Christmas Card Greetings

I usually don't seek out a heavier load & I always have too many things to carry, but come December, when the mailbox starts filling up, I would be happy to make two trips to the mailbox daily to get all of the wonderful Christmas cards! The weight of a stack of cards, addressed with care, full with warm greetings & smiling faces, well that extra weight is like gold.  The kids love opening up the new cards each day, studying the enclosed photos & reading little updates on what friends near & far have been up to this last year. 

I love the way that in photos or in words dear friends remind us of how God has been at work in their lives...a photo of a new baby, an adoption announcement, a graduation, a wedding or a special trip...all testimonies of God's amazing provision & blessing. And with the card comes a visual reminder to lift each family up in prayer, to thank God for bringing so many wonderful friends into our lives over the years. 

And now it is also fun on the computer to browse through so many blogs displaying their wonderful Christmas cards...the bright colors, the creativity, the joy in the photos...it all just adds to the merriment of this wonderful season. 

So I thought I would link up our Christmas card this year! (Linked up @ Kelly's Korner Blog & at Lil Light O'mine.)

I actually planned ahead this year (wonders never cease!) & contacted our sweet & talented friend Hailey to take our photos back in October. She took photos of the kids this summer (when she was just starting up her business) & wow, she's good! She didn't even break a sweat in the July heat chasing our 5 all over the yard to get some pics!

So photos were done in October & I had the images before November. I spent some time on a few of the various photo card websites trying to put together a card, but I really like folding cards with photos on all sides & I couldn't find a site that had that option. SO, good thing I have another uber-talented design friend...I sent Jessica the images I wanted to use, gave her a brief description of how I wanted it to look & like an hour later, she was sending me a proof! Just a little minor tweaking & we were good to go! Jessica has impeccable attention to detail, so when the cards arrived from the printers a week or so later & they were not quite up to her standards, she asked them to be printed again. Reprint & all, I still had the cards in hand by early December! 

Then, inspired by my dear friend Stacy's blog, I decided to hand address all of the envelopes instead of using labels this year. Following her advice for making it more personal, I also tried to write a little greeting in many of the cards (but sorry couldn't do it in all 150!) 

So here they are...the result of wonderfully talented friends (& somewhat cooperative children on picture day. Ha!) Oh, and the beautiful scenery of Jeff's parents farm!

Front of card...

Inside of card...

Back of card...

So we decided to go a little bit silly on the back of the card, but everyone seems to like it! This was one of the first photos we took & it helped get the kids in a good mood for the remainder of the photos. We just said silly faces & this is what we got...I love Lucy's expression, like who are these crazy people!

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

***
And here is how we like to display the beautiful "old fashioned" Christmas cards we receive.


I learned several years ago at my MOMS group how to fold them into these cute little boxes...now our collection keeps growing each year & looks sweet on the windowsill. 

The kids also love playing with them & stacking them like blocks. Sophie even made one in school a few years ago that had a tag saying "To: Jesus, From: Sophie" and on the inside there was a little paper heart!<3 span="span">

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Picking up right where I left off...the day after Thanksgiving is always our Christmas Tree Getting Day! I love getting a fresh Christmas tree (or two!) each year & the tree may be my favorite Christmas decoration...I love the smell, the sparkle, the glitter & the green.

My mom came over to get in on the fun & help with the decorating & help wrangle the kids while we brought out bins & put up lights & so on!

The kids hamming it up on a bench at the garden center...

I was trying to contain them while we were waiting for Jeff...this was the only way to keep them from running through the trees playing peek-a-boo, splashing in the many decorative fountains, and just creating a general state of mayhem & foolishness!

Yaya & the girls!

Finally home, tree in the stand, lights on the tree (after Jeff had to go to the store to buy more lights since half of ours were burned out!)...and now finally, the long anticipated moment is here! 

We are ready to put ornaments on the tree! 

(You do notice that it is dark outside, right...it has been a long day!)

Sweet Lucy enjoys inspecting all of the ornaments (and only throwing a couple) & hanging some on the tree with her assistant, Daddy.

Picking out favorite ornaments (and of course Lucy in a chef's hat eating a wooden apple...you all do that when you decorate your Christmas trees, right?)

Last year we started putting a second tree in the den/playroom. We pick one that it perfectly kid-sized & decorate it with colorful lights & most of the kidsy ornaments. They pretty much are responsible for decorating this tree themselves & do a great job. Jack takes charge of putting the lights on it & then all the kids work together to decorate it. (Of course in complete & total harmony & peace, with nary a cross or unkind word...um, yeah right!)

