Better than a card in the mail...

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Catchin' up

It's been a busy week or less I guess - Clay went hunting for 4 days, the boy had his last day of school including program and party, a new baby was born to our gaggle, and Christmas is around the corner! Here are some fun shots & video of the adventure of the last week...

Here is the boy playing with his best bud at school before chapel began. The girl was paying close attention to it all. The boy finding his place...and helping his buddy up (who did NOT want to get on stage)...then singing his heart out. The program started off well - he got on stage and didn't fall apart when he saw us. He didn't sing the first song, but sang the second. Then it started to get a little crowded...and then he got pushed. He went to the back of the stage to calm down a bit and then rushed forward when it came time to sing Happy Trails. The video (of him singing Happy Trails) isn't great quality, but he's just too cute. Make sure to pause my player to hear the sweet voices!






The kids decided they wanted to have a photo session one afternoon. I have no idea what got into them, but I took advantage of it. They weren't very still so many of the shots are blurry. They posed and smiled...and even hugged the tree. (Girl needs a belt!) The boy has taken a great interest in taking pictures himself. Here is a great one he took of one of the girl's many funny faces!

Cooper arrived December 18th - the 5th baby born since our gaggle began meeting 2 1/2 years ago...and we have another coming in February!

Not my best day

***UPDATE***

Friday is going so much better. I can tell people were praying for rest for me last night and for my sanity today. We've had a lazy morning, and I've gotten some laundry done. Again it makes me so thankful that we get a fresh start each day - and today didn't start until 7:45 a.m.!!! It's also finally a sunny day which always helps my attitude -and reinforcements (meaning my mom) are on they way.

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Kids: 14 (or so) Mommy: 0

Today has not been my most stellar day as a mom. You would think after 3 1/2 years I would be getting the hang of this - and I've even had 2 kids to practice on. Nevertheless, I found myself thinking I needed to re-think my strategies today. The day started off well enough, but has quickly become a blur of whining, crying, pestering, arguing, and bribing. I have compromised on so many things I shouldn't have. I am just too tired today to battle them. I know I'll pay tomorrow, but survival was the name of the game today...and maybe tomorrow too since Clay is out of town until Sunday. I am not proud of myself, and I am so very grateful that we can go to bed tonight and start fresh tomorrow - just hopefully not before 7:30 a.m.!!!!

Busted lip

"So glad _______ got her pictures taken this weekend." These were the first words out of her teacher's mouth on Sunday morning when we went to pick up the girl. Then she stood up and we saw her big, fat lip. The pictures don't do it justice. She looked like she had a beak - poor thing! (The second one does show how her top lip sits over her bottom.) They said she didn't cry too long after falling face first on the school bus, and she handled it like a pro once home. It didn't phase her eating or smiling or getting into trouble one bit!



And those pictures we took - you'll just have to wait so we don't spoil some Christmas presents.

A Saturday with the cousins

Kadyn and Dylan came to play this morning after spending the night with Grannylou. It is always fun to see the kids continue to grow in how they play together. The boys and Kadyn were wrestling, playing some kind of keep-away game, and laughed a lot. Grannylou worked hard keeping all the kids moving on the swing set while we enjoyed the unseasonably warm temperatures.

Tonight we headed to Prairie Lights - a mile or so long drive through Christmas lights with a stop in the holiday village where Santa and some great rides are! The kids really enjoyed watching the lights and riding the rides, but weren't so crazy about Santa. The boy just kept running circles around us, both kids enjoyed the Dizzy Dragon ride and the carousel (no pics because we were all riding at warp speed). It was a great night that has become quite the family tradition.

Making memories

We had a few firsts tonight: we made our first pizza and baked & decorated cookies. The kids really enjoyed most of it, but had a hard time waiting for their creations to cook. It wasn't the best pizza we've had, but it was a lot of fun watching the kids spread the crust, sprinkle the cheese, and place the pepperoni and Canadian bacon.

After supper, we made some sugar cookies while Clay made chocolate chip ones. The boy preferred to eat the dough over rolling cookies (like his mama), and the girl just liked placing it the dough on the pan. Once decorating began, the girl took great care in decorating her cookies just so. The boy preferred to eat the toppings over putting them on a cookie, and then he would just scrape the icing off. Here are a few pictures of our fun and the finished products.


