SOOC: Only 93 Steps

Thanks, Dad!!
Will you build me the car tomorrow???

mp3 and a 7 yr old

One thing Anna repeatedly requested for her birthday was a smart phone:) No really.... gotta love peer "pressure" :)

BTW...Brian and I carry around very simple Tracfones. We use them when we need them and save a BUNDLE not having a fancy phone and contract.... for now we are content!

We thought "maybe" she'd be ok with owning a simple mp3 player... one that could play music and had her favorite pictures/videos stored. We'd been looking around with NO luck on a reasonably priced device for our little techie... I mean, GIRL!!

Looking around a toy store the week of her birthday we found one!!
And our home will never be the same... LOL!!


I love her little heart of worship!! And grateful that it's a "joyful noise" that counts:)

And I just can't get over how much older she looks with her mp3 player!!
She brings it everywhere!!!




If you are interested....

*How Great is Our God was a free mp3 download from Amazon... here is a link to free and inexpensive Christian downloads.

She also has "pre-listened to" songs from these two spots... I listened to the songs I added first and I didn't listen to ALL or download ALL... so use at your own discretion;)
* The Chuckle Berries
* Free Kids Music

No Gifts & First There were 4...

I mentioned in a previous post that this year we were "cutting back" on Christmas... one of the biggest changes was decided with our siblings NOT to exchange gifts. We gave gifts to the children of the family and reasonable gifts to our parents, but not to each other.

I have to be honest.... it was weird...

Not that we've ever lavished gifts on each other, but to be empty-handed during gift giving with our siblings is strange...

uncomfortable.

Yes, even when it was mutually decided on.

Christmas Eve we attended a service at church. Brian lead the devotional time with some characters of the Christmas story; a story I have know almost all my life but had never noticed before. He highlighted the shepherds of the Christmas story.

As the shepherds obeyed the angels and "rushed" to find Baby Jesus....what did they bring Him?? What did they bring to the ONE the ANGELS of HEAVEN told them about? What did they bring to God's SON???

See, the wisemen brought costly and symbolic gifts...

But the shepherds brought NOTHING..... NOTHING...

Christ's 1st visitors brought Him NOTHING!

Of course their visit was filled with obedience( to the angels' directions), awe (at the birth of God's Son) and joy! And then they shared the good news with those they saw!!

So some of my "insecurity" about not having gifts for our siblings were comforted and we were able to enjoy visits with our families.

Brian's brother and sister-in-law on Christmas Eve...



And then my crazy growing family on Christmas afternoon...

my dad leading a devotion before presents
(so precious since he became a Christian later in life, after I finished college!)


My favorite kid and presents pics of the day (some at our house, some at my parents!)





These were soo precious (stinks they are fuzzy)... Hannah Grace wasn't 100% but she was soo excited to get a baby from Grammie and Pey:)

I grew up in a house that had 4 kids...

when we're all together with our families now, it really doesn't seems like a big crowd. But looking at a picture of all of us together... fiances included:) We've got a crowd and are still growing... :)

Not quite how its supposed to work...

I know it's the season but we have been busy, busy, busy around here

Thursday we schooled in the morning and then partied with Taite at lunch and into the afternoon!! The kids had soo much fun and they love seeing their buddies... Andrea has a ton of pics on her blog and flickr:) After naps we were supposed to eat and head over to choir practice.... the kids were boucing off the walls, so I played it "safe" and stayed home with them! No reason for us all to "go crazy"!! LOL

Friday, Brian headed out-of-town for a friend's graduation:) Congrats, BLAKE!!!

I had barely started my Christmas shopping, so I was determined to catch the sales I needed to knock off a BIG portion of my list as well as pick-up some baking supplies:) So YES, I took all 3 kids Christmas shopping... insane, I know... but no other options!!

We stopped at least 6 different stores, one being Toys R Us!!

My plan for Toys R Us, was to bring my BIG reusable bags and "sneak" toys into the bags while they were distracted (idea from Andrea).... hmmm, nope didn't happen!! As soon as they got into the store, I hear "I want..." from all 3!!! And then I knew I my plan had to change!!

