Jan. 2, 2009 The "Non-Gift"
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We had a quiet week which was very nice. My boys have acquired an arsenal! Their grandparents gave them each a BB gun. That was quite exciting. Darling Husband gave them gun safety training. My six year old son and almost 8 year old son could not wait for the lessons. It brought them one step closer to shooting. Darling Daughter Number Three could not wait either. Her brothers share really well!
So the BB guns came first. Then, we gave them gifts I purchased from Vision Forum last spring when they had a huge sale. They each got a crossbow, WWII army helmets, dummy grenades and wrist rockets. Do you see a gift theme? The crossbows were suction cup darts so those were used for most of the week. After they got done shooting at my homemade targets, they decided they were ready for "Storm the Castle". My three daughters (of course) were in the castle! Thankfully, they were well armed.
My good friend sold pvc bows with arrows which her son made. My boys never did very well with them, but my girls could shoot a squirrel out of the tree, metaphorically speaking...or course (wink wink). So, there are my princesses standing in the top of the fort being shot at from below while taking aim at their brothers. All was fun and games until we took heavy casualties in the form of an arrow to the eyebrow. After a quick trip to the medic (dad) all were well and they decided to take a break from the carnage.
I must say, though, the best gift was the "non-gift". We met one of our new neighbors on Wednesday. Darling Daughter Number Three and I headed over there to give them some of their mail we inadvertently received. While talking, she asked if we wanted a karaoke machine. I had always wanted to get the children one, but they are SSSOOOO expensive. Of course, I jumped at it and we carried it down the hill. We have no music for it, but that has not stopped anyone. My three youngest plug the microphones into the machine and sing so loud I can hear them on the other side of the house. Get this...the machine is not plugged into the wall....no power. I honestly think that the microphones alone would have been enough!! |
*
What Other People Had To Say (2)
* Would You Like To Leave A Comment?
* Permanent Link
|
Dec. 16, 2008 Christmas Newsletters
So, it is that time of year again. The time when everyone scrambles to write the wittiest newsletter they can about their family happenings. We look back over our busy year and try to decide what snippets to form into a coherent, interesting letter that all will feel good about reading. If you are really efficient, then you have already written your letter and had them mailed out by Thanksgiving.
Maybe you do not do letters. You like to send cards and write a nice little "season's greetings" on the inside. You might tuck a nice photo of the family in. No one will notice that the baby is red-faced from crying and the others are hunched down because this was the 25th shot taken after church, the only time everyone looks "good enough" for a "presentable" family photo.
You might send an envelope with a lone photo and a cheery note of Merry Christmas as part of the photo. Your feelings are that "no one really wants to have to read all those stories about your life, they just want to see how much the children have changed". So you planned your family photo way ahead of time so that you have ten to choose from (so what if you have to crop and edit the third and ninth photo together to get the "perfect" family photo).
My Christmas newsletter "progression" has been this, I try to get a letter out every year. I write it and take family photos and even have them printed. One year, I make 50 photos which never were mailed. I hand them out to family and friends when we are scrapbooking. Another year, I wrote the letter, printed it on pretty paper, and of course, never mailed them. I have been known to send Christmas letters with a greeting of "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"
All this to say, I am selling out this year. I am writing a letter and taking the millions of photos. You know what I am going to do? I am emailing it! Yes, I said it, emailing! I am saving a tree and "going green". I am not ashamed to admit it.
Here are the benefits: I get to add all the photos I want. I get to use all my fun and fancy fonts. I do not have to stand in line at the post office hoping they have enough of the Christmas stamps (or any stamps at all!). It really is a win/win situation. I do have a few dear people I will need to print them out for, but they will not mind missing all the extra "bling".
So, how about you? What do YOU do and why? |
*
What Other People Had To Say (3)
* Would You Like To Leave A Comment?
* Permanent Link
|
Dec. 17, 2007 Another Christmas Tour of Homes
BooMama is having her Christmas Tour of Homes. I thought I would utilize this to show you our family tree and a few other things I have not shared yet.
I love this decoration.
I feel it puts things in the correction perspective. Without Jesus, there is no Christmas.
