Come, Let Us Adore Him

Luke 2:10-14

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

It is overwhelming to think about, isn't it? On this day, the eve before Christmas I wish you happiness and peace. And reflection on the true meaning of this joyous holiday. Enjoy these precious moments with your family.

Merry Christmas!

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland . . .

We've been so busy this week, there's been little time for blogging :)

A quick glimpse:

We've been making Gingerbread Houses

Attending church services and Christmas programs

Visiting with family

{My sis came up for a very quick visit last weekend. We got to spend the evening catching up with her. Sierra loved her "Aunt Annie Time". Can ya tell?

Last night we visited a Christmas light display near our home. As always, it was gorgeous.

Check out these beauties. They were hung all.over.the.property. So beautiful.

A village display. So much to look at!

I wish this picture had turned out better. It would've been so cute. But I was holding Kam, and she was being a wiggle britches as I tried to snap.

Lights, lights, more lights.

The girls were in awe, as you can probably imagine.

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And that's all the time I have ;) Today we're baking {more} cookies, preparing for dinner with Jeremy's parents and my parents this evening, wrapping the last few presents, and trying to get organized! How 'bout you? What are you up to??? Only two days to go!

Almost Wordless Wednesday ~ Sleepy Girl

Baby Kam LOVES kisses. Sometimes if you give her tiny little soft kisses on her face, and she's already a little sleepy, she'll do this:

And drift off to dreamland.

Friend Makin' Monday ~ All I Want For Christmas

Wow y'all, Christmas is only 4 days away! Aaagghhhh! We're getting there, but there is still so much left to do. Today's Friend Makin' Monday task is to list what we'd like for Christmas. Great idea, Amber! {And then, yes, I plan to get my boot off the computer and get some things done, already!}

My number 1 wish for Christmas is that we all have a joyful day of memories {not too many meltdowns}, enjoying our time together as a family. This is Kameryn's first Christmas, and it's so special to us. As our family grows, each holiday {each day} is more special and more fun. The best part: Jeremy was scheduled to work Christmas day {he's a firefighter, and stations don't close down for holidays, don'tchaknow}, and he managed to get it off. His last day was Saturday, and he's off until the 28th. YAY! Honestly, having him home with us is, hands down, the best Christmas gift I could ask for.

Presents can be fun, though. If money weren't an issue, and I could pick out whatever I wanted . . . I wouldn't mind one of these:

Canon 50d

Wait a minute, money's not an issue?

May as well go for one of these:

Canon 7d

Or Ooooohh, one of these:

Canon 5d Mark II

See, that's how I get myself into trouble.

Happy FMM! And, if I don't get around to all my favorite blogs this week, have a very Merry Christmas!

Blah, Blah, Blah

We have a busy week ahead of us, and I wanted to get some thoughts out of this jumbled mess of a head I have, before I forget them all! Bear with me. This could be long. And a little . . . scattered.

First of all, thank you so much for helping me decide which cookies to take to the exchange. I wound up choosing the jam thumbprints {or Noel Cookies, as they are also called}. We stayed up rather late on Wednesday night making 9 dozen of them. 7 dozen for the exchange, and some extras for us {Jeremy happens to love these cookies!}. I thought they turned out great, and was excited to come home with such an assortment of treats.

*This is a small sampling of what I came home with*

Jeremy watched Sierra and Makenna, while my mom, Kameryn, and I made our way to the party. My friend, Amanda, and her mom were hosting. Amanda had everything looking so beautiful and festive in her home. The tree looked like something straight out of Martha Stewart, and all the tables were decorated perfectly. I don't get out much, so it was such a treat to be able to spend the evening with some of the sweetest ladies around. {And it didn't hurt that we got to sample cookies while we visited!}

I plopped Kam in the Ergo, and set to work displaying my cookies

*I didn't get a good shot of my display, but you can kind of see it in this picture.*

We had to vote on the best-tasting cookie and the prettiest cookie. And let me tell you, there were some delicious cookies there! It was tough trying to come up with the best-tasting. And they were all displayed so beautifully. In the end, I just had to choose one of my many favorites.

