"Jingle Bells," by Will

My Favorite (Christmas) Things (as sung to "Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music."

Gingerbread houses and stockings on mantels,

Red Starbucks cups and Christmas Eve candles.

Facebook and postal and email greetings...

These are a few of my favorite things.

Girls in pink dresses and
holiday parties.

Crafting and wrapping and baking some cookies.

Eating then watching some Christmas movies...
These are a few of my favorite things!

When the bills come!
When the flight's late!
When I'm feeling fat...

I simply remember my favorite things
and then I don't feel so bad!

Miscellaneous Festiveness--or Festive Miscellaneousness?!

Some of my favorite Hillside gals at last night's fellowship evening. Good food, good fun, and good fellowship.

Feel free to copy this idea as long as your kids are not in my kids' classes! I think I have done this about every year, except for last year. 6-packs of IBC rootbeer also work well! If you want to decorate the back reindeer also (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't,) just be sure to use brown "noses." Always a hit, I also like to include a couple packs of flavored microwave popcorn, (my favorites are cheddar and caramel!)

Katie & Madison

Katie has the sweetest little girlfriend, Madison. They met last year in Kindergarten, when many of the girls were losing interest in Princesses, they formed a fast friendship. They love singing, dancing, dressing up, and all things girly. Yesterday their class made little gingerbread houses, and of course, they worked side by side.

The two of them together on the playground is something else. They are tireless. They run, swing, run, slide, run, jump rope, and run some more.

Thank you, Lord, for special friends. Tomorrow we will celebrate Madison's birthday and we are grateful for her sweet spirit and loving heart. She is a wonderful playmate for our Katie!

Finding the joy...

Well shucks. Christmas is practically here and I am so not ready. Our designated Christmas decorating week (the one before the week of Thanksgiving) started off with the stomach bug making its way to our home. So we put the decorations on hold. All of our company over turkey day would surely forgive us. Then, with said company being in town, we couldn't seem to find the time to get it done. Please keep in mind that this is basically a one-woman show, as my husband doesn't care to hang lights or do much decorating. Just getting him to set up the tree is an accomplishment. So here we are, preparing to leave town for a bit to celebrate with family in Indiana. I am finding it hard to muster the energy and/or desire to get the show on the road.

Right now, I am drinking gallons of hot cocoa every day (throw in a few visits to 'Bucks every week,) listening to Christmas music around the clock, and eating all things festive. I have been good about having some intentional time with Jesus (come on, He is the reason for the season, after all!) Nevertheless, I am not in decorating mode. So we have made a decision to put the decorations on hold for this year. I have stockings and gifts, of course, and a couple of nativities around the house, but we are not going to do our tree and pull out the rest of the stuff, just this year. Ahh...

I should be relieved, right?

It actually kind of makes me sad. Just a tiny bit. But that is okay. I do want to post a picture of our stockings but I am having trouble getting pix off my camera at this moment in time. So stay tuned...

Her Own Blog

To keep updated on Aidyn, please check out her blog. www.prayforaidyn.blogspot.com . Thank you for your continued prayers!

Please pray for Aidyn...

Please join us in praying for the Wooley Family. Matt is the Pastor of the church we have attended the past 3.5 years. Mom is Kristin and youngest daughter is Alissa. Aidyn is 10. A few weeks ago they noticed that Aidyn was having some weakness in her right hand. Then last week she started dragging her right foot. They called their pediatrician who consulted with a neurosurgeon, and they did a MRI yesterday, which showed a tumor developing on her spine, near her neck. This is a very tricky location and surgery will most likely be performed soon. They are consulting with an oncologist today (I think.) Of course, being 10-years-old, Aidyn is fully aware that the word "tumor" is scary. Please pray for this precious family (Aidyn is the one in the middle with glasses.) God bless...

Disciplining a 4-year-old...

Well, we (Lance & I,) have laughed and laughed over this. The issue itself is not funny (lying,) but I had to put it in writing so that someday when (hopefully!) the disciplining part of it is done, she can laugh about it too. (And no more parenthesis for this posting!)

Sydney is having some problems with not telling the truth. Fortunately, to date, it has not been anything too serious--occasionally she won't take responsibility for hitting her brother or sister--but more oft than not its about not hand washing, not making her bed, not cleaning up, etc.

I feel like we have tried your basic strategies beginning with time outs, building up to spankings, and just about everything in between. Darn it if she isn't cute! Anyway, I have read and heard several friends trying tabasco sauce--I think its kind of our generation's "twist" on getting your mouth washed out with soap. Hey, at least tabasco is a food product, right?

