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! 

Ice Date

I was very excited to go on a very special date this week.

It reminded me of a time that I went on a different date with this fellow.  It was right around the second inauguration of President Obama.  

Much has happened in that time- in my life, in history, in this country.  Four years ago seem like both 4 minutes and 400 years.   

A mother daughter date is just what the doctor ordered for 'busy life'.

Of course we had to get all dressed up.  

A good dress is the kind where you can really do a great twirl.

I skipped the photo part of me twirling (you can thank me later).

We were VERY excited to watch this year's Disney on Ice:  Follow Your Heart! 

Just so you know, I did offer a ticket for brother.

Being the sweet tween he is, I think he responded with-

NO I'M NOT!!!  YOU CAN FORGET IT.

when I am sure he meant

 "No, Thank You but Mom you are SIMPLY the best for thinking of me'.

The Typical Tween Mind

We ladies had a grand time together! 

Carlee decided to bring her favorite princess- Ariel.

She thought she might be in the show.

We sat right up at the top level. Not only was it cheaper but it kept us away from the sparks.

There are a ton of words you can use for cheaper seats.  
Darling, let us take our balcony/veranda/terrace seats... you know to make them seem more fancy, like Old South.  :)  

Cinderella

Ariel and her Amazing Acrobats

Carlee enjoyed the show so much.  

The costumes were certainly her favorite part.

It is a good thing we were up high or else we would have been recruited to get out there with the other Disney princesses.

I love going to Disney on Ice.

Where else can you get a crown with your cotton candy??  

That is what I am talking about!! 

Isn't my Carlee such a beautiful girl?

She is such an observer and deep thinker of all the things going on around her.

Right after the show Carlee asked me 'what was your favorite part?' and my heart did a happy dance because no one in my house ever ASKS me things like that and I was thinking 'you are such a girl'.

After the show, we hit up the mall for a bit to eat and window shopping.

Maybe I will blame the sugar rush from the cotton candy, maybe it was the excitement from the show,  but I totally got suckered into renting a mechanical motorized animal at the mall.

(Writing it, actually makes me feel even more crazy.)   

The children can just hop on and ride all throughout the mall.  What could go wrong?

It looked so cool.

I think I was suppose to technically get on with Carlee, but I was wearing a zebra skirt, need I say more?

Me.....on a moving hippo...in a zebra print skirt?

You see where I'm going with this, do I really need to bring that kind of attention?  

No.  

No I don't.  

No one does.

By the way, there is zero training for these things.  Have you ever seen an angry hipster?  They DO exist when a toddler rams into the shins on a hippo at the mall.  

I managed to guide Carlee to a less populated part of the mall:

Just when I thought she was getting into it, she became SUPER distracted.

Then I was SUPER distracted.

The point to the story is that we were both too distracted to ride a moving hippo in a mall during the holidays.  

I returned Mr. Hippo WAY before my 15 minutes were up.

the time Carlee almost shoplifted



Let's just say by the end of the evening I was feeling like Ariel here but

it was a certainly a great date! 

Dude Perfect

I know. I know.  It's New Year and I'm a little behind.  I can only say that fall took me to the wrestling mat and I never got up.

This year Connor and I did partner once again for our Trunk or Treat/ Church Carnival.

There were a lot of great ideas-

Connor had the idea of Dude Perfect- a sports entertainment group on YouTube.

I had no clue how we were going to do this type of "theme" but we actually had more to work with then I originally thought.
It was fun. 

Dude Perfect shirts are +20.00 but I made these iron on transfers on cheap neon shirts for a quarter of the price.

We had the dads put together the miniature basketball hoop from Connor's room.  We had to get creative.

I purchased a $19.00 Dude Perfect toss set from Walmart.

I prerecorded Dude Perfect videos, which we paired with a green blanket, a few Dude Perfect discs, nerf guns, and spiritual rock music.

Connor decorated a Dude Perfect Pumpkin.

(I thought he did a pretty good job.)

I laminated the Dude Perfect "stars", trademark signs, and a YouTube symbol that all hung from the top.  

We created a football throw to the left of the van.

I had not meant for it to be so interactive but it actually was very interactive for all of the children.

I was very tired but the kids had a great night of fellowship and trick shots.  

It got "tricky" trying to juggle candy, taking turns, and finding the football/ nerf bullets/ and basketball.

The boys were a pretty good help (when they were not so distracted).

I told them straight out that if I had to be the focused one, we were really in trouble.

I think I am still picking up nerf bullets in between the seats of my van.

A couple of Dude Perfects-

Other fun scenes from Fall: