25 Days of Christmas

I don't know what it is about Christmas time, but you try to cram as much stuff in one short month as possible.  And every year you try to out-do last year, deeming this year "The Best Christmas Ever!"  I think that's what every parent loves to hear to come out of their children's mouth.  So, this year instead of leaving one million things to the last minute I tried to give our family some breathing room and just do one little thing every day.  The list below is 25 Days til Christmas.  You definitely don't have to do it in any specific order, and I even added a few things on the end if you are over-achievers :) 

25 Days to Christmas

1.    Go cut down a Christmas Tree

2.   Decorate Christmas Tree

3.    Look at Christmas Lights

4.   Read “Gingerbread Baby” and make gingerbread men/gingerbread house

5.   Hang Christmas lights

6.   Write letters to Santa

7.   Give a “secret” gift to someone

8.   Make homemade ornaments and hang on tree

9.   Go buy special Hallmark ornaments and hang on tree

10.Volunteer together (fill food bags at church-Dec. 3-5)

11.Make a birthday cake for Jesus and read the Bible story

12.Watch The Grinch and drink hot cocoa

13.  Make a fire and roast marshmallows

14.  Go to Christmas in the Park (free). 

15.  Read Frosty the Snowman and watch the movie

16.  Make Reindeer mix to feed to the reindeer

17.  Buy Christmas presents for others/some one special

18.  Watch Polar Express and drink hot cocoa

19.  Make snowflakes out of paper and hang around the house

20.  String popcorn and hang outside for the birds

21.  Visit Santa Claus

22.  Take Christmas pictures with the family

23.Make sugar cookies for Santa

24.Open one gift on Christmas Eve

25.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

**More things geared to grown-ups

·        Watch Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Elf

·        Outside fire pit or bonfire

·        Bundle up and take a lot of blankets and hot cocoa and lay outside and look at the stars

·        Go to a Christmas Craft Show or boutique and look around

·        Spend the day with loved ones, go get coffee somewhere and catch up!

·        Invite someone over for dinner that you don’t usually have over

·        Go caroling with church or friends

·        Go ice skating

·        Go to Mt. Aggie

·        Have a Cookie Exchange

·        Have a cookie/gingerbread house making party

My 5 year old Nolan was super excited to see this on the fridge.  He loves "projects" and to see a huge list just made his eyes light up.  It doesn't hurt that he loves Christmas time either. 

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Lego Man and Rapunzel

Lego Man

Wow.  It's been awhile since I've posted anything.  I guess I've been waiting for creativity to strike, and Halloween was the perfect opportunity!  Nolan and I were looking through costumes on Pinterest (a horrible addicting habit) and he saw this Lego costume.  It didn't look too hard, and it wasn't.  We went to Greg's store and picked out a box that would fit his chest.  I cut down six Red Solo Cups and hot glued them on to the front.  I cut out openings for his arms and head and then re-inforced the openings with duct tape.  I then got some red spray paint (because Nolan HAD to be a red lego) and sprayed it in the backyard.  I found a Lego logo on the internet, blew it up to extreme size and pasted it to the back, just to make sure if anyone was confused about what he was supposed to be. 


 He had a great time posing for the camera.  He had some various "Lego" emotions such as: sad, mad, surprised and the faves of being patriotic, strong and surprised.  Maybe you can match up the emotions with the pictures!

Pulling on the braids

  This year Mallory went as a princess (of course).  I thought some braids would turn her in to the cutest Rapunzel ever.  I crocheted a pink beanie and then took a lot of yellow yarn to make the braids.  I left a section at the front for her to see out of, and then pulled the yarn through the last crocheted row.  It was super funny to see her wear it.  The first time she put it on she hated it, but after a lot of convincing she decided to sport the braids all through the Halloween party at school and through all the events on Halloween Day.  The only problem being, whenever she was annoyed or sad, she would pull (and stretch out) the braids like she was holding on for dear life.  This hat will be a great addition to the dress-up box for the rest of the year!

Sad Rapunzel

Disgruntled Rapunzel

Germany Mission Trip 2012

So, it's been a good 6 weeks since returning from Germany and am amazed how fast the time has gone.  I had the best of intentions of writing down everything that happened right when we got back to Texas, but crazily 6 weeks passed in the blink of an eye and here I am trying to remember everything!

