Dec. 26, 2007
Christmas morning tale...
Dan and I headed to bed around midnight on Christmas Eve. I was restless and did not sleep well. Morning came VERY early for us with the following...
Dan and I were sleeping... it was about 5:15am on Tuesday morning.
A knock on the bedroom door was faint but stirred us from our sleep.
Dan softly spoke, "Come in..."
An excited seven year old entered our bedroom and whispered loudly, "Daddy... mommy, look!"
Dan responded, "What son?"
Again the voice came more emphatically, "Look!"
My voice came next, "Is something wrong?"
The boy, "No, just LOOK!"
Dan turned the bedside light on and we both rolled toward the voice of the boy...
This is what we saw!
Ummm....
...those are one in a set of four fake teeth he got in his stocking...
his father did this!
This is who I live with!!!
Laughter ensued!
ROFLOL
The rest of the day, for the most part, was ABSOLUTELY lovely!!!
Dan and I were sleeping... it was about 5:15am on Tuesday morning.
A knock on the bedroom door was faint but stirred us from our sleep.
Dan softly spoke, "Come in..."
An excited seven year old entered our bedroom and whispered loudly, "Daddy... mommy, look!"
Dan responded, "What son?"
Again the voice came more emphatically, "Look!"
My voice came next, "Is something wrong?"
The boy, "No, just LOOK!"
Dan turned the bedside light on and we both rolled toward the voice of the boy...
This is what we saw!
Ummm.... ...those are one in a set of four fake teeth he got in his stocking...
his father did this!
This is who I live with!!!
Laughter ensued!
ROFLOL
The rest of the day, for the most part, was ABSOLUTELY lovely!!!
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All the presents arrived safely and are wrapped...
The children have opened their new pajamas...
Our final night of Advent is completed...
and we want to wish you a Merry Christmas.
I will call tomorrow!!!
Much Love,
~Leann
Dec. 24, 2007
Merry Christmas Mamaw and Poppy "T"
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...
All the presents arrived safely and are wrapped...
The children have opened their new pajamas...
Our final night of Advent is completed...
and we want to wish you a Merry Christmas.
I will call tomorrow!!!
Much Love,
~Leann
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Dec. 25, 2007
Joy to the World....the Savior Reigns!!!
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Dec. 24, 2007
Mystery...
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Dec. 23, 2007
Check this out... I can see Mars, can you?
Check out Astronomy.com and get information on the Christmas sky this week. Mars is visible next to that full moon if your sky is clear.
More can be found at Earth&Sky
...and this little tidbit from Mars Exploration...
Mars Opposition! Mars will not be this close to Earth again until 2016: at a distance of 0.60 AU, or 56 million miles from Earth. Mars rises just after twilight in December. This month, Mars reaches its largest angular diameter of nearly 16 arcseconds. For comparison, Saturn, minus, its rings, spans about 18 arcseconds in apparent diameter this month. Compare the two planets. Mars is 0.6 AU from Earth, while Saturn is 9.2 AU (855 million miles) from Earth. Mars outshines the brightest star in the sky - Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major. On December 23, look for Mars near the full moon. North American observers can glimpse the dark feature Syrtis Major this month, while southern observers can view Solis Lacus. Mars is extremely favorable for telescopic observing this month. From now until April 2008, Mars will be great to view all night long.
Check out this map
For the record... I am into Astronomy and NOT Astrology... there is a HUGE difference. Any reference to Zodiac signs are irrelevant to me in every way! Don't read that crap... God is so much bigger than someone's limited understanding of the stars. I won't worship the creation but indeed I will the Creator!
OK, one more... found this and it has a Rudolph song about Mars. It is cute!!! Take a look...
More can be found at Earth&Sky
...and this little tidbit from Mars Exploration...
Mars Opposition! Mars will not be this close to Earth again until 2016: at a distance of 0.60 AU, or 56 million miles from Earth. Mars rises just after twilight in December. This month, Mars reaches its largest angular diameter of nearly 16 arcseconds. For comparison, Saturn, minus, its rings, spans about 18 arcseconds in apparent diameter this month. Compare the two planets. Mars is 0.6 AU from Earth, while Saturn is 9.2 AU (855 million miles) from Earth. Mars outshines the brightest star in the sky - Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major. On December 23, look for Mars near the full moon. North American observers can glimpse the dark feature Syrtis Major this month, while southern observers can view Solis Lacus. Mars is extremely favorable for telescopic observing this month. From now until April 2008, Mars will be great to view all night long.
