Cali Christmas

Okay, know now that there are a gazillion pictures so continue if you will, but you have been warned. We had a great time. We soaked up the sun and the family. It had been a while since both my brother and I were home at the same time. We enjoyed having the whole fam together, even squeezed in a competitive game of pictionary(no pics of that, it was too intense to pause).

We got in late the Saturday before Christmas.

We went to church.

Then we went straight to Amapola. I'm actually not into the hot salsa, but D loves it. I ate my machaca faster than I could take a picture of it.


J actually played a whole game of chess with my dad. He's been showing interest in it (I don't play, but it's on our computer). Dad said he did well, and J even took his queen.

Celebrated Den's bday with one of his favorite breakfast treats, the raspberry danish twist from Entenmann's.

We took a drive up to the college to enjoy the view when I said, "look! look!"

Because I saw a fox.

Then went to the office. V giggled while we waited for grandpa.

And he said "hiiii" for the camera.

The kids were making cookies at Grandma Linda's while we ran around.

Christmas Eve started at Grandma Lee's where we had yummy lasagna.

Then to church for a candlelight service.

Then dessert at Grandma Linda's where V decided to to be done.

We always open one gift on C Eve and we act surprised when it's pj's. E actually said to me in a laugh, "mommy, we all got jammies!"

Christmas morning...gifts, food, family and friends.

J took the squeezing of the OJ very seriously.

V did a little flirting. He would say "ahhh".

V officially smiles for the camera while Dennis grows antlers.

V enjoying his new toy.

Where you would often find J.

Where you often find E. She loved Aunt Kristina's i phone (and aunt kris of course).

Or here, with one of the dogs (john and kris have Chihuahua's) under a blanket with her.

Grandma had some jobs for J to earn some $ towards a wii. (he has to earn half and I think he's nearly there). He actually did these jobs with a bit of joy. Here he is picking up fallen fruit. I heard him subtracting as he picked them off of the ground "7-1 is 6...6-1...no 2 is 4"

My mom always takes a pecan pie at Christmas to our friends the Hurst's, so we went along for the delivery, Jeanette was my 4-H leader and she taught me to ride horses. She was so good to me those years! She is still involved with 4-H and there are fun animals at her house. Sheep are there but not pictured.

Brownie was my mom's horse who is now out to pasture.

The four of us. Why didn't we do this when we were cleaned up on Christmas Eve?

Aunt Sand and Uncle Frank came to visit a couple of days. A joy as always!

Spent some time in the desert.

One of his Christmas gifts, a Lego helicopter. He built (not all, but most of it) himself.

Helping Grandpa feed the dogs.

Tubbie in the sink.

The kids LOVED there aunt and uncle time.

Saw some high school friends and there kids. Have known these girls nearly forever. Toni (middle) and I have the same birthday. Was great seeing both of them. (Kim is on the left)

Whenever I'm in town I usually see Missy at least once. Her girls were generous to share there fabulous swing set with my kids.

V got in on the action too.

Behind my parents, this used to be weeds where we'd play and John had forts.

E couldn't get outside enough.

Everybody gets adjusted.


New Year's Eve: marshmallows and chocolate kisses.

Killing time at the airport in Houston on our way home. We had a 3 hour layover.

Now I have stayed up way too late for this. Not good for recovering from jetlag.

Advent Day 25

Joy to the world.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Henry W. Longfellow 1864

Advent Day 24

A star is born.

Advent Day 23

Give to those in need.


Confession..totally slacked on this one. We are away from home and there is so much going on that this just slipped by. However, I do suppose it is in these times of busyness that we need to stop and remember those who have so much less. My way will be prayer tonight. But I will also pray that the Lord will reveal someone for our family to give to in a way that would honor Him.

Advent Day 22

Praise another.

He is the birthday boy today, but that's not the only reason I'm going to give him a bit a praise. This man is my best friend. He works hard to provide for his family. He loves his children fiercely. He shows them by nightly events of wrestling/tickling, playing games (even the long ones that I avoid), praying with them, and so much more. He gets up with the kids in the middle of the night (I've learned that not all dad's do this). He rubs my back and feet upon request. He fixes things, takes care of the bills, can run heavy machinery, and kill things for us to eat. He's smart. He thinks deeply, feels his convictions and responds to them. We can talk about anything anytime. He loves our God. He loves me, that's probably the most amazing thing. Thank you Jesus for my man....my best friend. Happy Birthday my love.

Advent Day 21

Take time for yourself.

The kids will definitely have some alone time today...maybe not the way they'd choose.

I plan on soaking in the following.

Advent Day 20

Smile at a stranger.



I'm sure there will plenty of opportunity for this at the airport. Smiles that say thank you to those who are sitting near to my crying baby. Smile of Jesus' love too.

Advent Day 19

Stop and smell the roses.

This is obviously not intended as literal, but I sure needed this reminder as we are in the packing and scrambling mode before our trip tomorrow. I pray that you too will be able to release anxiety and embrace the PEACE that can only come from our Savior at Christmas!

