Christmas Pirates 2016

Once again another Christmas has whirled in and out like an awesome storm.  

2017 is sneaking around the corner and if the last few months are any indication I am in for some change.

I. don't. like. change.  

I don't like when people retire, when people leave, when people move, when family changes... 

I don't like it and I don't care what you say (blah. blah. change is life).  Even when that horrible coworker transfers- I'm like 'hey that was my horrible coworker, where you going?'

This is usually the time I turn into the 'fixer' but for now I'm doing what I hate most.  Nothing.

As I reflect on the beautiful holiday of this month, I am reminded of God's powerful promises and strength in times of change.

I'll let the pirates tell ya'.

These vagrants know all about change.

I was in charge of these precious pirates.

What an easy job!

I mean no problems at all....

I had everyone completely engaged and focused. 

My whole life has been about wrangling little wild boys, 

I finally get quiet little girls!!

Ok...maybe not Pirate girls.  :)

(minus little K., the only very calm child, who has the chicken nugget tub in her lap in this video.  Who gives a turkey chicken about singing when you have nuggets!?!  

I'm with you girl.)

this makes me laugh every time I watch it! 

No matter how WILD, these Pirates will teach ye a few things about God, Mateys!

God's word is true.

The bible is the true treasure. 

(Hebrews 4:12)

God's word is surprising.

How was our king born?  Where was He born?  Why was He born?

The answers may surprise you.

(Luke 2: 1-20)

 God's word is for everyone,

even crazy pirate wranglers like me!

(Acts 2:  42-47)

God's word is comforting.
If we have faith, God has the rest.

(Psalm 23:  4, 6)

God's word is life changing.

(John 3:16)

The decor was amazing! 

This year was an excellent Christmas play that reminded us that God's word is a true gift and true treasure to us all.

I was so proud of Connor, Carlee, and all of my church babies.

I wouldn't dare tell these pirates that I am worried about the future.

They would make me walk the plank... 

or clean the swab!

And, we want to be servants that God can be proud!  

When we listen to the Captains Callllll-

we say ARRR you gonna love me, ARRR you gonna serve me, ARRR you gonna help me reach the people on the beach! 

Arrrrrr!!! 

#wild4God

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

My God Bless you and your children this year! 

Our Hearts Rejoice in Him

This year I said 'no' to the Christmas play.  

Timing was in a way that play practice started while Connor had homework, Awana, football, and basketball all at the same time.  I didn't think he could do anymore and I knew I couldn't do anymore.  

I also knew that Carlee would NEVER detach herself from me to take a role.  I had decided we would just go and enjoy the show.  

It was Connor who was asked to be a wise man and he was on board for it.  His friends from church were doing it and he told me he wanted to also.  At times, he didn't want to run lines or attend the longer practices, but he understood and kept his commitment without trouble.

Parenting Tips 101:  

1. If you have a young energetic boy who volunteers for ANYTHING positive- support it.  2.  Good influences are important.

Next, I was told Carlee in fact wanted to be an angel in her Awana class.  (Apparently, she walked up with the others in practice.)

someone likes to take pictures like her mama

SO just like that, my kids were a part of the play.

The church play offered a Christmas message of hope, love, and rejoicing in the birth of Christ... 

all of which can be lost when you are the mother of a child in the play.

Don't judge me.  I just wasn't feeling so spiritual when trying to calm nerves, rehearse lines, discipline backstage behavior, find lost hair pins, argue about the costume, finding toys/ puzzles/ snacks/ songs/ coloring/ etc. to entertain,  clean up messes, missing cell phone, silliness on stage, tears before showtime, and just when I was about to pull my hair out.....  the show began.

I am still.  I hold my breath (while I hold my angel) and our three little wild, wise men came out to say their lines loud and clear.   They nailed it.

My son proudly said all of his lines including "and one star shone more brightly than all the others.... and just like Jesus sent his Son that would lead the world out of darkness, this bright star led them to Bethlehem."

....and suddenly my cup was so filled with up with the goodness of God.  