Check out this map
For the record... I am into Astronomy and NOT Astrology... there is a HUGE difference. Any reference to Zodiac signs are irrelevant to me in every way! Don't read that crap... God is so much bigger than someone's limited understanding of the stars. I won't worship the creation but indeed I will the Creator!
OK, one more... found this and it has a Rudolph song about Mars. It is cute!!! Take a look...
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Dec. 23, 2007
Oooops...
I overdid it a bit yesterday and decided to stay in today. I missed church and won't be going to the party tonight either but the cake is going. My Daring Baker Challenge for December is up over at the Crunchy Culinary Capers site. The recipe and everything is there but here is a sneak peek...
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Dec. 22, 2007
Countdown to Christmas Day...
OH.MY.GOODNESS... my kids are nuts!!! I finally settled in long enough to wrap presents last night and when the kids woke up they went crazy over the fact that there were actually presents now. LOL Dan still has some shopping to do now that he is out of school and he will be taking the kids to do last minute shopping for each other. They have been thinking about what they were going to buy for each other and have made their shopping lists. It is so cool watching them think about what they would buy for each other. We started that about 5 years ago and it has made them much more generous and they love to watch the reactions from the person they are gifting when they open presents on Christmas morning. The rest of the year they may fight and bicker but on Christmas morning there is laughing and talking about what they gave each other and why. It is so cool!!!
I have some serious baking to get done for our church party for tomorrow night. I won't get to go caroling with everyone this year because I am still moving somewhat slowly but I will set up snacks and make hot water for cocoa and coffee for when they get back. My friend Gabby will be helping with that so I won't do too much too soon.
Dan is out at the gun range with a friend this morning so the kids and I are picking up around the house and will be making lunch in a few minutes. J(14) has decided, I think, to do a CD of music he has written for his grandparents and aunts and uncles. That is a cool present and I hope I get one in MY stocking, too!!! The boy is gifted and if I were not his mother I would still think that. I am not kidding when I say God has created him for music in a huge way!!! I cannot wait to see what God will do with this boy's life. (all the kids, really, but right now J(14) because he is the oldest)
I did not spend much on Dan for Christmas this year but I think I got something that would bring a tear to his eye. I prefer those kinds of gifts to stuff people don't really need or spending money just to say it was expensive.
I am also thinking there might be a new puppy in our future. J(14) really wants a beagle... he talks about it a great deal. We just have to repair some fencing to keep a dog in the yard, first. That may happen in the next two weeks. A puppy would not be under the tree but might be sometime around the first of the year if we can find one. We are going to be picky because we want a dog that would be a good companion for J(14) and still patient with the three year old. A dog is not a thing to rush into in our house... so many crazy kiddos that need a special temperament to deal with them and all. We were like that when we got our cat for E(9) four years ago, too. The cat is JUST LIKE her... I am NOT kidding. They have the same temperament and are a perfect fit.
We have two more Advent candles left and will be doing them Sunday night and then the final on Christmas Eve. I am enjoying this season so much more than in years past. I think part of it is that we are not having to travel all over this year and are just focusing on being home and being a family. I think another part of it is that I have had to be still. God has kept me still and listening more this year than any other year before. I think I like that more. I need to take that and make it happen every year. I will have to plan to get all the shopping and such done earlier and to focus more on gifts that show how much I love someone instead of just buying "stuff" for gifting's sake.
For Christmas Eve we will be home, probably watching a movie, eating a quiet dinner and opening the Christmas Eve packages of pajamas to sleep in. I wrapped those this morning and the kids were asking what I was doing... It was hilarious to hear the conversation...
Youngest: What are you wrapping mommy?
Daughter: Our Christmas Eve gifts...
Youngest: What is it?
Middle Boy: I don't know...
Daughter: You don't remember what Mom gives us on Christmas Eve?
Middle Boy: Books?
Daughter: No... are you serious? You don't remember???
Oldest: Pajamas you goofball!!!
Middle Boy: OH YEAH, I remember...
Everyone laughs!!!
Youngest: What do they look like?
