Bilingual

When I was younger I always wanted to be able to speak a different language. I thought it was so cool. So, instead I would just gibber away in my own made up language. My sister and I thought it was so funny to talk back and forth in our own language. We would do this in the car, walking through the grocery store, anywhere really. I am sure that everyone knew that we weren't really speak another language, but hey...we sure thought we were tricking them.

Today, we were running errands after church. TW came back to the car after running in somewhere and he proceeded to blurt out a sentence of gibberish. So, I just figured I would respond back. This turned into us having a conversation in our own language. This went on for a few minutes. It was hilarious to see the kids' reaction. They totally bought it! YESSS! The more they bought it the more we did it. It was so funny! When we finished AA asked what we were talking about and we just played it off.

Let me know if you try it out on your own kids! :)

Christmas Top 5

My friend QueenBusick blogged about her Christmas Top 5, so I thought I would do the same!

1. Our goal this year was to simplify Christmas and put more emphasis on giving to others, especially those in need. I feel good about the things we were able to provide for others and how involved our kiddos got in the whole process. We filled shoe boxes for kids over seas, we provided a new outfit for a boy in Malawi so that he could attend school, we donated gloves at AK's school for kids in need, AA took two toys to her school for the Toys For Tots campaign, TW's office sponsored some kiddos from a local Christian and we shopped for the gifts as a family, we helped a friend make it a better Christmas for her kiddos, and most of all we tried to reflect the love of Christ to all we came in contact with.

2. Thanks to some of our family members making some changes to their normal Christmas routine/tradition we were able to get home earlier on Christmas eve so that we could attend church, and then we were also able to be home most of the day on Christmas. It was so nice! The kids didn't have to rush around and instead could enjoy their presents. It was a lot more relaxing!

3. While the focus was on giving this year, I did receive some pretty great presents! My brother-in-law and sister-in-law gave us a pretty thoughtful/creative gift. She had noticed, by reading my blog, that TW and I enjoy going to coffee shops on our date nights. So, she did some research (by calling one of my best buds) and got us a gift certificate to the coffee shop and then also called our nanny and arranged for two hours of babysitting! How thoughtful! I got lots of "comfy" stuff this year as well like new PJs and a soft robe. TW got me some really stylin sunglasses and a new video camera. As soon as I learn how to use it I will be able to post videos for your pleasure. :) QueenBusick and 40before40 got me a teapot...and it whistles! I love it! Hmmmm...what else. How could I forget...a new plasma TV which will be great for family movie nights!

4. Lots of fun times with family and friends! We played lots of games this year with the family...it was great! Cranium, Catch Phrase, and Rock Star.

5. Watching the kiddos interact and play with each other! The kids usually exchange presents with one another. Most of the time I pick up something for them and then tell them what they got each other. Well, this year Addi was playing on the computer. I walked into the kitchen where she was playing and she was on the Build a Bear website shopping for her sister and brother. She was so excited! She couldn't wait for them to arrive! Then one night tucking her in to bed she said, "I am so anxious for AK and Bubby to get their presents I bought for them!" I loved watching it from the sidelines!

A Small Peek Into Our Lives

I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

AA received the High School Musical Sing It game for our Play Station. Christmas morning the family played it together...it was a blast. Now, to let you in on a small secret. TW has been down there playing the game "with" AA this morning. We are supposed to be picking up the house and I keep hearing him down there singing. I have even caught him down there without AA. This is very typical for our house. Just thought the picture of that in your mind might bring a slight giggle and grin to your face.

Happy singing!

Track Santa

Keep up with Santa's location at http://www.noradsanta.org


Enjoy!

Let the Celebrations Begin

Our Christmas celebrations have officially began. Last night we had a dinner for TW's work and tomorrow we have our first family gathering. We will also go to dinner and then to the MU vs Illinois basketball game with my family. This has been a tradition as long as I can remember. Then Sunday and Monday will be with TW's family. Back home Christmas eve for church and Santa. This year we are changing things up for Christmas day. We usually go to my parent's house, instead they are coming to our house for brunch and to hang out, along with my sister and her boyfriend. We will then head south to spend time with my extended family. I think our last Christmas gathering is on Dec. 29th. Whew! That is a lot of celebrating and a lot of traveling, but we wouldn't miss a beat of it! What are your Christmas traditions?

