O Christmas Tree

We put the Christmas tree up last weekend...I guess, it is about time I got some pictures up here!
Chloe was in bed, so she didn't see it until morning. She was so excited! She LOVES IT...she will just sit and stare. Now however, we do have some packages under it and are having a little trouble keeping the bows on!

Breakfast

This morning we had to eat a quick breakfast before dropping Summer off at school, then on to some errands and from there to hear my friend Tara speak. For the first time I plopped Chloe down on the floor in front of a cartoon while I got ready...bowl of dry cereal and milk, just like the "big kids". She did so good! And it was too cute to not take a minute to get a couple pictures!

And what I am most thankful for...

"Let us be thankful, then, because we receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken..."
Hebrews 12:28

A REAL LIFE KINGDOM! Oh, I can not wait!!

"Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20)

Thanksgiving Pt. 2

So our Thanksgiving continued with a drive to Sanford to see Shawn's family. After dinner a very tired Chloe received some belated birthday presents...

Connor cheered her on...

After presents came birthday cake. She had been stuffing her face all day - really! The girl can eat! But the thought of more made her cry...

Really cry...

But Daddy came to the rescue! He dove in the cake for Chloe...

And she enjoyed some cake WITH him...
Next year, it will be sweet, little Cadence's turn...

We arrived home at 1:00 am! It was a Thanksgiving filled with family, food, football and festivities...and finally sleep! Blessed sleep!

I HAD plans to brave the shopping crowds Friday morning at 4am, but a drive by the traffic jam to get into the outlet mall at 11:55 Thanksgiving night, changed my mind. I slept in and went shopping at 10...AND still got what I was after! Whoohoo!

Happy Thanksgiving!

OK, so I am a day late, but we have been crazy busy! This has been the busiest Thanksgiving in a long time...and yet, one of the best!

We woke up to the parade yesterday and we were out the door before it was over. Headed to Uncle Brian and Aunt Karen's to do away with two turkeys, a ham and too many sides to name. We ate and ate and it was so yummy!! The kids played, the girls checked out the shopping ads and the guys watched the Packer game (and they won!!! yea!!!!). After the game we headed down to Sanford for another turkey with Shawn's family. Somehow we did manage to fit more food in our bellies and had some more family time before heading home entirely exhausted and very full. But so thankful!!!

Here are some pictures from our day! (Part 1)

Indian Summer once again and Pilgrim Kayla

Connor had to be included

Chloe and Grandma

one of the turkeys... :)

sweating over the stove

they were buddies that day...Josh is such the sweetheart!

watching the game after dinnerkids hanging out with "George"

little Chloe, big chair

caught the kids snooping already

Chloe riding Uncle Brian's reindeer

I am going to have to continue the fun tomorrow. My bed is SHOUTING my name! More to come!

Indian Summer

I couldn't find Summer when I went to pick her up from school yesterday, so I brought home this cute little squaw...

Raising Grandma

Summer is continually reminding me of my Mom. I have said that often over the last 5 years, but it seems to be getting more frequent. I still think, as much as people say she looks like me, that I can see my Mom somewhere in there...maybe her eyes?

Once she started toddling around, it took another level. If something was on the floor she would put it away immediately, if a rug was wrinkled she would straighten it. She would pick up trash in the street or try to clean up public bathrooms. "A little Grandma," we would say. And of course, Grandma would beam.

Then Connor was born and again her "Grandma-ness" intensified. Some would probably call it the older child syndrome (which would make sense for both Summer and Grandma.) She began to give orders to anyone and everyone...and 9 times out of 10 they would obey her! We often say that Connor will be well prepared for marriage because he is so used to doing whatever Summer tells him to do.

Lately, since Chloe it will seem, she has again evolved. I noticed the change, but until yesterday never realized it indeed is more like Grandma. Nearly every time we are rushed to get anywhere (which is nearly every time we go anywhere) as soon as we get in car and backing out of the driveway, Summer begins her 20 questions..."Mom, did you get your purse? Do we have the diaper bag? Where are Chloe's shoes? Why are we going this way when the store is that way?" Of course, there may be legitimate reasons behind these questions, but still I constantly tell her, "Just be a kid and let Mommy worry about those things."