Really, one could name 100 reasons why the birth of Christ should not have happened.  I mean there was such political turmoil, the anger of such powerful people, difficulty in travel, family shunning, the possibility of medical complications, no solid place to live, the massacre of innocence... the list goes on.  Yet, God gave us one reason why Jesus would be born.  

His one trumps anything else. Just like the children sing, 'If God is for us, who can stand against us?" 

Don't let anyone stop you from your relationship with God, there is no reason that could stand against His birth and sacrifice.

Jesus was born for me, He was born for my family, He was born for everyone!

Then my precious angel (who prior would NOT detach herself from me during practice)  grabbed the hand of her little friend.  She walked to the front of the crowded church, and my shy, little angel started to SING.  Yes!  Carlee started to sing and bob her head.

Rejoice in Him!

I was so touched, I forgot about my outfit (that may or may not have been clean), the cheerios under my feet, the pocketbook that had been turned upside down, and I just let myself rejoice in our church children delivering such a powerful message.

Behold the Lamb of God has come
Behold the Lamb of God has come
Behold the Savior is born
Sing of His love
To everyone


Today our hearts rejoice in him
Today our hearts rejoice in him
Today the light of His birth
Fills us with hope
And brings peace on earth

Merry Christmas to All

and

Blessed New Year

Festive Fun

This holiday brought lots of Festive Fun:

One of the highlights was taking Carlee to Disney on Ice.  I was not going to get tickets but after going on a field trip....

 I knew I had to do it.

Carlee wore her mermaid costume with boots and we had a great time.  

Although, I usually take Connor with us on our outings, I convinced him that this was going to be a day just for Carlee.  

After some time, he was super cool about it.

(Besides, we brought him back an Olaf hat with cotton candy.)

I didn't expect Carlee to be very welcoming to Santa, after all she still has hesitations around her own Papa.  I knew sitting on his lap was out of the question.

Darren took this picture and she did manage to whisper that she wanted a 'baby doll'.

***

This may be my last Santa picture with Connor.

I have every picture of him with Santa since he was a baby.

Although he knows that Santa is real, he told me he is much too old to be sitting on some guy's lap who may or may not be the real Santa.

(point taken)

Pilot Mountain Lights

I remember the first time Darren and I went to see  the Pilot Christmas lights.  There was barely anyone there and we could take our time to look at everything.

This year it was so crowded we could barely look at anything.

I think the kids enjoyed what they were able to take in without being mowed over.

Carlee loved Frosty the Snowman.  When she would touch it, he would start singing.

Annual Sugar Cookie Bake Off

Connor and I watched as many Christmas movies as possible.

He loved Elf, The Grinch, and Home Alone.

He did not seem to enjoy Home Alone II,  A Christmas Story, and Rudolph.

This big girl went to her very first BIG movie.

She watched the first 15 min. of it, played on the iPad in the floor, sat on my lap, climbed up the steps, went to the bathroom twice, and then watched the last 15 min. of it.

As we were exiting the theatre, a group of people got in between us and she went into full panic mode.  Although I could see her and she could see me, she could not handle it.  She covered her ears and screamed bloody freaking murder at the top of her lungs.

You may can see in this picture (10 minutes later) that she was not over it.

This girl does not like to be separated from her mommy.

#festivefun

We are ready for 2016!

Santa, Family, and Christmas Moments

I guess I have a couple of good kids, because Santa came to visit them.

Connor was so excited he didn't go to sleep until 11 and then he woke up at 2 and 5.  

I finally gave in at 5:30.

We woke Carlee at 7.  

She seemed to open presents in a sleep induced haze.

See brother?  See my new dress?

Feeding a baby waits for no one.

Next it was breakfast at Nana and Papa's house.

Do these cousins look a little bit excited to you?

The only thing that would make this better is if our four Florida cousins could join us.

Next up lunch at Aunt J and Uncle P's house.

Our family on Darren's side has grown quite large so there was a lot of present exchanging.  

God gifted us with more than we deserved.  

There was so much laughter, fun, and love.

 I love Christmas.  

My tree goes up right after Thanksgiving.

