Fabulous yet Flawed

Ok... so I LOVE chocolate. While eating a dove dark chocolate square, this is the quote that was on the wrapper. "It's ok to be Fabulous and flawed". I LOVE it! not just the chocolate but the sentiment as well.

We are all flawed, imperfect and challenged yet LOVED by God and all Fabulous!

My less than flawed plan for this week is to pull out a project that is very dear to me and start working on it again! it's going to be FABULOUS!

Babies come in all different Colors!

I Absolutely Love my random discussions with Ava Lynn. They are always about Theology or the deep questions in life. Earlier today she asked me a scary one, she wanted to know what bad people do to kids if they take them. I didn't go into detail for her of course, but I did tell her that sometimes they kill them. We've always worked really hard with my little adventurous girl on the stranger danger thing, because she's the one who tends to both chat freely and wander without realizing it! I really hope I haven't warped her.

On a much lighter note, we came inside from that discussion to do some baking for New Year's Eve, Happy New Year all!!!. During this discussion she mentions that she had a little chat with her friend Ethan at school. (Ethan is a sweet little boy, son of a friend of mine as well!) During rest time, Ethan asked her, "If I marry a brown girl will she have a brown baby like you?" Ava said she said ".... O... k.... that would be funny." Then she asked me if that was true! Amidst suppressing giggles and taking a deep breath I told her, for example if she married someone with skin like mine (white) that her baby would likely have skin lighter than hers but darker than mine. She thought about this for about a minute, then told me she would like her baby to have.... and I QUOTE:

a Brown Arm
a White Head
a White other Arm
a White Belly
a Brown Back
1 Leg Brown and 1 Leg White
1 Foot Brown and 1 Foot White

I told her that sounded adorable. Then she realized she forgot the ears!
Can you sense a trend? Yep, 1 white and 1 brown of those and lips and nose too. (yes, she is considering each nostril a "nose")

We are getting closer and closer to the Actual question of where babies come from, but for right now I'm VERY happy to answer ONLY the question being asked!

Have a Blessed New Year All!

Christmas Blessings!

Ok, So this hasn't exactly been a year of blogging for me... I imagine that will change this coming year. Here is a quick update on us.

The girls are amazing and doing so very well!

Abigail is 9 now and still loves school. She is playing on a competitive "travel" soccer team and Loves it! (thankfully at this age, travel doesn't really mean traveling!) She is a fierce reader and an even fiercer Lego fiend! Case in point, she got Hogwarts (harry potter's school) Lego set for Christmas and finished putting it together the next day! She's amazing and sweet and helpful and sarcastic and we have a lot of fun together.

Ava Lynn just turned 6. She is a Beautiful and Sweet, Spicy little girl. She has a Love of adventure and is in perpetual motion (Kinda like her mother!) This year she started Kindergarten and she really likes that. She loves her teacher (Mrs. Schmidt) and is learning to read. She still loves books and can sit for hours making up stories to go with the pictures. Now she is even writing "sentences" and reading some things! She is currently our little dancer and loves her Tap and ballet class with her two best buds, Gianna and Victoria.

Ella is communicating much better now. It's been a long year for her. She tested out of both Physical and Speech Therapy. Both of which we are trying to continue with a little at home. She currently goes to Pre School at the JCC and loves her teacher Miss Rachel. She is quite the chatterbox and has a Great imagination! She is 3 years old right now and talks constantly about her birthday party :) (which isn't until May) She loves to sing and will sing for hours if given the opportunity!

I'm doing great! I love being a Mom and spending time with the girls is my favorite thing! I started an online shop this year on Etsy. www.EdenLynnrose.etsy.com. I'm making boutique children's clothes now on the side (along with all of my other daily adventures and things I do "on the side") The shop took a "time-out" once Kindergarten started! I had forgotten how much prep and talk time that takes!
We got to go to a giant Aukema(n) family reunion this fall and that was a lot of fun! guess who is charge of planning the next one? YEP! Me! So, if any of you cousins are reading this... prepare to be stalked for your attendance! :)

Love you all! and Many Christmas Blessings Wishes from our house to yours!
God Bless!

