miscellany monday

1. Ahh... Monday, you are here again. I used to loathe Mondays. You know, because it meant "back to the grind," but I have intentionally scheduled it to be a slow day, so that I don't start out the week rushed and unorganized. After we take Saige to school, the littles and I eat breakfast, play, get dressed and go to the grocery store. No rushing. It is good for this Momma who doesn't do well when she's feeling hurried. This is what Monday mornings and every morning for that matter look like around here. This girl loves her some cards. I think this is probably one of the only traits she got from me. I used to play for hours by myself when no one wanted to keep playing with me. A girl after my own heart. You try telling that sweet face no.

2. I found this excerpt by John Piper encouraging...

There is a principle here that applies to you and me: God takes small, imperfect things and builds them into a habitation for his glory. O, how we should take courage in our little spheres of influence! And is this not the message of Advent and Christmas?

What more appropriate word could God have said to Mary as Jesus was growing up: Take courage, young mother, you build more than you see. And so it is with every one of us. Nothing you do is a trifle if you do it in the name of God. He will shake heaven and earth to fill your labor with splendor. Take courage, you build more than you see.

3. This boy of mine got a haircut, thanks to Mimi's handiwork, and now officially looks 10 years older. Sigh.

 

4. It's cold here. Finally. It's been hard to get into the holiday season when it's been 70 degrees outside. But it's going to be in the 50's during the day and 30's at night this week. I plan to get our tree this week and break out all the decorations. Putting up the tree, listening to Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas, and drinking hot chocolate are by far my favorite things to do at this time of year.

 

5. Please pray for this sweet girl. She keeps getting re-occurring ear infections, and the doctor has suggested tubes. But I have read that doesn't always fix the problem. She may have a milk allergy and I am going to probably cut dairy out of her diet and see if that helps. I am not looking forward to this, as she loves milk. Have any of you had to do this with your child? What milk alternative should I start with? Suggestions and advice are welcome!

 

Happy Monday, y'all!

 

two thousand and eleven

So far 2011 has proven to be a good year.  I like the ages that my children are at and I feel that we are finally in a rhythm again.  One of my goals for the new year was to update this more regularly for the 5 people that read this.  :)

 

Christmas was good.  We, as a family, are still trying to navigate through all the traditions and decide on what we to do each year as a family.  The most important thing we want our children to learn is that all good things come from the Father (and not Santa) and that ultimately the BEST gift is JESUS. It is a lot harder than I thought it would be trying to teach them that with all the noise from the world competing for their attention.  I believe that God is faithful and will reward our efforts as we try to glorify Him through raising our family.  This year we did a Jesse Tree and plan to continue that through the years.  The girls really enjoyed, and I learned a lot as well!

Here are a few pictures from Christmas.

Doesn't Saige look SO grown up with her legs crossed?  And I LOVE Reed's expression in this one.

Please notice the stockings in the background.  I ACTUALLY made those myself and they were done BEFORE Christmas.  I know.  Unbelievable, right?

Another sweet picture of my kiddos.  Man, they're awesome.

They are having a sword fight here in the their new super hero capes.  Yes, I made those too.  I know, I know, I'm pretty awesome.  ;)  It would be more awesome if they would actually play with them now though.  Oh well, they were fun to make.  I used the pattern shown on this website, if you're interested.  I, however, used a soft flannel and lined it with muslin instead of the fabric she recommended.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, 

because he will save his people from their sins.”  Matt 1:21

a joyful Christmas

This Christmas was SO much fun because the girls are at such a fun age! Saige was able to anticipate it this year and although I got a little tired of telling her that "No, Christmas is not today," it was neat to see her look forward to it. We celebrated with both of our families and as usual, we had a great time. I hope your Christmas was just as Merry!

our little teenager in the making!

This one's for you, Kristi...

Here are our obligatory, but oh so fun, Christmas morning pictures. The girls had a lot of fun opening their presents. Saige kept asking for more - I think she thought every Christmas present opening session was like the grandparents version. We kept telling her no more, all done. She was content, however, to play with what she got, but I think she just really enjoyed the opening part.

I shamelessly bought her a cell phone. I have embraced the reality that my girls will want cell phones and the days of rotary phone toys are in the past. She loves her Dora phone.

I said 'cheese' Daddy, please take the picture already

Meadow opening her toy cars. This girl LOVES cars, and it makes her Daddy very proud.

Christmas is over and the cards are in the mail....

Peace, Joy and Love,
Patrick, Cheryl, Saige and Meadow

(p.s. this is for you, Courtney!)

Christmas Morning

Here is Saige on Christmas morning with her new stuffed Reindeer - I used to love getting stuffed animals for Christmas, so I am going to carry on that tradition. Please ignore me... I hadn't had coffee yet. I thought about getting ready first and then taking pictures and then I thought, nah, I love seeing old pictures of my mom in her robe and no make up. There is something refreshing about it... I hope Saige appreciates it too! : )
Anyways, we had a great morning - just the three of us. I loved that... we had omelets and coffee and once Saige can eat "big kid" food, she can pick whatever she wants to go in her omelet. Let's hope she likes eggs!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve... what a glorious night. I love the night before Christmas, there is something magical about this night. Even as an adult, I still anticipate the next morning with such excitement. I love to watch It's a Wonderful Life and Charlie Brown Christmas the night before. And Christmas isn't about presents anymore - it is about hope, joy, peace... the Incarnation. With this being Saige's first Christmas I find that I am more excited than usual. She won't remember this night or tomorrow morning, but I will. I will remember how I felt holding and kissing her good night, knowing that in a few years she will go to bed with such excitement in her heart. This year I find that I am hopeful when I sing Silent Night and O Holy Night. We have a child in our lives now, a baby... this brings to life the passages that we read about the Child King... He cried when he came into this world and only Mary and Joseph could comfort Him. That is so humbling... I find hope in that. Our Saviour chose to reveal Himself to us through His birth, His life and His death. Praise Him for that this Christmas season.