Christmas thoughts

I’ve thought about abandoning this blog.  I’ve been gone too long.  Who cares and who reads anyway?  But the thought of one person reading and taking away something keeps me going.  Just one person.  This will get personal and maybe even uncomfortable.  But I know without a doubt that I’m not the only one going through hard times.  And some may even say that my hard times aren’t even really hard.  But they’re mine and I’m owning them. 

Christmas time was so fun and full of life when I was young.  So many presents and meals and good times.  Until a few days before Christmas when I was 16 and my Grandaddy passed away unexpectedly.  I will never get over burying him the day after Christmas.  He was a rock in our family.  It took a long time to get over it.  And now that I have my own kids, I work SO, so hard to keep Christmas happy and to keep them from being disappointed.  But this year, Christmas is different again.  I wish I could explain more but it’s not my story to tell.  My own little family is fine but we are feeling the weight of loss and heartbreak right now.  And while we are hurting, I’m learning the lesson again of the danger of making Christmas so perfect and unattainable that nothing should break it.   But the fact of the matter is, I do try but it breaks. 

So what do I do with this?  I keep thinking of Jesus being born in the manger.  Surely Mary thought differently of where the King should be born.  I can only imagine how she probably tried to make everything perfect for him.  But she couldn’t. And neither can I.  All I can do is ask him into my broken manger.  Into my broken heart.  This big city is still not what we hoped and expected. But I ask him in anyway.  My body is broken with a thyroid disease that was painful and scary and still I have to ask him in to help me carry on when I’m so so tired and weak.  My kids make decisions that I wouldn’t and I ask him in.  Our broken mangers. 

Will you invite him in with me?  Our pastor uses the following words when asking for the Lord to come into your life (for the first time or just again): 

Sorry

Thank You

Please

Sorry for going my own way

Thank you for dying on the cross for me

Please come into my life. 

That’s all we have to do. 

He’s not unattainable and he’s not waiting for perfection. 

Gifts for kids to get them outside and moving!

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     This may be a little late but I put together this collage for Christmas gift ideas to get children outside and moving.  I think those stilts would be so much fun for an adult too!  

     After thinking about it for a while, I decided this year that I was going to attach little challenges with our outside gifts.  J-man is getting a new scooter and I think it would be fun for him to come up with obstacles courses using little cones or even drawn out with chalk.  I might even think about ramps because he's getting pretty good.  Roo is getting a bow and arrow set (help me!) because that is what she has wanted since summer camp.  Hitting the target will be an obstacle in itself, but I think it would be fun to do a kids against parents competition.  I've learned the hard way that creating competition between siblings is not the way to go.  Make it between the kids and the parents and there should be less fighting and hurt feelings. (emphasis on should) My kids are usually pretty good at keeping themselves busy but over the Christmas break they might need a little bit of friendly competition to hold their interest longer.

  

     What are some toys that your kids like to play with outside and do you have friendly competitions in your family?
  

Winding down

I don't have any Christmas pictures.  My camera settings were all off and most of them are blurry.  We just hung out and played inside yesterday because it was cold and rainy here.

We had a blessed Christmas.  The kids got some major gifts but the winners were perler beads that you can melt and the $10 dollar weather station (-:  I can't wait to go to my 4 hour beginners mosaic glass class.  Thanks honey!

Today begins the tear down.  And although I won't miss most of the decorations, I will miss this:

I saw this nativity every night after checking on the kids.  

I will miss the gentle reminder of the reason for the season.

I am so excited for this new year.  Are you?

Merry Christmas!

Wrapping up the Christmas crafts

I thought it would be a good idea to wrap up the Christmas crafts before Christmas!  

Where does the time go?  

The kids had a good time doing a science experiment for a craft.  I used this tutorial for inspiration.  Let it be noted that Jman was totally skeptical and never thought it would work.  I'm just glad that it did!  The ornaments are so sparkly but my photo skills are not.  

Then on Friday after all of the parties and school fun we headed to the movie store.  I was amazed that, in a matter of 10 seconds, they both picked out movies.  Since it was right next door, we popped into Hallmark for a few more gifts.  I remember yelling telling the kids "Quit acting like I never take you anywhere-Oh, wait, I don't...."Then J-man really needed a hair cut and we only had to wait 5 minutes!  Upon leaving Sports Clips, I remembered that Roo had earned a free pizza coupon.   Since it took a while for the pizzas to be ready, we hopped on over to Pier One for some more shopping.  I got so much done and I had my kids!  They enjoyed looking at all of the Christmas decorations everywhere and helping me pick out gifts.  I realized that they really don't get out much and I'm going to try and do it more often.  

That same night we finally got to do gingerbread houses.

I hot glue the houses together so they don't fall apart.  

There was a whole lotta tasting going on.  I love looking at all of the detail.  

 My baby looks so tired!

Roo kept telling me that it was the best day ever!  I agree.

Christmas Craft #2-Styrofoam snowman

This one was all Roo's idea.  She knew she wanted to make a snowman and it HAD to be out of styrofoam balls.   I googled and then watched this video because I really wanted them to work and I was sure someone out there had it all figured out already.

I think they turned out pretty cute and she was thrilled to give it to her teacher.

Even J-man had a good time making these.  

I wonder how much longer I can do craft week with him?  

They are looking for twigs to make the arms for the snowman.  Notice the shorts and flip flops in December?  Love it!

I hope your Christmas preparation is going smoother than mine!  

Christmas craft week

We started Christmas craft week this week!    

For the first semester of last year, I was watching two extra kids after school.  By the time Christmas came around everyone was antsy in the afternoon and they also didn't have homework.  Thank goodness for Meg and her ideas.  Christmas crafts saved the day!  I'm doing different ones this year with just my kids and first up was the felt Christmas tree inspired by here.  

I've made it a point to not run all over town so when Walmart was out of the things we needed I had to improvise.  No styrofoam cones?  Make them out of cardboard.  (I had to refer to my friend Cyndy on how to make one!)  No felt (whatsoever)?  Use a $5.99 green XL sweatshirt.  I bought the little presents at the dollar store and had all of the other trimmings on hand.

I would love to say that as much as I love the one on the right, it wasn't going to happen with moody kids that day.  I should have had the strips already made.  Lesson learned.  So we opted for little squares hot glued on in a criss cross fashion.  All Roo wanted to do was the decorating anyway.  Mommy could do the hard part.

Not much went on yesterday since I had a small surgery on my gums.  It was more intense than expected.  I'm better now and hopefully will find some styrofoam balls for a craft that Roo has made up herself.  Wish me luck because I have no idea how to substitute for those!

Winter cotton ball wreath and a linky party

Nothing like a linky party to get your creative juices going with a deadline.  Thanks to Rhoda's at Southern Hospitality, my house is a wreck but my entryway mantel looks lovely.  

I really wanted to do a tablescape over at Layla's but let's face it, that's too fancy for me.  Just the other day Roo asked what napkin rings were.  She's never seen them at our house!  Hence the reason for no pictures at Thanksgiving.  I tried my best but I wasn't happy with it and I was a complete stress ball. 

Moving on.  I had fun creating a natural space for a Christmas mantel.  Since my cotton ball wreath has gotten so many looks on Pinterest,  I dolled her up and put her on display.   I love how she sparkles now.

The mini trees are real from Home Depot and lit up with battery operated lights.

The pine cone and seed pod things were free from the yards around here.  I sprayed the pine cones with fake snow last year and, don't tell my 6 yr old sweet toothed daughter, but the seed pods were dusted with powdered sugar this year!