A New Year

A New Year, so exciting and full of possibilities!
Blessed with opportunities and adventures.

This year I'm learning spanish. Notice, not "going to" learn spanish, that implies being able to wait :). No, I am LEARNING spanish.
Want to take the girls back to Guatemala to visit with our friends and cement some of that spanish, Visit Cali, take lots of pictures, complete at least one children's book and one screenplay. Notice again, AT LEAST one, that could mean 2 of each! Now wouldn't that be an accomplishment!. Oh, and I'd like to get back on stage this year too, lets hope someone does a good show that I get to be in. :)

Big Dreams, Big Ideas, Big Year!

"The Future Belongs To Those Who Believe In The Beauty Of Their Dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt
"I can do ALL things through Him who strengthens me"
Phil. 4:13
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
"So we are always confident,... for we walk by faith, not by sight."
2 Cor 5:6,7

Discussing Heaven

We had a very funny dinner conversation yesterday. We were having yummy roast chicken with our friends Shannon and Danny. now, it's important to know that Ava just recently made the connection that what she is actually eating when she eats roast chicken, is a beloved bird. There have been other interesting conversations about this but none quite as animated as last night.

Ava started this particular conversation by asking me "Momma, is this blood?" on a particularly pink piece of chicken. I answered her "no, it's just pink chicken" Ava "so this doesn't have blood in it?" Danny (also 5 years old) "nope, no blood cause it's not alive" Shannon added "not anymore, no more feathers either" & we giggled a little.
Then Ava asks, "is it in heaven then?"
Danny "yes.... right?"
Me "yes, I would say it's in heaven with the other animals"
Then the conversation got interesting. The kids are quiet for a couple minutes and then Ava asks "Momma, will I have a boy "nunu" when I get to heaven?" (nunu is our word for little girl parts - call me old fashioned)
I looked at Shannon quick while she choked & answered quickly "No Ava, you won't have boy parts when you get to heaven"
Then I said what could have probably waited until they were about 10 years older... "I'm not sure anyone in heaven has boy or girl parts Ava, all we know is that everyone has all their parts". They took about a nano-second on that one before starting a very fast little exchange about what that might mean exactly, so I redirected the conversation by saying that when we get to heaven, anyone who didn't have legs that work or arms etc. will be all better in heaven. Shannon then reminded the kids that our pastors daughter who walks with a walker always says she can't wait to get to heaven because she'll be able to dance there.

2 things reminded of at dinner:
ALWAYS remember to only answer the actual questions being asked by a 5 year old
and When we get to Heaven we'll all be dancing - with or without the chickens!

p.s. I wrote the original version of this last night but blogger and my cold hand accidentally deleted it! If Shannon reminds me of something important to the story I'll add it.

Christmas Day Funnies and Foibles

I have to tell you, about 3 days with no sleep is NO way to start Christmas morning!
Thankfully, Ava Lynn was funny as usual.

Our morning began with the girls (Abby and Ava) waking me up excited.... " Momma! It's Christmas! Merry Christmas!" I asked them if they had seen the tree yet and I was surprised they said no. I told them to go take a look and tell me what they saw. The report was favorable of course and then I was compelled to get up.

I went downstairs and "oohed" & "aaahhhed" with them. Exclaimed about all the presents and the fact that santa had indeed eaten his cookies and drank all of his milk. (no, I didn't eat them this time, I just put them away again!)

When I went into the kitchen to make my coffee, Ava came in and kinda chuckled "heh, I'm not on the naughty list!" She said it so introspectively I think she was actually surprised! I had to laugh, I have been using the threat that every parent uses at this time of year. " If you don't behave and listen to your momma, santa is going to bring you coal instead of a present!"
Grandma has a sample of coal from santa that I gave to her years ago. She shows the girls every year and they have lengthy discussions of it's origins.