*These chocolate ones won best-tasting. Chocolate Hazelnut Latte. Uh, yum.*

I was absolutely blown away by receiving the honor of Prettiest Cookie/Display. Wow. I was not expecting that. Amanda had a gorgeous poinsettia for me as a prize. Is that the sweetest thing ever? It was such a lovely evening. And while I was snacking on cookies and visiting with friends, Jeremy and the girls went to visit my dad and wrap the presents they had picked out for me. Adorable.

Up next is cookie baking with Geri today. We may even brave the crowds and go shopping with her. Tomorrow is the church Christmas program. We are no longer attending our old church, but I would still like to go to the program. Most of Jeremy's family attends church there, and it would be nice to see everyone. I just can't imagine Christmas without that fellowship. Monday night Jeremy has a meeting, so we will most likely be finishing up our wrapping. Tuesday night we are planning on heading up to look at lights at a beautiful house up the road. They go all out with train and village displays, caroling, hot cocoa and cookies, about a million inflatables, the works! I'm hoping to meet up with Amanda and her family so we can enjoy it together. Wednesday night I think we are planning on having the grandparents over for dinner, and Thursday night is CHRISTMAS EVE! WOW! These last few days are going to fly right by!

How are you spending your last 6 days before Christmas? Are you all caught up and ready to go {please don't tell me if you are ;)}? Or do you have a mile-long running list {like me}?

Should I just call this Flashback Saturday???

Another week, another missed pregnancy journal. It's not that I forgot. There was just too many other things going on ;) So, here we go again. Flashback Saturday: Pregnancy Journal Week 29

{originally submitted December 23, 2008}

Week 29 ~ A White Christmas

We are working on week two of extreme winter weather here in the Northwest. We have enjoyed snow (and more snow!), freezing rain, and ice over the last week and a half, with no real break. Thank goodness I had finished my Christmas shopping the week before, because, other than a quick trip to the grocery store, we have been snowed in!

It’s been a fairly uneventful week around here, mostly filled with sledding and snowman-building. The girls love playing in the snow. Sierra would stay out in it all day long if I let her. It seems Makenna has finally come down with Fifths Disease. I had thought she had already had it, but I was proven wrong. It started with very rosy cheeks about a week ago, and has resulted in quite the rash, but other than that it doesn’t seem to be bothering her.

Due to the unexpected winter weather, we’re not sure of our plans for Christmas. We will, of course, enjoy our own little Christmas morning here at home, and then head to Jeremy’s parents mid-morning (they live right up the road) to celebrate with them. However, my brother and sister and their families live in Portland, and may have a hard time driving out to my parents (who live right next door) on Christmas day if we don’t get a break from the snow and ice. It looks like we will have to wait and see!

Baby girl (that’s right, still no name for this little princess!), remains as active as ever. Now that space is limited, she’s doing more stretching than kicking. The days of somersaults are over! Sierra and Makenna get a kick out of watching my tummy move, and they love talking to her. They tell her “goodnight” every night, and greet her every morning. They’ve even started finding their own “treasures” around the house that they think she might like, and have wrapped them in Christmas paper to set under the tree. They want to make sure she has presents on Christmas morning as well. They are so sweet!

Wishing you the most special Christmas ever, full of memories and celebration!

Blessings,
Liz

Countdown to Christmas, Week 3 ♥

Holy Moly have we been busy this week, how about you?? We're running here and there, to and fro {what the heck is fro, by the way? Is it a little like hither and yon? } Anyway, we've been BUSY!

I've so enjoyed our Countdown to Christmas together! It's been such fun reading about what y'all have been doing {and finding more ideas to do with my own girls!}. Thanks so much for linking up and sharing! This will be our last week {sniffle}, as next Friday is . . . Christmas! Can you believe it??? Enjoy these last few days of Christmas magic, and take in every moment!

This week I'm going to try to contain my use of pictures. It's been getting out of hand, I know.We've had another busy week!We made the most adorable little rudolph candy canes. Makenna got a kick out of these little cuties.

We made dozens {and dozens} of cookies on Saturday. Yum.

