Liberating

I often create pressure on myself that is unnecessary.  I have in my head the way that I think things should be, and anything less than that is just a disappointment.  A big area that I do this in is Christmas and making gifts.  I enjoy all things crafty, so I like to make my own gifts each year.  Some of the things I have enjoyed making in years past...

 This isn't a very good picture, but they are towels that I embroidered.

I just love when I get the "cry" gift.  haha.  It is a photo calendar...the gift that keeps on giving all year long.

You can't really see this one either, but it is a cookbook/scrapbook that I put together for Richard.  His mom loved to cook and before she passed away, she made a cookbook of her favorite recipes.   I created it into a hardback book with photos of her and family.  One of my personal favorites.

This same year, I made all my sisters-in-law wedding books.  I don't know why I didn't take a picture!?

This was a fun project to do.  It was like a scavenger hunt to find the letters.  Logan really had fun

helping me with this one.

Last year, Landon and I made these wooden signs for everyone.  It was a fairly simple project to do.  They are also what we do for closing gifts, so if you would like one, you should buy a house from Landon:) 

I also made two dresses for Ella last year for her exchange gift.  She was so excited!!

This year, I decided that I didn't want to make anything.  I didn't want the stress of having to get it finished so I didn't even start any projects.  This is so unlike me, but it was liberating!!   I almost gave in; however, because I had a great project that would be simple to do.  Maybe next year, or not. So, all of my Christmas gifts this year are lovingly hand-picked from a store instead of handmade.  

Something else that was liberating was at Chloe's skating party this week.   

    I felt like a kid again!!  It was first time I have skated in YEARS!    

 The last several skating parties I have attended, I have just watched or helped the boys

attempt skating instead of skating myself.  I had the best time!  

Lucas and Soloman had fun chasing and being chased by all the skaters.  It was quite an obstacle

course and Julie ended up crashing on top of Lucas.  Poor little guy:) 

Cameron has some skating skills.  He was kind to teach Logan how to skate as well. 

 Julie's dad and husband being silly. (They are going to love these pictures)

I would like to request to all my friends and kids friends to have skating parties from now on.  

We will be there and I will be skating!! 

All Things Christmas

In November, I decided that I wanted to do everything possible to have a relaxing, enjoyable December and not get stressed to the max.  Suprisingly so, it has been wonderful this year.  I am not doing my community choirs, so I don't have all the performance obligations I have had my entire adult life.  It is amazing how much stress that eliminated!  Here are a few things we have done this Christmas season to sit back and enjoy the cinnamon scent:)

The boys love to make Christmas Cookies (even if they are store bought and not homemade). 

 Lucas' attempt at decorating.  He is such a mess:)

We went to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Cumberland County Playhouse with a homeschool group.  I had never seen it or read the book and didn't really know what to expect.  I ended up sobbing at the end of it, and I think Logan thought I was a moron. 



This year, we finally made a gingerbread house.  It was a kit that I bought last year, but never got around to making.  The frosting was a little pasty, so I don't recommend keeping one for that long.  The boys absolutely loved putting this together.  They coudn't wait until Landon got home to show him.  This is definately something we will start doing each year.

It didn't turn out like the box, but they were proud of it!!

This is the first year that I have ever heard of Elf on the Shelf.  I heard lots of friends talk about how much their kids looked forward to finding the elf each morning and I thought it would be fun for the boys.  Our elf didn't arrive until Logan's birthday. 

They named him Ralphie, and Lucas didn't quite know what to think about him.  I told then both that he would watch them throughout the day to see if they were good and go report to Santa.  I also told Lucas that he would watch to see if he was sucking his thumb (and the other). 

He was terrified and wouldn't even go near him.  The first couple of mornings, Lucas wanted to know where "that boy" was as soon as he woke up.   

One day, Ralphie got a little hungry and ended up in the mixed nuts jar.

In March, our music minister felt called to go to another church.  (I am still questioning this!!!  We miss you Bro. Scott!!!)  Since then, I have been leading the choir and getting the music ready for each service.   This past Sunday evening we performed the cantata "Celebrate the Child" with Gum Springs Baptist Church.  It was worshipful and I was proud of Landon, who did a superb job on his solo!

Outside Christmas Decorations...

Entre vous...

Our Christmas Countdowns!!

Fragile, it's Italian and Snoring Santa.

