Forgotten Christmas Picture

Recently I put together the compilation of Christmas Pictures taken through the years. I just found another one that was not included in that presentation. I think that the twins were just about to turn 3 years old. This photo was taken at the McMoms Christmas Party that year.

Cool custom Baby Gift !!

I met the coolest gal in blog world. Her blog is Huse Yo Mama and I really enjoyed her blog posts. They are so much fun to read. Several blog comments and emails later, and come to find out she has an Etsy store called Shut the Front Door ! And she and her friend Laura make some really cute custom items!

Back in October, Rachel worked with me to create the cutest 4 items for a baby shower gift set! Check out these ADORABLE three custom coordinated burp cloths AND a coordinated "Taggie" or "Lovey" blanket. The blanket has coordinated "tags" triple-stiched in between two coordinated fabrics. The different textures are perfect for providing tactile stimulation to babies and toddlers. Look at these items:

My many thanks to Rachel and Shut the Front Door for a great baby shower gift. I had the nicest thank you note from the mommy-to-be!!!

Happy 9th Birthday Megan & Ryan !!

Megan and Ryan are 9 years old today. We had a family celebration with Grammy and Poppy. They came over and ate black eyed peas to celebrate the New Year. We opened some presents and had some homemade birthday cake.

Here is their cake. I baked it myself! Jason is the photographer.
A 2nd photo of the yummy chocolate cake with chocolate chips inside.

Here are their presents from Grammy & Poppy and us.

Ryan with his stack.

Megan with hers.

Ryan reading his card!

Megan is so excited - she is moving in all her pictures!

Megan got the 'Personal Chef Trainer' for Nintendo DS

Ryan got 'Monster Lab' for Nintendo DS. Ryan had

also gotten a game for the Xbox 360 - but I don't seem to have a picture if that one.

Megan got some cute clotes from Justice for Girls. She is hurrying to see what else is underneath the box - what she has is a really cute brown short sweater - almost a bolero style.

This was a hit as well - a Spa Aromatherapy kit. She has already created some lip gloss, perfume and some bath fizzies. Very cute set!

Still excited over the spa set!

Last but not least, here are the twins while the family sings

'Happy Birthday' to them!

New Years Eve 2008 and a year's worth of blessings

Wow! Has another year really flown by so quickly? Why is it that every new year speeds by even quicker than the prior year?

I can remember being a child of about 4 and thinking each day lasted soo long....and Christmas Day would NEVER come. Oh, to be such an innocent child again. I guess as we get older, fall in love, marry, and eventually the kids begin to arrive - and of course most of us hold full time jobs OUTSIDE the home - our human brains are constantly churning along. Multi-tasking at its best. Seems to me that it would really be nice if we could just s-l-o-w d-o-w-n sometimes and truly enjoy all our blessings. And, my family is blessed - I know that we are blessed far more than others. And yet, I know that I have complained.

For me, my brain is going all the time: I am doing one thing, worrying about the other things I should be doing, thinking of what is for dinner, and which child has what activity or homework. I don't even think our kids are that over-scheduled. Basically, each child just has one extracurricular activity - Jason has baseball, Ryan has soccer and Megan gymnastics. So why does it seem that our schedule is so full?

Of all the activities that my kids could choose - they are doing a sport. They are getting exercise and sunshine. How can I begrudge that? I guess the truth is, that I don't truly begrudge it. I am happy that they enjoy their sports. I guess it is the multi-tasking Mom brain that gets to me.

In no particular order, here are some of our blessings:

• We are blessed that Mike has a great job that is close to home. No more 1-2 hour commutes to Dallas. It has been 4 years - but we are no less appreciative of the time Mike gets to be at home with us and not in the car driving!
• I am blessed to have been married for over 22 years to a man who seems to love me in spite of my flaws and imperfections.
• We are blessed that I can work two part-time jobs that are flexible and allow me to still be a stay-at-home mom.
• We are blessed that we live in such a nice neighborhood where the kids can run and play and be safe.
• We are blessed to have loving and caring family members - some live close like Grammy and Poppy, some in S. Texas like Grandma, and others in Washington State like Mamaw and Papaw - not to mention siblings all over the east and west coasts - they all love us and are willing to help us out anytime. We all love you too! Thank you for loving us UNCONDITIONALLY.
• We are blessed with three beautiful children: Jason, Ryan and Megan. God entrusted these precious kids to us! We try to do our best with them.
• We are blessed with good friends too. I can't possibly name them all here. You know who you are!
• We are blessed to be the children of our Great God.
• We are blessed that Jason took to high school this year like a duck takes to water. He is such a great kid and he is doing super in school. He got to go to a church camp back in the summer for a week and loved it. He also took his first flight on a plane all by himself this past summer. He is playing baseball at the high school and loves it.
• We are blessed that the twins Ryan and Megan finished out 2nd grade in the same class and then were ready to start 3rd grade in their own classes with different teachers!! They did great! Why did I worry? They were totally ready to begin to blossom in their own ways.
• We are blessed with exceptionally good health for all five of us.
• We are blessed to live in a nice house with rooms for each kid.
• We are blessed with 3 pets whom we adore. Even the two pet rats! Our dog Sox is a great dog. We love all of them.
• We are blessed with 2 vehicles to drive, even if they are showing their age now.
• We are so blessed - I can't even finish this list - you would get tired of reading. Maybe you are tired now?

So, I guess the point I am trying to make is this: Maybe we all - but especially me - need to slow down a whole lot. Slow down and enjoy the many, many blessings that God has given us. I need to try and really enjoy my kids before they are all grown up. Sometimes I feel I don't enjoy my kids enough. That seems embarrassing to admit, somehow. But how can I really enjoy all they want to give and share with me if I am constantly worried about schedules, shopping, bills, jobs, etc?? I wish I knew the answer.