So last week I bought our household an extra large bottle of extra hot tabasco sauce. I put it in the cupboard and was cautiously optimistic that since it had finally been purchased, perhaps I wouldn't even need to use it at all.

It took less than 48 hours for the sauce to be pulled out.

I gave her a somewhat-age-appropriate explanation about the consequence. Something about putting something yucky in her mouth since something yucky came out. That God wants us to have a happy heart and when you have a happy heart, you tell the truth even though it is sometimes hard and may get you into trouble. Furthermore, I explained that I was going to put it in her mouth to remind her that she should use her mouth for good things and not bad.

So, as you can imagine, her large eyes watched me draw the liquid out of the bottle with a syringe/medicine dropper type of thing. Less than 1/2 a teaspoon people, don't call social services on me and let me remind you that this is FOOD--no worse than making a child try broccoli. She braced herself but she did open her mouth. And...she was very quiet and thoughtful...smacked her lips a few times...and declared something along the lines of, "That is pretty good sauce mom, I kind of like it."

Lance bolted out of the room so that she wouldn't hear him laughing. I had the foresight to send her to her room before I ran to the bathroom and laughed hysterically.

Baby no more...

Well, Little Man turned two today. We just had a small family celebration (probably my last year to get away with that!)

He is a blessing and lights up all of our lives. With that said, he has also crossed the line into the "terrible twos." Well, we hit that a bit ago but anyway...

I just love him to pieces. He also is NOT a big fan of cake (I know, you're thinking how could this child be biologically mine?!) But the good news is that he is happy to share it with his mommy! Happy Birthday, Will Bear!

Trick or Treat

I guess in all of the excitement I forgot to post some Halloween pictures of the kids. Specifically I didn't get any of just them in their costumes. Oh well. As I mentioned further down in the Disney post, we managed to see every Disney princess on this trip: Cinderella, Ariel, Mulan, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, Belle, Pocahontas, and Snow White. This was big stuff for Sydney and Katie, (who was keeping score!)
Alas! A single photo of our little Peter Pan in his homemade costume. (Thanks for the feather, Michelle!)

The Beach!

We are blessed by some kind and generous friends who extend our family an annual invitation to stay at their condo in San Diego. We first went 3 years ago and they have asked to come again and again; to which we gladly accept! It is fabulous to fly in, grab some groceries on the way, and move into their cityhome for a week or so. The girls share a room, which they love, and we set up Will's bed in the master bedroom closet. So everyone has their own space and it is truly fabulous! Its also a mere 5 minutes from Coronado Beach. We truly love it there...and we especially love the beach.This picture is the perfect "Katie" picture. It completely captures her care-free personality. This child is tenderhearted and compassionate and has a love for all of God's creation. What better place to experience God than the ocean...

These are the loves of my life. I am so blessed.

Will had no fear at the beach. Loved the water, loved the shells, loved the kelp on the shore, loved the toys, loved the sand. That is, until got it all in his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. He kept saying, "Help please," and "YUCK!" Yet somehow he managed to smile through it all.
Syd was a little hesitant about the ocean at first--not the beach and sand--just the ocean. I tried to get a hundred pictures of her but she was always running away from the ripples on the shore. So finally I had her sit down just out of reach from the water and she was happy as a clam.

Our buried treasure.

Something about the vastness of the ocean makes me feel emotional and especially contemplative of God--what He has created, who He is, His greatness... Also as I watch my beautiful children enjoying God's handiwork, I am reminded that we are all His handiwork, too. He delights in us and He created us in His image, to enjoy his creation, and to worship Him.

Psalm 139:1-18
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, ^[a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to ^[b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

Disneyland

We love Disneyland! It is near impossible to cram two full days there into one short blog, not to mention only 5 pictures. So here are a few favorites. The first is Will meeting Mickey for the first time, which he loved. On our second day there, shortly after the park opened we were approached by a park employee just wanting to get to know us. I held my breathe hoping that maybe we would win a night in the Dream Suite (I've heard they randomly select guests to bestow this privilege upon;) but we didn't win that prize. However, she discovered that my girls loved the princesses, and invited us to a special meet and greet in the princess garden with Snow White. Ironically, between lunch at Ariel's Grott and Trick or Treating the night before, we had seen every princess except Snow White, so the Baller girls were ecstatic!

