Some Resolutions I Think I Can Keep

I resolve to:

• have a Starbucks cup of coffee at least once a week (or until my gift cards run out)
  
• maintain my weight--I would hate to have to buy new clothes if I lost weight
• only run if I'm being chased
• walk a little more
• laugh more
• read more
• quit skydiving
• quit bungee jumping and all other extreme sports
• pray more
• expect less of myself
• finish the puzzle on my new card table

Puzzle anyone?

I am a bit of a puzzle addict.  I love doing puzzles but seldom allow myself the time to work on them.  Christmas is the exception though, I have three Christmas puzzles that I just love and I have done all of them this Christmas and one of them twice.  The main reason I don't always have a puzzle going is that there is no good place to do one and keep it out.  Well, for Christmas I got a card table and chairs and  new puzzle and now I can keep a puzzle out all the time if I want!  Of course, Ollie may get sick of the card table being set up.  I'm a little picky when it comes to puzzles.  I want them to be a bit of a challenge but nothing that is nearly impossible.  No 1000 piece pictures of red marbles for me.  I like about 500ish pieces and a scene with lots of distinguishable areas.  I'm partial to Mary Englebriet puzzles.  When I am on the computer I frequently go to Jigzone and do puzzles online.  The great thing about these puzzles is that the pieces are already in the proper position--no rotating, no guessing--you just move it into place and hear a satisfying click that tells you you are right.  If you want to give it a shot--try this puzzle I made of Joe.

Daddy's Helper

Grace absolutely loves to help Ollie with anything he is doing.  She is a willing participant in almost anything he asks of her.  She was the only brave soul in the house willing to go in the attic to get Christmas stuff out just recently.  We are very thankful for Grace.  Yesterday, Ollie taught her how to use the air ratchet and she singlehandedly took the running boards off the van.  She was very proud of herself and I was very impressed.  The passenger side running board was cracked and couldn't bear much weight and Ollie decided that it needed to come off.  So that the van didn't look lopsided Ollie (actually Grace) took the other one off as well.  Can I just say that the fact that there is no longer a running board on the van hasn't made it to my brain yet.  I practically fell out of the van everytime I got out yesterday.  Note to self--step down carefully when getting out of the van so as not to go sprawling through the parking lot.

We've Been Invaded

by Star Wars guys!!!  My a little on the obsessive side son absolutely loves the Star Wars Galactic Heroes.  The company that makes them is pretty smart.  There is not just one Luke, one Leia, one Han Solo, one Darth Vader and so on.  There are multiple guys of each.  All in a different outfit or with a different weapon based on what movie and scene they are from.  Joe happens to love to watch the movies and  set up the appropriate guys that go with that movie.  So, this means he wants them ALL.  Each time he gets a new set (thankfully they are not all that expensive) there are little pictures on the back showing all the other ones that YOU DON'T HAVE YET AND NEED!  He started collecting these at his birthday last February.  Since then everytime he gets $5 in his grubby little hands he wants to go to Target and get some guys.  Well, he also happens to have a mother who really wants to give him everything he could ever want and more.  I resist all year--I don't want to raise completely spoiled children nor do I have the money to just buy toys anytime--but then comes Christmas.  Well, let's just say we overdid it a smidge.  It wasn't all my doing but I definitely played an active role in procuring most of this.  I bought him about 15 guys and then a sweet aunt sent a $20 gift card to Target.  I used that to buy another big set--the Jabba set!  Then Hannah begged to spend $20 to buy him the Rescue the Princess set.  H and B made his dream come true by getting him the almost impossible to find Geonosis set on ebay.  Just today he used his Toys R Us gift card to buy 4 more.  It's out of control!  And, I'm embarassed to say--I already have his birthday present--an awesome X-wing fighter that comes with 4 more guys.  It's crazy but it sure does make my little guy happy!

Comparing

So, I haven't updated in a week or so.  First of all, my computer time has been limited.  With 4 new Webkins in the house and Joe's new computer game there has been a line for the computer.  When I do get on the computer I check e-mail, then read all the blogs.  At that point, I am too tired to post anything and/or often end up thinking that I have nothing worthwhile to post anyway.  I am falling prey to the terrible disease of comparing... this blog or that blog is much funnier (why can't I think of those witty things to write), or more spiritual, or just a much more interesting life, etc.  The list could go on and on.  Then I think, the only thing I write about is my daily (fairly unexciting) life.  Who wants to read that?  But--I think people do regularly read it even if it is boring (thank you).  I know my mom likes it.  So, with that said--here's some new posts and pictures!

Walt Disney World Christmas Parade

If anyone is checking blogs and is reading this before Christmas morning's Walt Disney World parade----look for Hannah, Grace or myself.  We watched a small portion of the taping and Hannah said that the camera was right in her face at one point.  We are planning to DVR it at my aunt and uncle's house so we can replay if we think we see ourselves.  The picture with this post is from that day--it was a neat experience!