Exactly Why I Say Merry Christmas!

So, this time of year I get really frustrated by this whole Happy Holidays term that is being thrown around now. The whole reason for this season, unless you are Jewish, is the birth of Christ...hence CHRISTmas. Offices are closed for Christmas, schools are closed for Christmas, restaurants are closed for Christmas, gas stations are closed for Christmas, heck almost everything stops for Christmas! If you drive through a seemingly otherwise busy town on Christmas it could be mistaken for a ghost town. I understand that not everyone shares my belief that Christmas is the time we celebrate Jesus' birth, but a majority of the country does celebrate some part of Christmas, even if it is time with family or time to stop and relax. So, why is it that we have to say Happy Holidays? Since when are people so touchy that you can't say Merry Christmas?
So, when I was sent an email with the following videos, the whole thing just got stirred back up for me.

You will need to pause the music that is playing on the right hand side of the screen before watching the videos.

Disclaimer...I had never heard of Mike Huckabee before I posted my last video with him. And, now I got this video sent to me with him in it as well. So, I am not like a die hard Huckabee fan, although I am starting to like the guy, it just happens that I keep seeing his videos.

A Wonderful Weekend

Have you ever had one of those really great weekends? We did this past weekend. There was no huge event that made it so great, and maybe that is exactly why it felt so great. Friday night the girls performed, along with their team, at my parents' Christmas party. After leaving there I dropped AA off at a birthday sleepover and we headed home. Saturday morning we woke up to the most beautiful snow falling! I loved sitting at the kitchen table, drinking my coffee, watching it snow. It looked so peaceful! We, as a family, then ventured out in the snow and headed to the mall. TW's idea of the right amount of time at the mall and my idea of the right amount of time at the mall are apparently way different. :) He was getting restless along with bubby so we ended at Target doing some shopping for some kiddos we sponsored for Christmas. Then it was back home. We all had some quiet time and I got a quick little nap in. The girls and I then made peanut butter balls and then we had family movie night. Sunday morning we headed to church and then went to eat. Back home we headed in hopes of making a snowman family, but the snow wasn't quite the right consistency for making a snowman. So, instead we headed back inside to decorate ginger bread houses. AA and I teamed up and TW and AK teamed up. Fun times! Then off to my parents' house for a quick dinner and back home for another family movie night.

It was fun. Many times I felt myself living in the moment and just taking it all in. I knew that one day I would look back at those memories and miss them, so I made the most of each moment. I hope you find time in this busy season to slow down and enjoy the moment!

Turkey Day Pictures...Way Past Due

After sharing with you the experience of cooking our first Thanksgiving meal, I thought I should share some pictures of the experience.

The BEST Gag Gift for Christmas

This past Friday was TW's work Christmas party. We have had it at our house in the past and this year decided to have it at a local restaurant. Much less stress for me! It was a great time! We always have a "Rob Your Neighbor" gift exchange. This year my sis' boyfriend opened up a GREAT gift. It was a pooping reindeer jelly bean dispenser. Absolutely hilarious and ingenious!

I had to go out and buy some to give out to people for Christmas. I have made this new friend, Bylerbabe, and she is so fun to be around! I would love to give this to her, but I know she will read my blog before I get a chance to give it to her...she has been sick so I have been banned from her. :( She might be one of the funniest people I know, so I felt like I could get one up on her by giving this to her. So, LB, this post is to you babe! Second best to having the reindeer in real life!

The pooping reindeer can be purchased at Wal Mart! Go get you some! (Yes, I know that wasn't grammatically correct, but I had to add my country twang to that statement!)

How is your Shopping Going?

