Christmas Isn't Coming?

Every morning Ike groggliy walks out to the dining area and opens the Advent calendar doors.

"Oh, no!" he sighs. "Christmas isn't coming."

A Delightful Hole in the Wall

Bill and I bundled up our little Loves and got out of the house today. We headed out toward one of our favorite hangouts (Some Bagels) only to find that they were out of bagels! So we decided to walk around the corner to the Spudnut Shop to find ourselves smackdab in the middle of Mayberry! Everyone was so plesant and the food (American standards plus amazing doughnuts) was positively delicious. What a treat! It was nothing fancy, but the atmosphere and smiling faces made it so worth the while.

We walked down the way a bit and shop owners waved and smiled. So if you're in the area, might I suggest a stop at the Spudnut Shop and if you have a spare moment, go around the corner and find the Rusty Pelican antique shop (it's my favorite)!

All in a Day

As I'm scooping up some dinner I hear (but do not see):

"I carry her, Mom. She's heavy!"

"What!" I come running!

"Here you go, Mom."

I pick up the dangling baby who is amused with her brother.

"She's heavy! Whew! My back hurts!" says our young and healthy little boy.

~

"We need to have a boy baby." Ike delares. "I make a good big brother."

~

Ike helped me make dinner tonight. He was super helpful and we made a beautiful turkey pot pie (which I ended up dropping on the floor, but that's beside the point). Anyway, once the pie was ready to go into the oven, Ike wasn't done playing in the kitchen. He wanted to make more pie. So I pulled out the leftovers we were unable to finish and he made a mean (and I do mean mean) soupy leftover pie (pictured above).

~

Kate's been crawling all over the place and a very quick pace today. Ike and I have made a game of it.

"Where's Kate?" I ask.

"I don't know! Let's go find her." Shouts Ike.

We both run to his room -- she's ALWAYS there! She's already learned where most of the toys are stored . . .

Advent Activities

Here's our Advent calendar activity list. I try to go by it but sometimes (with our crazy schedule and the bustle of the season) we have to adjust it:) Hopefully this will give you some good ideas on celebrating the holiday!

1. Take Isaac to go see the movie Bolt
2. Christmas snowflakes
3. Pillow Pile
4. Christmas Box
5. Color Christmas Picture
6. Make the gingerbread house
7. Small Sunday gift
8. Jammie Ride
9. Treat
10. Bake cookies
11. Deliver cookies
12. Cookies for breakfast
13. Treat
14. Sunday gift
15. Christmas movie and popcorn
16. Treat
17. Treat
18. Make Christmas present tags
19. Christmas lights (where we'll drive around at night and look at all the lights)
20. Deliver joy to a friend
21. Sunday gift
22. Game night
23. Treat
24. Put presents under the tree

Now I've filled in "treat" where my mind goes blank. Hopefully I'll figure out some other things to do. When Kate is older, I'll make a fingernail polish night and a day where we set the table as fancy as we can. Anyway, if you have trouble thinking of ideas, try thinking of all the things that you don't allow your kids to do (i.e. cookies for breakfast or staying up after bedtime to go out for ice cream). The "do nots" usually make for some spectacular fun!

Fairy Adelynn

Colored pencil on bristol board.

She's a little deformed. We'll have to do some Photoshop:)

Fairy Kate

My sweetie took me to the store to get paint tonight:)

Fairy on the bottom looked a little lifeless so the top picture is her finished . . . well, for tonight anyway:)

I'm thinking we are going to need a set! Stay tuned for Fairy Adelynn and Fairy May!

Fairies Ready for Transfer

But the question is, transfer them to what?

Fairy Three

Well, fairy three is it for today. My house looks like it could use a few fairies to help with the messes made while I've been sketching:) Unfortunately, the fairies are too scared to help out with the large messes we create here:)

Fairyland

Michelle suggested that I'm going to have to do Kate's room in fairies since she loves Tinkerbell so much. What a great idea thinks I! Well, I am sketching out a few fairies and will see how far I get:) Here are a couple sketches. I am thinking three or four fairies will be plenty! Now to watercolor and frame? to paint fairyland directly on the walls? . . . Oh! the ideas are spinning in my head! What fun to have a baby girl!

