Christmas Activities

This year I must say I feel I did do better preparing for the holidays. With the exception of a forgotten Gingerbread House to make and no sugar cookies to decorate yet, overall, I have done pretty good.

We have had a light week in school....just keeping up with Math, Grammar and Phonics and our regular daily activities such as piano practice. We have been "studying" Christmas with activities such as memorizing and studying a few Christmas carols. For some reason, my boys do not like to sing out loud, so I am working on that. We learn a song together, then I am encouraging them to sing it which is going surprisingly well, we talk about what it means, and then they write it out from memory.

We also have been reading Bartholomew's Passage which is a daily advent reading, I highly recommend. There is 3 books in the series and last year we read through Jotham's Journey. They are stories written with a part to read each day and a lesson to take from that days reading. Almost every day is a "cliffhanger" so we can't wait to get to it the next day! I have one left to get for next year!

Christmas cards are out, packages are sent, only one left to wrap! How do you hide a guitar? I had to pull off an amazing feat to hide bow and arrows already...

We had a great time decorating the tree! I got the boys their special ornaments at a craft fair this year and they really liked them! Connor actually told me that he could give up all the presents, but it just didn't feel like Christmas without a tree. Think I should test that next year?

He got an Oregon Duck ornament which goes quite nicely with his new jammies, don't you think?
We had to remember the year of the bunny....so there you have it!

Here is Connor with his "football" section. The tree rotates around slowly and they love watching their ornaments come around to see!

And of course....Bean with the flock he adds to the tree!Here is the completed job and we threw in the big dog for the shot who really doesn't care about Christmas but will love the bag of beggin strips the boys picked out for him!

By far, my favorite Christmas decoration is this Angel as part of the Jim Shore collection. I think she is SO beautiful and I love the nativity carved into her skirt!

I had a baking party with some moms from FIGS, saw A Christmas Carol play at my neighbors church and had a Happy Birthday Jesus party with my homeschool group! Tonight is my husband's company Christmas party. Then I need to find time to make some of those sugar cookies with the boys!

What would you miss?

Almost every morning as I make my way out to the kitchen, I am greeted with a dirty coffee cup on the counter. In the earliest days of my current position as "home maker" this would most likely cause an argument or at least a deep discussion. As a matter of fact I recall clearly one of those such "discussions" where I remember throwing out very valid arguments about how I am "not respected" and treated like a "hotel maid" over dirty socks.



Well, I have grown up a lot since then and have come to see it very differently. It hit me very hard one day....



I WOULD MISS THIS IF HE WERE GONE!



It tells me that while I was sleeping all warm and cozy in my bed, my husband got up way before the crack of dawn to start his day. He enjoyed a few cups of coffee in this cup while probably checking the news and sports scores (during football season). He prepares a fire for the boys and I, so we are comfortable as we start our day. He then makes his way to work where he gives his all to the company he works for so I can be home with our kids.

Honestly, I don't know why the cup can't make it to the sink, or even in the dishwasher, but I don't care. I like it there telling me "Good morning" every day since I don't see him before he leaves!

I know my husband respects me and appreciates everything I do for our home and I respect and appreciate everything he does for this family. As a matter of fact, I recall the turning point for me. The kids and I had taken a long trip over the summer and he was left here to work. After about 3 days, he called me and said so sincerely something to this effect....

"Honey, I am such a slob....thank you for all you do around here."

He really isn't a slob at all, we just have a system that works well for us. I know that if I asked him to put the cup in the sink or even the dishwasher he would, but I like doing it for him. I like it there for the reminder it serves and I have chosen to see it as one of the reasons I love him so much. I realize how sad and lonely I would feel if it were not there one day and that is a another huge Reality Check for me;)

Reality Check

I have often felt very unique this day and age to say that I have never watched the mega hit reality television shows that have become so popular. Shows like Survivor and American Idol hit the home screens and has been a "sensation" ever since. Of course since I breathe and live in the United States I can't help but know of some of them such as The Biggest Loser and Jon and Kate plus 8, but they have never interested me to devote any time to them.


However.....recently one show peaked my interest. I have had many people mention the show, "Undercover Boss" and I was intrigued enough to set the recorder on a few episodes to see for myself. I actually enjoyed it. I stayed up way too late actually watching two episodes in a row one night. I went to bed really feeling like I enjoyed the show and had many warm fuzzy feelings for all the great stuff that happens at the end. If you have seen it, you know what I am talking about.


