arrival

It's December and guess who has made their BIG arrival and landed?

HENRY THE ELF

and

THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL

So Henry left the kiddos a note basically telling them that a friend was gonna help to make sure they understood the true meaning of Christmas while he made sure they behaved!  You can't tell from the picture but it looked as though the elf and angel had flown in through the chimmey and left the doors kinda open with the note stuck in the door as they they were trying to keep the kids from noticing how they got into the house!  The first mission per the angel was to give it a name, so we debated and thought it would be fitting to name her Kay!  Kay is Andrew's Mom's middle name and Mimi's birthday was Christmas day and she just past about 2 months ago, so we wanted to have Mimi's angel bring us joy as well as a lesson of giving during a difficult season this year!  We miss her terribly, but are happy to know she is with our LORD and SAVIOR healed and REJOICING in HIS glory!

 

 

Nutcracker

We have an army of nutcrackers!  Why you ask?  Well ever since Archer was born in 2008 Mimi (Andrew's mom) has bought a nutcracker for the boys!  She would put their names on the bottom and the year she gave it to them- it was a special keepsake for them!  Unfortunately last year was the last year she was able to give them to the boys.  Mimi passed September 20, 2012 after struggling with pancreatic cancer ,since February of 2010, to be with JESUS.  This has been a rough year as we have lost Andrew's Dad and Fozzie (our Jack Russell of 9 years) as well.  Who would of thought that we as parents would of had to explain to our children 3 times in one year that people very special to them went to Heaven to be with Jesus!  It brings such peace and comfort to know that they are healed and in a better place with our Lord and Savior!  He brings eternal life!

Well...our Aunt Devra (Andrew's sister) is keeping the tradition alive- she got Archer his 5th one, Ashton his 3rd one, and Kirby her first one!  We greatly appreciate her and her willingness to keep it going!  Thanks Aunt Devra for your love and support!  We love you! So if you march into our home- watch out for the piano as the army of nutcrackers are guarding it! :) Merry Christmas!

another peak! eek!

Here is the invitation!  I just love it!  My super talented friend from Little Bears Designs created away and I "sang" away the words!  I tell ya what we have too much fun together planning parties- we really should start our own business- so I think!  This invitation we made into a "thick" postcard and mailed away at a much cheaper rate than an envelope and card! I LOVE to do things on a BUDGET too, cause let's face it money doesn't grow on trees around here!  In fact we don't even have a tree in the front yard, which drives me bananas all the while EVERYONE in our neighborhood has beautiful old oak trees gracing their front yards!  Oh well, can't have it all!  Blessings

Winter Onederland sneak peek

I already started to decorate for our little ones 1st birthday, which is a Winter Onederland theme!

 

Check out the sneak peek...

 

Jars filled with snowflakes and ornaments

 

The Christmas tree in the kids playroom is decked out in Winter Onederland and I know it's MISSING some lights and the rest of the snowflakes!  Argh!  I do not like pre-lite trees because now I get the privilege of basically cutting out the lights that do NOT work and then purchasing strands of lights to wrap around the tree!  Did I say ARGH already, because it's not like I don't have enough that I "have" to get done prior to her party and aren't pre-lite trees suppose to be SUPER DUPER easy!  Well it's not and I'm glad I didn't buy this tree and it was given to me- ok I'm done with my rant on pre-lite trees!  It's beginning to look like a P-A-R-T-Y!  Stay tuned for more about her Onederland!  Oh my goodness my baby, baby girl is turning one in less than a month!  OK...I'm signing off!  Ciao for now!

Brotherly love

This melts my heart!  The love that they share for one another...some days more than others but hey what do you expect from lil' ones full of energy, life, and competiveness!Aren't they just beautiful little boys though- sporting new shirts their Aunt Mer got them!  The smiles are all for her as the posed before we left the house, so she could see them sporting their tees!  Thanks Mer- love you!

PS- check out Ashton's mittens that he can't seem to take off for the past 5 days and if you look really closely he is hiding his cap behind him in that green bag of his, which is another do not leave home without it!  I think he would much rather live in cooler climates- what do you think?

MOPS wednesday

Yesterday was MOPS Wednesday and that means I get to jump out of bed, get the kids ready, and myself too without having to eat breakfast or as I usually do shove it down my throat as I'm racing out the door!  This meeting was themed PJ's and pancakes, so I dressed really comfy not too comfy because I was meeting my Aunt for our usual MOPS Southwell Wednesday lunch!  At our meeting I got the opportunity to read the Christmas Angel book to the Moms and explain what an amazing tool the angel can be in ones home during this Christmas season!  It was a treat reading to the Moms, but kinda funny not having little ones gathered around while I was bringing the book to life with animation in my voice!  If you wanna know more about it click here, and when you purchase it tell them how you find out about it, Tiffany Fuller!

Our MOPS meeting was crafts and guess who LOVES crafts?  ME! ME! ME!  Especially when the materials are provided and I get to create away!  Thanks to Erin DuBroc for being Miss Creative we made two different things 1- a snow globe using mason jars and trees and 2-a burlap wreath!

 

I enjoyed making the bow with just enough fluff for our door where I hung it and placed our Christmas cards that we have already received!  I used clothes pins to hold them onto the wreath, which is a wire wreath wrapped in burlap ribbon finished off the extras with a bow!  BTW:  it is NOT even December and I've got some friends that are on top of it- thats what I adore about them! 

 

 

BUT this my folks is what I adore the most...lunch with my kiddos and aunt!  It seems we have made a tradition out of this- meeting on MOPS Wednesday at Southwells to enjoy a burger or chicken tenders while getting to hang out with Ronna!  Archer loves it not only because he sees his Aunt, but she usual brings him a treat and if she doesn't he reminds her, so I had to explain to him it is a treat to be able to spend time with her while dinning out!  Now Ashton on the other hand loves it too, but doesn't wanna let her go on her way when we all have to part!  He wraps himself around her in a hug and kiss and explains to her in his sweetness that he needs to go home with her and spend the night!  He even problem solves the fact he must nap and she must go back to work at that point in time, which makes me proud- I want my kiddos to be problem solvers- to be able to think for themselves!  He tells her I'll go home and nap- you go to work then come get me and I'll go home with you and see Tucker and Uncle Greg or as he says it Reg!  All the while Kirby is crying because she is ready her nap and not ashamed to let you know!  The girl needs her beauty rest and I understand why- just look at her- she is SO precious!

10 ideas to jump start your angel...

Here are 10 ideas to jump start your angel's journey this year with your preschoolers!  I love them- which one is your favorite?  

My favorite idea is_________________, because___________!

MY FAVORITE idea is SMILE, because we all know lil' ones just LOVE stickers and they give the best smiles! 

Stay tuned for more from the helper of the angel!