a total blur already! Time just passes way too fast in my opinion.
Well first I feel like I owe an explanation. I was adding to my days of thanks every day last week leading up to Thanksgiving day. On the day before I was writing about my friends and trying to add pictures ... all of the sudden I felt terribly ill. I already had a head cold but I got that yucky feeling like I was going to hurl. (sorry if that is TMI!). Anyway, since the photos weren't loading anyway I quickly pressed publish and ran for the bathroom.
I ended up being fine, I think the cold just hit me hard that day and since I'd had nothing to eat and a couple cups of coffee already it just upset my stomach. Anyway, I never got to finish my thankful list! On Thanksgiving day I was so busy with everyone here that I had no time to finish. So on Thanksgiving day I was going to say that I am thankful for my family. Not just my hubby and kids that I've already mentioned - but the extended family. And Thanksgiving day was the perfect day to talk about that because many of them were here!
I also have a confession to make ... I was a terrible photographer this weekend. I took maybe 6 photos the whole time and missed tons of opportunities to take lovely photos to remember this blessed holiday. Honestly sometimes it's just to hard to always be the one to take all the pictures. Instead I was busy preparing and hosting - but even more than that I was busy visiting and talking and catching up with people. I really enjoyed the time spent - even if I do have very little photos to show for it.
So, back to being thankful for family. We are blessed beyond measure that both of our families live fairly close to us. Bob's parents, Robin & Dan, live about 20 minutes from us. We see them every week, sometimes multiple times a week, and they are very involved in our lives.
My Mom, Barb, also lives 20 min from here, in the same town as Robin & Dan. It has been such a blessing to have her living nearby after so many years when my parents lived in FL. My Mom is one of my closest friends and I love being able to call her up or stop by her house anytime. We share books, exchange clothes, trade household items, etc ... It is truly wonderful to have her nearby. All of our parents attend the same church as us. That is another wonderful blessing.
My brother, Matt, and niece Becca live about 2 hours away. Becca is the same age as Jilly so it's always fun when we get the 3 girls together. They come down to visit about once a month or every other month. Every time they do the girls are ecstatic!
Bob's brother Dan, his wife Kristen, and their boys Thomas, Jonathon and Andrew all live about 1 hour and 40 min from here. The boys are similar ages to our girls and just like Becca the girls always love when they come to visit and play.
Bob's youngest brother Aaron and his wife Glenna also live about 2 hours away. It's great when everyone comes to visit - the kids all play together and the adults all enjoy hanging out and catching up.
We also have many extended aunts, uncles and cousins. This year we were able to see several of them that came from New Jersey and New Hampshire. My 89 year old Grandfather also came up which was great.
Since we had such a large number of people between my family and Bob's ... we split up for dinner. My Mom hosted dinner at her home with my side of the family, and I hosted dinner here with Bob's side of the family. We met up together for a fall hike, and then later in the evening everyone came here to my house for dessert (25 people in all!)
Anyway, here are a few photos ...
This is the group that met up for a hike before the big meal - a few people stayed back at the house so not everyone is pictured. From left to right - Bob's brother Dan w/ Andrew on his shoulders, Kristen, Bob, Glenna, Robin, Dan, me in front, my Uncle Bob in back, my Uncle Randy, Matt, my cousin Rick, Rick's girlfriend Ashley. In front are the kids - J, H, Thomas, Jonathon, my cousin Megan, Becca.
A cute shot of the kids all winding down with a movie - Becca, J, H, Megan, Thomas ...
And the two little boys all snuggled up on another chair - Jonathon & Andrew ...
Even the two dogs snuggled up together at the end of the night - Bette (Glenna's dog) and Casey (our dog).
I can't seem to express myself well in words lately (my brain is fried!) but I am truly thankful for all of our family, the local ones and the long distance ones!!
Well first I feel like I owe an explanation. I was adding to my days of thanks every day last week leading up to Thanksgiving day. On the day before I was writing about my friends and trying to add pictures ... all of the sudden I felt terribly ill. I already had a head cold but I got that yucky feeling like I was going to hurl. (sorry if that is TMI!). Anyway, since the photos weren't loading anyway I quickly pressed publish and ran for the bathroom.
I ended up being fine, I think the cold just hit me hard that day and since I'd had nothing to eat and a couple cups of coffee already it just upset my stomach. Anyway, I never got to finish my thankful list! On Thanksgiving day I was so busy with everyone here that I had no time to finish. So on Thanksgiving day I was going to say that I am thankful for my family. Not just my hubby and kids that I've already mentioned - but the extended family. And Thanksgiving day was the perfect day to talk about that because many of them were here!