I couldn't wait to watch my next episode so one night after Bryan went to bed, I warmed up my cozy, got in the chair and grabbed the remote. My anticipation level was high and I was eager to spend some time with my new friends and what felt like my new guilty pleasure.


Then it hit me. That "first date" feeling was already gone. These shows aren't real. There is way too many similarities in each of the episodes to not be scripted and rehearsed to a huge degree. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled at what they do in the end, and it seems they find some hard working people that deserve it. It still has some feel good moments in it, and is quite entertaining. I loved it when a CEO actually got fired from a job driving a shuttle bus, and when another CEO was belittled with a timer as he assembled a sub sandwich. But, overall...the excitement is gone for me, but it sure was fun while it lasted. If I was sick with fever laid up on the couch, I might enjoy an episode or two again;)

Bunny Business

I just realized I am behind in my update on our ER Bunny!

After much thought, consideration and a quick look at the checkbook, we decided to go against doctor's orders for the last few steps of the broken leg process.

We opted out of an x-ray and another sedation to be sure the leg was healed before permanently removing the splint. The bunny got to a point where he was really DONE with the bandage and we were almost having to re wrap every day, so we trusted what seemed to be his "animal instincts" and finished removing it for him one day. With a few snap of the scissors he was free and oh so relieved!

It was wonderful to see his personality come back so quickly and he was one happy bunny again!

He was back standing on his hind legs again which was so fun to see!

So far, our experiment has brought me to the following conclusions:

1) Bunnies are more high maintenance than I anticipated.

2) It is my nature to make things more high maintenance than they probably should be.

3) Brody is not quite capable of cleaning the cage by himself.

4) Brody is not capable of meeting the standards I have for the cage cleaning process, I'm not sure anyone is.

5) Although Brody loves the bunny very much, he still has to be constantly reminded to take care of it, no surprise there.

6) Even though he has to be reminded, he has yet to complain once or try to get out of taking care of little Dusty which makes me very happy.

7) Rabbits are messy little creatures, but worth it.

8) They really will use a litter box which is surprisingly cool.

9) For some reason God built them with really strong muscles and a very delicate frame, not a good match in my opinion...but hey....He knows all things, certainly not me.

10) They really do like carrots.

Smarty Pants

Since I keep this blog to share fun stories with others and to keep a record of memories I don't want to forget, I just have to post this one!

This was a recent conversation between Brody and myself....

Brody had just done something amazing, honestly I don't remember the what because he constantly amazes me! As I was working on meeting my words of affirmation love language quota for the day, I started the conversation like this.

Me: "Brody....you are SO smart! God gave you a great mind"!

Brody: "Yah, I know."

Me: "Come here a minute...(seeing a teaching moment opportunity and now cuddling on my lap). I know how smart you are and I think that is great, but do you know what is even MORE important to me? Who you are is much more important than what you know. I care more about the person you are in your heart, the way you treat others and the choices you make to honor God and do "the right thing".

Silent Pause...

Brody: "Mom"

Me: "Yes honey?" (in the most motherly voice you can imagine)

Brody: "Don't you think you have to BE pretty smart to know all
that and make the right choices?"

I just love that kid!

Here is one of his recent memory accomplishments...ALL the books of the bible listed in order! He really is SO smart though, don't you think?

First Sex Talk..............Check!

Believe it or not, my kids have never asked where babies come from! This has surprised me more and more as I hear other moms talking about the questions their children are asking them, and how much they want to know.

I ordered a book a while back as I knew it would be coming up soon, but of course I can't find it, so I borrowed a stash of books from a friend and picked one to introduce the topic. I decided that I needed to get the conversation going before the neighbor kid did. After all he recently taught them what a wedgie is, how to "call" your place, and how to look like you are picking your nose without actually doing it. I feel it was only a matter of time.

So, we cuddled up yesterday morning after doing our reading in Prince Caspian and our conversation started like this.

Me: Have you ever wondered where babies come from? How you were made?
Connor: Nope.
Brody: Yeah, I have wondered that.

Well...okay then, here we go! So, we read the book titled "How Did God Make Me? The Miracle of Birth" and it went really well. Very uneventful actually. Then we all made our fingerprints because the book discusses how God makes each one of us unique even with our own set of fingerprints so that was fun.

