Christmas Tour of Homes

Okay, so I am going to join in on the fun. I, like most, really enjoy decorating for CHRISTmas.

What a privilege to create an atmosphere that reflects a CELEBRATION! And what a bigger privilege to celebrate JESUS!!

For the outside of the house, we have some wreaths on our windows and one on the door. As well as garland around the door that has lights in it. I also have candles in my windows. (sorry no pictures of that)

Our tree is an artificial pre-lit gem!! My dear husband said we wouldn't EVER have an artificial---then we had children!

I have my Willow Tree Nativity on the mantle. And our stockings---with our new 5th stocking this year! Adam says we are full now---no more room for any more children.

These are some of my TREASURED Santas. My mom painted most all of them. I can't put as many out as I would like for fear of some extra-loving by my hard-handed boys! They would love them more than I can afford for them to.

I also have 2 nativity sets for the kids. One is the Little People kind and then we have this one from Playmobil. My sweet daddy made the barn to go with it because it came with some cardboard thing that wasn't good for little boys. This is our first year with this barn and they have had a blast with it!!!

You know, I think I sometimes put more into my decorating that I do my celebrating! Shame on me!!

May we all CELEBRATE the RISEN SAVIOR on the occasion of His birth!!

Happy Birthday JESUS!

There's No Place Like Home

We took a quick trip home over the weekend. To my home town that is. We LIVE in my dear husband's home town.































And we got to go see our little Christmas parade. It was cold! Despite being her first parade, I think I tortured the baby, but we enjoyed being there and seeing some friends. And the boys stacked their pockets full of candy. They, of course, had the most fun...cold or not!!!

It is nice to spend a little time with my parents. I don't really remember a time in my life that I haven't enjoyed their company. I always look forward to our next visit together.

I am pretty sure they are THRILLED to see us come and then THRILLED to see us go!!

A Thanksgiving Full

Our weekend was full. And by that I mean: complete, abundant, happy, satisfied, rewarding.

A full house. Adam's cousin and his family of 6 spent the weekend with us. 4 children 6 and under. So, that is 7 children in our house! But that isn't all of the family in town. We had 25 celebrating Thanksgiving together on Thursday.

A full schedule. From Nate's Thanksgiving program at school on Wednesday morning until church on Sunday...we pretty much had a busy weekend.

A full tummy. Of course, we had lots of yummy food. It is hard to even pick a favorite dish!

A full shopping cart. I DID get to go shopping on Friday---and enjoyed getting a few things for Christmas!

A full thermometer. More than one of the children in my house was under the weather.

A full scoreboard!!! NC State won another football game!!

AND most importantly a list full of BLESSINGS to be thankful for!!!

We had a great weekend with Adam's family. It is always hard for me to be away from my family. But, I do enjoy our Thanksgiving tradition with his family.

Here are some of the kids.

Where did my little sleeper go???

Wow, am I tired!!!

No complaints, just facts.

My sweet little girl that seemed to love a good night's rest has taken a sabbatical!! For over a month now Erin Hope has been up EVERY night!! And some nights she has had me up for hours. Last night I was up with her for 3 solid hours.

This is the little girl that at 2-months-old was sleeping soundly all-night-long consistently. But, since her 5-month birthday she has regressed and worn her mommy out!!!

I asked her yesterday if her brothers had given her instructions on how to torture mommy. Andy said: "What is destructions?" He wasn't a good consistent all-night-sleeper until about 7 or 8 months ago!!! And these days he is up and in the bed with us around 6am every day!!!

So, if you are wondering, where all my posts are in this month of Thanksgiving---think of me taking a nap every single chance I can!!!! No posts in my sleep! Remember this job of mothering full-time it means 24-hours a day!!















Adam says she is way too cute to be mad at!! Yeah, I know, he is right!!! I also know how thankful I am for my 3 children sleep or not!!!

"Thanks Mommy."

"Thanks Mommy." That is what Nate said when he gave me a bouquet of flowers for HIS birthday. (his daddy is teaching him right)

It is so hard for me to believe that I became a mommy for the very first time 6 years ago!! Nathaniel Luke was born at 8:04pm and weighed 6lbs 2oz and was 21 inches long.

Nate has grown SO much in his short little life and I have enjoyed every moment with him. It is such a fun experience to watch your children grow. And to see their little (or BIG) personalities emerge.

Nate is all boy and loves sports. He told me some time ago that his favorite sport is whatever season it is. Which seems to be pretty true. Although he does seem to favor football and baseball. I actually think he favors them because of the neat equipment that comes with these games. Basketball just doesn't have enough of that.

He also really likes animals and says he loves dogs. But, it is funny...he doesn't always love Kobie so much. I guess, like his daddy, he loves dogs mostly from a distance.

Nate is a tender-hearted little guy. He has a sweet affection for his mommy and now his little sister.

I enjoy my little boy and I am so thankful for him every day...but especially on his birthday.

And, of course, the real thanks goes to the ONE who created my perfect little guy.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

Such a Thoughtful Big Brother

Erin Hope is over 5-months old now. And my sweet and plump little baby is growing fast and newly waking every night to be fed. So, last night she got her first spoon-fed meal. And we have it all step-by-step in pictures. Andy joined in the fun and told me he was going to feed her. Of course I knew he wasn't, and of course he knew that he WAS going to feed her. And he wasn't concerned with my concern at all!!! So, I had to come up with a plan to get his mind on something else. I gave him the job of taking pictures. (Thank heaven for digital cameras) And he did take pictures. The whole time she ate he snapped shots of her. One or two good ones, but mostly just pictures taken by a 3-year-old. When Adam asked him when he was going to stop he said: "When she is finished with her food." (of course Daddy!!) And that is exactly what he did. He took 42 pictures of Erin Hope eating her first spoon-fed meal. Yes, 42.

I am glad he got to help. And I am also glad that he loves his little sister!! She sure loves him too!!

I thought I would share a couple of his pictures with you. (do note the pictures at the first of this post were taken by me.)

A Perfect Party for a Boy

Nate's 6th birthday is next week and he requested a party. We have had some sort of party for him every year. But, more than once we have chosen to stick with the party with family...and he doesn't mind. I figured why spend all of that time and money when he doesn't really care one way or the other, right?

But, anyway, this year (like in August) he said he wanted to have a football party! And he even told us who he wanted to invite. So, on Saturday, Adam spray-painted football lines on our back yard. And we had some of Nate's friends over for "tailgating" and football. It was the perfect fall day for football and I do believe that everyone had a nice time!! Nate's friend Charlie even said it was the "best party he had ever been too!" (Thanks for the compliment Charlie!!)

After some good ole' hot dogs, a yummy cookie cake and a game of football, Nate told me that he sure was thankful for his football party! And his mommy and daddy can't take any credit for it, because it was all his idea!! Well, at least not all the credit!!