However, it comes down the day after Christmas on the 26th.

I clean up and out immediately.  

The idea of all kinds of stuff laying around without a home gives me hives.

I probably took out three bags to the Salvation Army and double that to the dumpster.  
The kids have organized rooms now and I feel so renewed.

Some of the greatest Christmas hits:

Barbie Pool

Oh yeah, our floor is soaked.

They don't make toys like they once did, and I had to add a Pyrex dish to keep this pool from really leaking all over the floor.  

Carlee loves it.

I LOVED my Barbie bubbling spa Jacuzzi pool tub as a child.

I played with it all the time.

As you can see it was a lot sturdier than what they make today.  I need an adult version of one of these.

I debated a long time about inviting the world of video games into our lives.  

I'm not a huge fan of the effect on some kids. Connor pleaded his case and as you can see Santa caved but with some specific rules about time limits, homework, and of course no rated MATURE games.

  Darren, Meme, and I went into together to add a television so that we might get to use our own television. 

Connor was thrilled.   He says his room looks like a grown up room now.  

The cousins O & O got Carlee one of her favorite gifts:  

Elsa Hair with an Anna Dress

Bank Tin of Spongebob Suckers

Who doesn't need this?

The Frozen franchise has really hit our house this year.  

Carlee was gifted the movie and we are all about LETTING IT GO!

 

Carlee's old bed was the same baby bed that we had to saw her leg out.  

Baby Bed Fail Here

Yep, we just glued it and turned it into a toddler bed.  (don't judge- second baby here)

Santa took mercy and brought Carlee a Little Mermaid bed and Meme added the Frozen Sheets.

Who wouldn't want to go to bed now?

Uncle B. sketched this drawing for Connor.

I know I can't draw a straight line with a ruler, but  Uncle B. has some mad skills, right?

Perhaps I can come up with some comic book content and he can provide the drawings.

I think we could make some bucks.

Would anyone want to read about Crazy Woman who uses donuts as her Super Power?  

Baby Alive is resting in her nursery today.  

Carlee has named her baby Nmonica (yes with an N, I think I have a Kardashian living with me).

Another cousin gift,

Connor loves it but I'm not so crazy about this sticking out in my kitchen.

I told Connor we may relocate this to the basement door.

Now that the kids are older they are playing in their rooms more.

I've reorganized the play corner into a homework spot with our pencils, books, Awana manuals, pencils, etc.

I was cleaning out Carlee's books and I realized she has all of these great books I haven't read to her yet.   

I had the great idea of having Connor read extra to Carlee. He is required to read 30 min. nightly for homework and I could kill two birds with one stone.  

We shall see if this plan works.

I had a few great gifts for myself.

At her daycare, Carlee wrapped a precious gift and

we opened it on Christmas morning.

With her teacher she made the most beautiful calendar.

I love it!

Nana gave me a new George Foreman.

I still use the old one but it was missing the tray and I had to use another pan with it.  

I was very glad to get rid of the old and move in the new.

No judgements here but I was so excited to get Becoming by Cindy Crawford.

Yes, I admit it that I'm a Cindy fan.

She is very bright and even graduated valedictorian of her high school class.

I'm enjoying her stories and experiences of being a model in the 80s.  She was driven and focused without the use of drugs.

However, this is not a book that will stay on my end table.  The pictures are beautiful but there are quite a few racy ones.  Not for the eyes of a 10 year old boy.

I'm pretty confident my son would never voluntarily pick up a book but you can never be too sure.

These are a few gifts I bought myself.

Another bag with compartments and prints of my children.  Don't you love it? (the kids are ok too)

I really have my eye on a few large canvas prints and couch covers but I may have to wait until I survive January.

Speaking of purses, I've been cleaning out mine today.

Red pens (when I always need black), a pink Barbie shoe, dead batteries, 3 sets of ear plugs for my children, safety pens for my pants without buttons, and a football kicker.

Sums up my life nicely.

Merry Christmas to All

Christmas Princess

Carlee and I are off to finish the last of the eggnog!