It is a special tradition each year that Sophie & Darcy love to set out our Nativity scene. They do a very good job of opening all of the little boxes & carefully arranging each of the characters. We have this on a table in our main living area where we walk by it all the time. I have been enjoying that our Nativity is apparently animated this year...as each time I walk by all of the people & animals are arranged differently into little groups as if they have come to life & are moving going about their daily business. 

(Future post coming on this as I have been snapping pictures every few days of the changes to the scene.)

And after a few days of boxes & bins & tissue paper & bubble wrap taking over my dining room...the tree is done! And it has been enjoyed daily & nightly ever since!

We have a few Quality Control helpers...who like to make sure all the ornaments are hung properly & are all in the proper place for optimal viewing. 

Also, here's a little look at our mantle. I'll be posting more pics of the rest of our house decorated in a separate post. I love to use bright Christmas colors all over the house, but for the mantle lately I have gone more neutral with lots of gold & accents of green. Of course, it is always cozy & inviting with a nice fire in the fireplace...but we haven't had many fires this week with our temps reaching up to the 70s!

5 Signs of Christmas Craziness

aka 5 Signs That Mommy is Trying To Do Too Many Projects All At Once This Christmas...

{Okay guys, swallowing my pride on this one & giving you all a glimpse of the mayhem & foolishness that has descended upon my house today. At least it is fairly well contained to the kitchen & office...for now!}

Sign #5::I can no longer feed my kids any meals because all of the regular feeding spots are covered with stuff...craft supplies, mail, packages, craft supplies, glitter (see #3), and more craft supplies. 

Sign #4::I have reheated my mug of tea in the microwave at least 5 times & it is still sitting on the counter half full!

Sign #3::There.is.glitter.everywhere! 
(Have I ever told you how much my husband just loves glitter? I believe his sentiments usually involve the word "UN-invented!")

Sign #2::My desk looks like this...

...and my other desk looks like this...

and Sign #1::I stopped working on all of said projects, did not start fixing dinner (see #5), and let my kids play outside until past dark (without having started their homework!) just so I could take photos of the mess & start writing this blog post! (And now it's well past midnight & I am finally finishing this post up, & also a few of those projects!) If that's not a wee bit of craziness, then I don't know what is!

At least the high chair is clean & uncluttered, so I can still feed someone!

Merry Christmas-time everybody! This is my favorite time of year, but today it is wearing me out!

May we all find extra minutes in our days to be still & quiet & reflect on what is true, what is pure & what is lovely...

Late, but still Thankful!

Oh.my.goodness! Were you as sick of seeing that Halloween post as I was?? (I'm talking to all two of you who may check here regularly, if that many!) That hurried Halloween post was taunting me each day as I would click over to check out updates on everyone else's blog...everyone who has figured out what I apparently cannot, how to blog in a timely fashion!

So here is my quick attempt to give some much needed attention to our month of November & the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving! I love that people are intentional about being thankful for a whole month (and hopefully always!) I especially enjoyed all the posts & status updates of people purposefully taking time to count their blessings in November. How encouraging & a blessing to be to read & see what my friends are thankful for...even friends going through hard times, giving all praise & thanksgiving to God!

That song 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman was on constant repeat in my brain all during November. And while the current play list in my head has now switched to a random stream of Christmas songs, this song still is there...Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, worship His holy name, Sing like never before, O my soul, I worship Your holy name...You're rich in love and You're slow to anger, Your name is great and Your heart is kind, For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing 10,000 reasons for my heart to find...

Psalm 103:1-14
Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,

his acts to the people of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

Quick Halloween Recap

Because it's already the next holiday & I haven't even blogged about the previous one (how does that keep happening to me?) I just wanted to post a few pics of the kids this Halloween. It isn't my favorite holiday...I could do without the ghouls & gore, we don't need a drop of candy, & it always ends up being so hectic to get costumed up & out the door, but I sure do like to see my kids all dressed up. They think it is SO much fun & they sure look pretty cute...here's a quick look!

Getting ready! After school was a hectic time of everyone getting their costumes ready & getting dressed. Since Halloween fell on a Wednesday night this year, we had our usual Bible clubs at church. The kids were supposed to dress as something/someone from the Bible.