Whew! I am worn out. Yesterday some of my friends and I were supposed to go to KC to do some Christmas shopping. This is an annual trip that we do and it is always fun. Well, we had to cancel due to weather and kiddos being home from school. So, I headed to some stores here in town to get some more stuff marked off of my list. I was at it from 11 to 5:30pm. Shopping is hard work! And, you probably think I am joking, but I am not. Searching for that right gift for the person on your list is not always an easy task. I have a majority of my shopping done. I still have a few gift cards to buy and some cologne from Bath and Body Works...requested...and our Bath and Body Works hasn't been carrying that cologne. So, I am on a hunt for it. I am completely done with the kiddos! Now, the fun part...shopping for TW. I have the most fun shopping for him. I have some ideas, but will probably head out on Friday to shop for him. This evening I tackled the next process in the gift giving phenomenon...the wrapping. Another tiring task. No, I am not complaining...I love each stage of the process, from the shopping to the wrapping, to the giving. But, I think that TW doesn't realize that it is hard work. He just sees the dollar signs. :) Bless his heart. I am feeling quite good about my progress though. I tackled a majority of the shopping yesterday and now it is all wrapped. AK helped me wrap this afternoon. The kids have been home all week from school because of "weather", that is another story, so when she came down and wanted to help I thought to myself..."This could go a lot quicker without her help, but use this as a time to bond with her." So, I made the most of it and we had fun together. And...it didn't take as long as I thought it would. Then, tonight after the kiddos were in bed I finished up the wrapping. Whew! My back is a little sore from leaning over and my eyelids are barely open, but the work is done. At least until I finish the shopping. :) I love to see the presents under the tree!

Breakfast with Santa

This weekend our dance studio hosted a Breakfast with Santa at our local Applebees to help raise funds for our competition season. Although it was a wet,cold morning we had a great time and a pretty good turnout! It was fun to work the restaurant business for a brief time. The parents, mostly moms and one brave dad, took over the restaurant. We were hostesses, waitresses, bus boys, and even cashiers. Applebees provided the cooks. It was a fun, warm family environment! What a great group activity!

Well Said!

A Pain Turned Pretty

I absolutely love the excitement of the season. I have been thrown off a little bit this year with my decorating because of our trip out of town over the Thanksgiving holiday. Usually I would spend that weekend decorating the house, putting up the tree, and getting the lights put up outside. This year was different. I have had the house done on the inside but just today got the outside lights finished up. TW and I were going to do it this weekend, but the rain didn't allow for that. So, I was left to do it alone. I could have waited until this weekend for his help, but I wanted the lights up...I am already feeling behind. So, I spent almost three hours today working on the lights. Christmas lights can be so frustrating. I would take the strands and plug them in before putting them up to test them and they worked. Then after I put them on the tree and plugged them in...didn't work! I felt like Clark Griswald on Christmas Vacation. I could hear the background music playing in my head. So, I pulled that strand down and started over. Same thing happened again. Grrrrr! Needless to say I got very frustrated at some points wondering why I even bother with all of this. I don't know if it is more frustrating getting all of the lights placed just right and then dealing with lights that don't work, or trying to figure out how to get all of the extension cords to work together. You would think the Christmas Light manufacturers would have this figured out by now...can't they make it easier for them all to connect together???!!! I finally got it all working and even have them on timers. We will see if they go off tonight when they are supposed to and then come back on tomorrow evening. When we pulled back into the house tonight after a meeting I remembered why I spend all of the time putting up the lights. It looked so pretty. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though. :) Maybe it looks so pretty to me because of the hard work I put into it. I am certain you can't appreciate the lights near as much unless you have some invested time in the decorating process.

Our Family Song

Throughout this year TW and I have really been trying to set a new vision for our family. He has spent time teaching me how to form my own vision and we have studied and discussed what it is that we want to focus on as a family in terms of values, behaviors, and purpose. We have formed a purpose statement, values and definitions (which help guide our behaviors), and a vision statement. TW downloaded the song The Blessing by John Waller. It really resignates with our vision for our family. In no way are we living the words of this song perfectly. However, it is what we are working towards. This is our heart for the way we want to live. I hope you enjoy the song!

You will need to pause the music player on the right hand side of the page before playing the video!