Christmas Joy

 Christmas is here, Glory to the newborn King!

Our month has been busy.  I enjoy all the traditions and activities that come along during Christmas time, but I'm also looking forward to the slower, quieter days that follow with the New Year.

I don't want to forget -

Taking the girls to school for their annual Breakfast with Santa.

Abigail didn't want her picture with Santa this year but after her 3rd grade teacher offered up 5 paw prints to do it, she was game.

We got our Christmas tree a little earlier than usual.  The man told us these trees last up to 8 weeks, J came home and said well we only need it to last 3 of the 8.  And so far it's held up well, not too dead yet. 

Beverly sent the girls a computer advent.  Each day they unlock another part of the Christmas town.  They've had fun doing the new days activity.  I love the snowman they created to represent themselves.

I bought a bunch of felt heart ornaments last year after Christmas and this year made them into a banner to hang over the fireplace.  I think next year I want to make a paper banner that says "joy to the world" or " the Lord has come" or something.  My stocking might hide it so maybe I'll divide it and put half the saying on each side of the fireplace on a bookshelf.

I also want to remember how and where Ash sets up her own nativity scene.  This year she's kept it right in front of the fireplace.

The first graders and Kindergartners put on a Christmas program, they did How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  Ash had a speaking part she said, "and the Grinch with his Grinch feet, ice-cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling."

It was a very cute program!  

Abigail is in the school choir this year.  The choir also was a part and sang a couple song in the beginning.  Christmas Feud was Abigail's favorite song.  You can actually still catch her singing it around the house.

We had a little snow.  Thankfully it came on a Saturday and the girls played in it all day long.  We're really hoping we get a white Christmas this year!

One of my favorite Sundays of the year is the Children's Christmas Program at church.  I love listening to our children sing praises to our King.  And the story they tell is so important, how a baby came to bring light to the world.

A favorite tradition of mine is getting together with my sweet friends (friends that God put in my life so many years ago) for our annual cookie decorating party.  I am so thankful for these beautiful, Christian women and I love that our children are growing up as friends too.

The talk around the house has been about Beyblades.  After Luke introduced the girls to them that's all they've thought about.  The girls were so thrilled to get beyblades from the boys.  I always get a little chocked up thinking about the special relationship these 5 have.  They consider each other family.  And I do too.

School days were busy.  Especially that last week.  The girls came home with many cute projects. Abigail had a gingerbread decorating afternoon with all the 4th graders.  Ash had a pajama day - filled with watching Polar Express, eating popcorn balls, and doing a book exchange.  Abigail was given an award at the assembly for respecting others.  Her class had a pancake breakfast and watched Home Alone.

One evening we drove over to see some Christmas lights we had heard about.  It was the best lights we've ever seen.  Christmas lights to music is very cool.

We celebrated Christmas with my sister yesterday.  The time with her and her family was nice and I was so happy to see them!  But it's sad to think that after spending 33 Christmases with my sister this year we wont be together. Maybe that's why I've been so teary today.  I cried as Jason said goodbye and told him I didn't know why I was crying but as I write it out now I know.  

I understand how it has come to be this way but it still is hard and makes me sad.

I don't want to leave on a sad note because I do see joy all around me - like the joy of watching my 2 girls together. 

Merry Christmas!

Cowgirls and Indians!

I knew after Ash got her cowboy boots for her birthday that she'd make a cute cowgirl for Halloween.  Abigail wanted to be a nerd but I convinced her that she'd make a great Indian girl so she's saving being a nerd for next year.

The only costume I had to work on was Abigail's.  Thanks Melissa for helping me gather all the supplies and thanks mom for helping me pull it all together.  Abigail was worried there for a bit but was happy with it after seeing it all pulled together.  And a happy 9 year old makes for a happy momma!

Halloween day was super busy.  There was a costume parade at their school and then class parties to attend.  Thankfully the kids get out of school early on Wednesdays, so there was time to come home for a little bit of down time before heading out to get take some pictures. 

 Of course we also needed one of all 5 kids too!

After pictures we took the kids to trick or treat at one of our favorite neighbors, Tanda.  It was so nice to see her, we sure do miss her living right next to us!

Then it was dinner and time to head out!  The weather was perfect.  The kids were oh so excited.  They started off running from house to house.  Now that the kids are older were able to cover a whole lot more ground.  When we got back the first thing the girls did was dump out all their candy and count it, they each had over 100 pieces.  I'd say it was another successful year of trick or treating!

Celebrated!

We had another fun year celebrating the fourth with friends and family.

My sister, Mick and the kids came out to swim with us,

(i'm bummed i didn't get a family pic)

 we went to Garrett's Avengers birthday party,

and topped off the day with shooting off fireworks with the boys!

Father's Day Recap

Father's day was the last day of J's 10 day vacation.  

It has been so nice having him home with us this past week.  

For his special day we

went to church

ate lunch at Baja Fresh

took him miniature golfing

swam at the pool

and grilled steak and potatoes for dinner

This was our first time miniature golfing with the girls.  The last time J and I went was when we first started dated, 12 years ago.  The girls had lots of fun.  Ash got 2 holes in one.  And I'm thankful we didn't keep score, I'm sure it would of showed I lost.

 The girls sure do love their dad and I couldn't have asked for a better a father for my children.