Twenty-Seven Cents

Isaac went to our pottery piece filled with coins today and grabbed some. He went over to Bill and said, "Come on, Dad. I need to go to Walmot and buy some twains." He opened his little hand to reveal twenty-seven cents:)

Let the Festivities Begin!

After we ate our leftover turkey dinner last night, we decided it was time to set up the Christmas decorations:) How much fun we had! Ike was thrilled to see all the boxes and help Daddy bring in decorations from the attic. I can't describe his joy! As soon as the tree was standing, Ike plugged it in and turned off all the other lights. He hung ornaments in his trademark clusters (my personal favorite), unloaded the Christmas globe, and went through every door of the Advent calendar to see if there was candy leftover from last year:)

I have to say, the Advent calendar is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. I had no idea what it was until my Aunt Kathy gave us one when Ike was a little over two. He remembered it the next year and looked through all the doors:) If you don't have an Advent calendar, I suggest you get one, make one, or buy one! It sure does build up the anticipation of Christmas!

My Isaac is a particularly curious little man so I have to print out little activities on paper and put them in the doors. If I have it stocked with candy, he tends to hang out around the house and wait for a moment when I'm not looking! Our activities are simple. Sometimes there's no activity, but just a treat. One day our activity will be a Christmas craft, an act of kindness, baking cookies (with lots of shapes and sprinkles), building and decorating the gingerbread house, watching a Christmas movie, etc. We like to do the big things while Daddy is home so I usually don't choose the activity until the day of the event:) Daddy doesn't like to be excluded so we plan around his crazy schedule. We also have a book filled with Christmas stories we read every night before bed. It's just the Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas, but Ike doesn't mind there not being any pictures. He just LOVES the stories!

Kate is absorbing all the Christmas joy -- she has a "tinkerbell" reaction to the Christmas tree. Her big eyes beg to be taken over to the tree so she can touch it. She just squeals with such delight and kicks with all her might. I can tell she's going to be an excellent Christmas celebrator!

I hope everyone else has just as much fun celebrating the most miraculous birth of all! Let the festivities begin!

(If you have any ideas to add to my Advent calendar activities or have any traditions that you do at your home, please leave a note! I LOVE new ideas!)

Happy (Early) Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving kisses!

Helping Grandma clean the turkey pan.

Kate's first Thanksgiving.

We celebrated early this year due to Bill's work schedule and Grandma's need to head south for some Florida sun:) It worked out for everyone and it was a wonderful early Thanksgiving! Even Heidi and her kids were able to celebrate with us since we had an early celebration! Couldn't have worked out any better:)

Sweet Slumber

This is the cover to Kate's baby book. It makes me smile every time I see it:)

Apple Hill Cake

Combine: 2 cups sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

6 cups raw, diced (or shredded) apples

Sift together: 2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 cup wheat germ (or flaxseed as I sneak in!)

Add to apple mixture. Bake 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees in a 9X13 pan.

Peek!

Kate started pulling herself up on the furniture yesterday:) She couldn't quite get up with this little table; however, she gave it a very determined try!

Cuddly Baby Girl

Kate is sick so she let me cuddle her all day! Poor little thing, but I sure do love all the cuddling!

Monkeys

Aunt Heidi stayed the night last night and this is the sight this morning:) And yes. Nap time lasted for a LONG time:)

"Specials"

Isaac was playing with the spoons and had to walk away from them:

"Don't take it, Mom! That's my specials!"

Tinkerbell

She does this every time she sees the Tinkerbell movie box. It cracks me up!

Pook: The Movie

I took this video of Isaac the day after his concussion. It's right before bedtime so he's quite a chatterbox!

Kangaroo

"Look, Mom!" Isaac exclaimed. "It's a candy-roo!"