At our house Santa brings one present to every child in the world and parents, siblings, & other family help out with the rest. Also at our house each of the girls get three gifts. Someone suggested it once during a conversation about how to make sure Christmas doesn't get too out of control on the gifts side. The reasoning is that Baby Jesus got three gifts from the wise men, They get three gifts too. It works very well for us usually, but somehow this year got a little away from us. I always have a small gift for the girls at home when we get up, we have our own little Christmas before we go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Then of course there's the stockings at both places and gifts from Aunts and friends. Next year we'll have to try harder on that, it can really get to be too much!

Ella had a milestone Christmas day! She actually stopped what she was doing and told me that she had to go potty! YAY!!!!! ringing bells, fireworks, party hats! You name it was the reaction she got. She's been successfully pottying for about 6 months now but has refused to tell me when she needs to go, I just time her :) (NOTE: she tells her teachers at school supposedly!)
Now, while still excited about this of course, she then proceeded today to pee a VERY large puddle on the floor with a little river following in her wake as she walked away from the initial location while getting tattled on by her sisters!
*sigh* So much for progress right?

And sweet Abby, her main gift this year was a new leapster didj since she was so kind to pass her 1st leapster to her little sister for her birthday. That dumb toy crashed my computer at least 8 times, NO exaggeration! Turns out it's the Didj since when I tried connecting it to another computer it dumped on that one too! We tried to return it the next day.... Got up before 7 am and got over to target to exchange it. Of course there wasn't a didj in the whole store. So, still have to try to get that swapped out!

We had a very beautiful day, surrounded by family, good conversation, some carols on the piano, REALLY good food! Blessings all around!
I pray your family is Blessed by Christmas all year long!

Christmas

The Legend of the First Christmas Tree

The night of the Saviour's birth, all the living creatures, both flora and fauna, came to Bethlehem with gifts. The olive tree brought its fruit and the palm its dates. But the little fir tree had no gift and was so tired it couldn't resist when the big trees pushed it into the background and hid it from view. But then a nearby angel took pity and commanded a cluster of stars to come and rest on its delicate boughs. When the Baby Jesus beheld this lovely lighted tree, He smiled and blessed it, declaring henceforth that fir trees should always be filled with lights at Christmastime to please little children.

As always Christmas season is a VERY Joyous occasion at our house and while we focus on the true meaning of Christmas, the fact that our savior came to be born in a humble manger, we do in fact put up about 9 Christmas trees in total! FUN! ok.... so it's a lot of work but enjoying it for a month or two is still fun.

Each tree has a theme of course, our largest in the living room has all of our special ornaments on it. The ones for example that we have collected together as a family on our travels and each of the special ornaments that the girls get one of every year.
Dining room tree is all gingerbread, complete with a gingerbread nativity on the window sill garland and a gingerbread village in the hutch.
Upstairs playroom is all colorful with little stuffed animal ornaments
Kitchen is earthy, tall with a gold and berry bow at the top, ribbon winding around and pine cone colored bells hanging on it.
Bathroom is a tiny tree complete with a plaid ribbon tree skirt & little red and white roses on it.
The girls room has a tree with multicolored lights, dora, and rudolph lights on it and Ella's little tree simply has white lights this year as we haven't been able to find any tiny ones we like yet!
My room has a little tree that my grandmother gave me years ago, small white plaid tree skirt, little red bows, and sweet tiny hallmark ornaments on it with a little gold angel at the top.
(usually I have a big tree in my room but this year didn't put it up .... Yet... ;)
In the basement we have another big skinny tree, large colored lights and brightly colored plastic ball ornaments and other ornaments the girls have made at school.
ok, so that's only 8, but again, my room didnt get the big tree this year.
Our house is FILLED with twinkly lights!

Some people like to take down the decorations the day after Christmas. I don't. They remind me of comfy things, sweet things, family things, faith things.
Not to mention that it takes so much time and energy to put it all up, seems a shame to take it down so fast! I'll admit however that since today was above 40 degrees here, I was temped to take down the outside stuff at least! Now I'll probably be working on that when it's 10 degrees instead.

Next year, I think I'm going to try for 10 trees, seems like a good number to me!