I guess I'll start at the beginning.  Our decision to take our son, Nolan, with us was decided when returned to first time from Germany.  We were very excited to share this experience with him.  But, being like a mom, I knew there would be two outcomes to this venture.

#1:  Nolan would break down at the airport, on the airplane, at baseball camp and he would have to worst time of his life
OR
#2:  Nolan would love every minute and be able to handle all situations.
Thank God he leaned more to Scenario #2.

My biggest relief came when we boarded our first flight.  It was a connecting flight that went to Atlanta, Georgia.  It was Nolan's first flight ever and I was expecting a meltdown.  We got on the plane, buckled up and took off with no problem.  Then...the turbulence started.  Being a grown-up, the first thing that came to mind was that we were going to crash and burn.  I was worried Nolan was going to think the same thing.  I looked at him and he said with the biggest smile on his face, "This is awesome!"  Crisis #1 averted.

We were blessed to stay with the same family that we did last year, so it was easy to fall in to the same routine that we had the previous summer.

It wasn't all smooth sailing those first few days though.  We did a lot of sight-seeing a LOT of walking and the time change messed up Nolan's internal clock.  One of the first nights we were there it was almost midnight and he's crying in bed, saying he's not tired.  But the look on his face was telling me he was about to pass out any minute.  He spent the next morning sleeping in and playing with our host mom, Barbara and baby Mia.  He was in heaven playing with Duplo blocks.  This extra time to himself help Greg and I in more ways than one.

At Baseball Camp, we were blessed with another great team.  Go Cubs!  We had  two players on our team from the previous year, and it was great to have them on the team again.  The baseball practices were great, some minor hiccups, but overall couldn't have asked for better.  The Team Times (where we discuss Jesus and our relationship with Him) seemed to be much tougher this year, which was a great thing!  The discussions we had were really great and it was nice to talk to these wonderful kids.
The biggest blessing of all was how nice and wonderful everyone was towards Nolan.  I never expected how caring and loving everyone would be towards him.  He was always taken care of even if it wasn't by me or Greg.  He always had a watchful eye on him.  They gave him (sometimes secretly) soda, gummies and candy.  It made him feel special, and it warmed my heart to see that they were trying to befriend him.  He left with many great relationships, and new buddies.  It's so sweet to see that he sleeps with a bear (a Cub, get it?) every night that one of our team members gave him.  I never thought that God would work through Nolan to build these relationships, but He does work in wondrous ways!

After Baseball Camp the Siegburg Church gave us the gift of two sight-seeing days around Germany.  We went to Aachen, a mustard factory, a glass-blowing factory and a great small village with an awesome Christmas Store.  I could probably fill up ten posts describing all the beautiful churches, cities and sculptures we saw, but I'll leave that for another time.

Some things that I learned this year in Germany:
1.  Nolan will only eat candy, bread, nutella and "american" cereal.
2.  Bring an extra pair of shoes for Nolan b/c he literally wore a hole in his other pair walking so much
3.  Bring warmer clothes!  We had wonderful weather last year, but weren't lucky this year.  Tons of rain and pretty chilly too!
4.  Movies on a tablet to keep a small child occupied is awesome!
5.  It IS possible to do a "Trust Fall" with teenagers...no one was dropped!
6.  American DVD's don't work in German DVD players.  Weird, right?
7.  You will be stopped at customs for bringing a large statue in to the US.  (It was actually a nutcracker)
8.  Little children DO get patted down at the airport.  Super weird and super awkward, but it didn't bother Nolan one bit.
9.  Ice cream eaten overlooking the Rhein River is the best kind :)
10.  I want to go back again next year!!

I feel as though I have only written a small fraction of all the things that happened.  I wish I could describe ever wonderful thing that happened, but there isn't enough time in the day for that.  Some pictures are below:

 Plane ride. Ready to go!

 In front of the Dom in Koln

 Love!

 A neat water feature in Koln.  Trying not to get wet.

 A bridge with locks on it to signify relationships.

 Silly!

 Team Building

 The Cubbies!

 Nolan up to bat

The Human Knot

Have a great day!

Does Money Solve ALL Problems?