Good (Maybe Great) Idea!

When we were little, my Aunt Ruth would get out her journal and read to us all the silly little things her children said. We LOVED it! We'd giggle and laugh so much.

Well, the other day, my sister Michelle brought her laptop over and showed me the little book she was making of all the silly things her daughter has said (thus far). She's making it from this AMAZING website called mypublisher.com (though there are many choices out there). Anyway, she's put many pictures and all the funny sayings are printed in it! It's SO cute! Imagine how much fun little Kailey is going to have when she gets to read it! Anyway, on top of how special it will be to have a collection of such precious little memories, it would make a SPECTACULAR Christmas present for grandparents! Just a thought!

Anyway, my sister Heidi and I both made baby books with this website and the results were high quality, hardback books! WE LOVE THIS SITE!

A New Grandpa

I have a picture of my parents setting on my bookshelf. Ike picked it up and took it over to Aunt Michelle who was sitting on the couch. "This is Grandma and Grandpa, " Michelle explained.

Isaac thought for a minute and said, "Grandma has a NEW Grandpa!" I just love his sweet, four-year-old perspective:)

Nine Months

Little Loves

Ike's Perspective

This morning I woke up to Ike's excited little voice announcing, "The sun is working again!"

~

Isaac was especially -- well, being quite boyish -- while I was putting groceries away. He would announce himself "Isaac Paddamo!" and jump off the chair -- over and over again. When I finally took a moment to stop in and make sure the activity wasn't too dangerous, he raised his hand to me and announced in a deep tone, "Mommy Paddamo!" And off the chair he jumped. How fun to be announced to an imaginary audience!

Special Delivery!

Yesterday my sister noticed the flower delivery van in my driveway. I shrugged it off and said that we have a lot of people turn around in our driveway. We continued our conversation as the delivery lady came up to the door. Much to my surprise, it was a delivery from my two favorite boys -- Wyatt and Isaac! Thanks boys!

Ike's Ouchie(s)

Sometime yesterday Ike scraped his nose, but he didn't notice. I asked him if his nose hurt and he shrugged and said no. In the evening he looked in the mirror and saw the scrape . . . all of a sudden his nose hurt! :) (The bandaid on the other side of his face is from where he fell the other day.) He sure is a tough guy!

Kate

Carrots are Yummy!

Kissin' Kate

We'll Miss You Daddy

Pook

"Watch out, Ike. I don't want you to fall down and hit your head."

Cute response, "Yeah! I don't want to pook again!"

Ike is feeling much better after his concussion yesterday afternoon. He's been loving the extra bit of attention he's been getting!

Yesterday afternoon while I was sitting in on my grandmother's funeral, Ike was out playing with the other kids. He was kicking a ball around the gym and fell hard on his head. I heard him crying (from in the service) so I exited quickly. Jeff drove us home quickly and I laid Ike down to rest. He was miserable and wouldn't stop throwing up so we knew something was indeed not right. Jeff called dispatch, who called an on duty officer to find Bill (he was in training and did not have his cell or work phone on). He came charging home and took us straight way to the hospital.

The hospital workers know Bill well. He's there a lot getting people medically cleared before he escorts them to the jail. He's also been in for his own minor, job-related injuries. They were so incredibly wonderful and gentle with our Ike. The doctor told us they would be praying for him, they gave him LOTS of stickers, an ice cream certificate, and lots of tender loving care (along with lots of "stings"). I missed the doctor's call today, but he left a nice message to ask about how our big guy is doing. HOW NICE IS THAT? I have to say I was quite impressed with the care Ike received. (Also a group of peace officers showed up (regarding business) and Ike thought they all showed up for him) Grandma Linda also rushed down (much to Ike's delight and my relief) and brought Ike his favorite toy. My arms needed a much needed break from our growing little lady.

Today Ike's been taking it easy. He's been playing "Mario Wii Wooo Hooo" a lot and watching movies. I've been trying to get the active child to take it easy, but of course "taking it easy" is not something that comes naturally to him -- AT ALL.

