Christmas family pictures 2009

Ever since we got married, I have LOVED taking family pictures at Christmas! At first it was just Brad and me, and we could just set up the tripod and take pictures of ourselves.

It's gotten a bit more complicated with children...and takes about three times as long to get a good shot!

I don't know why I love it so much! Maybe it's just a great excuse to get all matching clothes and try to take the best picture to send out to family and friends. Maybe it's having (now) 11 years worth of pictures of us to compare over the years.

And man, oh man, has my hair style...and weight...changed over the years!

Maybe it's just because I LOVE having cute pictures of me and my hubby and our adorable children. Maybe it's because we just don't seem to take many pictures of us as a family over the course of the year.

Regardless of the reason, here are some of the GREAT pictures that our friend Jeremy took of us recently.

I can't believe my little girl is already 4! She is such a joy and a blessing to us! (And she's quite adorable, isn't she!)


The tricky part about having Jeremy take pictures of us in his home (with his very cool camera, lights, and backdrops) was that there were toys that kept distracting Caleb. He didn't always have the best smile, but he's still a cutie!


Sammy can only handle saying "cheese" so many times until she just gets squirmy and silly. Hence this picture!


The only way we could get Caleb to smile was to tickle him. And this little guy is very, very ticklish!


After we got a couple of family pictures, we let the kids play and Jeremy took some of just Brad and me and Baby Girl. Seriously, I wish I would have taken more pregnancy pictures with my first two pregnancies!


Why is it that we never get enough pictures of just Brad and me? Oh, that's right, it's because we're always shooting pictures of our kids. That so needs to change!


I LOVE this one! We were laughing about something...have no idea what...but I LOVE how we look! Almost like we're still in love after over 10 years of marriage!


Yup, he does this every year!


And finally, our family picture. Aside from Sammy's static hair, it's a pretty sweet shot! Thanks again Jeremy!!!



Merry Christmas!

The "new" keeping up with the Jones'

Yet again, I've been suffering from a re-occurring condition... Yes, it is back...with a vengeance.

For awhile, I had it under control. All was right with the world. I was completely content. If I struggled at all, I sought council from God's Word. I do not allow little things to bother me. And if those little things start to bother me, I just let them roll off my back.

Then, out of nowhere, I'm struck again with this terrible disease...

What condition do I have, you may ask?

It's called the "comparison game" and this week, the particular virus has to do with my kids.

Some time ago, Brad and I got into a discussion with one of our pastors about how "keeping up with the Jones'" has changed from "stuff" (like boats and cars and houses and income) to "children" (like how many AP classes they are taking or how many sports they are in or whether they are on the A or B teams, etc). Brad and I even talked, in detail, how we did NOT want to be sucked into that game. We've discussed how we are going to protect our children and our home and our schedules from it.

The problem is, I haven't figured out how to protect it from me and my inner feelings.

I've been wanting to post some cute pictures of Sammy "doing school" at home with me, but I just haven't been able to because of how I've been feeling. (I do hope that by the end of this rant, I will be able to.)

Since October 1, I have been doing "school" activities with Sammy while Caleb naps. She was almost 4, and even though she wouldn't even be able to start "traditional" kindergarten for almost 2 more years, she was really done with taking naps (bummer for me) and was so ready for extra work and challenges.

I did some research, talked with some elementary school teacher friends and some home school moms, and started doing about 30 minutes of "school" with her. We've done a variety of things from learning games, learning the alphabet and numbers, cutting and gluing, puzzles, etc.

I've really enjoyed it...even though she and I have very similar personalities and we both can be quite stubborn and strong-willed at times...which has made some days quite challenging.

I have asked some of my good friends (who are homeschooling moms) questions about what they are doing with their 4 year olds, and have been quite content with what I'm doing with Sammy. (The comparison bug would stick out its ugly head from time to time, but quickly went away.)

I've talked excessively about it with Brad, and since Sammy has "play time" at the YMCA 3 mornings a week while I work out AND great Sunday School and Wednesday night classes at church AND a very structured and Biblically based Bible Study Fellowship class every Thursday morning AND another class every other Tuesday morning while I meet with my Titus 2 women's group, we agreed that I wasn't going to over-do it and add even more structure when she's learning a mess of songs and finger plays and Bible verses and whole lot of other stuff...like the pledge to the American flag and the Bible...pretty sure I didn't learn either one of those until I was a couple years older than Sammy...elsewhere.

