New Year's Eve 2014

Our friends the Jessups, invited our crew over to celebrate and ring in the new year! Tina absolutely outdid herself with planning activities for the kids every hour but also fun games for the adults all night too. 

If we weren't playing games or eating we were dancing. A good friend of theirs is a DJ and he brought his setup (lights and smoke included) and transformed their living room into a dance party!!

I had no idea until tonight just how many dance moves my kids had picked up from their  dad. Seriously, most of y'all have seen Mark in action, but now there are THREE of them. Wowsers!!

The kids had a blast being together...

And my kiddos favorite kid activity was actually making 2014 time capsules. (Once I clarified that they weren't making time castles. Lol.)

But by 11pm, the kids were fading fast. Little Heart went down about 9pm but the other two made it to 11:30. Then they crashed in a chair in the living room with lights still strobing and music blaring. They were worn out!! But Mark and I danced up until midnight and rang in the new year together kidless.

We had a great evening celebrating and we hope you all did too.

From our crazy family to yours... Happy New Year!!

Christmas in Hickory

We left late on Christmas night and made the trek west to Hickory for Christmas #3! We got in around midnight and the kids were excited to see their cousins, but these two just couldn’t stay awake!!

But no worries… a few hours of sleep and they were all ready to dive into present opening again! Who knew there was anything left that they didn’t already have?!

Legos, a sewing kit, cash register, clothes, a telescope and a ton more—Oma, Opa, and Aunt Rachel spoiled them ROTTEN!! Good thing we always pack light so we can take plenty home.

Audrey got sick while we were there. Thank goodness it was just a 24 hour bug. We sent her to watch TV and rest most of Friday after Mark and I got to clean the kitchen floor the first morning we were there. Oh, the joys of germ season!

The big kids helped Oma in the kitchen making their favorite, Rolo Cookies!

And we enjoyed some good outside fun. My parents have the best backyard! My two obviously love playing with their cousins, but Little Heart does too!! She follows them EVERYWHERE!

Although we didn’t do a whole lot, we had a whole lot of fun just being together. Nothing I like better than being home and seeing my girls enjoy it there as much as I always did!

Christmas 2014

We had a great day today celebrating Christmas!!

My early risers slept in until 7 so we were actually ready for them when they woke up. I was about in tears this morning when the big two both came downstairs and climbed up in my lap on the sofa to wish me a Merry Christmas without even glancing for stockings or gifts. It wasn't until Little Heart came down and started being nosy that they realized their stockings were jammed full of fun. Stockings are always a big hit and we all have fun buying each other's favorite little things. And somehow ALL of us ended up getting new step-ins. (That is underwear, to the common person.)

After a big breakfast and our last Jesus Christmas ornament making session we got back to opening gifts. Our kiddos only get three a piece so we have to space it out a bit. We had some weird requests this year, but the girls got what they asked for. Top of the list... Madeline and her new dirt devil vacuum! Yup, the girl loves a clean playroom. She spent over an hour cleaning this afternoon! (I will blog more about the rest of their gifts later.)

Oh, and I bought Mark an ironing board. (I DO NOT iron. Ever.) For real, he wanted a new one.

I had some great helpers for making Baby Jesus' birthday cake. They were even better helpers when it came time for eating. While we did our cake, the girls took all their Jesus ornaments off their little tree and put them in order. They then took turns telling parts of the WHOLE story. It is absolutely incredible how this daily activity/devotion time put a completely different focus on our whole season. They learned a ton about the Bible, but I learned so much from the same story I have heard for 34 years but this time through the eyes of my children. 

We finished off the day with some good playtime outside. Even got Little Heart on the zipline. 

Tonight as we were in the car traveling to see my family in Hickory, a nice long drive-while-the-kids-sleep trip, we were doing our nighttime routine... favorite part of the day/thankful for/who should we pray for and Madeline says... "I will always remember this year because it was our first Christmas with Little Heart." Tears. It wasn't what they did, what presents they got or didn't get, or where they were... it was the WHO. 

Oh how I pray that these tiny moments are forever etched on all of my family's hearts, God gave us a HUGE gift... this year it was Little Heart... but long ago it was a different child... an even bigger gift, Jesus. And each day my little family is living proof that God uses people, just like Mary & Joseph long ago, in their utter chaos and messed up lives, to bring others to His glory. So that is my Christmas wish not only for my family but you too... that we are able to grasp that no matter who we are or where we are in life... God can and will use us to further His kingdom. Merry Christmas, friends... thanks for walking this journey with us!

Christmas Eve

It was a fairly quiet Christmas Eve Day at our house. Mainly because it poured rain most of the day.

We got everything finished for tomorrow—gifts wrapped, Baby Jesus cake baked, grocery store shopping, and NAPS! The last one was a requirement in order to stay up and do what has become our Christmas Eve tradition since we moved here to the beach 3 years ago.

We enjoyed being in church tonight and singing some of our favorite traditional Christmas hymns. Little Heart even did her best singing the ones she had learned at preschool—melted my heart! But by far, my favorite moment of the whole night was this…

Standing side by side with my husband and watching all three of my littles sing Silent Night as their candles burned bright. Complete awe on Little Heart’s face as she just took it all in. We have no idea what her last Christmas was like, nor what her next Christmas will be… but THIS year, we will cherish some first moments like this and pray that some piece of it will remain in her heart forever. Moments like tonight are no doubt etched on my heart forever!

After church we headed for the beach. While the weather threatened to wash us out—it stayed clear and we were able to enjoy our bonfire on the beach with some dear friends. Nothing beats the peace and quiet that a nice fire brings but add that to the roar of the ocean in the background… just a nice reminder of how small I am in this big old world.