I think one of the shepherds was decapitated last year by Lucas. 

These carolers were a wedding gift and are some of my favorites. 

I got these dishes at Kohls a few years ago after Christmas.  I love them!

Our Family Christmas Tree.  This tree is for ornament photo frames that I

made for each family in our extended family.  Here are a few of them...

Our Christmas Card for this year.

Here are a couple of great activities/traditions that I have heard from some creative friends.  I haven't done all of them, but maybe it will be something we do next year.

1.  Wrap your Christmas books, one for each day of the month of December (or however many you have)
     and let your children open one each night and read it to them for a bedtime story. 

2.  Jesse Tree Devotional.  I really want to do this one next year.  I was out of ink for my printer and didn't
     get to do this one this year.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=124e4b52830a9c89&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D59d51002a8%26view%3Datt%26th%3D124e4b52830a9c89%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dattd%26zw&sig=AHIEtbRc8lGBpfHCm2QAzJphnhcqelofUQ

3.  Read this book to your children to teach about every aspect of Christmas relating to birth.  It is 

     wonderful.  I highly recommend it!!

Trim the Tree...Finally!

My Christmas ornaments are some of my most prized possessions that I own.  Every year I look forward to decorating the tree because of the memories they each hold.  Several years ago, I started buying an ornament every time we went somewhere, so when I get the ornaments out each year, I am reminded of the places we have gone.  I wanted to share a few....

This was the first oranment I purchased on a trip.  We were on a family trip to

Disney World in 2002 and all the girls decided to get one alike. 

This ornament was from a girls trip to New Orleans in 2003. 

I was 4 months preganant with Logan on this trip.

This was from Amelia Island in 2004.  It was Logan's first time to the beach.

This ornament was from South Padre Island, Texas.  We went in December of 2004 with Landon's family.

Landon and Brandon went fishing, and we took their fish to get cooked at a local restaurant...Dirty Al's.  Sounds appetizing, doesn't it?  It was some of the best fish I have ever eaten!  Also, it was an entertaining meal because Brandon decided he could beat the guys that were arm wrestling on the other side of the restaurant.  He went over there and beat the guy and in the process, broke the table.  Brandon said when he came back, "That guy bit off more than he could chew."  Fun times! 

While on the same trip, we crossed the border into Mexico for a day. 

This is one of my favorite pictures of Logan!

In May of 2005, the Drama Department at the high school took a trip to New York. 

 I had a great time, but I missed Landon and Logan.

We are on 42nd Street.  We sang this song in our 1930s themed Coffeehouse Concert that year.  This is me with two of my favorite students...Julie Jared and Scarlett Slatton.  Also, what is up with my Peter Pan green pants?  Why didn't someone tell me how stupid those look?  Where are my friends??

Can we say tourists??

Logan's First Trip to Disney in 2005

We went to Isle of Palms, SC in 2006.  We also went to Charleston (one of my favorite places!)

Holiday World...one of the best places to go!

In New York, we went to see The Lion King.  I couldn't wait to take Logan when it came to Nashville.  It was one of the best days EVER!  He didn't want to take an intermission he loved it so much.

Destin 2007...Lucas' First trip to the Beach!

Disney again...yes, we love to go:)

Townsend Mission Trip 2007

Lucas with his fave...Yay Yay.  He couldn't say Mackenzie, so this is what her called her.

Destin 2008

Our first trip with just our family.  Disney 2009

Last summer, we stopped along the way while on our way to Mississippi to see some family.

This is from Mammoth Cave, KY.  Lucas was not potty trained at this time and as soon as we entered the cave for the 2 hour tour, Lucas pooped.  They wouldn't let you take any bags on the tour so I didn't have a diaper bag.  Landon told every stranger along the way that it was me.  It was pleasant.

Ornaments for this year...

Ryan and Casey's Wedding...Panama City Beach, FL

Coming home from Indiana on the 4th, we made a few stops along the way.



Landon has gone on some trips and he has no pictures.  He said his photographer wasn't there:) 

Here are some other ornaments that I love that aren't from trips we have taken. 

And these just make me smile...

The boy's new ornaments for this year are some of my favorites.

In case you can't read them, Logan's says, "Mom's Favorite Oldest Child"

and Lucas' says, "Mom's Favorite Youngest Child".

Thanks for touring our tree, it tells a story of the places we have been.