Love is an Act

My Bill looked at me as we were driving in the truck (some of the best conversations are while driving) and asked me, "Isn't it amazing that we aren't asked to love God, but we are commanded to love God? He has been reading the book of Mark recently and it has brought up some very interesting subject matter.

Bill's question quickly sent me back to over four years ago when my Dad was dying. About a month before his death, my sister Michelle and I were talking to him and my Dad wept and told us, "Love the Lord with all your heart -- nothing else matters." It was the last of our "real" conversations with him as he was quickly dying.

After he died, I have to admit that I didn't love the Lord with all my heart. I wasn't trying to and I didn't know how to. However, after hearing a service in which the pastor encouraged/pleaded with the congregation to READ the Bible so we could fall in love with the Lord I was hit on the head with exactly how to LOVE. So I started reading (from the beginning) and have to say, I was terrified and fearful of the power of God! I told Bill I would never read the Old Testament again (so similar to all the headlines in the news today which I do like to read either). Okay, I probably will read it again, but it was quite a bit more intense than I expected.

So move on over to the New Testament and you'll find more brutality and human cruelty. However, move over to the ever popular 1 Corinthians 13 and you'll find HOW to love spelled out quite clearly. Read it. It's something that I've heard all throughout my life, but now know that I am "nothing" if I do not have love. Love is just a word, but love spelled out and made into an action verb is quite different.

Well, I don't mean to preach. I am flawed. Quite imperfect (anyone will tell you that). But I do love and love deeply (though never perfectly)! I hope that by writing this, you'll pursue love along with me. How wonderful to love the Lord, your husband, your children, your family, your neighbor with actions and not just words. I can't command you to do this, but God does.

Thank you, my Bill, for challenging me and conversing with me. It's so nice to have someone to learn alongside and grow with.

Buddies

Hemming Ike's costume.

Story time.

Judging

I found this on the LeBlanc Life blog and thought I could use it here to keep me in check. Ahhh, my sin nature needs constant reminding.

Matthew 7:1-51“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Our Pumpkin

The pumpkin wants to escape photos . . . .

Memory Making

With the very first paycheck I ever got, I bought myself a set of china. I was young (stubborn) and had "decided" that I wouldn't marry and therefore would need to start collecting things I would need when i moved out. Instead, I would live with my sister (who had also decided against marriage), have a dog, and drive a Dodge Ram. Okay, so it may sound crazy, but like I said, I was "young". Well, my life has taken a different direction (much to my delight) and I find myself happily married, two kids, no dog, and a Chevy truck.

Although I already had china, technically it's not wedding china. So a few weeks ago my Grandmother asked me if I would like to have her wedding china. Seriously!!! I am not sure if my jaw hit the floor or not, but I am sure it at least came close. I've always loved her china, and secretly enjoyed eating off of the plates more than actually eating what was on the plates. They are that lovely.

Well, these dishes have been on display for a few weeks in the china cabinet. So far I haven't used them, but I do walk by the cabinet and smile as I look at the delicate set. It isn't just china, there are a lot of memories with this set. I do so love enjoying things with memories and stories behind them. I am really looking forward to making many more memories with them.

Mom to Mom

When I was pregnant with our first, my very dear and best friend Jordi threw me a BEAUTIFUL baby shower. She made beautiful food, name tags, decorations, etc. I appreciated everything so much. She also made advice cards for me which I absolutely loved. Each mother at the party wrote down a few words of wisdom for me. I now wish I would have put them up on the wall so I could have seen them every day (their wisdom was very sweet and I cherish each and every card). Instead of putting them up in his room or in clear view, I put them in my box filled with precious little keepsakes (his silver spoon, his baby book, cards, hospital bracelets, shoes, etc.). Here is a picture of the cards and one of my favorite advice cards from Gayla. This one I should frame so I can often be reminded that I am not raising just a boy-- I am raising a boy to be a man.