{They're all gone now, of course. Oops.}

Wreath magnets were our project for Sunday.

Monday we colored wooden picture frame ornaments.

Tuesday was a BIG day. The first day of our Danish Christmas celebration! The girls wake up to a small present in their stockings each day from December 15-24. Tuesday's gift: A personalized snowflake necklace. {Sierra won't take it off in hopes that the necklace will magically bring snow ;) Hasn't helped yet.}

We also went to see The Princess and the Frog on Tuesday. And even Kam sat through the entire thing! After the movie we went to Lil' Cooperstown, a favorite restaurant of ours, for some yummy eats. And drinks! Kenners enjoyed an Oreo Milkshake. She liked dipping her fingers in the whipped cream.

And Sierra got this yummy drink. Wildberry Flurry. After lunch we hit the store for a few more rolls of wrapping paper, and an ornament for Kam's first Christmas :)

Wednesday we had planned to make reindeer ornaments, but we got so busy wrapping presents all afternoon, that we ran out of time. Hey, that happens sometimes. So, we decided to use "wrapping presents" as our activity. The girls LOVE being in charge of the tape ;)

Thursday was Sierra and Makenna's shopping trip with Daddy. It is so sweet to see them march out the door with Jeremy to pick out presents for me. Such special time for them together.

And today. Well, today we plan to make more of our Christmas boxes. Remember those? But I'm sure we'll be doing much more than that ;)

What have you been up to this week? Are you running hither and yon, like us? Do tell! Link up below so we can check it out! And enjoy this last week before Christmas. I haven't been spending as much time blog reading as I'd like, but there is so much left to be done. I will be back, I promise! :)

Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash, Day 3

Day three of Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash brings us to Heidi's! Heidi from Blue Eyed Blessings is such an inspiration. She's so super crafty, and I just love all her ideas. She asks us what kind of Christmas crafting we've been up to. Well . . .

Most of the crafting has been with the girlies.

Making hair clips,

Snowflake decorations,

and mini trees.

I also love applique. A baby can never have too many Christmas onesies.

Right?

What kind of crafting have you been up to?

Go visit Heidi for more Christmas craft ideas, and to share your own!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Lovin' My Family

Holiday Gift Giving ~ Gifts from the Heart

It's here! The first day of the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash from Simply Sweet Home. Jen, from Tatertots and Jello is the first to host. I just love Jen. If ever there was a woman full of amazing crafty talent and ideas, it is she! Today she is sharing homemade gift ideas, and we are encouraged to share our own. What fun!

One of our favorite homemade gifts around here is hair clippies. We're girly girls, what can we say? And with so many girl cousins and friends, we're never short on someone who could benefit from a little hair "candy" :) Sierra, Makenna, and I recently made holiday hair clips, but we enjoy making these all year round for all different occasions.

Click HERE for a hair clip tutorial ;)

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Need a little something to put those clips in?

The other day I was looking for gift boxes for a few necklaces I was making as gifts. Of course, I couldn't find a one! I didn't want to have to order more. For one, I don't need 150 of them {or whatever the minimum order would be}, and secondly, I couldn't really wait for them to arrive. I needed them NOW. I remembered a super easy way to make gift boxes out of old Christmas or greeting cards, or a little cardstock or scrapbooking paper. We used to make these by the dozens when I was in middle school.

{I apologize ahead of time for the quality in pictures AND box. I was in a hurry, so neither turned out well, but I think you can at least get an idea}.

Simply locate an unused card.

Fold each side in toward the middle, and crease. {Fold bottom up to the midway point, top to midway, then unfold. Then fold sides in to midpoint.} Unfold all and lay flat. {I've drawn lines to show where you should see creases.

Next, cut up the each side just until you touch the middle rectangle.

Fold tabs in, and fold middle over {I use a bit of tape to secure}, and voila!

Repeat these steps for the bottom of the box, except fold in just a tiny bit further so that the box is a tiny bit smaller :)

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And what's a gift without a super cute tag to accompany it???

Searching for more heartfelt gift ideas? Go see Jen!

