Prayer

A simple prayer routine that I am going to try to follow: P stands for Praise; R is for Repent; A is for Ask ; Y stands for Yield

Snowman

With the snow outside, we've been inspired. And the result...a snowman! After cutting out 3 circles I proceeded to paper punch the eyes and buttons. Then I realized that I could apply child labor to the task.

He loved it, and I thought it was a good activity for fine motor skill development. Then we took the dots and glued them on as buttons.

More fine motor practice!

Galina was upset that she wasn't involved so I put her in her high chair and gave her some dots to glue. She only ate a few.

Look at those little hands! I remember dreaming of this day when I was a little girl. Having a baby of my own. The Lord knows my heart and blessed me. Twofold!

Next we cut out and applied the carrot nose.

It's a little large....Barbara Streisand-ish. (sp?) Treyton made some red dots for the mouth and glued them on too.

Then he wanted orange boots so I cut some out, and he glued them on.

Well, after a while I looked at Galina's masterpiece. She did a really good job. Her first craft! I just cut it a bit and made it into a hat.

Bryce was really nervous when he saw this. He must've thought that I invaded his tackle box.

No worries, Honey! I just dug through some old teaching supplies and found this fishing wire. You could use yarn, string, or even thread. I simply taped the snowman pieces together to create a sort of mobile.

And there you have it! Our inspired snowman craft.

With the boy in the striped pajamas.

Christmas Card Kid Style

Nope. We haven't even started. Christmas cards are my least favorite thing to do this time of year. Procrastination at its best. But they are on top of things at Treyton's preschool. Here's a simple yet meaningful card that he made for us. Using thumbprints they made berries. Then the teacher simply drew on leaves to make holly. Cute, festive, and personal!

A Night On The Town

Bryce and I were actually able to get out for a date last night. It was Bryce's work party. Thanks to my sister getting married a few years ago, I had a suitable dress. We didn't even get back from the dinner until 9:45 pm....on a school night! I felt like a teenager again! I thank the Lord for Bryce's job for many reasons and last night was one.

Golden Wassail

I found the BEST recipe for a fall or holiday drink. Here's the recipe.

Golden Wassail

4 C Pineapple Juice

4 C Apple Cider

12-oz Can Apricot Nectar (found in juice isle of grocer)

1 C Orange Juice

1/2 tsp Cardamom (what's that? I just used cinnamon)

2 4-inch cinnamon sticks

1 tsp whole cloves

1/4 tsp salt

Put the cloves in cheese cloth or leftover toole from tu-tu making or something that will keep it separate from the rest so they don't float all over. You can throw the cinnamon sticks in there too but they are easy to pick out so it's not necessary. Then dump everything else in a crock pot. Let it simmer for a while and enjoy. Oh heaven!

We Have Room!

Yesterday was CBS, and they acted out the Christmas story in Treyton's class. Each kid got a role to play, and my darling got to be the inn keeper. Now, my boy has a very big heart. And when someone has a need he is quick to help out. So when Mary and Joseph came to his inn door, he was supposed to tell them that there was no room. But instead, according to his teachers, he was insistent and persistent that he had room! He had room! "No, no, no, we have room. You can come in. WE HAVE ROOM!"

So, dear Jesus, if Treyton was around while you were being born, he'd make sure you'd be comfy and cozy as you came into this world. The Christmas story according to one little boy with a big heart.

My Morning

A few days ago I had a morning. A somewhat typical morning. Here's what happened....

I was giving the kids a bath in the tub in our bedroom so I could put laundry at the same time. Galina pooped. In the tub. Treyton jumped out of the tub and started turning blue while he kept yelling, "Oh no! Galina POOPED!" So I grabbed Galina out of the tub and ran her into the other bathroom to start the whole bath process again in there. With all the quick movements and my not-so-friendly attitude, she started wailing. So both kids crying and turning blue from the cold.

I got them in the other tub and was running back and forth between the two bathrooms, trying to clean up the poop so it didn't dry while checking on the kids.

After the bath in tub #2 was over, I got them out. Since Treyton was still blue I decided to get him dressed first. Thinking that Galina had just peed and pooped she was okay for 75 seconds. Well, I was wrong.

As I was getting the undies on Treyton, Galina squatted down (like a DOG!) and proceeded to pee and poop in the middle of the hallway.

So I raced to the poopie tub to grab the paper towels only to return to the crime scene to see Daisy eating the poop while Galina stood captivated as well as naked. Please don't get any ideas Missy Magoo! I tried to get Daisy to stop to no avail (and was secretly glad that I didn't have to clean up more poop).

When people ask what I do all day, I usually just say "stuff". But today I decided to stand up for my job and share the grim details of a typical morning which is never typical and makes being a stay-at-home mom that much harder. But I love it. Poop-eating dogs and all.

Gabrielle

Each week in Treyton's Sunday school class, the preschool kids all go downstairs for a time of worship and storytime. Today we picked up Treyton from Sunday school to learn that he got to play Gabrielle in the Christmas story. Evidently he volunteered and was put in a white robe with garland and wings. When they told him to say a line he did accordingly. Oh what I wouldn't have given to be a mouse in the corner! I am so proud of him! They made two angel crafts today too. Here's "Gabe" with his protégées.

To be honest, I thought this was an airplane. Galina wanted in on the photo shoot so her she is in her lovely dress. By the way, I wore a long flowy skirt today and Treyton asked me to dance. I love that kid! He told me several times how pretty I looked. (Extra dessert for him today.)

Of course, when Galina learned about Treyton's acting debut, she had to throw in a few theatrics of her own. Gosh, I love that kid too! Thank you Lord, for adding so much to my life through these two little ones.