Better Late Than Never!

My Dad has had this video for a while...and recently sent it to me...after I bugged him incessantly! I'm delighted to see it...and my round little man getting his first haircut in his sleep!

Organizing for the New Year...

While the kids played with new tool blocks this morning...I busily sorted and sifted...washed and moved...
...toys, puzzles are now all organized. Do you like my new dresser? Isn't she so cute?? She is perfect for holding puzzles and other toys that need supervision in order to stay nice and whole! Thank you Mom and Dad for bringing her to me on this snowy week!
AHHHH *SIGH* Look at that nice neat and clean fridge! I got the hilarious calendar of carnivorous plants from a print a day!
Okay...I'm guessing I'm really alone on this one...but I LOVE THE SMELL OF THIS CABINET...school/crafting supplies...*sniff, sniff*...paper, pencils, markers, playdoh, ahhhhh...
DadE got smart this year...and decided to take pictures of our WillowTree nativity...because it takes FOREVER to remember how to re package them correctly. Now, it's on the blog...so I can look it up on my archives...smart...*wink wink*

Christmas Cookies, colds, and SNOW...

On Christmas Eve we made sugar cookies as a family. Well, MomE made the cookies while DadE played with little boobahs...and then we all made frosting and frosted LOTS of cookies!!!
She was so pleased to truly be an independent froster this year!

We travelled to visit Grandparents W. and MomE came down with a horrid little cold...ugh! We were blessed with a nice visit and good travelling on the roads...around snow...or in between storms...HA!
For our brown/gray corner of Indiana...this is ALOT of snow...so we had to put on our new snow pants and have a playtime! Emmer made some gorgeous snow angels...that I caught on video...but blogger isn't being friendly today...so I'll have to try again later when I have more time to download.
Thanks to all who wished us a Merry Christmas...and prayed for our safety! Hope your Christmas was blessed as well! Head over to my other blog...where I'm BLOGGING ALONG...to hear the story of our new family additions.

Merry Christmas!

Advent Week 4: LOVE...

This craft dealt more with talking to them about the star and the wise men than about the LOVE. I feel like LOVE sort of permeates the four weeks of advent anyway! We talk about it every single week.
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
They made their starry skies...I should have added white to the paint...cuz when it dried it was hard to see...oh well, live and learn...
We sprinkled cornmeal (rough cracked) on the brown painted camels....
...and glitter on our cardboard stars. They turned out pretty cute!!
Using Joanne's card idea, I created some advent cards this year. She was kind enough to send me hers typed out...and then I put pictures with them...The kids loved putting one on the fridge each day...
..and one ornament on the advent tree too. See, it's almost full?!!
Since my kids are early risers...and it's still dark outside...we're going to light the Christmas advent candles in the morning on Christmas Day...before we travel out to visit family.

TT: Silent Monks Singing Hallelujah!!

I LOVED this...had to share!!!

Six years...and two babies later...

...and he's still my sweet Loverbrains! Looking forward to many more years together.

First Christmas Program...

As you may have noticed...we've been preparing our Emmy for her first Christmas Program...She was a dove this year...although she thought she was a princess owl. She was quiet and didn't sing much...but we are grateful she didn't cry as is her usual custom. Progress with pre-primaries is slow but sure...Praise the Lord! Phew!

Frugal Friday: Drummer Boys and Doves, er owls...

I've seen these little dove ornaments about...and wanted to make some with the sweet boobahs...so I broke out my frugal supply of cardboard...
And my extra copy of what I sang on Sunday...
While I was chopping it up a bit...I got them started painting on some wooden angels an elderly man gave us at Walmart (very random act of kindness)...
Boobah Boy wasn't sure he liked paint...kept freaking out when it got on his fingers...Oui!
She's the happiest little painter ever...but I remember when she used to do the same thing.
Awwww...aren't they cute! The music ones weren't dry...so couldn't hang them yet...
We'd been singing Christmas carols...so I thought I'd try to catch some of it on video...Then, of course, she acted all shy...and you can barely hear her...He's never interested in the video...unless it's to say, "Me see" meaning let him look in the viewfinder. Gotta love digital technology. Do you love that she thinks she's going to be an OWL in the Christmas program!? She's a white bird that goes, "coo, coo"...which to a four year old seems like other white birds that go, "who, who!" Makes sense to me!