Thanks for all that you do for us J, we love you!

a day for moms

i had such a nice mother's day/weekend.

jason had to work on sunday but had saturday off and made that my mother's day.

he made me coffee, cooked breakfast and cleaned the kitchen.  he even let me open my mother's day present early, which shocked me and i got what i wanted, thanks j!  he ordered chinese for dinner and brought me home a snickers ice cream bar for dessert.  it was perfect.

sunday morning the girls came down to give me big hugs and tell me happy mother's day.

j had a sweet card for me and ash gave me the present she'd made at school.  her little letter to me was so nice, i am so loved.  abigail wanted to wait and give me my present at my sister's house. it was a bouquet of flowers and note that she had made at school.

j helped me get the girls ready for church and pack up everything i was taking to my sisters.  i got a couple dings on my phone and saw he had text me a couple sweet notes.  i responded and told him thanks.  then after church i had 3 more text on my phone.  some would say love, ash or abigail.  i asked abigail if dad had talked to her about sending me texts messages.  she denied knowing anything.  i finally text j back and asked what was going on.  he told me he had it set up to send me little love notes all day long from him and the girls. the girls wouldn't let on to knowing anything about it and at the end of the day ash asked if i got all my notes.  j said that even though he wasn't with me on mother's day that he wanted me to know he was still thinking of me.  now is that sweet or what!  i have the most thoughtful husband.  the text messages came every hour.  i loved it, it was the best mother's day gift.

we spent the afternoon at my sister's house.  we ate, played croquet and somehow the girls talked grandma into taking them swimming at the athletic club.

it was a perfect day, i am so thankful i got to spend it with my mom and sister.

A Hopping Easter Weekend

Saturday

 It started off with pancakes drizzled in coconut syrup.  Jason has talked to the girls and I about coconut syrup on pancakes for like forever.  We've looked for it here locally but could never find it.  While his mom was in Hawaii she picked some up for him, isn't that sweet.  And Jason was right, it was delicious!

Then we moved right into coloring Easter eggs,

next we we hit the Kuna Easter Egg Hunt,

 and then headed over to Abigail's soccer game.

This was all before 11am.

Sunday

We went to church and celebrated our risen Savior,

and over to my mom's for lunch with my grandparents and sister.

We had another Easter egg hunt, and

a badminton competition - Clay put us all on the bracket, I ended up playing my dad in the final game and guess who won?

And then it was time to celebrate our birthday girl!

I'm so glad Beverly came and was here to celebrate Easter and Abigail's birthday with us, it made it extra special this year.

Hello Twenty Twelve

Happy New Year!

The girls and I rang in the new year watching Little House on the Prairie.  We're in season 8 now, it's the years when Mrs Olsen adopts a daughter, Nancy, and she's just like Nellie and Laura is all grown up and having children.  

Jason had New Year's day off, we went to church and out for lunch and then came home to hang out together and enjoy the last day of Christmas break. 

One of my new year resolutions is to eat more salad.  I want to have a green salad at more of our dinners, there are just so many more nutrients in your vegetables when you don't cook them. So, guess what we had with dinner last night? ;o)

 I saw this on pinterest the other day

(source)

and it convicted me.  

Am I giving thanks always? for all things?

I ran across this post and loved the idea but then more recently I saw her talk about this app and liked the idea of that too!

Basically, I've decided it's a great year to keep track of and record one of the gifts I receive each day.  I hope that in doing this it will open my eyes to the many blessing the Lord gives me and how much I have to be thankful for.

1 Thes 5:18

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

I have to share what Abigail told me, she said one of her New Year resolutions is to be nicer to her sister, how sweet is that.

And Ash told me last night that she wants to be baptized.

It's going to be a great 2012!

Bewitched

Fireworks with Friends

7.4.11

We had a fun night celebrating the 4th with the boys.

*I love that the boys all had red mustaches

*Abigail's favorite firework was the torpedo, I think (I'll check with her when she gets back home)

*Cody knew all the names of the fireworks

*Ryan would use his sparkler to catch fire to other fireworks

*Ash had a smoke bomb land at her feet

*The new neighbor boy shared his fireworks with us

*Ash said her feet hurt and so she needed a drink, an excuse to go inside Melissa's house

*Luke couldn't wait to light the blood sucker, their $20 grand finale firework

*We didn't tell the kids we were lighting off a string of black cats, you should have seen all their faces. (Melissa and I both tried to get a picture of their reaction but missed it)

*Jason would just all of a sudden set off a fire cracker, scaring us half to death

*Ashy loved the sparklers, Abigail didn't

*Ash covered her ears a lot

*Fighting tanks were a big thing this year

*The kids enjoyed every minute of it!

Father's Day Weekend

This year for Father's Day my mom and dad treated the family to a weekend stay in Cascade, it was a great little getaway.  

Saturday the guys took the kids out fishing, while the girls went to town to shop around as we waited to get the cabin key.  It was a cold rainy day but that didn't bother anyone.  Mom and dad's boat has a cover on it and a heater.  Plus it didn't matter how crummy the weather was, the fishing was great!  Jason said it was so easy to catch fish that he'd drop the line in the water while trying to untangle the girls fishing line and they'd end up catching a fish.  That's some good fishing.

Sunday morning we woke up to a partly cloudy day, and after a big breakfast we all headed back out on the boat to do some more fishing.

We ate fried fish for lunch and after a couple of quick naps everyone ended up back at the dock fishing, so we decided to go out on the lake and, you guessed it, do more fishing.

The day ended with a nice big dinner.  My brother was driving down from Coeur d'alene and was driving through right at dinner time so he stopped in to eat with us. That worked out perfectly!

Thanks again mom and dad, we had so much fun hanging out and fishing.  Ash told me her new hobby now is fishing.

 

What a great way to spend Father's Day!