My conversations with Nolan have gotten very philosophical lately.  He told me in the car this morning that if he had more money he would be happier. I've really tried lately to help him become more aware in this department.  If we go to Target, toys there aren't free, so now if he wants a toy he has to use money that he has saved in his piggy bank ($5 max).  If he could spend all of his money in his piggy bank on one big cool toy he would do it in a hot minute, but I know that toy will be broken/forgotten about in a week and his piggy bank will be empty.  I point out that food costs money and the reason Greg goes to work is to provide for us...house, food, bills, etc.
  So, this money comment bothered me.  I know in his 5 year old mind he made the connection:  more money=more toys, which would equal more happiness in his life (or so he thinks).  I explained to him that more money wouldn't make us happier, but people in our lives should make us happier.  Great concept, but do I really believe it myself??
I have caught myself numerous times thinking, "If I only had: new shoes/ extra bathroom/new countertops/a new haircut, I would be so much happier."  Well, all of those things are THINGS, and they all cost money.  So, maybe Nolan wasn't too far off the path of my own selfish thinking...more money might equal more happiness.
But I know deep down that isn't the right answer.  Just like our first instinct in Sunday School is to answer all questions with, "Jesus!" because we always think that is the right answer; I catch myself answering the question, "What would make you more happy?"  "More money!"  I definitely think that it would get me more things, but I know human nature.  After you get those things, you'll just want more things.  I see this in mini-form in Nolan and Mallory.  They aren't just happy with one Power Ranger/My Little Pony, they have to have them ALL!  And if they ever got them all, they  would go to a new set of toys they just had to HAVE!
So, my solution to this problem?  To be happy for what I have.  Easy answer, hard to put in effect.  But I am reminded every day.  Take for example, I saw an article on a sick baby.  I have two healthy children that I probably don't deserve, but have been graciously blessed with by God.  Every time I use the internet/air conditioning/refrigeratory I remember that we are probably more well-off than 70% of the entire world.  When I open my fridge and pantry I should be grateful that I don't have to worry about where my next meal comes from.  I need to just look up to see the roof over my head (newly fixed and not leaking by the way).
In the next few days I will be making a list with Nolan to post on the fridge of the things that make us happy that are free, and a few things that make us happy that do cost money.  I don't want to be unrealistic, there will always be things that cost money in Nolan's and mine lives that make us happy.  Does this make me a selfish person? No, it just makes me human.
What do you think?  Is money the answer to all problems?

29 Things

In celebration of my 29th Birthday (I know I look way younger), I'd like to list 29 things that make me smile, make my heart lighter and make me laugh out loud. 
1.  Rain on a sunny day where it sizzles on the street and creates steam.  A much needed reprieve from the Texas heat.
2.  My kids...the funny moments definitely out-way the tough ones, or atleast I choose to remember the funny ones.  :)
3.  Hugs from a 2 year old.  Especially when I say,"squeeze tighter!" and her little arms try so hard to squeeze me.
4.  Kisses from a 5 year old.  I feel the "oh, mom!" and eye rolls coming on.  So, as many kisses as I can get from Nolan while he allows it, the better.
5.  Blue Bell Ice Cream:  need I say more??
6.  Seeing my vegetables ACTUALLY grow in the vegetable garden.  I don't have a green thumb, more light green or teal.
7.  Little kid's birthday parties.  I've never seen kids get so excited over every little thing.  Their amazement always brightens my day.
8.  Seeing completed crochet/sewing projects.  Watching it come together and make something out of basic materials is still pretty cool to me.
9.  Swimming, preferably Barton Springs
10.  Germany
11.  Haribo
12.  Nutella w/ bananas, or nutella right out of the jar.  Doesn't matter, still delicious.
13.  Nolan and Mallory playing tea party...LOVE this one
14.  Reading a good book

15.  A large fountain drink on a hot day.  I wouldn' call myself addicted, but I am much nicer if I have one in my hand.
16.  Having food in my fridge/a car to drive/a job to go to/a church to worship at/etc....
17.  AC!!!  Eventhough it never goes below 78 degrees, I would not make it through summer without it.
18.  A good baseball game
19.  Mallory walking around in her high heels clickity-clacking through the house
20.  Working out at the gym.  I force myself to go, but at the end I always feel as though it is worth it.
21.  Climbing in to bed with clean sheets, clean blanket and clean pillowcases before the dog has left hair on them/ Greg has wrinkled them/ Kids have drooled on them.  Best feeling ever.
22.  When me and Nolan play the "I love you more than..." game.  My favorite is "I love you more than Power Rangers" which is pretty big in a 5 year old's world.  I tell him "I love you more than tater tots" :)
23.  Being able to stay connected to friends via the internet
24.  Baking for others.
25.  Playing board games with the kids.  Sometimes completely frustrating, but they love it.
26.  Getting letters in the mail, it always seems so very thoughtful
27.  Going on a water slide.  We did this at Nolan's birthday.  I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.
28.  A nice cold glass of water or sweet tea
29.  Being blessed with another year!