For now, I think that I will try harder in 2009 to listen and really hear my three precious children, and Mike too for that matter.

I hope that each of you who might read this will be blessed in 2009. Please leave me a comment and tell me how YOU have been blessed and what you are grateful for.

Coleman Larson

Tonight, I am going to post about someone else's family and not my own. This story caught my eye earlier this year as it relates to twins - a subject close to my heart. It will be brief. Tonight there is a family in need of your prayers. Coleman Larson is the 5-year old son of Peggy and Scott Larson. His twin brother is Caden. Coleman is very sick with pediatric cancer.


They have a CarePages site:
http://www.carepages.com/carepages/ColemanScott/updates/1899132?client_code=default&ipc=mur

**You will need to register with CarePages to view his page. It is very simple.
Please take a look at the updates and keep the family in your prayers. I know they would deeply appreciate it.

God Bless You All.

What have I done? a.k.a. My Bucket List.

I found this while reading Cyndy's Blog, and thought I would follow suit and post mine here as well!! Mine are in RED.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does band in high school count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (does one done @ Universal Studios tour count?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold (Girl Scout Cookies) Camp Fire Candy
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (but not in a long, long time)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (helped my mom do one – it is NOT my thing)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car ONCE
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous – Roger Staubach
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day – several Nancy Drew books

Now.............................If you get a chance ~ check out Cyndy's too, then go and do your own (and link it back - if you want)!

Grandma's Visit

Mike's Mom Margie a.k.a. Grandma has been with us this past week for Christmas. She brought her Yorkie "Tootie". We played many games of Sorry, made and ate some yummy desserts, had some good soups and other foods, and lots of laughs. We will be sorry when she heads South to her own town in the morning.

Mike and his Mom

Megan and Grandma

Ryan and Grandma

Jason and Grandma

Margie and I
"Tootie"

"Tootie"

"Tootie"

Before and After

When we bought this house in February 2005, we knew it was the house we had always wanted. It just felt right. We were very excited to move here and really create a HOME.

We owned the home before this one also - but in the 12 years we lived there, we did very little to personalize it. It had quite a lot of wall paper throughout the house, but we never really did much painting. We left it all the original white. I think we were afraid of choosing wrong colors with the wall paper. We added vertical blinds in the den and some additional covering to the arches of the windows in the master bedroom. We never even put up drapes until the house was on the market for a year and then we made some simple changes which really "warmed up" the house and got rid of the "sterile white" feel to it.

I was determined when we moved here that we wouldn't live in a house with 3500 SF of white walls everywhere. Slowly, as the last 4 years have elapsed, we have been painting and adding things to this house that are really warming it up and making it feel homey. Yesterday, we decided to use a gift card Mike got to Home Depot and buy knobs for the kitchen cabinets and hand pulls for the drawers. This before picture was taken before we had even closed on the house, thus there is nothing on the counters except dust. It is also prior to painting the kitchen.

This picture is after Mike installed all the hardware on the cabinets:

This is the fireplace and mantel. Again, the picture is taken just prior moving in. You can see that the hardwood floors are covered with cardboard still.

This picture is after I painted the room and we added artwork above the fireplace.

I have learned not to be afraid to add color to the house. The worst thing that can happen is we don't like it and would have to paint over it. I think Mike is beginning to trust in our abilities to make changes too.

And The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care

When Mike was a child - probably for his first Christmas - his Mom Margie made him a special Christmas stocking. When Jason came along, she made one for him, and then later made two more for the twins Ryan and Megan. About 2 years ago, she also made one for me. It doesn't replace my childhood stocking which is carefully stored with our Christmas decorations, and which I look at each year with fond memories. But, all the similar stockings with their sequins and tiny details look so pretty hanging together.

Christmas Card 2008

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Merry Christmas 2008 !!!

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !!

We had a truly great day today. The kids got lots of really nice and fun presents. My Mom Lynne and step-Dad Randy were here, as well as Mike's Mom Margie. We had a nice time this morning. I had really good intentions to get lots of pictures - but did not get many taken. I was trying to list the gifts on paper for the 3 kids for thank you notes and I just got distracted. I will post the precious few pictures at the bottom of my post.

All the women pitched in and got our turkey in the oven along with a big batch of meat dressing, broccoli, peas and corn. Also rolls and a family tradition called Cranberry Ice.
I did manage to get a picture of the kid table taken - but not the adults table with the Christmas dinnerware and glassware. Such is life.

We got the dishes done, and the food put away, and have already made a batch of turkey soup. The kids are playing video games, Megan is trying out her camera. Megan also had a record jump on her pogo of 110 jumps in a row. I had taken some pictures of her [on her camera] and Ryan on the pogo sticks - but she deleted them before I could figure out how to transfer them to the computer.

For those of you interested, I have been working on a project for a Christmas card. Looks to be New Years now - but just a hint: **I have been madly scanning pictures from 1984 - all the Christmas's Mike and I have been a couple and now parents.

Christmas Eve 2008 Activities

It has been a really good Christmas Eve day. The shopping was all done and the packages all wrapped. We had some good UMW Taco Soup to eat. We went to the 7:00 p.m. Christmas Service at our church. It was a packed crowd with good music, great fellowship. I always get misty-eyed during the carols. At the end, we all got our candles to light and hold. Even Megan and Ryan. It is hard for me to believe they are old enough to hold a lit candle.

Last night Megan, Ryan and I, as well as Mike's Mom Margie worked on copying the cute Santa Cookies from last week.

Below are our Santa's

We didn't get lights up on the house [again] this year - but I did try to look a little more festive with a wreath, ribbons on the coach lights, and check out our tree!

I love the tree and the way the big ornament balls look.