Looking forward to Christmas!

Well they have the snow, the presents, the cowboys :) And A.R. can't seem to understand why we can't go to New York to enjoy it already...Oh to be young and ignorant of things like money, jobs, and bills...
She is really excited about christmas this yr. though, and it's been a lot of fun watching the excitement continue to build. It does bring a whole "magical" aspect to christmas to see it through childrens' eyes.
She's been watching a cartoon version of the christmas story and now when her and J.D. play she tells me that he is the King of the Jews (lol) and she is Santa...I guess clarity will come with age...lol. I am not anti-Santa..but i have to admit it's been really hard to bring christmas back around to the true meaning with Santa lurking in her imagination. I realize it's innocent fun, but it's such a special time of remembrance for the christian faith and I don't want to squander all the time on make believe things when the real story is so amazing all on it's own. I hope we all have a chance in the craziness of shopping and preparing to remember the true meaning and to share it with the little ones around us. Merry (almost) Christmas

Craft Fair gone bad...

So I worked really hard getting things ready for a craft fair last Friday. I don't think anyone sold anything. It's a shame too because there were some really cute things there. The pictures are of "crayon rolls" they're so cute and I thought it would be an easy way for kids to carry around their crayons and doodle whenever they got bored. I made 15 and sold none. I do have some orders from relatives for stocking stuffers, so if anyone is interested, let me know. A couple of my other items were sippy cup leashes (they strap onto the cup and the stroller so when the kids drop them they don't get left behind)I made some pacifier clips and Onesies with a tie applique on them...(I put the picture of this at the bottom b/c I thought it was soo cute I wanted to show that too. I made some reusable notepad covers too (it goes cute with the crayon rolls). Well I had fun making this stuff and there are always craft shows to go to (just not before the holidays) but that's ok. I'll plan better next winter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a crazy fast fall this has turned out to be. I'm not sure where these months have gone. I suppose this is why we start celebrating Christmas in October, if we waited until after thanksgiving it would feel like the christmas season lasts only a few weeks (oh... I guess it does) well there's no fun in that is there?!
We will be spending thanksgiving at my mom and dad's house this year. I tried a really yummy dinner roll recipe with cinnamon butter - sooo yummy. I also am bringing some home-canned gherkin pickles and apple butter. I made the sweet potatoe casserole (always a hit...thanks to my MIL :) ) I'm hoping that today is less about all the yummy food though and more about what we really have to be thankful for. I think it's hard sometimes to be thankful for tangible things because on some level we feel like we have earned them through hard work and ambition. But, I was reminded last sunday that it is only by God's grace that we are allowed the very life that leads to our "success". So, while it is easy for me to be thankful for God's eternal gifts for me I will be trying to gain more perspective on how to be grateful to God for the tangible blessings and not just for the fact that we have what so many others do not.
Happy, Happy, Thanksgiving.

So the boys went to get their hair cut today...it was so cute! J.D's very first cut. D.H.was a bit more hesitant than i was, but the experience and results were great!


My Uncle did a good job working around J.D's jumping, jiving, little body.


And Tada... What a real little man he is now...his eyes look even bigger now:)

A.R. got beautified while we were there. She kept saying she wanted her hair pink, so my Aunt obliged in the most temporary way possible. (little pink glitter strings that get tied in to your hair) and she is the happiest princess in the world now with her pink hair.

Canning Accomplished

My first year canning seems to have been a success. I had a lot of fun and found some yummy recipes that I will probably do yearly. I also found some recipes that just aren't worth it..(ahem apple butter) It made a big mess and came out VERY cinnamony (not sure that's a word). Overall it was fun to learn some new things in the kitchen and save some money in the meantime. I couldn't resist putting this picture up of J.D. licking his lips while playing with some canned cherry peppers. My heart literally aches when I think of how much I love my little ones. "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow..."

Christmas Already?!

My family has a reputation for starting "christmas cheer" a tad early (ahem..papa). D.H. (dear husband) has followed swiftly in his father's footsteps. Therefore, we have been listening to Christmas music in our home for the past month or so. (I let on that I dislike it...but that toasty feeling that surrounds christmas is quite addicting) We have decided not to put up a christmas tree this year (900 sq. ft, a christmas tree, and a curious crawler...I can see the mayhem now) but that doesn't mean our house will not be stuffed with snowmen and reindeer from one wall to the other.
I will soon be working on some fun christmas gifts for the family. Hopefully, if I start making things this early - I'll be able to enjoy the approaching holiday instead of dread it.