My Wonderful Husband (Who celebrated his Birthday Yesterday!!! Happy Birthday, Darling) started this village for me several years ago. My parents continued adding to it. I do not have the entire set. Where would I put it all?? I love the "tiny town" that I have. It is the perfect size to fit almost anywhere!!
Anyone who uses my powder room, recognizes this Claus. I always light the little tealight when I am having a gathering. It is the little hidden things that make you feel warm and cozy.
My children count ALL trees when they say how many trees we put up. This one:
To the boys tree in their room:
To our family tree in the library:
This is our largest tree. It is filled with ornaments we have collected and created over the years. It is also home to five stuffed animals.
We have around 100 gold metal ornaments that we have received from a sweet lady that I lived next to when I was a child. Every year she gave my brother and I a box of candy and an ornament with our names engraved on it. When I married, she continued the tradition. Within the last several years, she has been unable to continue doing this. I do not mind, though. I have more than enough on my tree and each year when we bring them out, I think of her and share the memories with my children.
And finally my tree is topped with this:
If you would like to see some of our other trees, hop over to here and here and here!
Each year calls for the start of something new, right? Well, I found a new recipe over at Kitchen Riches for ice cream cake. I made my first one a couple weeks ago. What an easy, quick way to impress dinner guests!! Hop on over and check out the recipe!!
Have a blessed and peaceful Christmas. Allow Christ to touch your heart in a new way and let that love carry through till our next Christmas season.
|
*
What Other People Had To Say (12)
* Would You Like To Leave A Comment?
* Permanent Link
|
Dec. 14, 2007 Christmas Cookie Exchange
Our home school group had a cookie exchange last night. We started having it for our December meeting about three years ago. To say that it has grown is certainly an understatement. The first year we had about six different kinds of cookies. This year we had 18 different kinds of cookies!! Here is what my counter tops looked like last night:
We are not really formal in our exchange. We simply bring cookies to eat and then everyone piles their plates to take home. That way, we all get to sample the cookies and then leave with lots of different kinds. We also try to bring copies of the recipes for everyone.
In the past, we have had a getting to know you game that we played. We have also shared different Christmas traditions that our families use. This year, we decided to make a craft. I will not be posting it until AFTER Christmas, but trust me, it is really NEAT!!!
|
*
What Other People Had To Say (1)
* Would You Like To Leave A Comment?
* Permanent Link
|
Dec. 11, 2007 Moments of Blessing
Our home school group has a Christmas party every year. Part of the party is spent making cards and going to the nursing home to sing carols to the residents. This is the first year we participated.
I have to preface this by saying that I have a heart for ministering in nursing homes. I could never be so bold as to say that I could be a nurse or anything in that manner, but to bring a smile to a face cheers my heart beyond words. My hearts desire is to pass that compassion on to my children.
Like all parents with young children, I went through the list of what I expected of my dear ones. I was not going to expect too much of them, because it was only the second time for my boys. My daughters have visited nursing homes more often, so they new a little bit more what to expect (I have some really funny stories I will share some time).
I guess I needed to prepare myself a bit for what to expect. You know how you work something out in your mind how a situation will look? You plan it and have this great picture of what it will be? Okay, I did not expect what happened. The group sang some beautiful songs and really did a nice job. We then broke up to give cards to the residents who were there. I started looking around at my children and the emotion that I felt was almost overwhelming.
Mind you, I see how grateful the residents are when I touch their hand and I gently hug them. I can take that, but the look on their faces as they receive a hug from one of my children was almost more than I could take. At one point, I had to look away. The last thing we needed at that moment was a blubbering mother! I immediately prayed, "Lord, help me pull this together!" Only through Him could I continue.
There is nothing on this earth more beautiful than to see your child show love and kindness to an elderly person they do not know. I encourage you, if you have never taken the opportunity to visit a nursing home, do not wait any longer.
|
*
What Other People Had To Say (6)
* Would You Like To Leave A Comment?
* Permanent Link
|
Dec. 10, 2007 Holiday Open House |
My aunt gave us this tree soap dispenser when we first moved in. She loves decorating and that was the year she helped us. That was also our first Christmas in this house. As you will see, we count ALL trees!
I had it on a 
This is only a glimpse! I will save the whole tree for a separate post. I need to keep you coming back for more!! If you would like to see other trees that we have go 
