Wacky Wednesday: Snow Art

In the absence of something really deep, I leave you with some of my favorite cartoons. . . Calvin and Hobbes

Finding the ONE

Yesterday afternoon we took our traditional drive out to the tree farm to find and chop our Christmas tree. Noah was in charge of the saw and quickly cut a "Christmas tree" for himself and Bronwen. They carried their little branches through the field as we looked for the ONE.

Annabelle was looking deeply into my eyes as if to say, "What in the world are we doing out here? It's freezing, take me home!" But she didn't complain, she was a little trooper.

This is the ONE. Let me tell you a little secret. Our van is right behind me. . . we pulled up to this tree and thought it was beautiful, but I didn't want to find the ONE in the first minute, not 15 feet from our van, so we trecked to the back of the field . . . and then came back to this one. This happens every year. We find a great tree within the first five minutes or so, but where's the fun in that? So we always walk around looking . . . and then come back to the first one we saw.

Flashback Friday

In case you cannot see, that is a bubble from bubble gum on Jayme's nose. . . yes, I put it there.

S is for...

Sunshine, which we thouroughly enjoyed yesterday and today. It makes such a difference for me when the sun is out . . .let's hope it continues for a while.

Snowflakes
since the first snow on Thanksgiving we've been ready for MORE, so we made our own snowflakes today.

This is one of Noah's own designs.

Stained Glass

We shaved red and green crayons over wax paper, then covered with a second sheet of wax paper. With an iron on a low setting, gently place over the wax paper and heat the crayon bits to melting. The design is sealed between the wax paper. Then we cut each design into uniform squares and taped to our window, covering the seams with black electrical tape.

Rub-a-dub-dub

Annabelle in a tub!

There is nothing more pleasant than bathing a baby and preparing her for bed. . . that is until the washing, drying & lotion are done. Then just about the time we start the diapering she starts the wiggling and it becomes a wrestling match with an octopus. Where do all the extra arms and legs come from? Finally in her PJs, she heaves a big sleepy sigh of contentment and I am left tired and sweaty.

Eight

Eight is great!

She's tiny for her age, but she packs a lot of power:

huge smile

strong back, arms and legs

healthy lungs

And, she's been calling "Mama" though it's mostly when she cries.

First Snow Fall

As a delicious frosting on a cake, so was the first snowfall last night. This morning everything was covered in a beautiful sparkling blanket of white. I love the winter for the drastic changes in scenery it brings.

Today, the day after Thanksgiving, is our traditional day for going out to chop our Christmas tree. However Bronwen is sick and we are staying inside where it's warm. Our tree will have to wait.

Giving Thanks

Noah enjoys helping out in the kitchen and today he helped Aunt Jayme make the pumpkin pies. Mmmmm

A beautiful table set for 13. . . we really missed Scott and set a place for him anyway. Josh's parents were also able to join us since his brother's family was out of town. It was a full house but it was so wonderful to be together.

The kids took their play with them in every room. They played sardines which is like hide and seek, but as each person finds the hider, they hide with him until the last seeker has found them. We also had fun playing pictionary.




The first snow . . .

Josh left the shudder open for these pictures and it makes them look like little snow spirits playing in the yard.

The kids waited all day for it, and finally it began late in the evening. There was nothing left to do but to don the coats, hats and mittens and dance in the snow! A perfect end to a perfect day of thanks.

Wednesday the Great

Jayme is reunited with her littlest niece. Annabelle seemed to recognize her and was happy to be held by her sweet Auntie. Isn't it amazing how the imprint from those early weeks lasted in her little mind?

Noah and Bronwen were so happy to see Jayme again. They were stuck to her like glue for most of her visit. We went over to Mom's on Wednesday to help prepare for Thanksgiving.

We attended a candlelight Thanksgiving prayer service at church and afterward my sweet man let me and the kids spend the night at mom's. While the little ones slept, we worked well into the night talking, laughing, preparing food and enjoying each other's company. Waking up back at home with my sister was a wonderful gift. The time was so special and felt so festive!

