Countdown to Christmas 2014 ~ Day 3!

 

We got our tree today! Hooray!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countdown to Christmas 2014, Day 2

Day 2 of Countdown to Christmas found us making Christmas crafts.
 

 

 

I found cute little packaged Christmas crafts at Michael's several weeks ago for days like today, when I really just wanted {needed} to stay at home, but needed an activity for the girlies.
Worked perfectly!


 

 

 

 

 We're also counting down our days in Scripture.
Won't you follow along?

 

 

 

 

December 1st

 

Eeeek!!!  It's December 1st!  I can hardly believe it!!!

 

I am so excited for another year of Countdown to Christmas at our house.

 

The decorations are up, the countdown tree is hung . . . we are READY!

 

Our activity for December 1st traditionally is to make a Hershey's Kiss Countdown Chain,

 

but we're changing it up! 

This year {and last year too!}, we celebrated the 1st of December with a

 

North Pole Breakfast.

 

The girls LOVE it!

 

 

 

They opened up Christmas Jammies,

and got to decorate French Toast "Trees".




So much fun!

If you're looking ideas for your own Countdown activity/craft each day leading up to Christmas,

just search my blog using the key words: Countdown to Christmas.

I'll post more ideas soon!

Enjoy the Season!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! May your day be filled with blessings!!

                  Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wordless Wednesday

Fall Fun!

 

Happy Harvest!!!!

 

   

 

 

 

 

Changes

With four little girls in this house, it sure seems like things are constantly changing.

And . . . I don't like change.

I never have.

Like, when I was a child, and my mom would rearrange my bedroom . . .

I cried for days.

Seriously.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are good changes.

Like when you're expecting a new baby!!! SQUEAL!!!!!! 

I can't think of a more exciting change!

But that's not what's going on here :(

What's going on here is that this little muffin:
 

 

{Miss Kameryn Faith circa: 2009}


Turned into this BIG girl down here {OVERNIGHT, I might add}
 

 

And the other day she mentioned something about a loose tooth.

Now, is there anything more grown up than losing teeth??

That's like, the universal sign of not being a baby anymore, right?

So, I did what any mom would  do:  I ignored it.  And hoped it would go away.

But it didn't.

And this morning she insisted that it was REALLY loose.

So then this happened:

 

{Sissy inspecting the loose-ness}.


And then shortly after, this:
 

 

 

Followed by a LOT of crying {from me}.

And even though I'm in denial.  I thought I should document.

Because someday {soon, I'm afraid}, the little girl above will be all grown up.

And I'm pretty sure I'll be crying then too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Road Trippin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tick Tock

Holy. Moly.

 

Truly, I need a pause button. 

 

Or at least slow-motion.

 

We're creeping up on October!

 

This is absolutely my favorite time of year.

 

Scarves, boots, apple everything . . . and counting down to my favorite holiday!

 

But it's all going so fast.

 

We *did* start school, a couple of weeks ago.

 

I didn't document it, of course, because we also had just gotten home from the beach, started dance lessons, and had 132 million photograph sessions ;)

 

But I thought I should at least get a few photos up here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And things are going well.

We got a little overly . . . optimistic the first week, and we've since toned it down a bit.

I sometimes forget that it's a big adjustment, adding another homeschooler to the mix.

But Kam is doing great! 

She's eager to learn, and brings such joy to our table :)

So that's what's going on here.

School, Dance, Photography, Life.

Whew! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Catch Up

I can hardly believe that August is coming to a close. I guess that means it's time for a Summer Catch Up post, since it seems I'm lousy at keeping up with the blog.

We had the most memorable Family Reunion camp-out yet! 

We got to celebrate a pretty special milestone...

My Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary!  I'd say they were pretty surprised!

We enjoyed a week of gorgeous sunsets...

Watching beautiful animals...

And taking in the lovely scenery.

And we had the company of some pretty wonderful people. Aunt Judy just happens to be Miss Taylor's "Favorite Girl Ever". And that's impressive, folks.

But the fun didn't slow down once we got home, oh no. 

We got to meet new babies! Very dangerous for a gal like me who is definitely having baby withdrawals. 

Family came for a visit ... 

and we made our annual trip to Enchanted Forest!