A few pictures

Christmas Eve

It was a wonderful day!  We spent the day at home and it was so nice to be together with nothing to rush off to or prepare for.  We had already decided that we would have our Christmas today and just spend the day taking our time opening gifts and trying them out.  We started at about 8 am this morning and finished opening gifts at about 5.  It could've lasted much longer.   We were rushing the kids through there at the end.  We were getting hungry and I wanted to make it to a Christmas Eve service after dinner.  Everyone loved their gifts and got a good lesson in giving as well.  Hannah had money to spend this year and she bought Grace and Joe both pretty nice gifts.  She had all but come right out and told Joe what she had gotten him so he was pretty sure he knew.  That was the first gift opened and he loved it.  It was a set of Star Wars guys.  The big deal was that it had a Princess Leia.  She had picked out a Soda Pop girl for Grace and it was well received also.  Hannah made the comment that she was more excited to see Joe open his gifts than she was to open her own.  That is the great thing about giving and I'm glad she is learning it at a young age.  Grace also got to pick out gifts to be from her.  She didn't have the money that Hannah had but I helped her out a little.  Last night Joe and I walked up to the convenience store to do his Christmas shopping.  He got each of his sisters a pack of gum and his daddy a bag of pistachios.  He was thrilled for them to open his presents.  It was cute.  He also wanted to get me a present and Ollie asked him what he wanted to get me since he had to go do a little shopping himself.  He told Ollie that he wanted to get me tomatoes and eggs.  Not sure where he came up with that.  Well, instead of tomatoes and eggs Ollie and Joe went in together to get me a gift.  I got a new dryer!  I never thought that I could get so excited about a dryer!  This one will dry huge loads which is great because I got a new washer last spring that can wash huge loads.  So, we all opened gifts and played with gifts all day.  I made a big breakfast and shepherd's pie for dinner.  Grace asked if we were having shepherd's pie in honor of the shepherd's out in the field on the night Jesus was born.  We said yes.  :0)
The girls and I went to a candlelight service at the local Methodist church.  It really reminded me of Christmases long ago...I spent many a Christmas eve at a candlelight service in a Methodist church.  I am thankful for my non-traditional church but for tonight I fully enjoyed having a hymn book, singing the first-second-and fifth verses, hearing a topical teaching, lighting my candle, and watching my little girls just sit and stare at their candle and the others around them.  I'll post some pictures if I get a chance.

For Unto Us a Child Is Born

Our message at church this morning was very good and a great reminder of what we have been given by God.  He has gifts for us every day, we only have to accept them.  In Isaiah 9:6 it says, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders.  His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."  Through Jesus we have a wonderful counselor.  I need a counselor daily.  I need wisdom and advice for so many situations.  It is such a comfort to remember that I have a Counselor--and it's free!  We also have a Mighty God!  How awesome is that?  I loved the part about the Everlasting Father.  I have an earthly father who is wonderful  and for that I am thankful.  I have a good model for understanding God's love for me as a child.  Today, Pastor D talked about how our Everlasting Father is proud of us, just like we our proud of our kids.  And the Prince of Peace--I need to grasp hold of this gift and not let go!  Too often I don't accept this gift of peace and instead spend valuable time worrying and stressing.  I'm learning (very slowly) to accept God's gift of peace. Merry Christmas!

Delicious Tomato Soup

I made the most amazing tomato soup tonight!  I got the recipe from my sweet sister in law, Lisa.  It was so easy and sooo good!  I am not usually a huge fan of tomato soup but this one is wonderful.  Here's the recipe:

2/3 c. olive oil
2 med. onions, chopped
2 tsp. minced garlic
2/3 c. flour
28 oz. diced tomatoes
49 oz. chicken broth--one of the big cans, not sure how many cups this is
3 tsp. basil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Heat the oil and saute the onions and garlic until soft.  Stir in the flour.  Add everything else and blend really well with a whisk.  Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.   Puree and then eat!

A Bunch of Pictures

This past week has been busy but fun.  The girls have performed with their theatre troupe three times.  On Tuesday they performed at a nursing home.  The residents really seemed to enjoy the performance.  A few got a good nap during the show. :0)  I would love to see them do more of that sort of thing.  Joe had a Christmas pageant at preschool.  It was really cute!  Joe actually said that he liked all those people around him watching him sing.  I was shocked.  He was an angel with a few of his friends.  I may eventually try to post a video clip from his big show later. Our church had a Christmas party on Friday night.  We had potatoes and lots of toppings and then a hayride through downtown complete with caroling.  This morning the kids sang in church.  There was also other special music, the singing was beautiful.  Enjoy the pictures!

