A Thankful Christmas, Indeed!

We always spend Christmas Eve day in Stu's hometown.  We visit all day and travel home in time to read  "The Story of Jesus" ,"Twas the Night Before Christmas", sit out cookies for Santa, and jump in bed...



One of my favorite things to do on Christmas Eve is go caroling at a nearby retirement home.  I always feel extremely blessed during and after we sing; unfortunately, I forgot my camera.  After caroling we always go back to my sister-in-laws for great food and fellowship.    We opened gifts and the kids had a great time.   Unfortunatley, my mother-in-law ended up in the ER and had emergency surgery late Christmas Eve.  We were driving back home when we found out she was going to need surgery.   I didn't get a lot of pictures this Christmas, it was sort of a whirlwind, and Stu traveled back home for a couple of days to be with his Mother.  On a positive note, she was moved from ICU to a regular room last night.  We don't know how long she'll be in the hospital but she is recovering and feeling much better.   I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and I'm feeling very thankful, indeed!

Ava's Preschool Christmas Program

Don't you just love watching small children perform?  They look in different directions, do their own thing, and are just so unpredictable; but, that's what makes them so precious.   Ava was a little reindeer and her antlers were too big and kept falling all over the place, but it made for some cute pictures!

A classmate named James played the part of Santa Claus in their program. Ava is majorly "crushing" on James: she constantly talks about him, asks everyday if tomorrow is going to be school(so she can see him), and has proclaimed that she's going to marry him.

Isn't he cute?  I can see why she's so smitten!

My parents were able to come and I love how Ava calls my Dad, "Poppy". Of all of their grandchildren, she's the only one that does that.

Decorating for Christmas...

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love celebrating the reason for the season, the traditions, and time with family and friends. I love to decorate the house too! I'm juggling getting settled in, but want our home to feel like Christmas, especially for Jake and Ava. Here's a little sneak peek!

The Dining Room Sideboard

The Living Room

(Lisa from Long Road to China, inspired me for this photo)

The Foyer table

From our home to yours,

Merry Christmas!

We pray this holy season, that those you love

most will be drawn near, and that your

Christmas will be precious and bright!

Santa baby!

We took Jake and Ava to see Santa.  Jake recently turned 7, so I wonder how much longer he'll be interested in going to see the Big Guy in Red??  He said, "Mom, what should I say if Santa asks me if I've been naughty or nice?" I said, "tell him the truth, Santa likes the truth."  He decided he was going to tell him, "I try to be good but sometimes I make bad choices."  Oh Jake, me too honey...me too ;-)

Listening very closely

Smiles for Mom and Dad!

Before Santa

After Santa (they are giddy!)

Won't be long until Santa's up on the roof top!

"Catching up" on Jake!

I use my blog as a scrapbook to capture life's moments and memories. When it comes to Jake, I've neglected that aspect of my blog. Jake turned seven back in October, and we had a Carnvial Birthday Party in our backyard. Here are a few collages from his big day!



About an hour ago, Jake was in his room, and he was eerily quiet. I went up to check on him and this is what I found....he was making book castles! I knew he loved to read, but I guess he likes books for more than just reading!

Favorite Foto(s) Friday!

Happy Friday!

The Beauty in Imperfection!

I have perfectionistic tendencies and sometimes have a hard time admitting that.  We just moved and the house is a work in progress, and it won't be perfectly decorated for Christmas.  However, noone is perfect or has a perfect life.   I can be a neat freak,  impatient, short-tempered at times, could lose a few pounds, etc.   However, that's okay, as I'm also a work in progress.  I don't have to be perfect or have the perfect life, because I have a perfect God.     When you think about that, it takes a lot of stress off you.  He's perfect, so I don't have to try and be.  I think it helps you "be" in the moment, put things in perspective and focus on what's really important.    I pray that I focus on worrying more about the person I am on the inside, than the outside.

May I be wrapped up in my family and relationships not the house/things/stuff being perfect.  I think the quote below says it best:

Ava's Big Girl Room

We moved 2.5 weeks ago....since Jake got our old bed, Jake handed his bed down to Ava.   With a new coat of white paint, it has become a girly girl bed.  Her room is a work in progress, as is her Christmas tree, but here is a sneak peek!

I want to find some green Waverly fabric like the pillow to cover her stool at the foot of the bed.

Here's her little tree! I want to add a few European glass ornaments to finish it off.

Moving

We're moving!

I won't be blogging next week as I'm surrounded by a sea of boxes that need to be unpacked. Hope everyone has a blessed week!

Happy Halloween!

Shiver me timbers....hope you're having a great Halloween!

Happy Birthday to my better half!

from Over the Moon Photography

Happy Birthday to a great husband, father, friend...you are my better half!

We love you and hope your day is special!

Sunday Sweetness

The comforts of Autumn

A cozy outdoor fire

Warm Caramel Apple Cider

Symbols of Family and Home

God's Beauty

images from Southern Living & internet

What is your favorite thing about Autumn?

Going Private (update)

Update: All is well, I've just decided to go private with my blog. If you would like to continue following along, please leave me a comment with your email address.

I will not publish these comments.

For those of you that responded earlier to an email address I provided, please also leave a comment, for whatever reason I did not receive the emails.

image from Southern Living

Sunday Sweetness

My mom made this sweet outfit for Ava.
I wish I had her sewing talent!

Moon Festival and Pumpkin Patch

Marla of Legos and Tutus, hosted an awesome Moon Festival!

Gread food + wonderful people + a hayride to the pumpkin patch +

painting pumpkins + a balloon release + yummy s'mores = one fun filled night!

The next day we took a trip to the Pumpkin Patch!

Where does the time go?

Update: the photography workshop got cancelled. So if I continue to post poor

quality images, you know why....lol ;-)

Haven't been out to blogland lately and have a lot of catching up to do. Once I get home from work, I've been trying to spend time with my family and not my computer. Time just seems to fly by and it's already time for a workshop with the PFP. I just got a new camera and below is the first "christening" shot. Ava was blowing me a kiss and her hand is blurry (see, I really need this workshop)...hope to learn a lot this weekend.

"Blowing mommy a kiss"

Hope everyone is having a great *early* fall!

Camera for Sale!!

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT

EOS Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera

Update: Camera has been sold!

Favorite Foto Friday

Daddy's Girl

Thanks Leslie for taking this pic of my Ava and her Daddy!

She's got him wrapped and vice versa! I've been super busy (between

launching a new medical facility at work and summer fun), that

I haven't had time to visit blogs...hope to check on everyone soon!

Hope everyone is having a fun, fun summer!

Happy Independence Day!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!  Thank you to the
men & women who have fought for our freedom.

God bless the USA!