Christmas is over already?!

Wow, that came and went fast! I had a WONDERFUL Christmas with family and friends! Hope you all did too! Lots of pictures to post soon! How was your Christmas?!

One Size Cloth Diaper event at Take Time To Smell The Rose

Starting January 1st, Chari at Take Time To Smell The Rose is going to be having a One Size Cloth Diaper Event! Not only will she be featuring 22 brands of one-sized cloth diapers, but she'll be giving some away too!! Be sure to head over starting January 1st to see what's going on. Check out this page now if you are interested in seeing the list of sponsors!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you each a Very Merry Christmas! Remember the reason for the season, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!

Decorating Sugar Cookies- Another new tradition

This year we made and decorated sugar cookies with Grammy. I got the cutest cookie sheet with holiday shapes from Gramma Karin for my birthday (Thanks again Karin!!). The kids had a blast, and so did I! Not only was it fun, but the cookies were SO good, and the mess was made at Grammy's house instead of mine!! I know this will be something we'll do for many years to come (although next year Grammy may prefer we do it at our house)...

Notice his forehead? He was decorating himself too!

The finished product

And of course I had to do a few. This is my favorite one.

Wordless Wednesday - 4 generations (Christmas 2008)

(Picture is missing my brother's wife and my husband Gary.)

This year we'll hopefully get a picture of the ENTIRE 4 generation family (grandparents, 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren!)

For more WW visit Go Graham Go, Jolly Mom and the WW HQ.

Pimp Your Stash at Diaper Discussions

Hey cloth diaper mamas! Check out Diaper Discussions for an awesome Pimp Your Stash giveaway running now through New Years Eve! Enter to win an awesome prize pack! Details and link below.

It pays to do the right thing...

Have you ever gotten too much change back from a cashier? Or bought something and later realized you weren't charged for it? What did you do? Did you tell that cashier their mistake and give them the money, or run out as fast as you could and considered yourself lucky that day?

I have had this happen to me many times. I love the reactions I get from managers or the cashiers when I actually admit their mistake and give them the money. They are shocked to see someone actually do that!

For my birthday, we went to "linner" (lunch/dinner) at Marie Calendars. We ordered a pie to go (they have the most delicious pies!), but when we got our bill our server hadn't included it on there. She had brought our pie, but had forgotten to charge us for it. I caught her attention and let her know about it. She thanked us numerous times. We paid for it and left.

The very next day I went to Costco for milk and bread and a few other staples. All of the kids wanted to sit in the cart so I had to put all of the groceries on the bottom. I went to check-out and as I was unloading everything, the "assistant to the cashier" (or whatever their official name is) told me to leave the milk on the bottom. As the cashier was ringing me up I got a text, and forgot to mention that the milk was on the bottom (in case the "assistant" failed to mention it). Well, she forgot to ring it up, and so when I got to the door and handed the lady my receipt to check my cart, she noticed the milk was not on there. I felt horrible! I was carted to the side and told to wait for a manager. I waited for probably about 5 minutes before the manager came over (which seems like an eternity for a 2, 3 and 5 year old!). He asked what happened and I apologized as I told him. The woman who had called him over let him know I had been waiting for a while, and he replied, "Well ma'am, we'll go ahead and give you the milk free of charge today!".

Coincidence? What do you think? I think it pays to do the right thing. Maybe not every situation will turn out the way it did for me on this occasion, but it pays in the end... And it feels good to do the right thing!

Random Acts of Cuteness-Dessert

Logan has always been a good eater. Even when he's sick, he's a good eater.

Brooke has always eaten like a bird. She's always the last one to finish, and more often than not there's food left on her plate.

Erik is very much like Brooke, although he's usually more likely to finish his food. It may take him a while, but he'll get there.

One day Grammy came over for dinner and brought the kids dessert... Caramel Apples! The deal in our house is, if you want dessert, you finish what's on your plate. Yes, that means you suffer through those carrots if you want the good stuff.

Photo courtesy of webweaver.nu

Of course Logan finished his food first, had seconds and thirds, and then got his apple. Brooke had been sick, so she wasn't about to finish her food and wasn't the least bit upset about not getting dessert.

Erik was taking his time eating. Once he saw Logan eating that apple, he wanted one. And he didn't want to wait for it. After a short fit, (and realizing I wasn't giving in), he began eating his food again... Until out of the corner of his eye he again spied Logan eating his dessert. He became fixated on that apple, watching every bite Logan took, all the while with his mouth open as if he were imagining he were eating it.

This reminded me of something that happened when Brooke was just 2 years old.