Christmas at our house

We are home for Christmas this year.  We usually travel, in fact this is only our second Christmas we've ever spent at home.  I've had a great time decorating knowing that we will be home to enjoy it.  We had two little trees and so I put one in each kid's room.  I also added some lights for them to have as night lights.  Their rooms are so festive I wish I could sleep in them :0).  I also love my new nativity scene!  I got it last year for Christmas.  It's the Jim Shore kind.  I absolutely love his figurines (I guess that's what you call them).  Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

A Reminder

My whole life I have wanted to be a mom.  I feel hugely blessed to have three wonderful children.  They are my life and I absolutely adore them.  Unfortunately, as life gets busy I forget to appreciate them.  I get frustrated that I get interrupted all the time, that it can be so hard to get anything done, etc.  We got a note in a Christmas card this week that brought me back to just how blessed I am and how thankful I am for this time with my kids.  It was from Ollie's uncle who we visited this summer.  He has never had children but loves them.  I thought I would share his note so it could bless everyone who reads this blog.  
"I can see where you can get spoiled having kids around (referring to our visit this summer).  So, though at times they may be a handful, I hope and trust you are making the most of these times with your kids.  As grown ups some of us may still be interesting but that magical time is only for kids."

You won't believe this...

I went to the bank on Thursday.  The girls were waiting for me up front while I was at the counter. A man who worked at the bank started talking to them, normal holiday line of questioning--what's Santa bringing you, etc.  Then he gave them each a real $2 bill!  I've never heard of the bank giving away money.  I love this small town living!

Snow??? In Florida???

Our wonderful little town really gets into Christmas.  There is something almost every night of every weekend.  This weekend they trucked in snow!  It's great fun--they have little saucer sled things, you wait in line for about an hour and fly down the hill in about 3 seconds.  We usually skip it and go the next morning.  There is almost always leftover snow and much fewer people.  This year though the show got out at the same time as the sledding started so my mom and sister took the kids and my nephew over and got in line.  They loved it!  Then they got to decorate cookies and visit with some friends in the park.  

The Christmas Spectacular

The girls had the opening night of their show tonight.  They did a great job.  Grace was so excited and nervous about her first show.  I have to say that she did really well.  She was having so much fun and you could tell.  I don't think her smile left her face all night.  As I was tucking her in tonight she said, "Can I just scream a little half scream?"  I asked why and she said, "I'm just so excited  I have to let some of it out."  Of course I said yes, who wouldn't say yes to that.  She must have let enough out because she was asleep about 5 minutes later.  Hannah did a wonderful job as well but was a little more reserved.  

Wild haired Joe!

Hannah did Joe's hair today.  He loved it!  Let's just hope he doesn't want to wear it that way to preschool tomorrow.  It's cute but not so much my style for my young child.

Reindeer

Grace is playing a reindeer in this weekend's Christmas play for theatre.  She is Vixen and is all about it.  This is her first real play and her first real part and she couldn't be happier.  So, she is into all things reindeer right now.  She wears her reindeer antlers all the time.  And, today she drew 9 reindeer and labeled them all to hang on our wall.  She actually drew two of each.  One big and one small.  She said the small one was in case someone wanted a copy.  If you come to my house anytime before Christmas make a big deal about her reindeer and ask for a copy.  That will make her day.  She sees Hannah's art spark interest in people so I'd like her to be encouraged in her own artistic endeavors.  

A Dream Come True

Tonight I was in my room reading after dinner.  I needed some quiet time after a very busy day.  Hannah came in and asked if she could read with me and I said sure.  About 15 minutes into this--us both laying on the bed reading--I realized that this has been a dream of mine.  I am an avid reader and always have a book going, sometimes more than one.  I desperately want my kids to be avid readers too.  I wouldn't call Hannah an avid reader but she has found a series of books that she is really into and has now read 8 of them.  Laying (or lying I don't know which is the proper grammatical word) on the bed with her both of us immersed in our books was wonderful!!!  I am so thankful that she can read--that was my biggest homeschooling fear was teaching my kids how to read.  I am also thankful that she enjoys reading.  She also enjoys many other things so she doesn't haver her nose in a book as much as I would like but I am happy that she can get into a good book!

Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Everywhere

The kids and I just finished doing a quick clean up.  Sweeping, potties, vacuuming, and folding some clothes.  I have family coming in this weekend so we needed to do a little shaping up around here.  I might even clean my microwave.  :0)  My mom always notices if my microwave is dirty.  To her defense, she is very nice about it--she knows I have better things to do like school my children and read to them and love on them, quilt, cook, etc.  She also will usually clean it for me.  Now there's an idea...maybe I won't clean my microwave.  So, I was getting all revved up to clean and was on the phone with S.  She was saying that she enjoyed cleaning but that she doesn't get to do it as much because the kids really need to learn.  Until she said that I had fully planned on doing all my chores myself today.  It is really soooo much easier to do it that way.  I have yet to really get my kids involved in regularly cleaning.  They all help out when asked and are learning skills.  I know that if I took the time more to let them practice and train them that someday I would seldom have to clean and my house would look pretty good most of the time.  I know all this in my head but when it comes down to it I often just do it myself.  So, I was convicted by what she said and right then I said, "I'm involving the kids of course."  As though that were the plan all along.  :0)  And when I got off the phone I did involve them.  Hannah did the sweeping and did a great job.  I really didn't know she could do it so well.  I taught Grace how to thoroughly clean a potty.  Joe "helped" me vacuum.  The girls folded a couple of loads of laundry and put them away.  And check, check, check I am almost done with my list and some skills got practiced.  I also got to practice memorizing and reciting a Bible verse--"Do everything without complaining and arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God."  Thanks S for the kick in the butt that you didn't know you were giving.

I forgot mine!!

I forgot to put my quilt on the last post.  Here it is!

The Big Quilt Party!

We had our big quilt party last night.  We swapped blocks back in September then all set about making quilts out of our blocks.  They were beautiful!  The pictures I am going to post do not do them justice.  It's so fun to see how different everyone's is.  You can see their "style" in the quilt.  We had a great time!  A few of us stuck around to help S with finishing hers up.  It was beautiful and just needed a binding and back.  We had a ball working together and the finished product is wonderful!  

Christmas Walk

We went to the annual Christmas walk last night.  For the first time we had kids performing in it so it was a little different.  The girls did great and we even had some time to walk around.  We saw the juggler which is always a huge hit.  We ended the night with the kids running around the park--it always ends this way.  Lots of parents and lots of kids.  We are blessed to live in a town with traditions like these that my kids have been a part of since birth.  

Just Call Me Martha!

Well, I am not doing so good at having a "Mary" Christmas.  I have been just as busy as ever.  My thought was that if I do everything then I can sit back and relax.  Well, I've realized that I will never be done because I keep thinking of more things that I need to do or could do.  If this continues all my stuff will get done and then some but I will have completely failed at my intent to have a "Mary" Christmas.  So, my new goal is to do a little bit at a time and take time daily to rest, relax, play a game, do a puzzle, color a picture, watch a movie, whatever.  If my Christmas cards don't go out until after Christmas so be it.  If my neighbor doesn't get a plate of homemade cookies so be it. You get the idea.  I think this plan will work better.  I am succeeding (with God's help) to get up early every day for quiet time--prayer and reading.  Wow, that makes a difference in my perspective and my attitude.  I have also really missed blogging so I'm back!  I didn't realize how much I enjoyed it and how it actually was good for me.  
I've posted a bunch of pictures from the last couple of weeks.  We've been to Disney twice--I love the Christmas decorations, parades, lights, etc.  Grace has had her show and did wonderful.  The girls are performing tonight and in a parade tomorrow.  It will be a fun but busy weekend.  We have our big quilt party Sunday night so I will post pictures of my quilt after that.  
I'm off to fix dinner and get ready for our evening!  I'm sure I'll get some pictures posted this weekend.

Happy Birthday Jesus party

We had our annual Happy Birthday Jesus party today at the park.  Everyone brings a dish to share for lunch, an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots, and a wrapped coloring book to swap.  We eat, then read the Christmas story and talk about why we have Christmas, then sing Happy Birthday and eat cake.  Everyone gets to take home a coloring book.  We have been doing it for 7 years now and it is always such a fun time and such a blessing.  One new tradition we started two years ago is running over any remaining cake.  How did this get started you  may ask?  Well, at our other church I knew some people who run over their gingerbread houses every year.  So, two years ago I was walking into a store and on the phone leaving a message for a friend.  She was making the cake for the party the next day.  I had also just been given a store bought cake.  So, I was trying to tell her that I had a cake if she wanted to be released from the cake making job but I also knew how much she usually enjoyed making the cake.  As I was leaving the message I just said, "if we don't need the other cake we can just run over it or something, bye!"  So, the next day we did have extra cake and I ran over it as I left.  It turns out that that was a huge thrill for the kids and they have never forgotten so we did it again last year.  I knew they would be expecting to do it again this year and was concerned that we might not have extra cake so I bought some Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes.  This was fun because lots of people got to run over cakes.  It was pretty funny and the kids really got into it.  A corny tradition but a fun one!  I have to add that the first year as we were driving away Hannah was completely mortified.  She said, "Why mom?  Why did YOU have to be the one to run over the cake?"  

Running over the cake!

A Day at Magic Kingdom!

Grace had her first show!

An Evening at MGM!