Because, she really is only 4 and her main job is to play...which, by the way, she is doing right now in her room. I think her little care bears and my little ponies are on an adventure somewhere...and I think they are singing "Oh come all ye faithful" as they walk...or at least that's what it sounds like from here!

Yet with all of the discussion and prayer, I felt like a failure as a mom (and her teacher) again earlier this week. One little incident caused me to re-think what I was doing with her. I began to think she was behind and that I was holding her back and not doing enough with her. I decided that I had to do some more research and buy some curriculum to help her learn her letter sounds faster and get her reading. She was still struggling with a few letters and I felt I had to help her learn them quickly and RIGHT NOW!

I worked myself into a complete tizzy...over the smallest little thing...over comparing Sammy to another 4 year old.

Why must I keep repeating this pattern? Am I going to get over this before Sammy gets older and all the activities, school work, sports, swimming, dance, etc. really consume our time and lives?

Why can't I just let Sammy be Sammy?

So, today, I confess my sin.

I confess placing my eyes on those around me instead on the One who made me.

I confess trying to use Sammy and her accomplishments to make me feel better as a mother (and a teacher...since I do have that lovely masters degree now).

I confess trying to fit Sammy into a cute, little square box...when, as an educator, I know children develop differently and at different times.

I confess trying to make her grow up too soon...which is opposite of what I really want to happen.

And I confess my pride...and my self-righteousness. Just because another mom is teaching her 4 year old to read and another mom just plays Candy Land all day with her 4 year old SHOULD NOT make me feel better or worse about what I am doing with Sammy.

And, really, it is not about me. My feelings are not authoritative. They do not always equal TRUTH. And my feelings are either ruled by God's Word or by sin.

(My thanks to Carolyn Mahaney and her book Feminine Appeal for those last few thoughts.)

I realize today that I can't conquer this sin by myself, and I'm not meant to. The only power I have comes from God, His Word, and from being connected with Him.

So, I think I will post some of those fun pictures of Sammy because I am proud of her and her learning. This blog is about recording memories of my life, my marriage, my kids, my failures and my successes. I will not allow sin or certain feelings to paralyze me from doing just that.

Here, Sammy is cutting and gluing shapes in her "dollar store" workbook. LOVE those workbooks by the way!


She's concentrating hard, isn't she!


Learning to write her name.


Putting together puzzles...one of her favorite things to do after we're done doing school.

A quiet Thanksgiving...

I love being with our extended family. I love seeing our nieces and nephews and hanging out with the brothers and sisters-in-law and talking and playing games until late at night.

But, sometimes, it is such a joy (and a refreshing change) to be able to celebrate a holiday *shhhhhhh* by ourselves.

No driving, no packing, no cleaning every square inch of my home, no schedule...just the 4 of us.

Fall is such a busy time for Brad and since we were away from our kids for 10 days last month, we just felt like we needed to bunker down at home and spend some quality time with each other and Sammy and Caleb.

So we slept in Thanksgiving day and had a very late brunch (waffles and cinnamon rolls-YUM!) and starting cooking "the big meal" mid-morning. The kids were so excited to help make the stuffing and sweet potatoes.


Sammy loves getting on her apron and hat.


While I know Caleb loves to help in the kitchen, I think he's mostly just after the FOOD!

After a great (and quite huge) meal, (did I mention I cooked a 20 pound bird...for just the 4 of us...I have such "mommy mush brains" right now), we just enjoyed a quiet evening getting our house ready to decorate the next morning. Oh, and one other side note, this year was the first year...well, that Brad and I can remember...that I had everything warm and ready at the same time.

It only took me 10 years...

So, bright and early the next morning, we got out our BRAND NEW artificial tree (that we bought half price after Christmas last year...oh, and one other side note...our previous artificial tree...that we bought for $6.00 at a Good Will store over 12 years when we were in college...the one that could have been used for the Charlie Brown Christmas special...has finally been laid to rest) and we decorated with the kids.


I cannot describe how fun it was to take our time, give up control, and let the kids help us in their own way.