Now yesterday, I tuck her in bed and she asks if we can go to the park after school. I said. "We will see what the weather is like", and I go to tuck Connor in. While I am in Connor's room I hear her going on and on about something that was obviously very important to her. I go to see what the problem is..."If we go to the park tomorrow, you can't forget to get gas first!" Huh?

My mind flashed back to the afternoon. I had picked her up from school and just as I pulled into the driveway my gas light came on. I think I said something like, "Oh, the gas light just came on...we will have to get gas before where we go anywhere else." That was the end of that.

Then four hours later, my five year old daughter is reminding me that I need gas. Boy, does THAT sound familiar...

This morning as I am rushing around getting her off to school, I hear her ask Shawn if they will be driving to school in his truck. I think, what a silly question, Shawn most always drops her off and always with his truck. Of course, he said, "yes". She responds with a sigh of relief, "Oh, good, Mommy's car is all out of gas!"

He looks at me, "It is?"

"No! I just need gas, but I can get it! I can even pump it myself!"

Why do I feel like I am once again living with my Mom?

Love you, Mom and I will be so happy if Summer turns out just like you!! :)

Craving Comments :)

I updated my "Currently Reading" List on here and was a little taken back by how small it was. The mental break may be good, but nevertheless, I thought I would try to squeeze a little more involvement out of all of you and ask for some recommendations for books/Bible studies. I am helping organize the new list of spring studies for our church and would love to hear what you all have previously enjoyed. Please share! :)

He Speaks to Me

"He Speaks to Me" by Priscilla Shirer has been sitting in my current reading pile for awhile now. It is with a bit of sadness that I place it on my bookshelf. I did this study twice, back to back. I read through it with Tara and then felt God leading me to facilitate this same study at our church this fall. I was blessed immensely both times. Priscilla's sweet, yet stern in her conviction:

• Ministry is when people don't want more of you, they want more of Him. Oh, God, don't let me ever forget!
• Our desire shouldn't be to impress God, but to have a relationship with Him. He is the reward! He is Heaven!
• If we continue to allow God to fill us, sooner or later we'll find that nothing else will satisfy. So true...
• The King of kings and Lord of lords makes Himself available to all of us, even beggars, no, especially beggars - when we are hungry for Him. So amazing...I don't think I will ever cease to be amazed by this!
• And finally, I learned that my family is my first ministry. Their "interruptions" are not really interruptions at all but rather God's plan for my day. To ignore them, is to ignore God's voice...ouch...

The entire study is pulled from the life of the child Samuel the night he heard God speak. She has amazing insight. The book seems to build...getting better and better with each chapter and ends in such a way, you beg for more...more of Him.

By far, one of my favorite quotes is this:

God is too great to be impressed by all our activity. People might be impressed, but God won't be. We bring a smile to His face when we sit at His feet, hear His voice, and discover the secrets reserved for His friends. May we respond to the Lord as David did: "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming'" (Psalm 27:8 NLT).

May I always respond, "Lord, I am coming!"

Little Stinker

Tonight, I had Chloe propped between Shawn and I on the couch while we were watching TV. I leaned my head over and rested it on his shoulder. Chloe turns around and looks at me and fusses and squirms so I lifted my head thinking I was somehow making her uncomfortable. She then, contented, leans her head on Shawn! My mouth dropped open! I put my head back...same thing again. I know she is a Daddy's girl, but really!

Big Smiles!

Pre Trike-A-Thon Drama

A little while before the Trike-A-Thon, Summer was asking question after question about it as I was tucking her in. Although well aware she was stalling, I patiently answered them as best I could. She knew she had to raise money and she knew she had the ride her bike, but that was about it. One of her first questions went something like this, "Mommy, do I just ride my bike around and people throw money at me? How am I going to catch it all?" I explained how that worked and went on to talk about missionaries (at that time I assumed that is where the money was going.) She knows quite a bit about missionaries, but a reminder is always good. I could see her brain working as the next question came, "Where are the missionaries?" "Africa," I replied. Full blown tears followed almost immediately (even after 5 years, her performances still amaze me) and between sobs, she cried, "I don't think I can ride my bike all the way to Africa!!"