Advent Day 18

Think good thoughts.


This was a good one for me to stop and do as things are a bit hectic right now. Just busy stuff that needs to be done before we leave for two weeks in two days. This was also good for the kids to do when they were cranky about cleaning up and starting to take it out on each other.

Here are a few of my happy thoughts for today (and yes a lot have to do with our upcoming destination) In no particular order...

- citrus that can be picked and eaten or squeezed for juice by me
- desert sunsets
- big blue skies
- my whole immediate fam together for Christmas
- getting off of the airplane (so this kind of is the positive side to a anxious thoughts about what would precede this)
- free adjustments and laser treatments
- quality mexican food
- friends who come use my computer and make me feel smart ;)
- friends that i can call about my craft anxiety when i'm not feeling so smart
- E giving me tons of hugs today of her own free will...not too common
- my kids begging me to make up another goofy verse for the 12 days of Christmas
- my husband venturing into walmart insanity with two kids last night
- my husband playing withe kids and getting them to squeal like only he can
- and finally......

happy thought indeed, much happier than shelves in a closet....

Advent Day 17

Give something of yourself.


It's 11ishpm....does being a mom count?

Though one thing that I would like to do as a family in lieu of a standard vacation is a volunteer vacation or some sort of mission based trip when the kids are older. Check it out. However, here's to learning how to do this daily without complaining, to being a living example to them now, so that they will be excited about a trip like that when it comes our way.

Advent Day 16

Make a friend.

Dylan loves the camera. Maybe because his mom's a photographer?

buddies

or not...

So these two can get to squealing at each other but they can be such friends too. The friend aspect has really grown lately and I love to watch it.

I asked J if he made a friend at school today (his assignment) and he said he forgot, ah well.

Snow

E: Mommy, I like to play in the dark. May I go out and play in the snow?

"Want to see me make a circle?"

"Do you want to see me make a snow angel?"

Advent Day 15

Compliment someone.


I must say that I was looking forward to this (yes I peek ahead sometimes so I'm a bit prepared) because this is probably my #1 love language. So we complimented each other and the Lord around the dinner table.

I encourage you all to do this. A good compliment can send me on a high for a few days if not a week. Make someones day and tell them at least one of those nice thoughts that you have had about them. Don't keep it to yourself!

Christmas Program

This Sunday was the Christmas program at our church. The kids were asked to share something they were thankful for, and then they same some songs. The theme was "What Can We Give to the King?" and the church was asked to give to God and share about it. This was caroling for us. During sharing time E decided to share a little extra as well.













So when she shared this I wanted to get up and say how there was so much more to what she said. When she was bit, (read the story here) it was one of those stark reminders that my children are not my own. I gave them to the Lord, they are His to protect. It was a scary way to be reminded, but I am glad that He reminded me. There are so many things to worry about when it comes to our kids. Physical danger, emotional scarring, character, spiritual security. I remember my dad telling my several times about the day I was born, and how he held me and gave me back to God. That's the greatest thing we can do for our children.

Advent Day 14

Dance with abandon.




I really thought this would be the easiest most fun one to do, but today was such a busy day that we were trying to squeeze it in at the end of our day and Den's grandparents were visiting, you can hear the conversation. It felt very chaotic and not necessarily free and "abondon-ish" as I would have liked. But I do think the kids enjoyed being show offs :)

Advent Day 13

Wish upon a star.

Advent Day 12

Support those around you.


Ever since we looked up the word merry in the dictionary, E runs to get it after we open the circle of the day on the advent tree. Therefore we looked up the word support and talked about how we could apply it to our family and everyday life. After that I reminded J that he needed to empty the trash upstairs. His response was, "Could someone support me by helping me with the trash?"

Advent Day 11

Say hello to someone far away.

I asked the kids who they'd like to say hello to and they came up with these folk.

J chose Casslyn who was his best buddy when we lived in CA. They are in Idaho now and we miss them tons. Someday we'll be reunited!




E chose to say hello to Mindy who left today. She came by on her way out and afterwards I got the "why are you crying mommy?" It was hard and yet I kept saying "this is good" over and over, as I know that true!



Ella is staying the night tonight and she wanted to say hi to Mindy too.



I think the kids mostly love being videoed and then watching themselves be goofy and laughing hysterically about it.

Advent Day 10

Tell someone you love them.

Where do I start? There are so many people in my life that I love! But today I'm picking a few fam members to glow over.

I'll start with my brother...John and I are two different birds. But we have the same sense of humor which I think has been the glue between us. I feel like I missed so much of life as I moved out right when he started high school, then he was off to the air force. But after six years of that he's home, he's married...and I have to say it...he's a man. I'm proud of him, and I love you!

My parents may see an obvious choice, but I do love them tons! It's not been the easiest to live so far away from them, especially as I watch my own children grow and I want them to see all of it! But the Lord has been good to us with all our visits, Internet and the phone. We have the technology! They are supportive and loving, and even in the harder times I knew they were on a firm foundation. I think that's the most important thing they could have done for me.