Although it took us about 3 times as long with the kids' help, we had a ton of fun...


had some pretty silly moments...


and took tons of pictures.


It truly is the most WONDERFUL time of the year!

Craft time!

I love the ages of my kids! I love that they are able to do so much...like follow directions, use glue (properly), cut, color, and all sorts of other fun things. And since starting to receive my awesome Family Fun magazine (thanks Erica!) we have had plenty of fun fall and Thanksgiving activities to do.

The following activitiy was actually not from the Family Fun magazine, but it's one I've wanted to do with the kids since last year. I drew a tree trunk and Brad and I cut some colored leaves out of foam paper and had Sammy and Caleb tell us things they were thankful for. I wrote what they said on the leaves, and then they taped them onto our Thanksgiving Tree.


I loved Caleb's contributions...such as cars, buses, trucks, and trains! (Have I mentioned he is such a boy!


Sammy's included her bunk bed, her baby sister and Caleb, ponies, and dresses.


Ours included family, friends, and faith. We are all truly blessed, aren't we!

This next idea did come from October's Family Fun issue. With the foam paper, we cut out silly faces and taped them onto some pumpkins and squash I had yet to cook.


Caleb had some issues with the tape, so Daddy was there to help him.


Sammy had no issues figuring out what to do.


I could just squeeze this cute little guy...well, actually I do! (And pretty regularly, I might add!)


This is Sammy with her silly face.


And, of course, Brad and I had to do one as well.

Fall photos...a little late

I just couldn't go with posting about our Advent activities or newly taken Christmas pictures without posting first some fall pictures of the kids and our Thanksgiving happenings.

It really kills me to go back a month or two...and if you really know me, you know this is true! But there have been a lot of fun kid activities that I just have to write about!

Because it was so rainy (and snowy) in October, we weren't able to tackle our yard until after we got back from our cruise - which was mid November. We were grateful for the mild temps in November so that we could finish some much needed yard work.

The first two pictures are from an earlier time outside playing in the leaves.

I LOVE that the kids are old enough to be such big helpers outside.


All we really got accomplished this day was to make one big pile of leaves and jump in it again and again and again. Sammy especially loved the sound the leaves made as she walked through them!


Shortly after we got back, we had a great couple of warm days and tackled the whole yard. We spent a whole afternoon and evening outside and the kids did great!


Sammy LOVED jumping into the leaves!

Ready! Set!


Jump!


I absolutely LOVE this picture of Sammy. She is such a pretty and fun little girl!


This shows Sammy's resourcefulness. When Caleb was playing with the kid's rake, she found something else from the garage that she could use...an old broom!


The lawn was raked and mowed, all the firewood was brought inside...


and fun was had by all!

A lesson in giving...

A few Sundays ago as we were driving home from church, Sammy asked about why some kids bring money and put it in the offering plate during Sunday School. She asked why they were doing it, and where the money went to, and if she could bring some of her money to give next week.

We were delighted to talk with her about what offering was and how God has asked us to give some of the money He has entrusted to us back to Him. We told her what the money pays for, and how God loves a cheerful giver.

The next week, Sammy took 5 pennies from her little bank in her room and took them to Sunday School. The following Thursday, she took 7 more pennies and put them in the offering plate at Bible Study Fellowship.

Now, Sammy only has about 30 cents or so in her piggy bank. All of her birthday money goes into her savings account, but when we happen to find some loose change or coins on the street she puts them in her bank. We also use her money for activities when we do school.

It didn't take her long to realize after giving these 12 pennies that her money was going away. And she was quite upset about it. So last Wednesday she told us she was going to stop putting money into the offering plate because she didn't want all of her money to be gone. So Brad and I talked to her about it and told her that God asks us to do this and that He loves it when we give, and that God will bless her giving and she will have more money in the future. We asked her if she wanted to pray to God and talk to Him about how she was feeling. Here's what she said:

"Dear God, can you please give me my money back?"

After Brad and I were finally able to control our giggles, Brad asked her whose money it really was. She said, "God's."

He asked her if she wanted to pray again. She said:

"Dear God, can you please give me Your money back?"

We chatted a bit more about it with her...you know, once we were able to control our giggles and smiles in the front seat. And we decided not to press it any further.

