Fresh AIR

Viral Christmas Card

Our family would like to send a Christmas card to every one of you but we didn't want to send out the traditional portrait of six smiling faces. Rather, we would like to show you a glimpse of our true selves by sending you this unconventional christmas "card" greeting. Hope you all enjoy! AND MERRY CHRISTmas!

http://animoto.com/play/iALngIla4USk8h9xYdWWrA

A card for John

The kids were making Christmas cards to put in the packages for Lighthouse Ministries to hand out to the local homeless. I overlooked them as they went to make sure they were appropriate, etc.

I noticed Ethan making a card for John. "Whos John?" I asked. He said "I don't know... but I'm sure there is someone homeless named John..." LOL Lets start that one over... this time without a name on it.

O Christmas Tree

Mike and I finally wrapped presents last night and got them under the tree. This morning the kids woke up excited to see the gifts under the tree. This is where Cohen has been planted all morning.... So cute!

Horrible Mother

What kind of horrible mother forgets to post a school pictures of her babies first year of school?! I posted the older two but not the younger pair. Well, here it is.... their very first school picture.

Christmas Program of 3 years olds

Cohen and Chezney were in a christmas program at St.Pauls. Chezney was a sheep and Cohen was a shepherd. In the picture below, my two are, of course, the ones in the front row facing backward LOL

Cohen was so excited when he saw us up in the balcony. It lit up his face =)

Then he started pointing and shouting "There's my mommy! Hi mommy! How did you get up there?" It was hilarious!

Quiet Time

Teeny Tiny Obsession

I have an obsession with homemade ornaments. Especially ones with pictures. My tree is starting to reflect said obsession with it's many branches becoming increasingly more full each year.

We've got one more ornament making session planned for next week, but this is the one the kids did this week. ... Then there is the traditional purchased ornament that represents each child for the year- which they receive in their stockings. So... when all is said and done, we can end up with 2-4 new ornaments each year per child! That's going to add up! LOL

Of course... I'm sure they will outgrow making ornaments and then the accumulation will slow down a bit ;)

Play-doh

I found a great website for edible and non-edible play doughs today. I made a salty non-edible one and the smell reminds me of childhood. I remember my mom making play dough at least once, though I'm sure she probably did more. I remember an edible one, too, but the smell of this salty one has always been a good warm memory for me. I think of it everytime I make my own homemade play dough.

http://applesaucekids.com/LinkPage/PlayDoug.html

Gettin' the Tree

I'll have to update later with a picture of Ethan with the saw, because I forgot to get one from the camera since it didn't turn out as well as the others.

Anyway, yesterday we headed up into the hills to get our christmas tree that we had tagged back in October. The kids each got a turn to attempt at sawing it down and then daddy took care of it in about 5 minutes. Then a guy showed up with a tractor and let Cohen help him haul it out. =) It was super fun and I'm sure it will become a family tradition for years to come!

Santa Bubble Popped

Last night, after a very disguised and vague conversation about Santa, and me hinting that the magic may not be real, and asking her if it would take the fun away if she knew the truth- I told her that if she asks any more questions about santa or christmas, I would tell her the truth. She quickly jumped up and said "Don't tell me! I don't want to know!" So I informed her that she should not ask if she doesn't want an answer. She informed me she would no longer be asking.
This morning she asked me to just tell her and get it over with. LOL

Advent 2010

My bible study group decided to make advent calendars before out christmas break was to begin. We got together and made them last night, with the help and organization of my sister-in-law, Teri. These are the ones I made. They started out as cardboard boxes and then we each added our little bits of glamor and glue to them. Inside each one is 6 candies and we'll have a lesson for each night to build up to christmas day.