Everyone else rolls eyes and walks away... "You have to wait to find out!"
Daughter: You will LOVE them... we ALWAYS love them.
Happy Mom just smiles!!! I LOVE PAJAMA GIFTING!!!!!
Boy, this has gotten chatty... I need to get some lunch going and I am not sure when I will be on again. I will try to post some foodie things and I am still moving all my archives to the new blog. Six years worth of blogging postS.... that is a lot of work. lol I need to just save it all to a disk and not care but I like to have all my stuff in one place as much as possible. After next week I should be down to three blogs... foodie, books and main and will try really hard NOT to have any more. My goal is to just be me on one blog and not split myself into so many realms. I am one person and need to keep all my thoughts in one place. Hope that makes sense...
Anyway, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and may you have all you need at this season but most of all I hope you have Jesus!!!
Love to you all!!!
~Leann
I have some serious baking to get done for our church party for tomorrow night. I won't get to go caroling with everyone this year because I am still moving somewhat slowly but I will set up snacks and make hot water for cocoa and coffee for when they get back. My friend Gabby will be helping with that so I won't do too much too soon.
Dan is out at the gun range with a friend this morning so the kids and I are picking up around the house and will be making lunch in a few minutes. J(14) has decided, I think, to do a CD of music he has written for his grandparents and aunts and uncles. That is a cool present and I hope I get one in MY stocking, too!!! The boy is gifted and if I were not his mother I would still think that. I am not kidding when I say God has created him for music in a huge way!!! I cannot wait to see what God will do with this boy's life. (all the kids, really, but right now J(14) because he is the oldest)
I did not spend much on Dan for Christmas this year but I think I got something that would bring a tear to his eye. I prefer those kinds of gifts to stuff people don't really need or spending money just to say it was expensive.
I am also thinking there might be a new puppy in our future. J(14) really wants a beagle... he talks about it a great deal. We just have to repair some fencing to keep a dog in the yard, first. That may happen in the next two weeks. A puppy would not be under the tree but might be sometime around the first of the year if we can find one. We are going to be picky because we want a dog that would be a good companion for J(14) and still patient with the three year old. A dog is not a thing to rush into in our house... so many crazy kiddos that need a special temperament to deal with them and all. We were like that when we got our cat for E(9) four years ago, too. The cat is JUST LIKE her... I am NOT kidding. They have the same temperament and are a perfect fit.
We have two more Advent candles left and will be doing them Sunday night and then the final on Christmas Eve. I am enjoying this season so much more than in years past. I think part of it is that we are not having to travel all over this year and are just focusing on being home and being a family. I think another part of it is that I have had to be still. God has kept me still and listening more this year than any other year before. I think I like that more. I need to take that and make it happen every year. I will have to plan to get all the shopping and such done earlier and to focus more on gifts that show how much I love someone instead of just buying "stuff" for gifting's sake.
For Christmas Eve we will be home, probably watching a movie, eating a quiet dinner and opening the Christmas Eve packages of pajamas to sleep in. I wrapped those this morning and the kids were asking what I was doing... It was hilarious to hear the conversation...
Youngest: What are you wrapping mommy?
Daughter: Our Christmas Eve gifts...
Youngest: What is it?
Middle Boy: I don't know...
Daughter: You don't remember what Mom gives us on Christmas Eve?
Middle Boy: Books?
Daughter: No... are you serious? You don't remember???
Oldest: Pajamas you goofball!!!
Middle Boy: OH YEAH, I remember...
Everyone laughs!!!
Youngest: What do they look like?
Everyone else rolls eyes and walks away... "You have to wait to find out!"
Daughter: You will LOVE them... we ALWAYS love them.
Happy Mom just smiles!!! I LOVE PAJAMA GIFTING!!!!!
Boy, this has gotten chatty... I need to get some lunch going and I am not sure when I will be on again. I will try to post some foodie things and I am still moving all my archives to the new blog. Six years worth of blogging postS.... that is a lot of work. lol I need to just save it all to a disk and not care but I like to have all my stuff in one place as much as possible. After next week I should be down to three blogs... foodie, books and main and will try really hard NOT to have any more. My goal is to just be me on one blog and not split myself into so many realms. I am one person and need to keep all my thoughts in one place. Hope that makes sense...