Advent Week 3- JOY!!

We made sheep yesterday...
...come on...ya gotta love glue and cotton ball crafts! Hehehe!
The not so happy shepherd and his sheep...
This little shepherdess is very happy with her sheepy!
Our sheep...in their pasture!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas/...

Tube Tuesday: 12 Days Of Christmas SNC

This group has become so popular of late...that they took the 1998 performance off YouTube...and I was annoyed to put it mildly! Sooooo recently,I discovered it's back...and still as fun as ever!!!

Frugal Friday: New Sheets = Joy Banner!

I received some gorgeous new sheets from my parents for Thankmas! I was doing laundry today (yes, again...cuz I didn't get all done the other day)...and there was a cardboard spacer inside...to make it fold nicely in the package.
I'd been thinking of making a Christmas banner for the foyer...and so we broke out the crayons and angel cookie cutters...Emmy chose the word JOY...because she likes the song "Joy To The World" and because it's her middle name!
Look at the lovies...awww!
It looks nicer than my camera shows...too bright a flash I think...very nice angels and holly berries! She saw me make a holly bunch...and said, "We needs one with BLUE berries. I love blueberries." Then Lubby piped up with his accolade to dried blueberries (one of his favorite things)...so cute and hilarious!

Advent Week 2: The Hope of Jesus!

I was going to make a envelope manger that I'd seen...but saw these tissue boxes in my stash...and decided to use them. Lubby didn't want to craft that day...so Emmer bug and I did it together...just us girls!
She talked about Jesus being the gift at Christmas...and wanted to put him under the tree...so that's where he is! I think it's interesting to have a heralding angel in the background!

Remember when Wednesday...

I think this was last year's snow.  I say it as if there was only one...cuz I think there was only one good snow.  I'm hoping for ALOT of snow this year.  I'm encouraged by the heavy berry and apple season and the woolie worms.  I grew up in Upstate New York...they are getting three feet tonight.  It "snowed" here on Monday...and melted before we got home from grocery shopping.  The kids thought I was being mean when I said we couldn't build snowmen.  "Um...there's not enough snow...you could draw one on the ground, I suppose!"  *Sigh*  It's blustery and snowy today...not sticking to anything...but pretty in the air.  After going out for a Dr.'s appt. this morning...I'm thankful for a garage to load and unload sweet boobahs in...and I'm thankful for our warm and cozy house!  God is good to us...even if Indiana winter's are sort of brown and gray!

Tube Tuesday: Joseph's Song...

"Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours..." Ah, it gives me goosebumps to think about it...

Frugal Friday Advent Style...

Here's our happy little advent tree. I like that it has berries and pine cones...that way it doesn't look so bare as we slowly add ornaments each day...
Here's our bowl of advent ornaments...I love the navy blue...ooooo....
We made "jinglers" to shake while singing Christmas songs....very fun...and FRUGAL! I bought the large plastic container of bells at Hobby Lobby for $1.00...a pipe cleaner from our stash...string them on and twist the end...JINGLE, JINGLE ALL THE WAY!!!
Even Lubby could string these himself...well, he got bored/distracted after about three...but his two year old fingers could do the threading. They are shaking them all about...and I love it...it's a surprisingly non-annoying sound! Huh!?

Advent Week 1: Angels...

A Savior King Is. 7:14; 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5; Micah 5:2-5a
The Angel Visits Mary Luke 1:26-38
The Angel Visits Joseph Matt. 1:18-25
Sing: Joy to the World, O Come, All Ye Faithful
Craft Idea: Coffee Filter Angels

Yes, I'm aware that our coffee filter angels are a bit different than others you may have seen. What can I say...we got excited and decided to give them wings AND skirts! Woowoo!

Have you read these stories to your kids? So great!! We got a book from my parents I just have to share with ya'll...it's wonderful! The Lamb by John R. Cross...

Happy Birthday DadE!

We all helped make you a cake. We stirred and stirred...450 strokes as the box instructed...
We tasted the frosting...it's delicious. Your cake has been dubbed "Awesome" by your Curious Georgette!! She does look proud doesn't she!!?
Yes, I know how to make a cake from scratch but...well...a box cake is better than no cake, right? This Devil's food with Dark Fudge Chocolate frosting and andes candies! Yum!!
The glass should keep the little people out! Happy Birthday...We love you so much!!!