We celebrated a BUNCH of birthdays!

And the girls had a slumber party... We even made Kool-Aid Lipgloss.

I had more photos, but they're not uploading :( So you'll just have to use your imagination to envision lots o' partyin', cake, ice cream, and FUN!

I love Summer. This year, especially, we've crammed in a lot of activities.

But I think I'm ready for Fall. Sweaters and boots, candles, and baking... Yeah, I'm ready. How 'bout you?

Hugs!

Liz

Happy 12th Birthday, Miss Sierra Elizabeth

 Ohhhkay.  Deep Breath.

 

My baby girl is 12 today.
 

I can't even say those words out loud without tears springing to my eyes
{I guess I can't even say it in my head, either, because ~ yeah ~ tears}.

 

 

Miss Sierra Elizabeth,
Our oldest baby girl.
The biggest big sissy.
You are twelve today.
And what a milestone that is.
 

You are the one I can count on for help in any situation.
 

The planner.
The organizer.
You are an old soul.


I always joke that when you are grown with a family of your own, you'll run a mighty tight ship.
You expect a lot.

But deep down, you have a tremendous love for others.
Miss Tay, for example.  She thinks you're about the greatest thing on earth.
And I think the feeling is mutual :)

 

You are my beautiful dancer.
I could watch you dance every day {and I guess I do!  You're always dancin' around}.

 

You love to have fun!
You are always up for a new adventure . . .

 

And while you are super comfy in your camo, sitting in a blind, hunting with Daddy,

 

 You are equally comfy in your dressiest dress, hair curled, earrings in, glammin' it up.

 

You are a perfect combination!

 

You love to go on nature walks,
photograph everything,
shop till you drop,
and write in your journal.

 

You are growing into a beautiful young lady, right before our very eyes.
 

And while I couldn't be prouder of who you are becoming,
 

I would be lying if I said it didn't make me a little sad too.
Sometimes I wish I could keep you just as you are.
Right here with me.

Love you so very much, baby girl!
Happiest birthday ♥


 

 

Busy Busy Bees

 

I like to stay busy.  We're a family of busy little bees, by nature.

But this Summer . . . a little too busy even for my liking!

We've hardly had a moment to breathe.

Good for memories, hard for the little ones to adjust to.

 

Which means . . . I have seventy million photographs to go through, leaving me a liiiiiiiitle overwhelmed. So I've decided to work from my current folder, backward.  I told myself not to take ANYmore pictures until I get this under control.  But then I laughed at myself, because, NOT take any more pictures?  Mmmmhmmmm.

 

So. Show and Tell Summer Edition:

We've been camping twice ~ our first camping trip, my family reunion, deserves a post all its own {and I swear I'll have time at some point!}.  Our second trip was a laid-back fishing trip for Jeremy. 

 

 

 

 The girls and I crafted and got to spend time with Grandma {Jeremy's parents were able to come along}. 

 

 

 

 

We made a lot of wonderful memories in one of our favorite places on earth.

 

The day we got home from camping, my sister and her family were here.  And they got to visit for almost a week!  We had movie nights with our cousins, swam in Nana and Grandpa's pool, and, of course, went to another one of our favorite places: Enchanted Forest.

 

 

Yearly tradition, this is.

 

 

We were unable to go last year, so the girls were extra excited!!

 

 

When family had to go home, no fear.  We had a packed schedule to keep us busy!

 

Birthday dinner for the hubs:

 

 

Slumber party for the girlies:
 

 

 

We made Kool-Aid Lip Gloss,

 

 

 

Root Beer Floats,

 

 

And let girls . . . be girls ♥

 

 

Next on the list, VBS Week!
{Currently happening}

 

 

This year I'm Craft Leader, Sierra is Assistant Crew Leader for the Preschoolers {and doing a super awesome job!}, Kenners has graduated to the oldest group {sniffle, sniffle}, Kam is going off with her own group, like a big girl {not even needing her mama or sissies anymore}, and even Taylor is typically happy to be with Sierra in her Pre-school group. Ahhhhhh. Life is continually changing, isn't it??

 

 

 

 

 So. What's going on with y'all??  Busy Summers?
Winding down?
Ready for School?
Already started?

I want to hear about it!