Emily Turns Three!

The birthday girl helping make pancakes for breakfast.

Yeah! I'm three!

We had a small party for Emily earlier this month. She just wanted to have a couple of girls over from church. She was so excited! We had a lot of fun watching all the little ones play and enjoy each other.

Jessica posted some great ideas for theme cakes (mostly for boys). Here is our girly girl cake! Emily wanted a lady bug theme.

Sean's mom and my parents came to the party too. (Thus the great pictures by my dad.) We did a little craft from the left over flower arranging supplies. Evan and Amy were big helpers with the little ones. Evan was a bit disappointed that all Emily's girl friends had sisters and not brothers. Another opportunity to serve and be gracious!

The older kids setting up the flower arranging for the little ones. They had a lot of fun doing this, both the big kids and the little kids.

Sophie with her arrangement.

Sierra with hers.

Playdough was another fun activity.

Beautiful baby Tess.

Patiently waiting for cake!

Little girls also love to play house!

Maggie on the rocking horse.

Evan posing by our friends "Bug".

Questions For Your Valentine

Our homeschool group administrator sent us these questions. Sean and I thought they were pretty good and spent some time last night answering them.

We hope you have a happy Valentine's Day!


*If you had $10,000,000 cash, tax free, how would you spend the rest of your life?

*Describe your dream vacation. Where would you go, and what would you want to do? Explain why this would be fun for you.

*Name a person (other than your spouse) who has made a significant contribution to your life. Tell how you were influenced by this individual.

*Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, (and) self control.” Select which of these you most want to develop and tell why.

*Share with your spouse one aspect of his/her personality that you appreciate. Describe the impact of this character trait in your life and the lives of others.

*Share with your spouse the things that energize you at work, in ministry, or in your personal hobbies.

*Share one dream you have for the future and explain its importance to you.

What passage of Scripture do you find meaningful for your marriage and why?

What has God been teaching you about yourself? Reveal how He has done this and the value you are gaining from it.

Share one of the most meaningful gifts you have ever received. Why was this one so significant?

Identify an area of your life in which you want to grow over the next year and explain why.

2007-Highlights That Didn't Make The Blog

January -

My niece Abigail was born. We drove to go and see her one day old.

February-

We joined a new homeschool group and started participating in the co-op classes. Amy took a ballet class; Evan loved the science classes.

March- Happy St. Patrick's Day!

April- Easter pictures of the kids

May- Amy earned her Sparky Award for finishing all three books in Sparks.

June- The best time for flowers in my garden!

July- For our anniversary, Sean took me to an exotic location.....

Las Vegas! Where you can "visit" any city you want even Venice. We went to see Phantom of the Opera and Stomp.


August- Grandma Ellen's birthday camp out. All 5 of Sean's brothers and sisters came and our 1 cousin on Sean's side, Skyler.

September- Our mostly annual campout with my friends from college, Cat, Cara and their families. We missed you Jana!

October- We went to my parent's house for a visit at the beginning of the month for their Harvest Fair. It was good to see both my sisters and their kids. This was baby Noah's first costume!
November- We had Thanksgiving at our house this year with my parents.

December - Evan is looking forward to joining Boy Scouts this coming year. He had the opportunity to do some rock climbing with the group as part of his Weblos (Cub Scout) requirement.

Emily's Take on Christmas Decorations

Emily has given us a lot of laughs this month.

Santa Claus

*Disclaimer* We don't celebrate Santa Claus at our house. We have some ornaments that family have given us and our stockings that we keep for sentimental reasons. (You can read about it here and here.) But other than that there are no Santas around here. Our kids know the real story of St. Nicholas, that he was a man who did kind things for the poor. But he died and did not rise again. Christmas is about Jesus.

But.... you see the jolly old St. Nick everywhere. Especially when he's 15 feet tall perched atop the Wendys that we pass every time we go to Church! This is Emily's response, every time!

"Look, its the funny man with the HO-HO hat!!!"

Christmas Trees

Emily loves Christmas trees. When we went to get ours she started singing "O Christmas Tree" at the top of her lungs! Here's her version.

"O Kistmas Twee O Kismas Twee, Ne Non Non Change Me"

She loves this song and sings it almost everyday!

Nativity

We have a playmobile Nativity set that has seen better days. Emily also loves to play with what's left of it. I think we'll be up for a new one next year.

When we put it up she started singing, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so!"

She sings this song just about everyday too, usually when playing with the nativity set. It's so precious!

Chocolate decorations are good too!

Amy Singing

These pictures were taken yesterday when Amy's choir performed their final Christmas Concert. We forgot our camera. These were on the front page of our "Local" section in the paper! We all had such a great time listening to Amy and the other choirs, and singing along for some of the songs too.
The concert hall.
The new organ that our community is very proud of.