I love my cousins. I will always get to see my parents, but getting together with them is not as automatic and I miss them dearly. They probably won't even see this, or ever really know how much I love them, but I do! We laugh and have the BEST time when we are together. There are always the same fights, a few of the same stories, and a game or two usually squeezed in. They are slowly catching up to me with 3 of them married now. I don't have a pic of all of us together, but I love this memory with Aunt Sandy's amazing white plastic trash can of dress up clothes! (This was over 10ish yrs ago)

Advent Day 9

Celebrate with friends.

Friday night I hit the town with...


these two ladies.


It was one of many "last get together's" before Min leaves for Germany on Thursday. As always we had a blast and laughed and laughed. I feel I can truly be myself around these girls and even though we didn't hang out tons and tons, I'm going to be missing the option this threesome. Mindy was always ready for late night trips to the movie theater and deep talks in the car. She was always embracing of my honesty and quirkiness! SO, even though we will mourn her absence, we CELEBRATE the path that the Lord is leading her on. We celebrate that she is so willing to follow. We love you Mindy!!!!


super late last night, or early this morning.....good good times...


some addendum's to earlier advent days:


We actually did carol a song or two or more last night in a retirement home. J really got into it. He said on the way home, "mom at first I was like 'uhhh, i don't like this,' but then I did and it was fun!" Den told me that at one of the rooms we stopped at he went right up to a woman and hugged her while telling her Merry Christmas. I love my boy!!



J chose to "give something back" to his mom mom because she "always makes us food". So we made her mint chocolate chip cookies.

Advent Day 8

Remember Charity


*water

*food

*shelter

Advent Day 7

Give a gift of love.

there is no picture or link to go with this as it has been a busy and long day. however, when we opened this up and read it both kids attacked us with hugs and kisses, gifts of love indeed!

Advent Day 6

Be merry today and always

mer⋅ry /ˈmɛri/ –adjective, mer⋅ri⋅er, mer⋅ri⋅est.
1.full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit: a merry little man.
2.laughingly happy; mirthful; festively joyous; hilarious: a merry time at the party.
3.Archaic. causing happiness; pleasant; delightful.—Idiom
4.make merry,
a.to be happy or festive: The New Year's revelers were making merry in the ballroom.




here are a couple of V just for fun

Advent Day 5

Give something back.

The kids have each thought of someone that has been generous in their lives and they have come up with ways to "give back" to them in their own ways. Perhaps I'll document that later. For now here are a few (very few, my internet was not cooperating, there is sooo much more out there!) ways we can all give back.

Samaratin's Purse

The Salvation Army

Crystal Peaks

Advent Day 4

Carol a Song

As you can see we had a helper. I love how you can hear J singing in the background in "Jesus loves Me" . I let them pick the first song, then requested something about Jesus. We will actually being caroling at a nursing home on Monday, so this we be re fulfilled then.

SIDENOTE: Special little happy birthday to TINA!!!!! I don't normally do this for friends on their birthdays but I'm inspired to share. Tina has been an amazing friend since I met her in CO, but even more so since I have moved East. She is fabulous to laugh with and I can talk to her about nearly anything from the shallowest fashion concern, to deep trials of the heart. She is full of integrity and she's a great mom and devoted wife, constant in seeking our Savior's ways. I'm beyond blessed to know her. Happy Birthday Tina! Love you tons! (you'll be glad to know T that I decided against digging up and scanning an old pic of you in costume in CO, consider that your other gift)

Advent Day 3

Contribute to Peace

So this is one of the trickier ones. Peace can mean different things in different contexts. In this house peace is after 8pm, but I don't think consistent bedtimes is what is being implied here. Naturally my mind went to the war that is going on in the Middle East. Dennis often mentions our soldiers in prayer with the kids. Yesterday I got an email with this link www.LetsSayThanks.com . I believe Xerox did this last year, but you can pick out a card and they will send it to a soldier who is currently sering in Iraq. I will be having the kids do this when J gets home. As I type this I can hear my baby cooing, my daughter flipping through the pages of a book under our Christmas tree and I can smell a beef stew simmering in the crock pot. Those who have chosen to serve us to promote peace, are not in a peaceful situation. The least we can do is send them a thanks for their sacrifice with a few clicks of the mouse, and keep them in our prayers. By the way, Dennis has a cousin leaving in a few days for Baghdad. He'll be driving a lead truck, the truck that will be the first to find roadside bombs. Pray for Dan.

I'd also like to try some sort of peace treaty between the sometimes feuding siblings...we'll see.

Advent Day 2

Hug Someone

They wouldn't hug each other long enough for a picture, but then they hugged me.

J wanted to take a pic of me so I hugged myself :)

Advent Day 1

Every year my mom had an advent calendar for us and we loved it, especially when it was our turn to open the little window. We've had one for the past couple years that plays music and will keep using it until the batteries die. My friend Elicia gave us a new one that we are adding to our advent time this year. Each day tells you to do something and I am going to try to have us do each one in some fashion.




Day One: Shop Fair Trade

The Tree is Up

i just love all the goofiness in this picture