Category: Uncategorized (Page 32 of 201)

Every few months (okay, we try to make it just a couple of months, but somehow time keeps slipping away from us!) Stacy and I try to get together for dinner to catch up on life and just hang out.  It’s great.  There was giggling galore.  It was fun.

Also, I’ve decided this week is going to be mostly just a picture post week.  I’m swamped with stuff and Tim’s back to work.  And to make it worse… Maddie just threw up this morning.  Gah!  She isn’t really showing any other symptoms, so I’m hopeful that it’s nothing.  The school sent home a note about kids going home this past Friday (specifically from throwing up) and 70 kids left school.  SEVENTY!  Ah!  I don’t have time to be sick this week.  OR take care of sick kids… Pray for heath here! 😉

It’s that time of year again–time to make my Christmas musical candy!  I was just commenting to Tim again this morning how wonderful it is to make candy in our extra kitchen.  I used to have to make everything in one day because it required me to completely take over the kitchen.  Now I’m able to do a little bit over a span of a few days, and it’s not nearly so overwhelming.

And Tim made me these amazing Plexiglas shelves to go in the fridge downstairs to expedite the cooling process (more shelves to put my chocolates on!) that I just love.

So, this week is busy… finishing our Christmas cards to get in the mail, finalizing the Christmas recital songs with all my students, making candy and, you know, regular life.  Oh, and did I mention Tim is going back to work next week?  Yup.  The custom made steps were delayed in being cut and shipped, so even though there is snow on the ground here, the home owner is paying to have them come back this next week to finish the steps.  Wowza!

Before I go, how about a really up close picture of Josiah?  I was trying to capture his freckles.  They are adorable.  It didn’t quite work, but I love his genuine smile in this picture because he thought I was being silly.

I cannot believe it is December 3rd today.  Say, Whaaaa!?

I’m having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit lately.  I think part of it was that there had been no snow on the ground and that really makes me feel festive.  But it did snow this weekend, so now it’s starting to feel right.

On Saturday Jen came over and suggested that we make sugar cookies and decorate them with the kids.  I said it sounded like fun, but I wasn’t super gung-ho about the idea.  I knew the kids would like it, but I was fairly certain it would be messy and frustrating for me.

Alas.  I was wrong.

Yes, it was messy.  Yes, it was frustrating when Maddie sneezed on the cookies.  Yes, It was time consuming. But YES–it was SO. MUCH. FUN.

We decorated made and decorated cookies for over 2 hours.  We laughed and created masterpieces, and then we ate our delicious creations.  It was the perfect afternoon.  And to top it off it snowed all afternoon making it just the most picturesque event.  So far, that has been my favorite Christmas event this season.  Way, to go Jen for suggesting it!!!

The other night Tim and I were laughing at how different our life would be without Levi.  He was our “bonus baby”, as I like to call him.  We thought we were a complete family after having Madison, but God knew we needed ONE more.  And, like the saying goes, we can’t imagine life without him now.

I’m so thankful for the dynamic that having 4 kids gives.  Chloe has embraced being the big sister so well and she is learning the art of playing with kids of all ages.  And I just love how much Levi likes playing with her too.  It’s fun to watch Levi transform out of the toddler and into a little kid.

Now that Tim has transitioned to his off-season the everyday routine has gotten a little easier.  Levi is definitely screaming less now that there are two parents around to nip that behavior.  Everyone seems a little happier and settled now.  It’s all good.

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend:

• Enjoyed Thanksgiving Day (and a yummy meal) at Baker’s house
• Talked with my Mom on the phone on Thanksgiving
• Went Black Friday shopping with Chloe, Maddie and Jennifer.  We only got a couple of things, but it was fun.
• Set up our Christmas decorations (minus the tree) while watching White Christmas.  The kids are getting more and more helpful with setting up the decorations–it takes half the time it used to!  We’re waiting on the Christmas tree because I think we’re going to put it in the waiting room again this year.
• Went on a Date with Tim to dinner and a movie on Saturday!!  We went to see the new Fantastic Beasts (Harry Potter) movie.  It was excellent.
• Played Chinese Checkers with Chloe and Josiah while eating root beer floats.
• Had our church gang over on Sunday–before the game, since it didn’t start until 7:30–for an early supper and basically just to hang out.