A Time to slow down and Reflect

Here is a few pics from this weekend!

Here is us at my in-laws. Ready to open some gifts.


This is Mark's First time in snow. It was great until he got it on his hands. Then he was done!


Christmas Eve, they get new PJS


Making cookies for Santa


My Nanny, Owen, Mark, and my mom


Here in Oklahoma we got a major blizzard on Christmas Eve. It was beautiful and for once not a lot of ice. Once Nathan got home we were home bound for Christmas. Luckily we didn't have any plans. It was the best Christmas ever. And I think after reading a lot of posts on Facebook unless you were stuck in the snow you had a great Christmas too. I think it made everyone slow down and reflect on what is really important. Your family! Its not about seeing how many places you can go in one day, its not about pleasing others, its not about a mountain of gifts. Its all about spending time with the ones you love and remembering the ultimate gift that was given to all of us! Jesus. I know since we really don't know exactly when Jesus Birthday is some try to avoid making Christmas about Jesus' Birth. They state that we should celebrate all year long. But, when it comes down to it do we? I know I didn't. It was easy to say the words but in reality and looking how others celebrate his birth we fall short. One day we were in the car listening to K-Love. There is a song "Happy Birthday Jesus" sung by a little girl. Owen said "Mommy is she singing Happy Birthday to Jesus?" I told him yes. Then he said, "is today his Birthday?" (This was on Wednesday before Christmas) I told him that the Bible doesn't tell us his exact birthday, but a lot of people choose to celebrate it on Christmas Day. He thought on that and then said, "I think I am going to celebrate on Christmas night!" He had me thinking of the reality that we need to be more vocal about the great gift that was born humbly in a manger. This year we read the story of the Birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve. I had pulled it up on my computer on Biblegateway.com. I was settled in and about to read when Owen said, "Mom, where's the Bible?" I was like it is right here on my computer. No, The actual Bible. Oh, once again he sat me on the right track. So, I went to find my Bible and read to him. It dawnd on me how we have let technology take over. And, I felt like I had lessoned its value by not reading it straight from the Bible. I forget to do that in Bible class. I need to remember that our kids need to know everything comes from the Bible given to us by God. My first graders made paper wreaths that had the nativity scene in the center. We wrapped them in class and they were to give them to someone so they would know the gift we have in Jesus. I found out last week that several of the kids took this very serious and went home and placed them under their trees. I can't wait to find out if they shared the story with their families. I hope everyone was blessed this holidat season!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Owen was beggin to go out in the snow. So, Nathan and I agreed he could have 15 minutes.



He fell a few times


and a few more


He ran all over

But he had fun!

And was ready to come in after 5 minutes! Hahaha... Hard lessons sometimes have to be learned by experiance! Happy Christmas Eve!

Dear Santa....

Owen's Friday Folder had his letter to santa in it. I thought I would share.




My name is Owen and I am five years old. I think I have been really good this year. I should get a lot of toys. I want a Spiderman scooter. I also want a Batman movie. I want a Batman toy with the Joker's bombs. Also I want a Lego Batman Video game. I want a batman pillow case with Batman sheets. Wolverine bouncy ball. I would like a dinosaur that if my brother touches it it will spray him with water. I want LOTS and LOTS of computer games. And a G.I. Joe memary. Scooby doo by doo games.

From your Sweetist boy ever

Owen.

Children's Art

I just love Tip Junkies blog. She always has such great ideas that she has found. I asked her the other day for great ideas on how to display my Son's artwork because he is always asking me to hang it up. So, today she did! If you would like to see her ideas go here. After reading this I thought of a great idea I saw once on one of those decorating shows.

Do you have a stack of your childs art that you are too afraid to get rid of? Is it over taking your drawer? Well, here is your solution....

Take a picture of them. Or if you have a scanner you could scan them into your computer. Now they are saved FOREVER. Here are a couple of my sons work.




This is the first thing he brought home.



These are his circles. I know I am bias but he is really good for his age. I need to share on of his drawings of people sometime. His teacher says he adds more details than most kids his age! ***Proud mommy moment*****

So, get out your camera and then feel no guilt when throwing them away!

Thanksgiving

I had lost these pics and couldn't figure what folder I put them in. Anyways, Nathan had to have a pumpkin pie for his works Thanksgiving party. So, I let Owen help. He is good at dumping ingrediants into the bowl.



Stirring.....

More stirring.....


Completed product


and cooking. He did a great job!

Cooking with kids

I love cooking with Owen. I hope one day to make a scrapbook with recipes and pictures of everything we made. This week we made trail mix. Here is the recipe.



You get a big bowl



1 1/2 Cups of Chex Cereal




3 cups of pretzels (recipe said stick but I used the small knot ones)






The recipe calls for 3/4 cup of pecans and 1/2 cup of cashews. But I just used mixed nuts




1/2 cup dried cranberries



12 ounces of white chocolate (melted) and then poured over the trail mix. Toss until the chocolate has coated the mixture




Pour out the trail mix onto wax paper and let cool for 20 minutes



Finally break into bite size clumops. I am making this for my sons school party!