While not a roaring success, we had a great time. Our biggest news of the day - the girl seems to be catching on to the potty thing. (No, the boy is still miles behind with little interest.) She turned a corner a couple of days ago, and tonight she even asked to go! She was dry and then used the potty!!!! Much rejoicing occurred - and I haven't had to change a poopy diaper for her in 3 days. I just want one of them out of diapers, and I really don't care which one.

I got an honesty award?

Last week my friend, Rachel, gave me an Honest Award. Say what? I am quite humbled by Rachel's selection of me and her remarks. God was gracious to cross our paths for a couple of years thanks to her sharing her high school years with Clay. She was the one that introduced to our first church in this city - a church that became our home and provided an amazing family of friends. Life has taken her to various parts of the country, but we reconnected again through challenges our eldest children experience (I know, that's a detail I haven't written about much here, but will soon.). While we mostly keep up through our blogs, I know she is there if I ever need an ear about what life is throwing my way.

Here are the instructions:
"When you receive the prize, you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in their content or design. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing that they were prized with 'Honest Weblog'. List [if you can and/or dare] at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!"

Well, here goes:
1. I am not the clean freak everyone thinks I am. I like things to be clean, but I hate to clean so it often doesn't get done. I am a master of deception in this area by picking up/hiding the clutter so everyone always seems to think my house is always clean.

2. I have become quite lazy since becoming a stay-at-home mom. I am an amazing procrastinator and waste way too much time on the internet.

3. I am now gray enough that I color my hair (started back in May). It's not a fun color like my friend Abby (who can't love peanut butter chocolate?), but it does pull out the natural red. I like it.

4. I shave my legs every time I shower/bathe - even in the dead of winter. I can't stand the feeling of stubble rubbing against the sheets. Gives my legs a "headache" as my mom calls it.

5. I think my husband looks best with a full beard. I love the winter because out it comes. He looks so sharp. And I don't mind kissing him with it one bit.

6. There are parts of motherhood I really don't like. Having waited almost 3 years to get pregnant with our son, I said I would never take anything for granted or complain. I've had to eat a lot of crow for those words. Motherhood is not what I expected it to be on so many levels, and there are days I would prefer not to have the responsibility. I love my kids, and they bring me great joy; but, some days I really don't want to have to worry about anybody else.

7. I often wish I was more of a girly girl, but not enough to really work on it. I would love to always be stylish, but I really like my jeans and t-shirts. I wish I had a cute hairdo, but I really like being able to pull it up. I wish my house was better decorated, but I just don't have the eye or the patience to learn about it. I like the finished products of crafts and scrapbooks and such, but I don't like the process of creating it. I can be sentimental, but not usually in the traditional way.

8. I'm a pretty picky eater, but my tastes have expanded since meeting Clay. Mainly because he pushes me to try things, and sometimes I actually like them! I still don't really like my food to touch though.

9. I am saddened that I have let my love of the written word wane. I used to write a lot in high school. I let life and my own insecurities slow my passion, and now the words don't flow as freely.

10. I wish I hadn't stopped learning to play the guitar and piano. I would love to be able to play for my kids, and worship God in that way.

Now, I'm going to pass on tagging 7 others because it's hard to choose. Instead of listing most everyone listed to the right, I'm just going to share that they are listed because I enjoy keeping up with each one for various reasons. (I know, I'm cheating...) If you feel so led to share 10 honest things about yourself, I challenge you to do so on your own blog or in the comments.

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving was full of fun this year. Granddaddy, Mimi, and Aunt Claire came to visit. We joined my entire family (minus Dad who was with his mother who celebrated her birthday the day after Thanksgiving) for a grand meal on Thursday. Friday we went to the bounce house and a few went to the shooting range. That night we enjoyed Madagascar - and they were amazed at how much popcorn the kids eat! Saturday we toured the zoo -showing off one of our favorite places. It was a great time, and I think most moments were captured by Mimi and Aunt Claire. I've chosen a few of my favorites from the hundred or so pictures I had to sift through. There were a lot of great animal shots, but I'll let Claire post those. The animals did give quite a show - the elephant danced, the otters were being fed, and the lion cubs were playful. They did catch some great shots of the kids' personalities! The weekend was a great way to celebrate all the blessings God has given us. Enjoy it in pictures...