light=life

We went to Christmas lights display last night with some new friends. The lights were so intriguing to me. This is why...

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was a true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. --John 1:4-9

since last post

We were supposed to wake up last Thursday and head to Mobile for a few days to celebrate Christmas. Instead we woke up at 4 and stripped sheets because the virus finally spread from Streed on Sat night to Ella on Monday night to Nate on Wed. So, we knew immediately that we would not be making the 8+ hour trip that day. I was bumbed. The kids had been talking about it all week. They miss their family so much, especially their cousin Taylor. They love baby Caroline but are not as attached to her yet since we have only SEEN HER ONCE! I had to have something for them to do to take their minds off of it. They kept asking Nate if he was feeling better and then would ask me if we could leave on Friday. Chip had to work this week so a weekend trip with a 16 hour drive round trip is just out of the question. We decided it would be best to leave closer to Christmas and see both sides of the family since Chip's parents are only 3 hours from Mobile. It is hard trying to please 3 kids plus ourselves while trying not to disappoint numerous adults and make it all work. So, we climbed up in the attic and gathered up some previously bought Christmas presents, took them back and put the money towards A TRAMPOLINE! One of my friends encouraged me to do it because it would make not only those few days of disappointment better but also most all of my days. I am home with all the kids all the time and they have NO outside toys. They have bikes but I am not always able to go out there with them when they want to...plus they are still building a house in our cul-de-sac so there are construction trucks everywhere...and its cold and I don't want to go sit outside for an hour. The truth comes out. They love it. Love it. Love it. Everything they could have done in the past without it, like wrestling, throwing a ball, laying in sleeping bags is all done on the trampoline. Our yard is not huge. Most of the play area is one one side. So that's where we put it. I can see them from my room, the den and the kitchen as well as the back porch obviously. I felt a little (a lot) bad putting it there because...
...it is right behind our neighbors back porch! And as you can see their property is higher than ours so they see right into our back yard. And we have not met them. But we have met their daughter (who is grown and married). She told us that she was an only child and that they did not really mean to have her. So, I am sure they are loving my 3 kids screaming on their eyesore of a trampoline! But ya know what, they don't have to entertain my 3 kids either. I do. And this makes them happy.

wordless wednesday (thanks jenny)

an almost perfect weekend

I did a lot of nothing this weekend. I literally could have stayed in my robe and ratty jeans all day except we needed to take a family picture. Streed woke up at 4:30am with a stomach bug. I promise prior to moving to Arkansas he had only had the stomach bug probably twice. Now we are going on 2 or 3 times in 8 months. It is getting a little old. So, between the frigid temps, arctic blasts of wind, and his sickness we laid low. I started working on a project yesterday. Last year I bought a stocking kit for Nate. As a child my great-aunt made all of the kids felt stockings with sequins. I am not sure if that is a southern thing. I know it sounds tacky but I love mine to this day. So, I bought kits for Streed and Ella that my mom put together. I overdid it on the one I bought for Streed. It was a little too detailed and therefore I just opted not to ask her to do Nate's. I really kind of wanted to do it myself. So, I found one on Ebay and just never got around to it last year. I can think of a million reasons why. Moving on. I found it a few days ago in my wrapping paper box. I have been so nervous to start with all the negativity oozing from my mom about these darn kits. (you know what i mean, Mama) But, I have totally loved it. I could not pull myself away from it. Chip does not understand why it takes so long.
This is what I have done so far.
and this is basically what it will look like. i made a few changes to their clothes because the kid that was going to be Nate had on pink. So I swapped a few things.



However, I do love taking timer pictures with the family so that did jolt me from my bed away from my mindless threading of beads. I have recently decided I enjoy mindless activities at times. I think that is why I like Twilight so much. Mindless. I spent several hours this week chopping pecans. Mindless. Anyway...here are some of the shots we took today with a tripod and a timer.



This picture is a perfect example of Ella. She was wanting to yell, "Go Saints"! It is a task for her to cooperate. From an early age, I mean EARLY, I have asked God to direct her passions because she goes hard after what she wants. If it makes it into her mind it is going to happen. And if it does not it is not for a lack of trying. This means battles between us. You see why I like mindless activities at times?

a last minute buy

Yesterday I ordered a hands on nativity set from FamilyLife. It arrived today. I really did not know what I was ordering but it is really great. There are 7 little boxes to open along with a pop-up stable and a few books with a music cd. Pretty good for $15. Check it out. It seems it will be in way before Christmas.

mantle

This is only my second Christmas to decorate a mantle. It is quite a daunting task. For a week or so this December it just existed. Then the other night my neighbors were going to get their Christmas tree. I asked if they would mind getting me some tree clippings. And this is the result.
I just added the tree clippings to my grapevine wreath from the Fall. I have had the red and gold ribbon for probably 6 years and the silver snowflake ornaments for probably 8 years. I got the nativity scenes half off last year at hobby lobby. I love reusing what I already have!

its hump day

Hump day does not have much significance to a stay-at-home mom I guess. But we do enjoy that Chip is usually free of work on Saturdays and Sundays. So, in honor of it being hump day, here is a little photo to get you through the rest of your week.

I gave the kids cucumbers today with our cheese pizza for lunch. Nate loved them. I was calling him my little "cutecumber". I think this is him enjoying some cinnamon toast a few days ago.

Shake the sugar tree

My new friend Julie, who's son attends Streed's co-op, invited us to watch a pecan harvest at a near-by orchard last week. She said we (the kids) needed to wear some sort of hard hat so that when the pecans fell they would not get hurt. It was such a pretty day. The farmer and his wife were great. They told us all about how to prepare the ground around the tree, where they put the nuts to separate them into sizes and then how the other machine cracks them. The tractor has some sort of attachment that wraps around the pecan trees and shakes them. It was hilarious to see leaves and pecans falling down on the kids. We all left with pecans and some awesome fresh broccoli that ella was eating by the handfulls on the way home. I had to take it from her so we could have some during the week. I even learned that there is a native nut that is small and a desireable nut that comes from grafting a tree into a native tree. Here are some of the sweet pics. Streed liked the dog Duke the best of all!

lovin' the land around us

Chip turned down the street behind our neighborhood to show me something and this is what we found.

So of course the kids and I had to get out of the truck. The donkeys were so sweet. They stopped eating to come over and visit.
We were keeping a fair distance but they started sticking their heads through the barbed wire to get closer to us. So then we had to pet them.

november was a blur

november flew by. here are some high points.
a set of the parents/grandparents were able to come and visit for thanksgiving

taken on a vibrant setting but the trees are pretty here nonetheless

the boys room being clean enough for a photo

riding a bike like a pro

i just loved how tiny nate looked on our bed

streed got a razorback hat from his poppy for a late bday gift