It was a late night for the our three typical early birds, but once we got home we grabbed showers and they got to open their LAST Advent book (click HERE if you missed the story behind those) and their Christmas Eve gift. Matching pajamas has always been our tradition but because they so happily gave away all the books they had opened over the month, they all got a stack of new books to keep. Happy girls, especially my oldest bookworm.

As you go about your traditions and gatherings in the next days we pray that you are able to reflect and absorb the greatness of this season. God has blessed us abundantly with gifts this year, but none of which can compare to the gift of His Son which He gave us so long ago! From our family to yours, we wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas!

Homemade Goodies

We get so many baked goodies over the month of December, I bake very few at home. BUT one thing I always make and have done since I was probably in 6th grade, is make homemade Chex Mix!

And all my kiddos LOVE IT!! Such good helpers I have…

Yes, if you have noticed… crafts and baking… someone is always missing their clothes. ;)

I had to laugh when Audrey asked about my “secret recipe” and why it is SO much better than the stuff you buy at the store in the bag. I didn’t have time to reply, but Madeline says, “This is made with LOVE!” Bahaha!! Love that kid!

And so we made 3 big old batches and the old blue tin is full to the top. Now we’ll see how long it lasts, especially when they want to eat it for breakfast. Really, how do you argue with them when they say… “It’s just cereal, mom!!”

Two Weeks

Today was my first big breath of REST!! Pure heaven.

I am looking forward to two amazing weeks of just being with my girls (and my hubby... but he isn't off that long).

Book reading, movie watching, laying around in jammies, playing dress up, nail painting... these are what lazy vacation days are made for!

I hope this week finds some quiet and rest for your family too!! 

Early Christmas

Gramma and Grampa Blevins always spend the weekend before Christmas with us and this year was no exception. Today we enjoyed lots of fun while building and decorating  gingerbread houses. Little Heart did waaaay more eating than decorating but the other two did great with all the details.

And of course we exchanged gifts tonight... always fun to watch the girls as they enjoy time with their grandparents.

The sleepy girls are all tucked in but the rest of us are enjoying a night watching "White Christmas." Such a wonderful time of the year!!

Bolivia Parade

Today was the big town of Bolivia's Christmas parade. I talk about it every year because it is our favorite of all the parades. Why you ask?!? They may not have the best entries but they give out tons of free stuff and the girls love it!!

In year's past we have gotten loads of candy, stuffed animals, t-shirts, and footballs. But this year had a definite first... a bbq joint out of Wilmington pulling their smoker in the parade was handing out foil wrapped pork bbq sliders! Seriously, ever had that happen before!? I love good old small town fun.

Gramma and Grampa Blevins are in for the weekend so they enjoyed the fun with us too!

This is the only parade where Audrey is snooty about candy. She will let them throw it on the ground and she will then selectively pick up what she wants and leave the rest for the other kids, in today's case... Little Heart. She also brought a basket from home so she would be able to hold it all. She doesn't mess around. 

 Big grin and candy-filled chipmunk cheeks...

 

The rain kept a lot of people from coming out, but like always we had a blast at the Bolivia parade!

SOLD!

I never thought the day would come... Mark finally sold is 1972 Cutlass Oldsmobile! He has been talking about it for over a year, HERE is the blog post I did on it back in October in case you missed it.

Two weeks ago he finally listed it on Craigslist and tonight two guys showed up from Jacksonville with cash to buy it at Mark's asking price. (You are welcome, honey, for telling you to list it for more than you wanted. I really should be a saleswoman! No negotiating... they paid his asking price.)  Didn't know they were that serious... but with some help we managed to find a notary and got it all signed and done tonight, a Friday, after 7pm. Wowsers. That was fast.

So, here are are a few oldies but goodies from over the last few years...

And I would have done a final photo shoot before tonight had I known our first lookers would buy on the spot, but I did drag them out in their pjs for one final picture. Love these.

And of course with their daddy!!

Lots of fun memories in this car... some never to be shared with you readers ;) ... but no doubt the 25 year old helicopter mechanic marines will show her a good time in the years ahead. Mark couldn't be happier with who he sold it too... he just wanted someone to love it as much as he did... and I am certain they will.

So long Snot Rocket... thanks for the memories.

Cookie Decorating Party

It must have been a hit with my two girls last year because it was the only real request they made when we sat down and did our December family calendar back in November… THE COOKIE DECORATING PARTY!

They love having their friends over for a fun afternoon of playing and decorating cookies. And I always just enjoy hanging out with the other moms too!

Cookie baking occurred on Saturday and it continues to be my second born that is more patient when it comes to kitchen projects. She made quite many of our 12 dozen sugar cookies!!

After church the girls helped me get everything just right on the table:

And then they had to wait on their friends to arrive! And when they all did, oh the fun we had decorating.

It’s funny how much difference a year can make in their cookie decorating skills. Last year they kind of just threw it all on their cookies, but this year they were actually very quiet during decorating as they concentrated to make their cookies just right. And of course the first cookies all came out so sweet and perfect and as they made it to about cookie 6, the sprinkles were just everywhere. And that was okay too! They had the best time.

The hardest part??! I made them wait until AFTER they were done decorating to snack. But they listened well and ended up with some fun treats afterwards. By request, I sprinkled their glass rims… I love that something so simple makes my kids so happy. :)

And don’t forget the after decorating performance. Loved hearing their Christmas song medleys because they don’t know all the words to any whole Christmas song. LOL!!

We indeed look forward to this event all December and are glad to have our friends share the day with us! I love watching these little girls grow into such good friends.

And now I am officially done making cookies until next Christmas. ;)