We were at Grammy's and Logan had finished his food and began eating a popsicle. Brooke, being the bird that she is, was nowhere near finishing her food. She became mesmerized by Logan's popsicle. She asked if she could have one and was told to finish her food. Rather than hurry to finish her food, she began to live vicariously through Logan. She'd watch him take a bite, with her mouth open, and close it after he had taken a bite as if she were tasting it too. She stared, not blinking, as he began to take another bite, then out of nowhere yelled, "Bite it Logan, bite it!".

A much needed reminder. Maybe for you too...

When Gary and I started dating, we decided to go to the mall at Christmas to pick a name from the "Christmas Angel tree". It was fun to look on that tree and find a child with similar interests as we had when we were kids, asking for a telescope or a skateboard or a baby doll that cried. Not only was it fun, but knowing we could help make a child's Christmas felt great! We did this for a few years after, but by the time Brooke was born we stopped. Not necessarily because we didn't want to, but with our own kids to buy for and money becoming tighter we kind-of forgot about others in need.

This Christmas is by far the tightest we've ever been. Ashamedly, I have been worried that we won't be able to get our kids the things they want for Christmas. I keep trying to remind myself of what is really important, but with the commercialization and my humanness it's often been difficult.

As part of their holiday event, Piera from Jolly Mom and Felicia from Go Graham Go asked us to share our Christmas traditions. I posted about how- for as long as I can remember- my granddad would read us the Christmas story from the Bible before we could open presents on Christmas Day. He wanted to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.

I love this idea, and now that my kids are a bit older and can understand this better, I've been trying to remind them of this daily. Yet somehow I have failed to truly remember it myself.

God gave us the only gift we need; His son, Jesus Christ, who died for us so we could live eternally with Him. Christ gave of Himself for us.

Today I went to Walmart to get the kids a few Christmas gifts. I asked my mom to watch them for me. She gave me some money and asked that I pick a Christmas Angel from the tree there at Walmart, as she had forgotten to do this.

I was saddened at the sight of that tree. It was filled with names, so many that each branch had stacks of names on them. What saddened me more was what I saw on those slips... Names and ages of children (I saw none older than 15), asking not for toys, but for mere necessities such as clothes and shoes! What saddened me the most was watching hundreds of people pouring into the store, not giving even a glance at that tree. Not.Even.A.Glance. I can't say I haven't been guilty of this myself. Caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday, worried about what I need to get for myself and my family, worried about the lack of money. Selfish...

Even as I write this, I am brought to tears. Tears of sadness at the thought of the thousands of people who will go without this Christmas. Tears of shame that I was worried about my kids and the amount of toys they won't be getting.

You know what I did at Walmart?? I looked through those names and picked 5 children. Yes, I got my kids a few gifts too, but I spent 2 hours picking out just the right outfits for 4 boys ages 11, 9, 4 and 2, and a 4 year old girl; Children, just like mine, asking not for toys, but clothes. As I turned those gifts in and worried about the fact that I had probably just spent too much money, a scripture came to mind. "...Inasmuch as as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40 (KJV)

My kids have clothes on their backs. They have shoes on their feet. They have toys and food and shelter. They have ALL they need. I have all that I need. God is good, and He has provided even more than I deserve.

I am thankful for this reminder and thankful for the opportunity to give this Christmas, just as Christ gave to me.

**Even more amazing; as I sit here thinking of this I am reminded of our memory verse in homeschool this week. "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." Proverbs 19:17 (KJV)**

Photos courtesy of Kaboose.com

A family in need... Can you help?

Tuesday I read a post on Kristie's blog regarding a friend of hers who lost her family early Tuesday morning in a house fire. Her friend lost her husband as well as her 4 year old son and 8 month old daughter. Only she and her 12 year old step-daughter escaped the home.

The thought of losing my husband is unimaginable. The thought of losing my children is unimaginable. The thought of losing them all is beyond comprehension. I cannot fathom what it must be like for her and her step-daughter right now. My heart breaks for them.

She has lost everything. Not just her family, but her home and all of her belongings as well. Please go to Kristie's site to see how you can help. Above all, please raise her up in mighty prayer. The kind of comfort she needs can only be given from our Lord.

Wordless Wednesday- Happy 4th Birthday Sweet Girl!

For more WW visit Jolly Mom, Go Graham Go or the WW HQ.

Random Acts of Cuteness- Death and Resurrection

My mom had to put her 24 year old cat to sleep a few weeks ago. The kids were sad to find out and have missed sweet Callie.

Last night we were at my mom's for dinner. The kids were at the kitchen table finishing eating, and mom and I were nearby chatting. I overheard the kids talking about Callie...

Brooke: "Callie is dead!"
Logan: "Yep..."
Brooke: "I want Callie to rise again so I can pet her."

Some awesome wins I must share!

I am SO bad about sharing my wins, but I have to take this opportunity and thank a few great ladies!

