Christmas Home Tour

We got home from Colorado yesterday afternoon and we were able to get everything unpacked and settled back in by last night! I even made it to the grocery store last night! Today all three kids were at school and I jammed to Christmas music and decorated our home. I didn't put up near as much as I normally do since we live in a smaller space, but it looks nice and warm. The kids were so excited to see it all when they got home from school. Their "ewwws" and "ahhhs" made it all worth it. :) The last thing to do is to decorate the Christmas tree. We had to downsize our Christmas tree this year as well. I put it up while TW was at class so it is a little wobbly. I am hoping he can fix it when he gets home. :) I am still searching for my tree skirt. It is in a box somewhere. Ugh. I hope to find it tomorrow. It matches our stockings. We will decorate the tree one night this week when we are all home. So, let the tour begin...

As you walk in our entry way, before going up a flight of stairs, you see this small table and smell the scent of cinnamon.

You then walk up the stairs and as you walk up you see this...

It is hard to tell, but those are two large ornaments. Here is a closer view...

Then you turn to your right and there is this table. It has the nativity scene on it. Most of it is hidden behind the greenery right now. All you can see right now is the empty manger. As we get closer to get Christmas we add in pieces to the scene in anticipation of the arrival of Jesus.

Here is a view looking into the living room from the kitchen...

Our table. I made the advent wreath that is the centerpiece. It needs a little work, but it will do for now. We spend about 10 - 15 minutes each night doing a family devotional around the advent wreath.

I put a little tree in the girls' room. It is decorated with pink and silver ornaments.

And, Bubby has a tree in his room as well.

And, our wobbly, smaller Christmas tree. :)

A Rocky Mountain Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Colorado this year. It is one of our favorite places to be! The scenery is amazing and reminds us of just how AWESOME our God is! We have spent time snow skiing, snow boarding, eating at our favorite pizza joint, watching a movie as one big family, feeding chipmunks, posing for pictures, sleeping in, cooking, eating, playing games, gazing at the stars, coloring, relaxing in the hot tub, riding a train (Polar Express style), seeing Santa, and enjoying one another's company. We are thankful for our time together and our time to get away and relax.

The New Kid On The Block

I have never been one to want to move. Prior to moving here I had moved once in my life, or at least once that I can remember...I did move when I was a baby but that doesn't count. I was in the fourth grade when we moved. It was just plain hard! There wasn't anything I liked about it. I eventually loved our new home, the new friends, and the town, but the process...let's just say it pretty much sucked. Fourth grade girls are mean! It took me a good three years to really find where I "fit in". So, needless to say I steered clear of having to go through all of that again. I didn't even leave the town I grew up in when it came time for college. I did move to the dorms though and that was a great experience. I never anticipated moving from their for the rest of my life. So, when we made the decision to move here it was definitely a shock to my system. I knew it would be hard, but I didn't anticipate just how hard it would be for me. I am a pretty social person. I can strike up a conversation with just about anyone. I thought I would be able to make friends easily. And, don't get me wrong, I have made friends...and some great gals at that! But, I didn't take into consideration just how long it takes to build repoire (not sure that is speeled right) with people. To build a bond, a connection, similar interests, and to find someone you can be yourself around without questioning whether or not they will like you after the time together. I also struggle with not wanting to push myself on to people. I want to take initiative but at the same time I don't want to impose or be pushy. Prior to this week I was pretty homesick. Really missing friends and family. Missing being known. Missing the little things. Missing going to the grocery store with my BFF. I really just was done here and was ready to be home.

This week brought a new hope and a new feeling of joy. I had Bible Study Tuesday night, dinner with two friends from Bible Study on Wednesday night, and then last night we went over to a couples' house from the kids' school. They also go to the same church we do. This was the week I needed. It was great! Last night as TW and I were coming home, the kids had fallen asleep in the car, we were reflecting on how nice the evening was...how great it was...how connected we felt with the other couple...and how blessed we felt to get out in the "normal" world. They live in a suburb so we were in a neighborhood!! :) Something I dearly miss living in an apartment. They live in a home with a backyard. Again, something I dearly miss. We had great conversation and then played Catch Phrase. It was great! I am sure that the couple has no idea just how much we appreciated their simple invitation.

Now, here is to hoping that this feeling sticks around for a while!

Support Our Troops

AAP's teacher's son just got deployed to Iraq recently. AAP made him a card today. She was in her room and I asked her what she was doing and she came out when she was done showing me a card she had made for him. It is so sweet!

He loves sports so she decorated the cover with a sports theme!

(I will type this exactly how she wrote it)

Dear, Matt, My name is Addisyn. I heard you tell jokes! What did the monkey say when he got is tail cut off? It's not long now! I want to let you know that me and my family are praying for you everyday! I also like to dance. My dad goes to DTS. We moved from Columbia, Missouri. My prayer for you is that God will kep you safe and that he will put thousands of angels around you!!! :) Love, AAP in 3B

Let God lead your way!

Thanks for everything you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slacker

Wow, it has been quite a while since I have been on here. Part of the reason is because the hard drive on my laptop crashed and the only other computer I have is our very old desktop who runs sooooooo slow! I keep having moments in my days where I think, "Oh I will have to blog about this," yet that doesn't get done. So, I hopped on TW's computer while he is not on it, which seems like a rare moment now that he is back in school.

A lot has happened here in the last couple of weeks. I have turned 30, we have had fall festivals, Halloween, a camping trip, sick kids, and a Kindergarten Rodeo. I could spend a long time updating you on each of those events, but I am tired so I won't do that for now. :) The brief update:

Turning 30 was not something I was looking forward to. Not really wanting to leave my twenties, but I embraced it and all is well.

We went to a fall fest for TW's school and then one at the church that the kids' go to school at. Both were very fun and it was great to get out and be sociable!

Halloween was spent camping, but the fall fest at the kids' school was the night before Halloween so they dressed up for the festival. AAP was Pippi Longstocking. AKP was Dorothy. Bubby was Spiderman.

Camping. Well, what to say. It was an experience. One that the kids really enjoyed. But, something I won't be doing anytime in the near or far future. :) The company was fun though!

Sick kids. Ugh. AKP has been sick twice. We spent the afternoon in the ER with bubby on Monday. He busted his tongue open pretty badly while playing at Mother's Day Out. And, AAP has been sick with allergies, but I am starting to think she just wants to be home with Mama.

Off to bed for me!