Our Christmas

Every year we do some fun things at Christmas.  Make cookies, decorate, celebrate, yada, yada. 

 

Here are just a few pictures from our events...

Here we are with my sisters getting ready to celebrate a little at our annual Ugly Christmas sweater party.  Nick's in a women's sweater that is way too short and when I put mine on I realized I shrunk mine last year because the sleeves are way too short.  I guess it's back to Goodwill to find some new ugly sweaters for next year!  I always am super excited when I find ugly sweaters at Garage sales during the summer. 

 

I guess it's the little things, right? 

This is our tree after Santa.  Emma got a big gift and I was a little concerned that there wouldn't seem to be much under the tree.  I guess my fears were a little silly!

One of our traditions at Christmas every year is that on Christmas Eve we gift them with matching Christmas pjs.  We put them on at my Grandma's house and then on the way home we look at Christmas lights.  When we get them home they're usually conked out with jammies already on and we are good to go for bed. 

Here is Emma opening her "big" gift from us...an American Girl that looks like her.  She has been asking for it for literally a year. This was all she asked for for Christmas. 

She said "Oh, thank you ever so much." 

It was so precious. 

In our stockings she gave Nick and I each $2.00.  She said she had been hoping to get her doll and she was hoping the money would help us out since we'd spent so much on her.  She is just too cute...

 

And we gave the money back in case you are wondering!!!

It's nice to give a gift that they really appreciate.  She still is telling us just how blessed she is and how much she loves it. 

 

She makes me happy.

Calvin always puts this hat on and wants us to take a picture. 

 

Sure cutie, I'll take your picture. 

 

He makes me happy too. 

 

So there you go, some pictures of the fun things we did this year.  How was your Christmas?  Are you still relishing in the holiday like we are???

125 Homeschool Freebies

Head on over to Free Homeschool Deals to see the list they've compiled of the top 125 Homeschool Freebies! 

It's Amazing!  Supurb!  Magnificent!  Genius!!!

Even if you don't homeschool, I bet you could find a lot of things that would be fun to do with your kiddos.  Some of the things that struck my fancy while browsing through the list the first time include:

Lego apps
Polar Express activity pack
and loads of free bible study ebooks

So buzz on over and check the list out :) 

Merry Christmas

A little baby changed our world, all those many years ago.

Haven't been on the computer lately....

too many things to do, cookies to bake, rooms to decorate, laundry to wash...

And in the blur of it all, the power of the baby starts to fade..

And so I have hushed the whirls of activity to concentrate on the baby.

The Christ Child.

The King of Kings.

Because He makes everything glorious.

I love Him and all that He has done for me.

Now I look to see what He calls me to do.

I pray you find God's peace this Christmas.  And if you don't know how please ask.  I'd love to help you.

Merry Christmas dear friends and a very blessed New Year!!!

5 AM

This morning I woke up at 5 am to make cookies for an event because I forgot to last night. 

Nothing like starting the day trying to get caught up with junk you forgot to do, right? 

But in the quiet minutes of waiting for cookies to bake, I sit and have the quiet time. 

Be still and know that I am God...

So often I take these tasks of motherhood as that, tasks. 

I make them into these dumb, mundane jobs that have to be done.  Nothing fun about them, right?

And when I think of it that way, life seems to become lackluster. 

Be still...

And in the stillness I pray...

And I feel the tension melt away.  He restores my soul, quite literally and I can see through my blessings glasses this life I was given. 

So rather than: We have this dumb party.  Yeah.  Up making stupid cookies.  Who cares.  This is so pointless. 

I am choosing to think: I get to go to Emma's Christmas party with her!  It will be so fun to see her with all of her little friends, celebrating together.  I'm going to make special cookies for her special day  so she will know she can always count on me. 

I'm choosing to think this way because 1) if I don't I may just lose my mind.  and 2) Because I've made the commitment to step up to the plate when I am stressed/tired/fatigued and/or grumpy and boldly come before the throne and be straight up with God.  I cannot do this alone.  I need your help.  I need your power. 

And he delivers.  Of course he delivers!  He is God for crying out loud!!! And in the stillness I know that.  I know that He's here to help.  I am not alone. 

And I am aware of all he has blessed me with. 

What are your blessings today?  Do you have your blessing-glasses on or are you muddling through life griping about all you have to do? 

A little shift in perspective can turn your whole world around friends. 

Happy Friday!  My love you you all :)

Oh Christmas Tree

The day after Thanksgiving we always go and get our Christmas tree. 

 

If you don't do this, you should.  I highly recommend it. 

 

It's so nice to be able to get our tree on Black Friday and then have the rest of the weekend to just relax, ease into the holiday season, and decorate to our hearts content. 

 

It seems like if you put off getting your tree that things always come up and then you are stuck getting your tree way close to Christmas. 

 

Here's Emma on the horse drawn wagon. 

Here's Nick with his buddy, his dad.  We've gone with his mom and dad to get our tree every year we've had kids.  It's always super fun.  It makes me glad we planned our family and our plan to live close to our familys. 

We always go out to the tree fields on horse drawn wagons.  These are some worn out horsies. 

Here's my world standing in front of our tree.  We've never had too hard of a time picking a tree.  After the entire thing is suffocated with lights and ornaments it's hard to see it anyway. 

My little snowmen.  If you look closely you'll see that he had me put his hat in top of the snowman's hat. 

And ta-da!  Here's the finished product!!!

 

Love getting a fresh tree every year!  And going to chop it down ourselves makes for some priceless memories...the hot cocoa, the bells on the horses, it's all just magical. 

 

Have you put your tree up?  What are your Christmas tree traditions?