Just a few days later, as I was collecting some used plastic bags to recycle, I found a quarter in one of the bags. I went into Sammy's room and told her I had found it, and she could put it into her piggy bank. We talked about how God had blessed her because she had cheerfully given to Him.

I told her that God had DOUBLED what she had given. She had given 12 cents and He gave her 12 cents plus 13 more.

I was almost brought to tears at the way God had given her (and us) a lesson in giving.

We CAN take Him at His Word and He WILL bless our giving...no matter how small it is!

Like father...

like son...


like daughter...

Seriously, who needs a TV when you have these 3 goofy children...opps...I mean 2 goofy children!

Oh, and I don't think Brad's going to be taking any silly pictures of himself (or pictures of teaching our children silly things) anytime soon.

Actually, his exact quote was (as we were looking through some recently downloaded pictures from our camera) "you're going to put that in your blog, aren't you?"

Yes Brad, yes I am!

Tropical adventure...part 2

Ahhh!

Brad and I have finally gone through and organized all of our cruise pictures.

Yahoo!

I sorta have mixed feelings, though. I love looking through them and thinking about all we did, but it's so hard to come back to reality! Plus I am an avid scrapbooker, and I am so far behind with my kid's albums that it's going to be 5 years until I actually get to scrapbook our adventure. Oh well! Thank God I can make our favorites my desktop and screensaver pictures!

So, in continuation, after we spent the day on St. Thomas and St. Johns in the U.S. Virgin Islands, we next headed to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The islands are really just a hop, skip, and jump away from each other.

Here is a picture of the sunrise as we entered Tortola.


We only spent a short while on Tortola because we decided to find a way to independently get to the Baths and Gords on the island of Virgin Gorda...our national park stop #2!


The Gords are these HUGE boulders right on the beach. You could crawl through them and over them and there were even places to swim between them. We spent most of the day there.


That evening we went to a show in the theater before a late dinner. One of the shows we walked out of...wasn't the most appropriate show for my husband's eyes... but the rest of them were pretty good.


One other disappointment was the final island. Most, if not all, cruise lines now own their very own private island. So after 1 full day at sea, 3 island stops (in which we actually saw 5 total islands because of additional ferries we took), then 1 more day at sea...our last full day was going to be spent in the Bahamas on Norwegians private island. We had decided not to do beach or snorkeling days at the other islands because were were supposed to spend the whole day swimming and snorkeling on the private island. So we were SO BUMMED when we woke up early and heard over the speaker that we were going to be unable to take tenders onto the island because the swells were so large. It was such a huge disappointment! We had borrowed snorkeling equipment and practiced in the swimming pools on the ship. But we tried to make the best of it. There were additional activities on the ship that day, and we did a variety of things...but were still sad as we sailed right by the islands in the Bahamas!

One thing we learned that day was that we ARE not meant to be shuffleboard players!


Brad also played soccer with some other passengers and crew members. (Which is quite hard to do on a moving ship!)


This was our final sunset picture the last night. Isn't it sweet that our clothes matched the sunset!


Here I am in one of my beautiful (and borrowed) maternity dresses. I'm standing in the atrium...a few of the restaurants were located here, plus some shops, bars, a HUGE screen TV, the "front desk", etc. It was a very pretty part of the ship.


I couldn't help but take a picture of one of the most beautiful restaurants, the Summer Palace. Seriously, this room has luxury written all over it!


This was the LAST picture we took...it was down by the pools and it was taken just moments before the final...and I mean final disembarking announcement was made. And we were literally two of the last passengers to leave the ship!


All in all, it was an amazing trip. It was worth every penny we spent, and it did wonders for each of us personally and for our marriage. We probably won't do it again for many years, but I think we eventually will do it again.

And, in this season of thankfulness and as we look toward celebrating our Savior's birth, I am just so grateful for the time to be refreshed and to spend quality time with my husband. I love my children so much, but I have to keep reminding myself (well, Brad is actually the one who has to keep reminding me) that I am a daughter of the King first, a wife to my husband second, and a mother third. It's very easy for me to be a mother first. But I've learned (and am still learning) that when I keep that order, my life is much, much easier.

And I hope I can continue to be faithful to that order.