So I told them that we had planned to get them ONE toy from the store and since they were there they got to pick ONE toy!! They are little so I didn't give them any other limits, except I had to say it was "ok"! It's really funny because the differences of their personalities really came out:



Anna saw a toy she really liked, a new double stroller for her baby dolls (I would have never picked this out for her). But she knew that she could only choose one, so she opted to look around longer. 30 minutes later she pulled me back to the same aisle and made the final decision to get the stroller... she really didn't like anything else.



Christopher would have taken the whole store home. He would have been pleased with ANYTHING:) There were a couple of Lego sets he REALLY liked, but I know he's too young and it would have been Brian's set!! I'll share after Christmas what he ended up with!! LOL!



Lydia really liked the Baby Alive. She has been asking for this doll for months (like she really needs another doll... LOL)!! She picked it off the shelf and put it into the cart.... she was done in like 20 seconds:) The problem is that she already has the baby... friends gave her theirs but I don't think Lydia realizes that it's the same Baby because the baby at home didn't come in the same box. So when Anna made her final decision I again reminded Lydia that she had Baby Alive and if she wanted to change her mind.....


She pointed to another little doll furniture/accessory that was from the same set as Anna's and put that in the cart. I reminded her that she could only have one and she got the baby out and put it on the shelf.... LOL!! Just like that no drama:)

I did "sneak" a few gifts past Lydia and Christopher who were busy looking at their toy or all the other toys:) So there will be a few surprises Christmas morning;)


We ate a picnic lunch in the car as the kids tried to convince me that they should have their presents when we got home... LOL!! It's not quite how getting Christmas presents is supposed to work..... anyway, we left the decision up to Daddy:)


Then the kids followed me through Kohls... where Lydia got a new outfit (since she dumped water from lunch on her and I forgot extra clothes!) and I picked up a few more gifts!!


I dragged them through 2 grocery stores... it should have been only one, I was soo disappointed with the prices at Aldi's!! At Lowes Food, they were getting very tired. I just got the items on my list and then let them pick out a treat! As I headed out I browsed in a health section... I turned a corner without Chris. I knew where he was and the store was deserted (it was sleeting outside) so I didn't worry that he was behind me. Anyway, I heard the loudest cry... it was Chris afraid that I had left him and he couldn't see me. He stuck to my cart like glue after that 5 second incident!!


The two youngest CRASHED on the way home! Chris still had a lollipop in his mouth (a treat for being soo sweet at the stores!) when he fell asleep, Anna pulled it out for me and he didn't even notice! Poor little things!!


But the trip was very successful!! We got most of the items we had listed! And I'm finished shopping for the kids!! But most importantly was that we had a good time together.... the kids were good, I stayed patient and understanding and we worked together!
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Here's another "not quite how it's supposed to work" for you.... brought to you by the Veggie Tales nativity in Christopher's room:)

Box of Goodies

Grandma did warn me to check the mail for a box of goodies that a "little birdie" told her was coming for the kids. I wasn;t sure when it was coming, but I mentioned the surprise box to the kids this afternoon and they were determined to see if it had come.

And it had!! They rode all the way back home from the PO with the anticipation of opening the surprise box.

I love how easy to please my kids are!! They dove into the box without any of us knowing what was inside. They were soo excited when they found a couple of books, new markers, a new Matchbox car, a train whistle, stickers and letters from the sender!!

make your silly sounds www.OneTrueMedia.com

We are soo blessed to have many sweet, loving people in our community, our family and sweet friends that pray for us regularly, encourage us and are so generous to us and our children. We have much, much, much to be thankful for. And in this case we are thankful for Miss Gail, a sweet family friend who watched my husband grow into the man he is now and even taught him some tennis!!!

Also, as I was watching my kids excitedly rummaging through all the fun items in the box I caught a glimpse of some of the joy that Operation Christmas Child brings to needy children all around the world!! I was already planning to pack a box or two.... but I'm totally ready to start packing my Christmas Box for a child really needing an encouragment and needing to know that there is ONe what cares from them in this harsh world! You can pack a box TOO... find out how HERE!!

