friday fun.

friday we went over to a friend's house for some gingerbread house making!

we did it last year and it was messy but super fun. and last year we had BABIES. and they just slept in the other room. it was greatness.

 

this year - not so much.

but the 'big kids' were a little more focused and attentive on their gingerbread houses.

ashley had hot glued our gingerbread houses together before we got there {we learned last year!} and then it was "hop to it" after our paparazzi moment. ugh.

 

it's NOT fun trying to get all of these kids together. on the couch. big kids and small kids. girls and boys. :) hehe.

we love it. 

i was super proud of b's gingerbread house. it new EXACTLY what to do. he covered every inch. i LOVED it!!! i couldn't have been more proud, as a momma who loves that kinda stuff herself. 

 {b & anna, i see you eating your candy!!!}

after all that sugar, we fed the kids lunch. and had a little picnic in front of the elf on the shelf movie! yay for christmas movies!

{and just for fun - here's a pic of last year}

and the non-gingerbread party of 2009

today.

today i am getting my haircut. i am terribly excited. it's much overdo.

today i am going to put up some snow village houses. not the entire thing. just a few here & there.

today i am thankful for the precious miracle in lauren scruggs. i'm thankful for her parents proudly talking about the healing power of Jesus on national television. today i am thankful to serve a God that is bigger than tragedy and uses ALL things for HIS glory.

today i am listening to christmas music. preparation for our christmasy weekend to come.

today i am GOING to get some christmas shopping done. without the littles. i have to. i must.

today i am hoping to make stockings. i've wanted to for years and never have. we shall see if this dream becomes a reality.

today i am ordering my christmas cards. not as early as i would have liked, but hey - we're doing them, right? we discussed nixing them. but in the end, simple and cheap will do it. right?

today i am catching up with my google reader. second cup of coffee and popcorn tin right next to me. love this time.

i love today.

happy thursday. i hope it's productive.

weekend {review}.

we had a busy weekend.

but a fun one.

friday night we went to an event that a friend was planning at a newer development north of here. 

it was a great turn out! 

trains, santa, hot chocolate, chick fil a. 

a great combo.

saturday some dear friends walked with the hubbs and i in a local christmas parade. 

so thankful for them. despite the yucky weather, they were there. and excited to be there. genuinely.

love them.

sunday - one of those friends was running her first marathon. yay!

the weather was - for lack of a better term - miserable.

miserable.

we saw them at 3.5 miles, 9 miles and 15 miles. we were bummed we couldn't be at the finish but are so proud of her and brooke. 

way to go jules!

can you tell how wet... and cold... it was? yup. it took all afternoon to thaw out. 

and no lie - i saw an old man with tiny shorts, no shirt and BARE feet. no - not those bare feet "sock" shoes... actually BARE feet.

it was in the upper 30's/ lower 40's by the time we were at the 15 mile mark. and raining. not just sprinkling... but RAINing. 

he's crazy. i bet he's feeling sick today. don't you?

today i'm warming up with several cups of coffee.

and cinnamon rolls {despite my weight gain in the past three months}.

are you enjoying this monday? 

friday.

i don't think i've been so excited for a friday to be here since i worked {in an office} full time.

for reals.

it's been a rough week for me.

and i hate that - since we should be getting in the christmas spirit, right?

i had so many fun things planned this week.

some we did.

some we didn't.

but i'm glad for friday.

for the weekend. when i get to spend some time with the hubbs.

and with friends.

i'm having lunch with a dear friend today. one who always always always makes me smile. and warms my heart. and challenges me & encourages me all at the same time.

i heart friends like that.

we're supposed to be going to a christmas event tonight... but i wonder if it'll get rained out. hmmm.

and we're going to a parade tomorrow. and on sunday.

AND one of my bestest friends is running her first MARATHON on sunday!

goooooo julie!!!!!

if you were one of the readers of the old blog, you know that right before {technically, i guess it was right after} i got pregnant with charlotte, i ran a HALF marathon.

with joanna. and julie. 

it was THE best.

i want to run another one, but i can't seem to get started. that story is for another day though...

anyway - julie - she's run a few half marathons since then. white rock/rock n roll/ and one in san fransisco. {bless her!}

but sunday - is the FULL one!!!