Amy bottom left singing with her choir.

Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping paper with fancy ribbon. When we were first married, I tried to use the cheap curly ribbon and Sean asked me if I could please use nice ribbon. I'm sure he doesn't even remember that conversation, but now I like to use the ribbon that has wired edges.

2. REAL OR FAKE TREE?

Real! I grew up with 17 foot tall REAL trees. The tradition dies hard.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Varies, depends on Sean's schedule and when he has some free time.

4. When do you take the tree down?

A few days after Christmas

5. Do you like eggnog?

Love it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I have no idea! I received a lot of good ones.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

Yes, we have a playmobile one, a clay one, a little glass one from Mexico and an expensive set that my father in law sent to us for Christmas last year. With all that, I'll be on the look out for after Christmas sales to buy one for each of the kids rooms. (Inspired by Kim.)

8. Hardest person to buy for?

Sean

9. Easiest person to buy for?

My mom, we like a lot of the same things.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

The 9 foot tall metal windmill that was supposed to go in our yard.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Snail Mail. Our family newsletter produced entirely by my creative husband is something that at least a dozen people or more ask specifically if they are going to get. But after printing upwards of 150 we're thinking maybe next year asking people to give us their email if they still want to get it. Who knows we may just send it to that dozen who really want it!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

We just watched A White Christmas today so I can't think of much else. But that is a really great movie.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

The day after Christmas. But really in earnest around Oct/November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Sure, anyone want a 9 foot windmill?!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Dessert.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?

I've always wanted to try a clear tree that was elegant and classy. Sean likes colored and all our ornaments are kid made, bought for kids or little santas and snowmen dressed like what Sean does for work. So we always go with the colored. This year we have lights that have an "elegant" sparkle. I put white lights on the windowsill with greenery.

17. Favorite Christmas music?

Live! I love going to Christmas concerts.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

We travel to my parents one year and stay home the next.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?

No.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

In years past we've had a snowflake. This year, I put up a cross ornament for two reasons. One, I didn't want to get out the ladder to put the snowflake up with. (The cross has a loop that I could just reach to the top, the snowflake has to be plugged in.) But mostly because I think it's a cool idea.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

One present on Christmas eve, the rest Christmas morning...unless Sean has to work it, then we get creative.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

My tendency to want to spend too much money.

23. What is the "corniest" family tradition you do, or miss doing?

I really miss those 17 foot tall trees and the all day hikes that it took to find them.

24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented?

I really dislike "cutesy" things.

25. Which looks the best, theme trees or homey trees?

I grew up with the homey tree, and I every year we have a homey tree. (see #16) But one of these years, I'd like to have a theme tree. Although our tree is in danger of becoming a "Santa ____ Man" tree and that's not quite the theme I had in mind!

Here are some pictures.

Some Good Ideas for Next Year

My friend Alicia has posted about her Thanksgiving. The second part of the post she describes some ideas that she had for activities for her kids do this year. Very creative! We needed something like that this year. My kids were bouncing off the walls. Oh, well.

Eight is Great!

Amy turned eight this week! She wanted a party on her actual birthday so we had a midweek park party. I found some bucket and pail sets at Michaels for $1 and got those as party favors. The kids spontaneously decided to hold a sand castle contest. They had such a great time! It was fun and low stress for me since I didn't have to clean my house or plan party games. One of the little girls asked what the "theme" of the party was. Park, of course!



Our neighbor and good friend, Tawni has the same birthday as Amy. It's been fun to share their special day together. We get to go to her party this weekend!

Two layer dairy free chocolate cake!

Sandcastle contest.

The three little girls really liked their party food.

Happy Birthday Amy!!!

Emily and the Terrific Twos!

Guest Blogging by Sean from Washington DC.......

Happy Birthday Emily!

Emily enjoying her Birthday Party!

Our baby girl is looking less like a baby. She celebrated her Birthday with a beaming smile! Birthdays - she knows what those are all about. Her cousin, CJ, recently turned two. He had all sorts of presents and yummy cake. And ever since CJ’s party - when somebody mentions the word “birthday” - Emily thinks CJ is turning two again. She immediately starts looking for the cake and ice cream……..

Emily loved her presents. But like most two year olds, we could have simply put a plain cardboard box inside the gift bag and Emily would have thought it the greatest present!

Let me at it Mommy!

Does Emily love cake? Let me put it this way. While Emily still struggles with pronouncing many words of the English vocabulary, “chocolate” is one she mastered the first time she tasted it! Usually this word is preceded AND followed by a heartfelt “MMmmmmm!” Something like, “Mmmmmmm! Chocolate. Mmmmmmm!” I imagine some of you might be able to identify with Emily……Me, too.

Did I mention Emily LOVES Cake?