Felicia from Go Graham Go, Piera from Jolly Mom and Dana from Baby Luxe {daily} did a joint giveaway for a Zigo Leader. Don't know what that is? Check this out!!
I am SO grateful to have won this! I am in need of a kick in the pants to be working out, and now I can get Erik in this thing and we can all go as a family. I am stoked! Besides this awesome win, I have to share that Marc Urbanski, the North American Sales Manager from Zigo was amazing! I love great customer service (who doesn't?) and you can't get much better than this! He was in touch with me almost instantly, and has been keeping in touch along the way with all of the details.
I get to pick this up tomorrow, so I'll share more later!! I am so excited!!

Also, thanks to Dee from Two of A Kind Working on A Full House for the awesome Seagate Free Agent Go giveaway! We are so in need of something good to back up all of our pictures. This will do that and so much more! I won this 2 days ago (on my birthday!), and got it in the mail TODAY! Awesome!!
Thanks so much ladies! LOVE your blogs and all of your hard work! Thanks to the sponsors as well for offering such awesome giveaways!

Wordless Wednesday- Looks like Christmas in our Arizona home

The picture does not do the tree justice!

I don't have a good picture of this at night with the lights on yet...

For more WW visit Go Graham Go, Jolly Mom and the WW HQ.

"Smile"- Love this song!

A new song (at least to me...) by Uncle Kracker (um, yeah...) that I love.

Christmas Traditions

There are a few Christmas Traditions in our family.

First, I remember growing up we would go look at Christmas lights with my mom. Living in the city, there are TONS of homes that decorate, and so many really go all out with the lights. Mom would get the map from the newspaper and map out our route, then load us up in the car and off we went to look at lights!

Second, ever since I can remember, my Granddad has told us the Christmas story before we opened presents at his house with the family. He always wanted us to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas; The birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. The talk is still given to this day, although my uncle has taken over a few times in telling the story, one year complete with a PowerPoint slide show of photos!
The traditions we'd like to do with our kids are the same. We've gone and looked at lights every year since the kids were born, and they love it! They also hear the Christmas story on Christmas day from Granddad (or Uncle Joel).

Last night I started something new that I plan on doing from now on...

After Christmas last year, my mom picked up a Playmobil Nativity Set on clearance at Target. I had completely forgotten about it until Gary got out the Christmas decorations today! So tonight before bed, I got out my Bible (later reverting to the kids' Children's Bible since it was easier for them to understand), and began reading the Christmas story. I stopped at Christ's birth, and then let them set up those pieces from the nativity scene (the stable, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus in the manger, the donkey and a cow). Tomorrow we will read a bit more and let them set up more of the scene until it is complete. They loved it, and hopefully it will help to remind them daily of the true reason we celebrate. Someday I'll have a fancier nativity scene, but for now the Playmobil set is perfect for them!


**This post was written as part of the Here Comes Santa Claus Holiday Blog Party at Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go. **

Help a friend out!

My friend Piera at Jolly Mom was nominated for an award, and she needs votes! If you know Piera, you know that if there's anyone who deserves to win, it's her! Please go here and vote for her! HURRY, there are only 2 days left!!

Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium

A few weeks ago we went to the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium with Grampa Bill, Gramma Karin, Grammy and friends (Brooke calls them her best friends) Sara and Anna. The weather was perfect and we really had a wonderful day!

**Prepare for picture overload... I've got to figure out how to do the collage! Any help ladies?**

Grampa Bill and Gramma Karin picked us all up in their motor home. (Pardon the blur in the middle, the sun was so bright and I couldn't get around it!)
The group (less my mom, who was taking the picture) waiting for the show to begin...
Brooke and her "besties"
This is how Erik spent much of the day... In Grampa Bill's arms. Erik didn't seem to realize that the animals couldn't get through the glass!
The kids feeding the birds.
Petting zoo... This was SO fun! I am sure I looked like one of the kids as excited as I was to be able to pet the llama, goats and deer. One deer decided I made a pretty good salt lick, and licked my arm for quite some time.
Logan and his favorite animal! This zoo has many of these... Logan was in heaven!
Petting the rays (almost as much fun as the petting zoo!)
Lunchtime back at the motor home (parked next to all of the school buses. Erik loved that!).
Looking at the giraffes with Grammy
Some more of the animals we saw:

And of course, we had to let them play on the playground before we left!
Headed home!
**Logan and Sara are 1 year apart to the day, Sara being a year older. Logan loves Sara and has said that he is going to marry her someday. I'm not sure how Sara feels, although she eats up all of the attention he gives her! LOL! I couldn't resist these pictures... I'm sure her dad will love to see them! HA!

For all you cloth diapering mommies...

Confessions of A First Time Mom is having a Ditching Disposables Event! It runs through the month of December, so head over and check it out!