Spreading Christmas Cheer

It's so important for me to teach my children that Christmas isn't about how many gifts you can get or getting every toy on your wish-list.  Christmas is about giving.  We received the ultimate gift when Jesus came to this earth.  Christmas is about us sharing that news and giving to others, just like Jesus gave to us.

We visited the nursing home again and this time we had the biggest group we've had so far.  The residents were so excited to see us.  I think they've gotten used to us and have started expecting us.  I heard several people say, "Oh here's the group of kids that comes for every holiday!"  That just made my day.

Adeline, Jon, and I made these little foam nativity scenes to hand out to the residents.  Yes, it took an assembly line of all three of us to finish these things.  I had no idea they were going to be so involved.  Adeline was so proud of her work, though.  She was in charge of the yellow parts.

Adeline was a little shy, but felt more comfortable talking to the residents with Westin by her side.

Tonight we helped with our church's IMPACT site.  Every Wednesday night during the spring & summer, a group goes out to a low-income apartment complex and plays games, distributes snacks, and shares the gospel with whoever shows up.  Tonight was their Christmas party.  This is a ministry very near and dear to Jon's heart, so we wouldn't have missed it for anything.

We collected all these gifts and Bibles.  I was so excited to give them out.

Then we played games.  For this game the kids had to wrap up a friend as best they could.  Adeline thought this was hilarious.

We served pizza, sang songs, and told the Christmas story.  Then at the very end each child got to pick out a present and a Bible or Bible story book.

At first, it was pretty hard for Adeline to understand why she couldn't pick out a toy, but by the time it was over I think she was just enjoying being there and having fun with other kids.  I hope the message that giving is better than receiving is starting to at least sink in a little bit.

How do you spread Christmas cheer?

December Days

Jon went on a weekend mission trip to Arkansas Baptist Children's Home with a couple other guys from our small group at the beginning of the month.  It's hard being a single mom for a whole weekend when I'm used to us spending that time as a family.  I tried to keep the girls busy so the time would pass more quickly.  Friday night the girls had FNO at church, and I went out to eat and did some shopping with the other girls whose husbands were with Jon.  What a fun girls' night!

Annabel learned how to use her shoulder to hold her phone.  

We baked cookies.  Annabel just threw a fit for the M&Ms, mostly.

Adeline slept with me to keep me company.

And we went to church on Sunday morning.

Jon got home on Sunday afternoon, and we went to the church at Pinnacle Hills to see the Christmas program we had missed the previous Sunday morning on our campus when we'd been working in the nursery.  We sat with the Hickses and our girls loved it!

Throughout last week we had some fun.  One morning I caught Annabel helping herself to a chocolate breakfast.

Then we finger-painted a canvas green.  I had plans to add something to it, but haven't gotten around to that, yet.

 I thought it was funny that when we were done, Annabel had one palm that had green paint on it.  Adeline had both hands, front and back, and legs covered in green paint.

I saw these toes peeking under my door one morning.

Then last Thursday Annabel was diagnosed with RSV and we spent the rest of the week inside, suctioning noses and administering breathing treatments.  I have been so scared of Annabel catching anything like this because she can't do regular breathing treatments like everyone else because of her heart.  Most inhalers make your heart race.  However, we found the kind she could take, and she's doing much better now.  Thankful for caring, knowledgeable doctors in our lives.

On Saturday, our elf, Dee brought us a gingerbread house to decorate.

That night our small group had our annual Christmas party.  We play Dirty Santa.  I kept getting all my good gifts taken away from me.  The last gift I opened was a LIVE MOUSE!  I screamed and ran to the bathroom, climbed up on the counter, and locked myself in.  I wouldn't come out until Jon removed the mouse from the premises.  Now everyone knows of my mouse phobia.  Hopefully that won't ever happen again.

Travis was the lucky winner of the ugly Christmas turtle neck.  He was such a good sport.

These December days are passing so quickly.  I hope you're enjoying them.  It'll be cold, long, depressing January before we know it.  Hah!  Does anybody else feel that way about January?  It's kind of my least favorite month.  God bless!

'Tis the Season

The season for so many fun activities!  First of all, Santa delivered our Elf on the Shelf last Saturday.  His name is Dee.

Then we met Uncle Shane at Crystal Bridges for a VIP, very quick tour.  Don't expect to leisurely enjoy art with two kids in tow.

That night we met the Davises at the square for Lights of the Ozarks.  Beautiful!

Sunday we went to church, then after naps we went to see Santa.

I figured Annabel would be ok with Santa.  It wasn't until Adeline was two that she freaked out.  And I thought that if she saw Adeline being ok with him, she would be too.  Boy was I wrong.  Adeline actually talked to Santa and told him she wanted a "princess kitty," but Annabel wanted nothing to do with him.  The picture on the far right is our picture from this year.  Santa is sneaky!

During the week Jon and I finally finished a project we started back in the summer.  A dress-up dresser for the girls.  It started out as a dilapidated red dresser I found at a store similar to Goodwill.  I love how it turned out.  And really all I did was buy it then put everything inside it.  Jon loves his girls.

 We hung tea hooks on one side for their necklaces and purses.

Adeline wants cheesy toast almost every morning for breakfast.  Annabel is a fan, too.  I love this messy-headed girl!

We spent Wednesday morning at home crafting.

We have this little stool in our kitchen that the girls can climb into and watch what's going on.  Annabel climbs in it a million times a day, but only ever makes it this far in climbing back out.  Imagine our frustration!

Last night Annabel screamed all through dinner and refused to eat.  Adeline ate all her food with no fuss.  She earned an Oreo after dinner.  Annabel got one too because she's the baby and she threw a fit for it.  I swore I'd never do things like that.  When am I ever going to learn that there's nothing like parenting to make you eat your words?!?

But look how happy that Oreo made her.  Totally worth the spoiling!

Today some girls in my MOPS group met at a friend's house and decorated Christmas cookies.  The girls loved it!

 Annabel didn't so much decorate as she did just eat a cookie.  :)

I love Christmastime!

Just for Fun

Annabel is wearing some hand-me-downs today and it reminded me of a picture I had of Adeline wearing the same outfit.  I staged it a little bit so I could get a comparison.

Here's moody little Adeline in December 2010...

And here's mostly happy Annabel today, in December 2012....

Pretty much the only similarities I can see are the blue eyes and curly hair.  I love these two so darn much!