{and it's supposed to be cold and rainy. but we don't talk about that.}

and to think that this time two years ago when we were trying to get her to run the first one with us she said, "but i don't run. i can't run. i've never run."

and here she is - about to run 26.2 miles.

she's my inspiration!

joanna and i will be there with bells on around the race on sunday! i'm so excited!

happy weekend everyone.

balance.

eddie came to visit our house on friday.

eddie is an elf. one of santa's helpers.

i think this is such a 'magical' tradition. it warms my heart when i hear brady talking to eddie. i love his sweet imagination.

eddie visits us every morning from now until christmas. {in case you didn't know how it works}. 

every night he goes to see santa at the north pole to report on how the kids are doing.

i'd be lying if i said that i haven't used eddie once or twice in the last week.

"eddie's watching, brady."

"what will eddie tell santa tonight?"

"i wonder if eddie will be able to come back tomorrow."

he's 3 1/2.

a dear, sweet boy with a tender heart and a listening ear. but come on, he's a boy.

so?

so, i use what works. 

regardless of how dumb or silly the tradition is.

i don't think there's anything wrong with the tradition of santa claus.

do you?

how do you balance the fun traditions with the true traditions?

we started an advent calendar this morning. 

a meaningful christmas.

{cover designed by fabulous k}

and we learned about the alpha and omega.

we have a little people nativity.

we talk about baby jesus and mary & joseph... every time we talk about santa.

b. thinks that santa is jesus's helper.... i'm ok if that's how he wants to rationalize it.

but really? what's more exciting to a 3 year old?

maybe that's my fault. maybe it's just how it is. 

but i am excited about christmas morning. 

and we have 23 more days to talk about the true meaning of christmas. 

and i'm looking forward to it.

home.

it's been a little over month since we made the big move.

i guess you could actually say the "little" move since it wasn't really that big of a deal, we moved 15 miles and our lives pretty much go the same way they did prior. so - yeah - it's a 'little' move.

nothing makes a new house MORE like home than decorating for christmas. i LOVE decorating for christmas. love. it.

 i pretty much decorate all month long. move stuff around. add ornaments. take away ornaments. etc. etc.

and i have loved seeing how all of my 'stuff and fluff' will work in our new space.

i added a few new ornaments this year to our tree.

it's a bit 'out of the box' for my old fashioned christmas tree. but {can i share this?} i LOVE it.

hot pink. turqoise. silver AND {dare i say it?} gold!

jeff told me he feels like we're having christmas in hawaii.

i told him that it's my favorite.

ha.

what does your christmas tree look like?

{PS - did i mention that my camera is broken? yup. during christmas season. but there is good news - it's in the shop and will be fixed next week! yay!!! so don't judge my flash-filled photos over the next two weeks!!}

thankful.

today, i'm thankful.

as many people across the nation are. or are trying to be.

i'm thankful for a husband who isn't afraid to follow God's call on our lives. who loves me. and our kids. who is willing to spend thanksgiving with my family. for his family who understands. a husband who makes my family his family and for in laws that love me and my kids as their own.

yes, i'm thankful.

i'm thankful for healthy kids. not in the runny nose department.... but in the major 'health' department. no known disabilities {although we think the bug just MIGHT be a lefty...}. no allergies. no learning disabilities. nothing. so very thankful today for that.

i'm thankful.

thankful for my parents. for parents who are still together after 30 years of marriage. who not only tolerate each other - but love each other. that kind of deep, lasting love. i'm thankful for parents who pray for me. for my family. for my marriage... for my children. thankful for parents who encourage, listen and advise.

i'm thankful.

thankful for dear friends who support me. lift me up when i am low. encourage me. pray for me. check on me. listen to me. challenge me. i'm so thankful for them.

i'm thankful.

most of all, though, i'm thankful for a loving God. i'm thankful that the Lord felt it necessary to call us - at this time - to this life. for a Lord that doesn't promise happiness and comfort, but peace that passes all understanding and love that never ends... and eternal life. for a Heavenly Father who sent His one and only son to die on the cross for me. and you. so that i may spend eternity with Him. it's unfathomable.

but He did that.

and i'm thankful.

i hope each of you have a wonderful thanksgiving holiday today with your family and friends.

choose to be thankful today.