Countdown to Christmas, Kids' Creations

As the girls get a little older and are more capable {and willing!} to help out with crafts and projects, each holiday becomes more fun and exciting because more of us are involved.

This year, the holidays are bound to be more exciting than ever before. We've added another little blessing to our family, and Sierra and Makenna are both old enough to truly understand the spirit of the season.

So, I started thinking. I want to do something special each day leading up to Christmas, starting December 1st. Whether it be a craft, a project, a special outing, baking cookies and other treats, or a simple coloring page. It doesn't have to be BIG, just a little something extra.

I have a few ideas already.

Each year we choose a new holiday outing. Last year it was the Pittock Mansion, the year before we went to The Nutcracker, and the year before that it was a train ride on the Polar Express. This year we're taking it down a notch. I think our plan is to pick up my mom and my mom-in-law to go see the new Disney princess movie. We'll probably dress up the girls, and maybe have brunch. So that takes care of one day ;)

I have several crafts lined up as well. Ornament making, fridge magnets, the usual. And I know we'll be doing plenty of baking. Plus this super amazing project that the gorgeous Jen from Tatertots and Jello posted about. Of course, that will need to be completed before December 1st. Anyway.

Here's where you all come in ;)

Do you have any fabulous {kid-friendly} ideas? Any great crafts up your sleeve this holiday season? And if so, is anyone interested in linking up each week to show off the fabulousness {is too a word} of said creations? Let me know whatchyer thinkin'!

Flashback Friday, Pregnancy Journal . . . It's Baaaack!

Last week was a little chaotic {and germy, and sad},

so I skipped out on the Pregnancy Journal.

But, this week it's back!

The journal that I kept a year ago while pregnant with Kameryn Faith.

Here we go!

{Oh, and check back later. I'm having some ideas that I need to bounce around ;)}

{Originally submitted to Storknet on November 19, 2008}

Week 24 ~ Time, where have you gone?

Can it be that we are headed toward the end of November already? I know I’ve said this before, but I really don’t know where the time goes. It seems we were just waving good-bye to Summer, and here we are (a blink of an eye later, it seems) a week away from Thanksgiving! I do love this time of year, but it goes by much too fast for me.

I think we finally have our plans set for Thanksgiving. Jeremy has to work, so it was up to me and the girls to plan our turkey day. We typically spend the holiday with Jeremy’s family. The last time we celebrated Thanksgiving with my side of the family was 4 years ago when I was pregnant with Makenna. Maybe I’m just being silly, but I believe that the holidays should be celebrated at the Grandparent’s house. My brother and sister-in-law enjoy hosting the dinner, and I can appreciate that, but they live over an hour’s drive away. Thanksgiving at my brother’s just doesn’t feel as festive as a holiday gathering at my parent’s house. Needless to say, we are going to celebrate with Jeremy’s family again this year. I am looking forward to it. It should be nice and laid back.

It is obvious that the holiday season has officially begun in this house. While both Sierra and Makenna have been practicing for their Christmas dance recital since the end of September, we have also recently started rehearsing for the church Christmas program. This means that in our house, Christmas music is playing almost non-stop. It is so much fun to watch them, though. It amazes me how much Makenna, especially, has grown these past few months. She has really become her own person with her own activities and interests. We have incorporated the holidays into our homeschooling, as well. This week and part of next have been devoted to learning about the first Thanksgiving. I am impressed with how attentive Sierra has been. She truly enjoys hearing the stories, and even had tears in her eyes when we were discussing the Pilgrim’s voyage and the difficult times they faced. She’s definitely my emotional one. She reminds me a lot of myself at her age ~ definitely a crier, like her mama!