Trike-A-Thon

(Phone pictures again...my mommy brain keeps forgetting the camera...)

Tonight was our church's annual Trike-A-Thon! It was a blast! The preschool age kids worked all week getting donations and then tonight they rode their little hearts out. The sight was priceless. All donations went to buy bicycles for children for Christmas. The kids were thrilled to have a part in it.

Our goal for Summer and Connor was 10 laps around the circle. Connor's age group went first and he scooted his little scooter (his wheels of choice) around like a pro. 20 minutes went by and Connor was still going. It was Summer's age group's turn but they let Connor continue and continue he did. He kept going around and around and around. I could tell he was getting tired, his steering was shaky and he was slowing down but he would not stop. He went another 20 minutes with Summer's group. I was so proud of those little legs!!

Summer had brought her scooter but last minute changed her mind (that's our girl) to Connor's big wheel. The kids were all lined up ready to start and Summer sped out, peddling a mile a minute. She didn't last as long as Connor (she did meet her goal plus some) but she peddled her hardest the entire time she was out there. I was equally proud of her!

Poor Chloe had a rough time waiting in the wing. She had her make-up one year check-up this morning. She couldn't muster up a fever so she ended up with two shots. She cried and cried like always and it left her quite cranky the rest of the day. On top of that, she does not like to be left out. So all the kids riding and her watching didn't sit too well. Next year, sweet girl, next year. :)

Conner's Amazing Acres

The day was just too pretty to stay inside. So after lunch we packed up and headed to the country! Located out in the middle of nowhere, FL is this little gem, Conner's Amazing Acres. It is full of lots of old fashioned, country fun! Something hard to come by here in the city. (Oh, and yes, Connor did think they were his acres. Really...the whole hour drive there Summer kept saying, "I can't wait to see Conner's Amazing Acres!" And Connor would reply, "You want to see my acres?")

One of the biggest attractions is the corn maze. It lives up the name amazing. Each year they change the theme. This years theme was Noah's Ark. You can see an air view picture here. As you make your way through the maze you find posts with questions about Noah and the ark. Your answer determines whether you go left or right and ultimately whether you go on to the next post or circle around to the same one. I thought, "Oh, piece of cake!" But it was HARD! We wandered around in there for a good while! I kept watching for the crows to come circle above our heads!

Beginning the maze (everyone was still smiling)...The kids were starting to get a little worried... Summer led the way most of the time...are you surprised? :)

Whoohooo! We made it out!

The Goat Walk...

The PVC slides (one of the kids favorites!)...

The Cow Train was another hit! I was surprised at how fast it actually went but all the kids LOVED it! We had to do it twice.
On our second ride I took Chloe (the figure eights made Shawn a little sick and she would not let the ride go without her!) I was so glad I took her! She was a riot...more fun than the ride! Her tongue was out the whole time and she never stopped squealing in excitement. I was cracking up! Our cow was the liveliest one in the herd!

The Hay Jump... This was Summer's favorite thing! She has asked to go back there and just jump on the hay all day long! I think we might be able to arrange a day like that at Uncle Brian's... ;)

Next we took a hay ride over to the barn to see the animals.

Chloe cuddled up to Daddy for the ride...

Once we arrived at the barn, we visited horses, donkeys, pigs, chickens, peacocks, rabbits and birds before loading back on the hay ride and heading back to the park.

The Lawbreakers:

Soapy, rubber duck races...

Time out for a snack. Nothing better than cotton candy and boiled peanuts. :)
Before we left for the day, we had to get pictures with some of the original decor. Connor refused to stand and have his picture taken with the underwear. The toilet was humiliating enough for the little guy. :)We left more dirty and tired than when we came, but it was so worth it! We hope to make it back next year, if not before!