Our Family Christmas (Part 2)

Saturday morning we started the day with a big brunch.   Let me say, when you are planning a brunch you just can't wrong making a huge batch of Pioneer Woman's homemade cinnamon rolls.   Add to that hashbrown casserole, grits, sausage and cream cheese crescents, ham and cheese quiche... and we were a full family.

After breakfast my Daddy read the Christmas story (one of my favorite things ever) and then Little Guy surprised everybody by playing "Silent Night" on his guitar.   He has been taking lessons for the past nine weeks.    I was so proud of him for playing.

The rest of the day was spent watching football, playing games and decorating gingerbread houses.   It was a wonderful time with my sweet family.   I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

Our Family Christmas (Part 1)

We hosted family Christmas at our house this year.    We took a trip up to Canton to see the lights and enjoy beignets and hot chocolate.    Looking at lights is something we used to always do, but has become quite the challenge since our family has gotten so large.    We came up with the idea of getting a van so that we could all ride together.   It really was fun to all be able to ride together.

Here are some photos we took while walking around Canton.   The beautiful young woman in these photos is my niece.   Before you ask... yes, she is just that photogenic in every photo she takes.   Gorgeous isn't she?

Big Guy's Father Son Weekend 2011

Since Big Guy turned 8, Hubs has been taken him away one weekend every summer for a Father Son weekend.     When Little Guy turned 8 he started the same tradition with him as well.     It is something that the boys look forward to a lot.     They get one on one time with Dad.     Dad gets time when he can share very important Father/Son things with them.  

This year's trip for Big Guy was to go kayaking.    The pictures above are from the time they spent together.    I love the one that hubs took of him standing beneath the American flag.     My Big Guy is growing up so much.    Growing into more than a young man, but a man.    That is why these weekends are becoming even more important.    

Time is short. 

New Year's Tradition Part 2

New Year's Eve may mean partying to a lot of people, but for me it always makes me think of how God has been with me during the previous year.      My hubs and I have become even more grounded in our faith during the past 17 months.     We have learned through the test of fire that God will never leave us or forsake us no matter who else does.    

One of our New Year's Eve traditions since we were married is to purchase a new devotional book to use for the following year.     When our boys were born we began buying devotional books for them as well.      We want to emphasize to them how important daily time with God is so that when the trials of life comes they are standing on the Solid Rock.

Because I review books for publishers, two of my devotional books were sent to me for preview for free this year.   

The book my hubs and I will be using...

The Love Dare challenged individuals to love their spouse more. Closer shows wives and husbands how to grow that love together. Introduced with Scripture verses and engaging stories, these 52 devotionals will inspire couples to draw closer through faith conversations--those quiet talks so vital for emotional and spiritual intimacy in a marriage. Guided, practical action steps round out each reading. 

 

 

The devotional book for Little Guy...

 

What's the name of the first car Henry Ford built? Why do we say "o'clock"? Which American candy was named after somebody's daughter? Pairing fun facts with Scripture verses and biblical truths, this delightful daily devotional will entertain, teach, and keep your kids growing in the Lord.

Big Guy is starting the year out with a combo...

You may never have to make the ultimate sacrifice, but you are called to daily give up something of this earthly existence to pursue the amazing life Jesus promises to His followers. Ryan Dobson shatters common misconceptions about dying to self, spelling out the realities of the deadly spiritual battle we all face, providing clear guidelines for making life-and-death choices daily and dealing with how to overcome the emotional struggles that accompany both failure and success.

and

Bite-sized Bible readings for time-starved teens! Here are 366 faith-building meditations to help your kids connect with God's Word every day. Through selections from the readable HCSB translation, they'll cover the central themes of Scripture in one year. Includes thoughtful quotes, biographical sketches of major Bible characters, "One-Minute Memory" verses, and a topical index.


Have you found a great devotional?    Let me know!!

New Year's Tradition Part 1

How do I choose?    Every year I go out the days after Christmas and browse through all the boxed calendars trying to decide which one to buy the boys.       It is part of our New Year's tradition.    The boys get a day by day boxed calendar on New Year's day.    

I normally make my choice based on their current interest or hobby.     A paper airplane, sticker-a-day and Boggle calendars for Little Guy.     Baby Blues, Trivial Pursuit and Hangman calendars for Big Guy.