Anyway, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and may you have all you need at this season but most of all I hope you have Jesus!!!
Love to you all!!!
~Leann
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* My Mom is home from the hospital and in good spirits!!!
* My doctor's appointment went well and I get to drive, add some small bouts of exercise and clean lightly again... (not sure if that is really and truly all good... LOL)
* Dan and J(14) are out for two weeks!
* I put my jeans on today and they were comfortable again!
* Christmas music
* Hershey's Chocolate Cheesecake Kisses
* A clean kitchen
* Wrapped Christmas presents
* Flannel Pajamas
* Mail from New Zealand!!! Thank you Amy!!!!!
* Project Playlist
Dec. 21, 2007
Things that make me very happy today...
* My Mom is home from the hospital and in good spirits!!!
* My doctor's appointment went well and I get to drive, add some small bouts of exercise and clean lightly again... (not sure if that is really and truly all good... LOL)
* Dan and J(14) are out for two weeks!
* I put my jeans on today and they were comfortable again!
* Christmas music
* Hershey's Chocolate Cheesecake Kisses
* A clean kitchen
* Wrapped Christmas presents
* Flannel Pajamas
* Mail from New Zealand!!! Thank you Amy!!!!!
* Project Playlist
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Predictable... Thirteen Things I Love About Christmas...
1. I LOVE ADVENT!!! - the candles, the scripture, the family time, the stories...
2. The music - for 6 to 8 weeks a year I fill our home with music of the season and nothing else - IT IS MAGNIFICENT!!!
3. The movies - there is nothing like a good viewing of Miracle on 34th Street or It's a Wonderful Life... and how about A Christmas Story or ELF? The movies are great!!!
4. The stories... some of my favorites are A Christmas Carol and The Gift of the Magi and I partake in the annual reading of C. S. Lewis Xmas and Christmas: A Lost Chapter from Herodotus
5. The annual baking of the cookies!!!
6. The annual making of the gingerbread house!!!
7. Christmas morning cinnamon rolls while we drink coffee and cocoa and open presents in our flannel pajamas
8. Picking out the yearly pajamas gifted on Christmas Eve to the children.
9. Christmas cards of all varieties and letters from family and friends
10. Caroling with our little congregation around the neighborhood and to shut-ins
11. The children's faces as they open gifts and come in first thing Christmas morning
12. Putting up the ornaments from Christmases past made by family and friends
13. Driving around to see the lights... and just being a family while doing all of the above
So, what are your favorite parts of Christmas???
Dec. 20, 2007
Thursday Thirteen - 12th edition... Christmas Version
Predictable... Thirteen Things I Love About Christmas...
1. I LOVE ADVENT!!! - the candles, the scripture, the family time, the stories...
2. The music - for 6 to 8 weeks a year I fill our home with music of the season and nothing else - IT IS MAGNIFICENT!!!
3. The movies - there is nothing like a good viewing of Miracle on 34th Street or It's a Wonderful Life... and how about A Christmas Story or ELF? The movies are great!!!
4. The stories... some of my favorites are A Christmas Carol and The Gift of the Magi and I partake in the annual reading of C. S. Lewis Xmas and Christmas: A Lost Chapter from Herodotus
5. The annual baking of the cookies!!!
6. The annual making of the gingerbread house!!!
7. Christmas morning cinnamon rolls while we drink coffee and cocoa and open presents in our flannel pajamas
8. Picking out the yearly pajamas gifted on Christmas Eve to the children.
9. Christmas cards of all varieties and letters from family and friends
10. Caroling with our little congregation around the neighborhood and to shut-ins
11. The children's faces as they open gifts and come in first thing Christmas morning
12. Putting up the ornaments from Christmases past made by family and friends
13. Driving around to see the lights... and just being a family while doing all of the above
So, what are your favorite parts of Christmas???
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Dec. 20, 2007
Update on my mom...
She had surgery and came through beautifully! She rested well through the night and will be working on moving around today, getting a shower and cleaning up as she feels like it. She gets to go home tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers.... keep them going for a speedy recovery and healing of that bone and tissue around the break. Pray for my dad, too. They are planning a very quiet Christmas and my brothers will be stopping by to check on them, too. I wish I could be there but am still not allowed to travel myself. I will be calling and checking in with them often, too.