Count your blessings

December 4th

 

I was really excited to do this one.  Dusty made dinner (how nice is that :).....french toast, eggs and fruit.  The only thing missing was some sausage.  I had to put that in there because all of you know how much a meat lover I am!  I should have planned ahead...hee hee.  We all got in our pjs and everyone got to eat wherever they wanted to.  I opted for the table because well it was easier.  Gracie and Audrey wanted to eat at the kitchen counter with chairs from the dining room.  Sydney came and sat by me as well as Dusty.  It was SO good.  He is becoming quite the breakfast chef.  He has mastered the skill of seasoning the eggs :0)  Way to go babe!

      

 

December 3rd

Today was a fun day.  A little more challenging but I liked that it stretched us a little bit and took us out of our comfort zone a little...

 

The kids decided who they were going to call and did it all on their own.  I was so proud of them.  Gracie would call and say I love you, you wanna know why?  :) Oh, melt my heart!!!  Sydney was so deeply sincere that it made me tear up.  She has such a tender spirit.  Dusty and I on the other hand decided it would be good to call someone who might be difficult for us and someone we normally would not express those feelings for.  I am very proud of both of us that we did it.  I had a hard time not calling everyone I love though too!!  I didn't want to leave anyone out....so if you didn't get a call, don't feel bad :)

Our advent calendar

I wanted to post a picture of my advent calendar.  Don't mind the background of fall decorations and unfinished faceplate on my fireplace :)

 

I know, I know.  It could be a PUMA Christmas :)  I have every size, color and style.  What can I say, we all love PUMA!!

My kids were so excited when they came down and saw the sock garland.  I had them go upstairs while I hung it with Dusty and put the cards in.  I just need to put some ribbon through the cards and it will be finished.  Here are a few pictures of us just hanging out after talking about the real meaning of advent.  I wanted them to understand what we were doing and why. 

     

I love the pictures I am taking.  I am normally so bad about taking pictures.  I am also making an effort to have more pictures with me in them.  As a rule, I don't like pictures of myself and I am usually the one taking them.  I am learning to let go of that :)  I want to capture these memories, even if I don't think everything is perfect!!

December 2nd

Today Sydney came home from school not feeling well with a head cold.  So I had to move a few things around and make it a little more laid back.

Here's day two....

I am glad it actually worked out this way.  I wanted to hear my kids' favorite things from this time of year and be able to make extra time for them.  It is funny though, when you have young kids they hear their older sibling and say "yeah, me too!!".  I decided to add something fun to it and had everyone (including mom and dad) draw a picture of their favorite thing with oil pastels.  I cannot tell you enough how much I love oil pastels.  They make the picture come alive!

Dusty - I love seeing the kids and their excitement.  I love to see my kids so happy

Sara - Traditions.  I love looking forward to this time of year with my family

Sydney - Snow.  I love when it snows on Christmas

Gracie - Decorating the Christmas tree

Audrey - Snowman.  I like snow

Colton - He didn't have much to say, he was just into destroying anything we were doing!!

       

I am trying to get as many pictures as I can without putting any pressure on myself or the kids.  I have to move fast sometimes, as you can see right when I took Audrey's picture Colton was on my HEAD and therefore created a shadow.  I decided to leave it to remember :)

I also loved Jen's idea about the books, so we started that tonight.  It was a hit.  We all piled on Sydney's bed and read The Twelve Days of Christmas.  It was a lot of fun because by the end all of us were singing it!  It's been awhile...... :)

December 1st

Today marks the start of our advent calendar.  I decided to go with Chrisanna's idea and hang my kids' socks above the mantle.  I will share a picture later....

So today's card looked a little something like this

 

Okay.  So that picture is a little on the large side but no wonder it took so long! HA!  To save time, I am going to leave it :)

I had decided upon a recipe I found for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer cookies.  They are made with Nutter butters and are super easy.  You just decorate the cookies!  It was so fun.  The girls, Colton, Dusty and I made them and put them on platters for our neighbors.  We made two trays and off we went.  It was so cute.  Audrey and Colton rode the gator and the rest of us walked over.  Our first neighbor came to the door and was so excited for the treats.  He told us his son would make us something but that we probably don't want to eat it :)  Then we were off to Howard and Mina's.  They live on the property but you have to walk a ways.  So once we got there they insisted we come in.  We sat down and talked and they played with the kids.  It was the first time all of us were together.  It was really nice to be able to spend time with them.  Here are a few pictures....

        

   

Colton was not much help.  Can anyone guess which one is Audrey's?   

start of a new tradition

Today marks the first day of December.  On my girls trip awhile back I made an advent calendar that would take us through the month of December with activities leading up to Christmas.  I have been thinking a lot about the details of it and how to make it just perfect.  I was doing my devotion this morning and it came to me that I didn't even know what the word advent meant.  Silly I know.  I looked up the definition and found so much more than I had anticipated. 

Advent:  arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)

WOW.  I knew exactly what my advent should become.  A time to seek Him.  Here is an excerpt I found on another blog that pulled it all together for me.

"The advent season we are entering is a time of preparing for Christ to come. Figuratively, we are to see ourselves in the place of those who sought the newborn Savior: the shepherds, the wise men, Mary and Joseph, Simeon and Anna. This season becomes a time to turn our hearts towards the practice of seeking Him. And indeed, during this festive time on the calendar, many hearts are turned, and many intentions renewed. This is part of the excitement of Christmas!"

I pray that during this time of year, not only I but my family, will use these daily activities to shine light upon Him, draw us closer to Him and remind us of His amazing love.