Snow White was super sweet with my girls. She spent almost 15 minutes with them, talking about dancing, sleep overs, and being best friends. She inquired all about school and where they were from. She made them feel so special and it was really priceless!

We have been to Disneyland or World 4 times and have never seen Donald Duck. He is the one character Katie was determined to "find." That is one of her biggest, brightest smiles, despite sheer exhaustion. I must note that the other two kiddos were fast asleep, as it was 10 pm and we were closing down the park!
I love that there was a ride that our whole family could ride together. A kind employee saw our camera and even offered to take a picture, which surprisingly turned out great!
We were surprised at Syd's determination to go on every ride. There was no hesitation, not even for the Tower of Terror. They actually look quite calm in this picture, but check out the lady in the red behind them!

Lego Land

Katie thought this was pretty cool!Lego Land opened a new aquarium 2 months ago. It was a very nice aquarium for smaller children, with lots of hands-on exhibits. Syd was fascinated standing in the middle of a million fish!

My son tried to steal a star fish. He pulled it out of the water and took off running shortly after I snapped this picture. We got a nasty look and quickly moved on...
One of the things that is nice about Lego Land is that its very much geared towards smaller children--they can go on just about every ride. Syd was able to go on her first roller coaster ride...she is sitting next to Lance who is wearing an orange shirt, and Katie is right in front of them.
The girls loved driving their pirate ship and "firing" water on everyone. Dad sat in the back of the boat and tried not to get wet!

San Diego Zoo

For the record, I HATE snakes. But Katie thinks they are cool.

We loved watching the Koala bears climb around, Syd, too!

The panda bears were my favorite. I don't think I have ever seen panda bears in real life before. There are only 4 zoos in the United States that have pandas. This is the baby (I think he is about 1 year old,) taking a little nap in the tree above his mother.

This is momma bear catching a little nap shortly before lunch was going to be served!

The San Diego zoo is a wonderful place and we enjoyed a full day of exploring and marveling about God's beautiful creation!

Downtown San Diego

The view from the condo where our gracious friends allow us to stay. It is awesome. Especially during baseball season when there are fireworks afterwards. The day before we left some large trucks pulled up and started unloading and setting up a stage. They worked through the night and were still working when we left on Sunday. If we had stayed another 36 hours, we would could have seen Madonna live from "our" patio. No kidding. Not that I would want my kids to see that but it would have been cool!
One morning we had a few hours to kill before Lance needed to do some work. So we stepped aboard the USS Midway, a retired aircraft carrier. We weren't sure how the kids would do, touring a large ship, but they actually did great! They checked out every nook and cranny and really liked "flying" the various aircraft on board. Here is one of my boys on a helicopter.

My loves in the brig.

The girls piloting an airplane.

San Diego top 10

10. Thankful for friends who are generous and hospitable!
9. Sunshine...and lots of it!
8. Watching my kids LOVE the beach and ocean!
7. Sleeping in (kind of,) and not rushing out the door each morning!
6. My own mini van for a whole week!
5. Amusement parks!
4. Eating out!
3. Having Lance around!
2. Starbucks I can walk to, one block away!
1. Memories...

Yay for McDonald's!

We love birthday parties at McDonald's! No set up, it's easy on the budget, the kids all love it, and there is no clean up. Not to mention its the birthday girl's favorite place to dine other than Fazoli's. (Yes, I did have to tell her that having a party at Fazoli's was not an option.) Anyhoo...

Celebrating with lots of special friends = lots of fun memories!
I'm pretty sure a good time was had by all.

We did have a small malfunction during the first attempt at blowing out the candles. An overly excited friend and mom tried to help before Syd was ready, (it was a really long wish, I guess.) There might have been some tears but before they could fall we quickly relit the candles and tried again. Whew.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Moving backwards through the day...she was so tired from a fun day of celebrating! I just love how they look when they are sleeping, and how they sigh...Happy 4th Birthday, Baby Girl! Where does the time go?

Syd was very excited to have dinner at Red Robin tonight. She seemed a bit shy while they sang to her, but she immediately sat up straighter when it was time to enjoy the ice cream!
"Thanks for the baby horse, Aunt Noni!"
Syd got a Hannah Montana jacket to go with Katie's High School Musical jacket...
The first thing she wanted to do this morning was, of course, open gifts! I love her enthusiasm!
Happy birthday to one of the kindest and funniest little girls this side of the Mississippi. We sure love you and cannot imagine life without you. You're a beautiful blessing...