Sophie chose to be an angel; Darcy dressed up as Mary carrying a tiny baby Jesus in swaddling cloths; Drew was a king (just like last year & using the same royal robe we made for Jack when he was 3! I love a costume that lasts!!), but this year we called him King David; Lucy was a little flower (even the flowers of the fields...); and if you are wondering what in the world Jack was...he was dressed up as baby Moses, in a basket (floating down the River Nile...) It was hard to get a good picture, but Jack's head was baby Moses's head & we had a baby doll body (also in swaddling cloths) attached right below his head. I've got to give it to the boy, he always chooses creativity in his costumes!

And they're off! It was a race to get to as many houses as they possibly could in less than 30 minutes! (They did really well & still have full candy buckets!) Then it was on to church, where they also handed out loads more candy during their Bible clubs.

Sophie & Darcy were such good helpers with little Lucy!

And that wraps up a speedy Halloween post...short & sweet, just like precious little flower!

Perfectly Planned Pumpkin Carve

I'm a little behind on blogging (what's new!) but I definitely didn't want to miss posting about another one of our most favorite fall activities ..the Annual Pumpkin Carve hosted each year by our sweet friends, the Davises. Every October as the pumpkin lots begin to pop up all over town, the first thing our kids start asking is, "When is THE pumpkin carve?" Quickly followed by,  "We are definitely going, right?!! I mean we can't miss it!" I believe this was the 6th year that they hosted 50+ adults & children for a night of food, games, treats, fellowship, fireworks, and, of course, carving pumpkins! Never mind that they have 7 children (ranging in age from 10 years to 4 months,) each year the event gets bigger & better. They always love to surprise & wow the crowd with something new & amazing! This year did not disappoint...come & see...

Pumpkin prep at home before the party...we have learned, the more pumpkins you have to carve, the better it is to "gut" the pumpkins & do all the messy work at home beforehand. This year we even let the kids search online for cool carving ideas (thanks Pinterest!) & we printed a template for each pumpkin at home. Armed with 4 clean & empty pumpkins & 4 carving templates, we were ready to go!

More importantly, Lucy's ready, so we are on our way!!!

First up, FOOD, of course! The wonderful hosts provided yummy chili & spaghetti for all & everyone brought a side dish or dessert to share. 

As soon as bellies were full, it was down to business, pumpkin carving business! Our kids had kind of a Disney theme going on this year...Darcy chose Tinkerbell, Sophie chose Rapunzel & Drew chose Lightning McQueen.

Jack chose the red Angry Bird & did all of his carving completely on his own.

 Throughout the evening there was plenty of fun to be had...tossing a football & tackling each other, playing inside, playing outside, playing upside down! Organized games & general merriment! This year one of the new additions was a huge cake walk.

Drew really liked the cake walk...here he is enjoying his prize, a yummy chocolate cupcake with loads of bright blue frosting!

Finally the pumpkins were carved & ready for lighting!

Lightning McQueen, lots of Jack-o-lanterns, Tinkerbell

Red Angry Bird, close up of some of the pumpkins, Rapunzel
The creativity displayed in all of the pumpkins was amazing & really beautiful! 

And the grand finale...a dazzling display of fireworks!

Thanks to Stephanie & Jeff, as always, for their graciousness & hospitality. This year's Annual Pumpkin Carve was another roaring success & a great time was had by all!

Gum Drop Fun

Last week at the check-out line in Trader Joe's, after about a hundred "No, we cannot get that, or that or that..." I totally caved to Drew's request to purchase a bag of gum drops. It was a small bag & they look pretty in a candy jar on the kitchen counter. Since then, it has been an easy way to say yes to the kids & let them have a little treat every now & then...and I do mean little, I usually only dole out 1 or 2 at a time. {I'm a candy scrooge like that!}

Yesterday afternoon, Jack asked to have a couple & I said yes. A couple quickly became, "Can I please have 3, a yellow, an orange & a white? I want to make a candy corn." So I said okay, and I'm glad I did. Making one "candy corn" turned into a fun little creative activity for Jack seeing what all he could make out of the gum drops. It was somewhat challenging, as well, because our package only had 4 colors: red, orange, yellow & white. {And I totally have to give Jack his props, he wasn't even doing it so that he could eat more gum drops, he gave each of the little creations to one of his siblings...spreading them out so everyone got one!}

Here's a little look at Jack's cute Gum Drop Creations...He said to me, "Mom, we should pin these on Pinterest!" {I love that kid!}

 Snowman

 Jack-o-lantern

 The candy corn that started it all!

 Ghost (because we had a lot of white gum-drops!)

 Santa's hat

And a jolly ol' gum drop Santa!