My next doctor appointment is on the Friday after Thanksgiving. At that time I will have another ultrasound to check on the placenta. I’m neither anxious nor worried about it, though, as I have this feeling that everything is fine. She has been so active, I get kicks and jabs day and night! I’ve been feeling pretty good ~ tired, but good. And I even started exercising again this week. I honestly haven’t felt up to it until recently, but I know how important it is. I’m pretty active, anyway, chasing after the girls most of the day, but my goal is to get at least 20-30 minutes of official exercise time in each day. When I was pregnant with Makenna, I was put on bed rest for the majority of the pregnancy. I’m not sure if it was merely coincidence, but my labor with her seemed harder. I don’t think my body was up to it after so much “rest”. I’ve enjoyed exercise my entire life, and have never been one to struggle with weight issues. But as I got older, and became involved in pageants and such, exercise became more of a chore or an activity I did solely to attain a certain goal. I am now able to look forward to exercising during this pregnancy solely for healthful reasons, and to hopefully make this labor a little easier. We shall see.

Until next week . . .
Blessings,
Liz

Wordless Wednesday ~ Splish Splash!

For more WW fun, head on over to 5 minutes for Mom and Two of a Kind

Happy Thoughts

Last week was . . . not so good.

This week will be better. It's looking up already.

I see sunshine out my windows, hear fewer coughs from my girls,

and life seems to be getting back to normal.

The other day, when we weren't feeling great enough to go out,

but we needed something to do, we made Christmas gift tags.

The girls had a lot of fun.

Sierra was pretty serious about it :)

Even Kam helped. She was in charge of the hole punch.

A few of Sierra's creations

Kenners carefully cutting

We are already so excited for Christmas around here!

What are you doing to prepare?

Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Scents of the Season

Thank goodness for a new week!

Last week was too much for me.

Too much sickness, to much sadness. I am ready for a fresh start.

{Though I'm sorry to report that the girls are all STILL sick. Eight days now. But who's counting?Ugh!}

And one of the things that makes me the happiest about a start to a new week is . . .

Friend Makin' Mondays!

I know, I know, it doesn't take much to make me happy ;)

This week Amber asks:

What are your favorite candles/scents?

I love candles. Especially this time of year. They just make a house a home.

They're so warm and delicious. Mmmmmm.

But, I have to tell ya a secret . . .

I'm a candle snob.

Sigh.

It's true.

I've tried not to be, but I can be a bit snooty about my candles.

Please don't hate.

You see, when I was a mere 18 years, I started selling Partylite

and I've been hooked ever since.

I no longer sell them, of course, but to this day, no other candle will do.

They burn so long and smell so good, and leave no mess.

I have a few favorite scents:

My number one is Iced Snowberries.

I just got word that they are discontinuing this scent. {why, oh why?}

I also love Holiday Spices, Cherry Orchard, Mulberry, and plain ol' Vanilla.

Ooooh, I cannot wait to decorate for Christmas!

I love jar candles! :)

Happy FMM! Hope this week finds you healthy and happy!

Just wanted to thank you all {again} for such comforting words.

And especially in taking the time to pray for Stephanie.

Because life has been a little crazy around here this week,

with this nasty bug that is working its way through our house,

I haven't had the time I would like to respond to each of your comments.

Please know that I so appreciate all the thoughts and suggestions.

I decided not to go to the hospital this evening.

It was a tough decision.

Last night I had decided to pray about it,

and I sincerely thought I would wake up this morning knowing what to do.

That didn't happen.

But this afternoon I knew I made the right decision.

After receiving a phone call from a mutual friend, I just knew.

It is not the right time.

And God has given me peace about it.

************

It's been a rough day, and I never did get around to posting my

Flashback Friday Pregnancy Journal.

Y'all were probably getting tired of it anyway ;)

I'll catch up next week.

Please?

A quick note before bed to ask a big favor of y'all.

My heart just aches as I type this, and it's hard to get a full breath. You know when you're hit with news so sad that you can't quite take a deep breath, and there's that lump in your throat? That's me tonight.

Do you remember last week I asked for prayers for my friend, Stephanie, who is battling ovarian cancer? Well, she's not doing so well this week. She was hospitalized Sunday, having bleeding that they cannot seem to find nor stop. 4 blood transfusions and 2 platelet transfusions later, and things are not looking well for her. My heart breaks for her and her family. Ugh, it is just so overwhelming to think about it all. What she must be feeling. It is still frightening to me that just two months ago she had no idea she was walking around with cancer. And now she is fighting for her life in a hospital bed.

Anyway, I'm rambling.

Please, please, if you feel led, would you send up a prayer for Stephanie and her family? I continue to pray for complete healing because I KNOW that God can work that miracle if it is His will.