I also have a confession to make ... I was a terrible photographer this weekend. I took maybe 6 photos the whole time and missed tons of opportunities to take lovely photos to remember this blessed holiday. Honestly sometimes it's just to hard to always be the one to take all the pictures. Instead I was busy preparing and hosting - but even more than that I was busy visiting and talking and catching up with people. I really enjoyed the time spent - even if I do have very little photos to show for it.
So, back to being thankful for family. We are blessed beyond measure that both of our families live fairly close to us. Bob's parents, Robin & Dan, live about 20 minutes from us. We see them every week, sometimes multiple times a week, and they are very involved in our lives.
My Mom, Barb, also lives 20 min from here, in the same town as Robin & Dan. It has been such a blessing to have her living nearby after so many years when my parents lived in FL. My Mom is one of my closest friends and I love being able to call her up or stop by her house anytime. We share books, exchange clothes, trade household items, etc ... It is truly wonderful to have her nearby. All of our parents attend the same church as us. That is another wonderful blessing.
My brother, Matt, and niece Becca live about 2 hours away. Becca is the same age as Jilly so it's always fun when we get the 3 girls together. They come down to visit about once a month or every other month. Every time they do the girls are ecstatic!
Bob's brother Dan, his wife Kristen, and their boys Thomas, Jonathon and Andrew all live about 1 hour and 40 min from here. The boys are similar ages to our girls and just like Becca the girls always love when they come to visit and play.
Bob's youngest brother Aaron and his wife Glenna also live about 2 hours away. It's great when everyone comes to visit - the kids all play together and the adults all enjoy hanging out and catching up.
We also have many extended aunts, uncles and cousins. This year we were able to see several of them that came from New Jersey and New Hampshire. My 89 year old Grandfather also came up which was great.
Since we had such a large number of people between my family and Bob's ... we split up for dinner. My Mom hosted dinner at her home with my side of the family, and I hosted dinner here with Bob's side of the family. We met up together for a fall hike, and then later in the evening everyone came here to my house for dessert (25 people in all!)
Anyway, here are a few photos ...
This is the group that met up for a hike before the big meal - a few people stayed back at the house so not everyone is pictured. From left to right - Bob's brother Dan w/ Andrew on his shoulders, Kristen, Bob, Glenna, Robin, Dan, me in front, my Uncle Bob in back, my Uncle Randy, Matt, my cousin Rick, Rick's girlfriend Ashley. In front are the kids - J, H, Thomas, Jonathon, my cousin Megan, Becca.
A cute shot of the kids all winding down with a movie - Becca, J, H, Megan, Thomas ...
And the two little boys all snuggled up on another chair - Jonathon & Andrew ...
Even the two dogs snuggled up together at the end of the night - Bette (Glenna's dog) and Casey (our dog).
I can't seem to express myself well in words lately (my brain is fried!) but I am truly thankful for all of our family, the local ones and the long distance ones!!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Giving Thanks - day five
OK for some reason blogger is having issues with trying to upload my photos today! grrrrr....
Anyway, today I am so thankful for our friends! We are truly blessed beyond measure to have lots and lots of friends in our lives. I have friends that live near and friends that live far - even as far as on the other side of the country or in another country (Canada).
The girls are blessed with lots of wonderful friends too. Friends from church, from girl scouts, from Awana, friends that live far away who used to live near here.
We've had quite a few friends that have moved far away and it's always amazing to me that when we see these friends again we just seem to pick up right where we left off! It's like we were never apart! The bonds of friendship go on and on despite the miles between us.
I have lots of neat pictures of our friends too, just wish I could get them to upload here! I'll have to try again later ...
Anyway, today I am so thankful for our friends! We are truly blessed beyond measure to have lots and lots of friends in our lives. I have friends that live near and friends that live far - even as far as on the other side of the country or in another country (Canada).
The girls are blessed with lots of wonderful friends too. Friends from church, from girl scouts, from Awana, friends that live far away who used to live near here.
We've had quite a few friends that have moved far away and it's always amazing to me that when we see these friends again we just seem to pick up right where we left off! It's like we were never apart! The bonds of friendship go on and on despite the miles between us.
I have lots of neat pictures of our friends too, just wish I could get them to upload here! I'll have to try again later ...
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