Then I go to my favorite bookstore to look and there about 247 choices!     So many fun, fun choices.    Well, most of them are fun... some of them are just crazy or out of the question. 

However, I think I finally settled on some calendars which the boys will enjoy.     They are both really hooked on games and especially word games so I chose the following calendars for them:

I also picked up this calendar.    It won't really serve as a calendar per se, but I am going to put it in our car travel box.   It will be a lot of fun when we are in the car or in restaurants.

  
Although I don't normally buy a calendar for myself, I picked up this one because it has features that really mean something to me now that I am homeschooling.      Every day it has a new quote, new word, new joke, and new events in history.       PLUS, it has a section where I can list my "to do's".          I have a feeling this calendar is going to be one of my favorites for this year.

Our Gingerbread Dream Houses

Making gingerbread houses is one of our favorite things during the Christmas season.   This year our friends were here from Atlanta and they got to make one too.    They had never made gingerbread houses before, but they said they would definitely be making them again!   

Because we use our houses as part of our Christmas display, we hot glue them together so that they will be sturdy.    Don't worry.... there is PLENTY of candy to eat.

After the houses are assembled, the kids went to work.     All four kids had their own approach and their own ideas.    Personalities were definitely apparent!

After several hours of icing, decorating and creating, they finally proclaimed their houses finished.   

Our friends loved making these gingerbread houses, but they were REALLY excited when we told them about our New Year's Eve tradition with the gingerbread houses.       We stuff them full of fireworks and blow them up!      

I am not sure if it was all the sugar they had eaten or just the thought of using explosives to destroy something... but all the kids were giddy at the promise of New Year's Eve!!

A Few of our Favorite Things

Just a few of our favorite Christmas traditions...

1. Putting out the nativity collections

2. Putting up trees in the boy's rooms and the living room

3. Family Game Nights (right now we are playing: Yamslam, Pentago, Stare Jr., Picturecka, Scrabble Slam)

4. Preparing boxes for Operation Christmas Child

5. Sending out Christmas Cards

6. Going to Canton to see Lights on the Square

7. Baking Cookies

8. Make a Gingerbread House

9. Sitting in front of the fire with all the lights out except for the tree

10. Drinking lots of hot chocolate

11. Watching Santa Clause 1, 2, and 3

12. Watch Frosty the Snowman and make popcorn

13. Going to our church Christmas choir program

14. Buying an ornament that represents something that we did during the year

15. Wrap Christmas Gifts

16. Take Christmas gifts to teachers

17. Breakfast for Dinner

18. Buy food for the food pantry

19. Decorate yard with Dad

20. Read Favorite Christmas Stories (Jotham's Journey, Tabitha's Travels, Mary's First Christmas, etc...)

21. New Christmas pajamas

22. Buy a new Christmas CD

23. Advent devotionals each night before bed and lighting the candles on the advent wreath

24. Put away all the baby Jesus figures from the nativity scenes until Christmas morning

25. Having a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas morning including birthday cake

Can't Catch Us! We're The Gingerbread People!

When the holidays start to arrive, the boys start talking about the things that we "always" do... as in traditions.
With twin nieces about to arrive in three short weeks and a niece who is a junior in high school and a very hectic schedule, I decided to do one of our traditions a little early.      The kids love to be together so my sister and I established traditions early that allowed that to happen.     She has the kids over to decorate and bake sugar cookies and I have the kids over to build and decorate gingerbread houses.     Both traditions involve things the kids love.     Lots of laughing, giggling, candy and each other!

Last night everybody came over and we started by building our houses...

While the icing had a chance to dry and "set", we all went to eat a supper of ham and cheese quiche and cheesy chicken and corn casserole.     I am not sure when the kids have eaten so fast.

Jo, my niece and I, grabbed all the candy and put it on the table so that the kids could started creating their masterpieces.

The rules with these houses is anything goes.    Everyone has their own house and they get to build it however they want to.     Just have fun!

Oh, yea!   I think we accomplished our goal.    And all of us agreed.   Next year is going to be even more fun because we will have one year old twins digging into all the icing and candy.   Talk about lots of giggling and laughing!     Can't wait!    This is why I love traditions so much!