Sweet Reunion

I am thankful for:

Scott sending my sister home for Thanksgiving

My precious neice Madelyn who turns 9 today - Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

My husband who works so hard for us and for me to be able to stay home

My children - the lights of my life

My parents who continue to love, support and encourage me

My dear friends with whom I share this journey of parenthood with all of it's amazing ups and downs.




Last night was just wonderful. After quite a long day of travel for her - she was up at 3AM, took the 5AM train to Logan airport, flew to JFK, changed planes, had to wait an hour on the runway until Chicago cleared them because of the heavy fog -we met Jayme about 6pm outside her old apartment in Hyde Park. It was so great to just wrap my arms around her and hold her! We just stood there in the street laughing and hugging and taking pictures and reaquainting her with Annabelle. My little punkin took to her Auntie like she had just been with her yesterday and not the five months that it has been. It was just precious.

Then we hopped the Metra to downtown where we met her friend Paula and had dinner at Grand Lux Cafe. This is one of our favorite places and Mom enjoyed it for the first time. By the time we were done eating and visiting, it was raining so we decided not to do any shopping. It was closing in on 10:30 our time anyway, so we caught the 9:20 train back to Hyde Park to pick up Jayme's luggage and pack the car and head home. Marta, Jayme and Scott's old neighbor, had picked Jayme up earlier and had let her keep her bags in the apartment so we went up to retrieve them and to change Annabelle into pajamas. (I know the details may be monotonous, but I am telling them for a good reason) When Marta opened the door, sweet little Dali jumped out, surprising us! We didn't know that Jayme was bringing her this time. But that was why it was so important for Jayme to connect with Marta (of course she wanted to visit with her too)and why we needed to pick her up (dogs are not allowed on the South Shore.) We were so happy to see that sweet little dog! And she was so excited to see us that she couldn't hold still for a long time.

We returned to my house a little after 1am, and Mom and Jayme continued on to the old homestead. Hopefully she was able to get some really good sleep last night.



To do today: Pick up crickets for Jack (salamander)

Pick up Madie from preschool

Start menu prep at mom's

Visit with Jayme



Happy Thanksgiving everyone! My prayer for you is that you will enjoy the day, with your dear ones close by, and journey's mercies for anyone on the road.

Delirious

Tomorrow Jayme flies into Chicago and Mom and I will be picking her up! I'm so excited, I don't know if I'll be able to sleep.

Monument Builders

The other day we were studying ancient Northern Europe in History and Geography. Noah was fascinated with Stonehenge and how it was built. Were the giant stone arrangements calenders, or something religious? He and Bronwen built their own versions of Stonehenge.

I did a little research in the Bible and using several different translations looked up references to monuments. They were all negative passages having to do with idolatry. Then I came across this passage from The Message:

Isaiah 55:12
12 -13"So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines— Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God."

Here are a few of the monuments that were built in our family today. Some of the many day to day happenings that I am so thankful for:

This afternoon Bronwen and I got to have some time to ourselves while Annabelle slept and Noah and Daddy are at the Notre Dame game. (I have something to write about that later.)

I held her little face in my hands and said, "do you know how much I love you?" (it was such a sweet moment) and she looked right in my eyes and nodded, "yes" she whispered, "more than coffee."

Sometimes Uncle Johnnie has tickets to the Notre Dame game and we live so close to campus he often borrows our bikes or parks here and we run him, Christine and just recently the girls up to the campus for tailgating and football fun. So Noah has really been wanting to go too. Josh mentioned this last week at his Saturday morning Bible study and asked the guys to pray that sometime the Lord would provide a way for him to take Noah to a game.

One of the guys from the Bible study called Josh on Thursday and said he had been in a drawing and won 2 tickets to the game today and he wanted to give them to Josh and Noah. (He had already taken his son to a game this year.) WOW!
I cannot describe how excited Noah became when he heard how Daddy's prayer was answered, and so quickly!

And now I'm looking in at the game and ND is actually winning. Noah prayed last night that the game would go well. Not that his team would win, but that the game would go well. God even takes care of the small stuff. Notre Dame won tonight, beating Duke 28-0.

By the way, the seats were "preferred seating" which put them in the middle on the press box side of the stadium . . . four rows from the field! What a view they enjoyed.