Dealing with Mild Disappointments

I'm a planning Mom...especially when shopping!! I LOVE to have stuff planned out so that my day is easier.......I might be a little nuts with all of my lists floating around the house....but they contain really important information!! Like right now...I've got my meals "planned" for the next week, my Christmas wish gift list for our family so I know what I have and still need to purchase and I have my chores and to do list for each day. OK, I'm nuts:) But really thinking about it and then writing it down helps me to remember my ingenius thoughts :) And it lets me STOP trying to remember them.....because all I have to do is look at the list. BTW I'm also one of those people that LOVES new notebooks/journals and pencils/pen.

So imagine this list-oriented and planned-out Mom with all three kids and sweet, understanding husband trying to complete Christmas shopping 5 days before Christmas..... aha hahaa!! As it usually happens, I can't find something and my whole game plan is confused and I'm left in the daze...he hehheee!! I'm smiling now but it was disappointing.....why??

Well the gift I couldn't find was for my sweet Anna. I just kept imagining her waking up Christmas Morning and seeing this "perfect" gift and just immediately starting to play with it. We've actually had "perfect" gifts every Christmas since she's been 18 months...in fact most of the toys she still plays with almost everyday.....

The last thing I wanted though was a stinky attitude. So on the way home I tried desperately to have a better mindset and a better attitude!! Remember I want a CHrist-focused Christmas..... not a "perfect toy for Anna- focused" Christmas!! This is crazy, but do you know what helped....I keep up with a blog called Holy Experience and Ann V. has been doing a list of the things she is thankful for. So I got off the midset of what I didn't have.....and remembered all things the Lord has blessed me, my family, my friends, our church and my precious children with!!! We truly are blessed!! And I have a TON to be thankful for!

Ok, to make this funny!!! I bought batteries last night for some toys old and new that were lacking. One of these toys is the Zapf Annabelle doll. I have the older version that doesn't wet....at the time we got it I was already changing two real babies' diapers, I didn't really need another bottom to change :) Anyway, she's been out of batteries for months (I actually don't rememebr the last time I heard her!) So I stick in the batteries this morning.....and it honestly could have been a new babydoll for Anna. She knew it was hers but she's been playing with her again, just like it's new! SO maybe one year for CHristmas we should just put new batteries in all of their toys:)


Here she is playing with the "new" doll...aka the doll that recieved new batteries. It really is a GREAT doll, she's had it for at least 2 years now:)

Back to my hunt for Anna's toy.....I have her uncle and a set of grandparents hunting for it (they said they'd be at the mall and stores today anyway). And if we find it, we find it! There are tons of things that she would like! :) Oh, and next year when I come up with my list for gifts...I really considering just ordering them EARLY.....no stores, not extra lists, no kids running around at my feet when trying to think and no silly mental distractions from a joyful celebration of our Lord's birth.

"Give thanks with a grateful heart, because He's given Jesus Christ His Son".

Christmas Boots

As friends and neighbors bless our kids with Christmas gifts we let them open them...our first couple of Christmas' as newly married we did not open ANY gifts until Christmas morning...but we love watching our kids open presents and so do the people who give the gifts. We desire forthem to see the kids' faces.

Well last Thursday we went out to eat with a sweet couple from our church....they are soo brave to take US..all 5 of us to eat!! But as we were pulling the kids out of the van we realized that Christopher was missing shoes, thank goodness he's still a little guy and can get away with it:)

Anyway, once inside the couple quickly pulled out the gifts they had for the kids....boots. Of all the times to forget a pair of shoes...we really lucked out. The kids LOVED them!! They immediatley wanted their boots on and they walked around in them and showed them to some other customers, the waitresses and the chef ;) They were just too cute.




I had to catch them for a pic....they've been getting plenty of wear in the house and to church on Sunday....ha hah aha. I NEVER thought MY kids would be wearing boots....ha ha haa!!