Thanksgiving

On Tuesday I picked my son up from school. It was great to see his teacher back from Gall-Bladder surgery. They have really missed her. On the way home Owen said "I am happy it is Thanksgiving but I am not happy we are out of school." So sad. I am glad he loves school so much. I hope that continues till he grraduates!

Nathan's family decided this year to push lunch back to 3 or have dinner early. How ever you want to look at it. It was great. We got up and hung around the house. I got a nap. And then around noon I started cooking my potatoes and making my salad. Having a realaxed morning was really nice. I totally did not get my camera out. But Nathan's aunt was nice enough to sent me a couple of pics. Hope all of you had a blessed Thanksgiving.




Here is Josh with Mark and his daughter Alexandria


Here is Peggy feeding Mark desert. He loved it!

Christmas Ideas

Tis the season. My son had me singing Christmas Carols on the way home today. It got me to thinking about what we are going to be getting people this year. And do I get it now or try to do the day after Thanksgiving mad dash! Well, My wonderful Mother-in-law has introduced me to shopping online. What a wonderful thing. You don't have to go anywhere and it arrives at your door step. Here are some of my favorite sites: http://www.lakeside.com/ and http://www.collectionsetc.com/.

Now if you are like me a like to support other work at home moms. Who are trying to raise their families and make an extra buck then you need to look at these two.

If you live in the Oklahoma City area check out Holly's sweets. She makes anything chocolate that you can dream of. I use her alot for baby showers. But, she also has great gift sets.

Another wonderful woman is Sara from Sara's Art House. You can find her blog here. In fact right now she is offering gift certificates for Custom paintings she does. I have ordered her print from her esty store. I have a custom painting on order and I am so excited! It is my birthday present this year.

Hope everyone has a blessed Holiday Season.

Happy Halloween

What a great Halloween. This year we actually live in a neighborhood. So, we went Trick or Treating around here. It was so much fun. Some of the houses were really decked out. And I am proud of Owen. He said, "I'm not scared, I'm Batman!"

My Little monkey Outside our house.

It's Batman and Monkey Boy! I love them so much and am a truly lucky mom.

My little monky's ride

Owen Trick or Treating

Halloween at School

We had Owen's Halloween Party at school today. I am Home Room Mom. I LOVE it! I got to spend all afternoon there and help out in class and then set up for the party. It was good to see how my son acts in class. Here is Batman himself.

The Kids helped make two of their party snacks. They made oreo Spiders and Dirt cake.

Here is Owens. To make the oreo spiders seperate the bottom and top of the cookie. Lay 4 pieces (about 8 inches each) across the cookie bottom so the ends stick out each side of the cookie. Place the top back on the cookie. Then use white icing to make two dots on the top and then place red hots on top of the icing for the eyes. I wasn't sure the kids would like red hots so I just got some orange/black striped icing.

The Dirt cake I just took white and chocolate layered pudding cups and the kids spooned on oreo cookie crumbs on the top and then placed two gummy worms in the "dirt". The little frankinstein man I found at Hobby Lobby. It was in a pack with ghostes, witches, and mummies. The kids colored them and then we taped them to appitizer wooded forks. And then they put them in there cup. Their names were on the back so we would know whos was whos.

Here is Owen before the party started. It was a great day.

Owen is 5

My boy is 5. It is so hard to believe. He is so big. He got to have his first Birthday party at school and he was super excited. He even helped with the sprinkles on the cupcakes.

He was a proud Birthday Boy

He got to pick a present out of the treasure box.

This is our Transformer Party at home.

The Birthday boy poseing with his cupcakes.

He is growing so much. We had his check-up and he is in the 75% for height and weight. And he is way above all the milestones. I am so proud of him. He loves Pre-K and is doing very well. It has reallly helped his behavior too. We are so blessed with our boys.

New House

Well we did it! We finally sold our mobile home. We have lived here for 11 years. This was Nathan and I's first house together. It is a bittersweet transition. We are very excited about this new chapter in our lives. Here are a few pics of the house from the listing on the internet.

Any suggestions on what color to paint the outside? It is just too plain.

Don't you just love my new Kitchen? I was afraid I would miss my nice kitchen I have now. But, I think just might make it a little easier!

Don't you just love the hall wall they painted. Who would have thought? Not me, I am not good at interior design.

We move in the first of October so we have been very busy packing! Hope all is going well with all of you.

First Day of School

Well, the first day of Pre-K has arrived. I can't believe I already have a kid in school.

Here is Owen standing Outside of His Classroom. Doesn't he look so big?This is him sitting and waiting for class to beginThis is Owen sitting outside waiting for pick up. Even if he sees us he has to wait until the teacher gets him and walks him to our car.He had a great time. Really loved Recess and the slide and some thing he rides on that goes in circles. When asked if he learned anything he said " I learned what to do with my hands that makes people fill special." I said "And that would be?" He said, "To Clap." Got to loves stories by your children!

More random from the summer

School Starts tomorrow. Here is the end of our summer

Here is Owen's new schedule we started a few weeks ago. I think he is really thriving under a little control!

Here is Owen and Mark during activity time.

Last Saturday the local Fire Dept had an Open House. We took Owen. He even got his picture in the paper for learning some fire safety.