However, the best part was that when I talked about the miracle of the birth of Jesus...a HUGE massive light bulb went off with Connor and he said in that very familiar tune...."Now I get it!" It is amazing how much information we throw at our kids that they don't get right away. So much of it comes in bits and pieces and I am happy that the timing of our first "sex talk" was around Christmas. He understands that the "daddy part" came from God himself, and a little bit more understands the miraculous birth of our Savior! He is now connected with a huge part of The Christmas Story.

I believe it was perfect timing.

I'm sure Brody got it too, but he was also pretty interested in the role of the belly button, and that the mystery of that body part has finally been revealed.

I guess our next talk will have to be how the mommy and daddy parts come together, but I'm sure that is down the road and I will pray that the neighbor kid holds off until I'm ready.

Bye Bye Better Home....I will miss you

I have made a decision to let my subscription cancel to the magazine Better Homes and Gardens. I have to say that I LOVE this magazine and it has been a truly agonizing decision.



However, I have stacks of them tucked in secret places waiting for me to get to them. I have a file with pulled out pages of great ideas, and wonderful decorations that no matter how hard I try, I can't recreate. Truthfully, I am just not a Better Homes kind of girl.



Yes, I have pulled a few great recipes such as a garden fresh chicken pasta salad and a huge hit with the boys; banana chocolate chip muffins. But overall, that is it. Mostly I just look through them and feel a sense of frustration.



Frustration, that I would never find that or make it look that good even if I did.

Frustration that I don't want to spend the time or money to make things such as napkin rings that would look out of place in my home.

Frustration that turning an ordinary oatmeal container into some extravagant gift package just seems like too much work.

Frustration that the plants and flowers they name are never at Home Depot.



So, I am saying goodbye. If I feel withdrawls, I might reconsider. If I get through my current stack, I might reconsider. If I have a moment of weakness where I feel incredibly crafty, I could reconsider.



But for now, it is goodbye. My home might not be a "Better Homes and Garden Home" but it is mine and for now, I will spend some time in that contentment. After all it was my word for the year and this magazine did NOTHING to promote that for me!

Connor's Birthday!

This year Connor's birthday fell on Saturday and was spent with some of his favorite things. Aunt Lara was visiting and he started the day with presents! As you can see in the picture, he woke up at the crack of dawn which is very unlike him on a normal day! Can it get much better?

Sure...throw in Paddington's Pizza for lunch and football on the tube later and you have a hit of a birthday to put a smile like this on his face! Here is the birthday boy with a thin crust pepperoni and black olive pizza, a vanilla creme soda and a sucker! YIPPEE!

Also, he really wanted to decorate his very own cake this year for his home party! Big shocker.....a football theme!

This year for his 9th birthday Connor chose a party! We give our kids a choice between a party or a present from us each year. We do this not only to control the cost, but to teach them about making choices and prioritizing. This year Connor was very involved in the party planning. I was thrilled to have a party with our friends here in Oregon, even though he chose Chuck E Cheese for the place;) Actually, I have to say that the people over at Chuck E Cheese were fantastic and we had the party on Monday morning and literally had the run of the place until the party was over which made it very pleasant!

We made some football cupcakes that were a lot of fun and I think I heard from more than one of my friends, that my sister is one of the best Aunts around. I think I can agree with that!

I think it was a great time for birthday fun and I just can't believe it has been 9 years since I became a mother.

Dear Connor,

I can't believe that you are 9 years old and the same baby that I once held almost non stop in my arms. I really enjoy you. Your passion never ceases to amaze me. You have a true dedication for the people and the things that you love. Loyal describes you pefectly, and lucky are the ones that you call friend. I admire the way you think of others. Your ability to feel true repentance is rare and your heart is SO easy to reach.

You love to have fun and play is a huge priority in your life. I have to resist the urge constantly to push that brilliant mind and step aside and let you be a kid. You love to create toys and games. You start many many projects and finish only a few of them, but your joy clearly comes from the idea!

You have an incredible memory and love to learn and read. You are confident in who you are, and I see that grow each year. You are a peacemaker and a very easy going young man. You are cautious about most new things which as your mother, I can truly appreciate;)

Your laugh is contagious and your smile is happiness and contentment rolled into one.

I love being your mom and feel honored each and every day that God blesses me with the privelage. Happy Birthday to you!

Love, Mom