Several other ladies I went to school with will be making a trip up to the hospital tomorrow evening to visit Stephanie. I am so torn over whether or not to go. I have not seen Stephanie in over 8 years. I don't know what she would want, as I'm not sure how exactly she is handling all of this right now. I just don't know what to do . . .

Again, prayers are greatly appreciated. Sorry for the ramble. You ladies are awesome!

Light at the end of the tunnel?

Hey y'all!

Thank you so much for the well wishes.

I think the girls may be on the mend. YAY!

The fevers are gone. They're out of bed {sort of},

and Kam managed a few winks of sleep last night. Hurray!

Hope the rest of the week finds you healthy and happy :)

Sickies

It was bound to happen. All three of the girls have picked up something.

I wish I could say I was certain that it is not the flu.

{Especially since the girls just got their flu shots}

But poor Kenners has been complaining of a neck ache since yesterday

and is running a slight fever.

Two symptoms that seem to whisper flu more than they scream cold.

Sierra was in bed most of the day yesterday,

and seems to be headed down that same path today.

And Kameryn, poor little pumpkin.

She can't breathe through her {STUFFY} nose,

which makes her middle of the night feedings, {all 42 of them},

pretty miserable for her.

So, here we sit. In our jammies. Ready to face another

{juice-drinkin', nose-blowin', back-scratchin', nap-takin', fever-reducin', sanitizin'}

Day!

Hope y'all are staying well :)

Wordless Wednesday ~ Sisters in Pictures

A few pics from our first Fall photo shoot the other day.

I think they turned out pretty good.

Poor girls.

Little did I know that they were beginning to come down with something.

More on that in a bit . . .

Happy Wednesday!

Check out 5 minutes for Mom for more WW Fun!

Where did this girl come from?

So, I'm kind of a baby when it comes to bees {and most other flying things, also insects, and the absolute worst ~ spiders! YUCK!}. When I find them in my house, I most often spray them to death with Lysol so that I can keep my distance. {Is that cruel?}

Today we found a bee on the window near Makenna's bed. It was on its last leg anyway, but I thought I would do him in with the Lysol. I sprayed, and then left him for later when I bring out the vacuum. I'll suck him up then, I think to myself. I walk back to the table to get back to homeschooling with Sierra. In comes Makenna.

Makenna: Are you going to do anything else with the bee?

Me: Yeah, I'm going to vacuum him up in a bit.

Makenna: You're not going to cut him up with a knife and eat him?

Me {Quite disgusted at the thought}: Um, no. That sounds a little gross.

Makenna: Why? {Truly perplexed}

Me: Because we don't eat bees {or Lysol, for that matter}

Makenna: Well, you can still cut him up and put him in the garbage.

Me: How about I just throw him in the garbage?

Sigh. Any confusion as to why it is only 11am and I already have a headache?

Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Halloween Candy!

Can it really be Monday again already???

Welcome to another edition of Friend Makin' Mondays, hosted by our fabulous, Amber!

This week she asks about our favorite Halloween candy.

Yeah, like I can choose just one {or five!}

I'm sorry to say but we've had candy in our house all month.

An enormous bag {245 pieces, to be exact} made its way into our home several weeks ago.

If said bag had consisted of sweet tarts, suckers, and the like, I could have stayed away.

I would have stayed away.

But no. It had to contain chocolate.

I LOVE chocolate.

Some of my favorites include {but are definitely not limited to}:

Yep, that's right, all of those.

Well, the Butterfinger and regular Hershey's I can take or leave.

But I love the Snickers, love. And Kit Kats are the best.

I love me some Peanut M&Ms, yes I do.

The best thing is that these are Fun Size.

They're smaller, which means I can eat more, right? Right???

******************

Soooooo, I didn't get the greatest pictures on Halloween :( Jeremy and I hunted until dark, so by the time the girls got into their costumes and we made it to a couple of houses, it was too dark to get any decent photos. But, I have to share this precious one of Kam. She just couldn't make it any longer, poor little butterfly:

Hope y'all had a great weekend, and that you've finally recooped!

Bring on Thanksgiving!