The Great Sandal Scandal

If you live anywhere where temperatures creep above 80 degrees, you might own a pair of sandals.  Since we live in Texas, where most of the year it's boiling outside, I have a little collection of flip flops...well I USED to anyways.
I am quite attached to my sandals, each pair has a story behind them: where they are from and where they have gone.  Take my Reef sandals for example:  Greg got me my first pair of Reef sandals as a present for getting my Aggie Ring.  I even wore them to pick up my ring, very excited to start breaking them in.  Eight years later (I know, I'm getting old), my sandals have been to different states, on the beach during our honeymoon and even went international for our mission trip to Germany last year.  I'm even known to wear sandals during the winter time (with a sweater, of course) to Greg's large disapproval of this fashion statement.
Sadly, I am down three, yes THREE, pairs of sandals in the past week.  I don't know what has gotten in to our dog, but she is chewing them up left and right.  I hear the little "squeak, squeak" of teeth on leather/rubber soles and I go running through the house to find Olive (our dog) hanging out on our bed with a little graveyard of shoes surrounding her.  I saw her go through a phase of destroying the kid's shoes, and even Greg's shoes (Greg has lost a pair of Clarks and numerous pairs of sandals as well), but I thought she liked me better than that...I guess not.
I walk in to her on our bed, I'm guessing that's a great location for shoe chewing; and I find her surrounded by three pairs of my favorite sandals.  She actually ate the leather off one pair: non-salvageable, the other pair she chewed through a strap, and lastly my beloved Reefs.  She chewed a few holes in the fabric straps.  They are not completely ruined, but they just aren't fitting correctly.
I suppose there is a lesson to be learned:  keep my sandals not only off the floor, but way high up on a shelf in my closet.  I wish I would have learned this lesson three pairs of shoes ago.

 The culprit

The damage (1 of 3)

The bright side to all this sandal carnage is that it is the perfect reason to go get a new pair :)

Just for laughs....

Here are some things that have happened over the past few weeks that I found entertaining, and you might find funny:

1.  At school Nolan filled out a questionnaire about me.  In his eyes I am 35 years old with long hair, small eyes, 5 ft tall and only weigh 35 pounds.  Hmmmm....

2.  Mallory has begun the horrible habit of pooping in her underwear...specifically at restaurants.  I will be avoiding any type of eatery to help her start pooping in the correct place, the bathroom.

3.  Watching my kids get in and out of the car is like watching two turtles race to see who can go the slowest.  Greg always asks why we leave 30 minutes early to get to the gym when we literally live less than 5 minutes away.  It's because I add 10 minutes to get in the car, 10 minutes to get out of the car and another 5 minutes to walk the 20 feet to the door.  :)

4.  Nolan and Mallory have started playing "tea party" which really means that they get out every single plastic food and baby they own and lay it in the hallway.  This is a horrible accident waiting to happen.

5.  We recently went camping with friends and both kids had a blast.  They got to go kayaking, fishing and play to their hearts content.  I've never seen them so interested in worms and being able to touch live fish.  They came home worn out and thoroughly happy. 

6.  Watching Nolan rock out to Guitar Hero on the Wii always puts a smile on my face.  I don't know where he learned his moves, but he definitely has "Moves like Jagger".

7.  Mallory has demanded to dress herself lately.  I never thought I'd be the parent with the kids that looked all crazy, but when Mallory chooses to wear pink cowgirl boots, her pink tutu bathing suit and purse you can't help but smile and laugh.  Nolan also has questionable choices in fashion:  he is rather fond of the rain boots and shorts look with a dragon hat to finish off the outfit.
Here are a few pictures from camping:

 Nolan decided to be a superhero the first day we got there.  He is showing off his fishing lure.  He actually caught something with his Spiderman pole, I was impressed.

 I like the look of determination on Mallory's face as she tries to peddle the tricycle.  This was her first time trying to ride.  The campsite had a large flat concrete pavilion to ride bikes around.  It was the perfect area for her to practice on.

The pink tutu bathing suit that we've worn camping, to HEB and Walmart.  :)

Have a great week!