You can call me 'Mom mom!'

That's what Kam calls me now ;) At first I was thinking she was just babbling {as she always does}, but she only says this ~ 'Mom Mom!' ~ When I have put her down and she thinks she needs me ASAP. It is pretty darn cute, if I do say so.

In other news . . . I have a cookie exchange to go to this week. HELP!

We spent the better part of yesterday making cookies.

We made some jam thumbprint cookies. We also made a Sandies type of cookie with a cream cheese and peppermint filling. And lastly we made some chocolate and mint chip/cream cheese bars. Though, I don't know that bars are really cookies. Are they? Is it legal to bring them to a cookie exchange? Who's the authority, anyone know?

So, here's the thing. I can't decide which to take. I think the bars are out. They're a bit more work, and I'd feel like I need to cut them out into circles so they'd look more cookie-ish. Yeah, the bars are definitely out. I like the look of the jam thumbprints {in a taste test they were preferred 2 to 1~ my parents liked the jam, Sierra liked the peppermint/cream cheese. And I cannot taste right now, as I'm smack dab in the middle of a cold, so I couldn't tell ya which I like the best. Kenners didn't care for any of them. I'm sorry, but who doesn't like cookies? And Jeremy's been at work for the last 48 hours, so he hasn't had the pleasure.}

I don't know. Should I just take the jam ones? Are these over done at cookie exchanges? Should I find a different recipe altogether? Anyone?

{Or should I just shut up, bake the dang cookies, and not worry about it? I think that's my vote.}

Flashback Friday {on Saturday} Pregnancy Journal, Week 28

I'm tardy, I know. Flashback Saturday just doesn't have the same ring to it. But we've been so busy, and now I'm getting sick. I just didn't get around to posting this yesterday.

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edited: Why, yes Julie, I do have a couple pics from our outing. The rest are on my laptop which is still "getting fixed".

Pleasantly plump ;)

Look how much they've grown in a year!

{originally submitted December 17, 2008}

Week 28 ~ Brrrrrr!

The calendar may say that winter officially starts on the 21st, but here in Oregon it has already begun! With highs reaching barely into the teens the last few days, it has been quite chilly!

We woke up Sunday morning to a dusting of snow, but continued about our business. Our church Christmas program was scheduled for that evening, so we didn’t want to miss rehearsal during Sunday school. Once we got to the church, they had made the decision to postpone the program. Sierra and Makenna were disappointed as they were really looking forward to belting out the tunes they’d worked so hard to learn. Of course, most of the disappointment disappeared once we got home and they were able to play in the snow.

Luckily we couldn’t have picked a better day to visit the Pittock Mansion. There weren’t many people there which meant we could take as long as we pleased looking through each room. It was just beautiful. The girls had a great time getting dressed up for the outing ~ they wore their fancy shmancy Christmas dresses. As we were headed home Sierra decided that she wanted “one” (meaning, a mansion). Oh, how she makes me laugh!

On Friday I had my 28 week appointment with yet another midwife. I have really liked the last three I’ve seen, so I knew it was only a matter of time before I saw one I wasn’t thrilled with. It wasn’t a horrible appointment, but it felt very rushed, and the midwife was more than a little scatter-brained and disorganized. I was also scheduled for my glucose tolerance test that day. Let me just say, that super-delicious syrupy drink at 8am does not sit well on an empty stomach! The good news is that the follow-up ultrasound showed no cause for concern regarding premature labor. I’m still measuring about a week ahead, so I figure that is another sign that this little princess is growing strong and healthy every day. I can’t wait to meet her!

After my appointment I decided I had better take advantage of being in town, and get the rest of my Christmas shopping done. I’m rarely without the girls, so it was the perfect opportunity to pick up the remaining stocking stuffers, and a couple more gifts. I am happy to report that I am officially done with my Christmas shopping and almost all of the wrapping. And it’s a good thing, with this crazy weather we’ve been having!

I hope this last week before Christmas finds you all celebrating the many joys of the season. It is such a magical time of year, filled with so many memories. Enjoy yours!

Blessings,
Liz