Time for Love & Time for Cheer

This year's Christmas was one of my favorites. The boys are at such fun ages, and their excitement is contagious. We are very spoiled and dare I say got everything we wanted for Christmas.

Joe's favorite gift was his ride-on Thomas the Train. I could barely get him off of it the entire day, and he guards it constantly making sure that his brother knows whose it is.

Joshua's favorite gift was his Dreamlite. He'd been asking for one non-stop and even though I was worried that once he got one he'd change his mind, he really loves it.

I'm pretty sure that Luke's favorite gift was the Ipad my brother got us, but the set of Theologian Coasters that I made him for his office were a huge hit as well. He's been wanting a set of coasters for a while, but after looking at a few sets I didn't really see any that I thought he'd like. I remembered seeing a tutorial for homemade coasters on pinterest a while back and even though I hadn't pinned it, I did remember reading through the instructions and thought that I could pull it off. He loves them so much he has actually  requested that I make a few more for his birthday.

It's hard to say what gift was my favorite since I really loved everything I got. I of course love the camera that my mom got me, but the gifts from my husband were all very thoughtful. Topping the list of most thoughtful gifts was the Clarinet he gave me. I already owned it, but it was a mess. I hadn't even looked at it in a few years. It needed new pads, and some pieces were broken off, cork was missing, and the metal was kinda gross from age. The clarinet had originally been purchased by my father about 12 or so years ago. It is an antique, wooden, Normandy clarinet. I played for years and years on a cheapo plastic clarinet, but my dad always wanted me to have a really nice one. I remember how excited he was the day he brought it home, he was proud of his purchase and even though it wasn't anywhere near playing condition, he told me he'd have it restored someday. As you know my dad passed away 2 years ago, and he'd never gotten around to getting the clarinet up and running. When Luke brought out the case on Christmas morning I just looked at him confused and thought, "does he think that this was lost and he found it?" I was shocked when he told me to open it. Having it in working condition was a dream I thought would never come to fruition. I held it and sobbed thinking how much my dad would have cried if he knew that I'd get to play it. I know it would have made him so happy. It made me happy. I've already been playing lots and hope to do a few specials here and there at the church (after more brushing up of course).

Luke took a few days off from work after Christmas and we've been enjoying the family time together. I've been thinking a lot this week about what a great family I have. Once I was old enough to have a boyfriend, my Grandma use to always say to me, "find a good husband, and you'll be happy in life." She'd tell me every visit and on the phone too, "You find a good man like I did, when I found your grandpa, it'll make all the difference." My husband never met my grandmother, she passed away just shortly after we were married and she hadn't been well for a while before that, but the last time that my mother went to visit her I told my mom, "you tell Grandma that I found a good man, I found one just like grandpa, just like she said to. Don't forget, tell her I found a good one." When my mom came back she told me she'd relayed the message, when I asked what grandma had said, my mom said, "well she was very sick sweetie, but she knew, and she smiled...she knows."

My grandmother could not have been more right about finding a good husband. I think back on her words often when I'm with my 3 boys and we're laughing and having a good time together. "You'll be happy, and it'll make all the difference." Luke has his faults.....which I won't mention here :) but he is a very good man. He loves the Lord and he loves his family. This year one of my most favorite things about our Christmas was just our family being together, being happy. God has given our family so much this, because He gave us eachother.

Holiday Happenings

My blog has been pretty much non-existent since my camera broke at the beginning of November. Luckily my mother came to my rescue and got me a new one for Christmas!! It's fancy, and yes, I know it should be under the tree still , but she lives hours away and even though I'm sure she rolled her eyes when I told her that I was already using it, she's knows I've been opening my gifts before it was time since I was old enough to walk. She tells this horrific story about buying me shoes one year for Christmas. The gist of it is this : I opened them one morning, wore them to school, re-wrapped them. She'd lead you to believe she was forever scarred as a parent, but don't let her fool you, she finds it funny :)

I've been reading a few other blogs lately about holiday traditions. One holiday tradition that is among my top 5 easily is the Christmas Card. I LOVE sending and receiving Christmas cards. Even if I have read every post the person had on Facebook all year, I still cannot wait to read their letter! I'm like a kid in the candy store when the cards begin arriving. You can ask my husband, he thinks I'm crazy!! I will hold up the unopened envelopes and with sheer excitement say things like, "I can't wait to see their picture!" or maybe, "what do you think made the letter this year?" I love addressing them, I love placing the giant stack into the mailbox on December 1st (also a tradition of mine) and I especially love the day that you get the mail and it is ALL Christmas cards!!! It's one of my favorite days of the year usually around the 22nd and it is a day I smile all afternoon. I'm an old fashioned card nerd, it's okay I accept it!

Our entire Church is focusing on the Advent Season this year and anticipation of- as well as preparation for the Christ Child's arrival. I love advent at church and as Luke has been preaching about what true anticipation means I have seen it this year in my own home. I had forgotten what pure anticipation really looks like until I saw my little Joshua's excitement beginning to build. My heart overflows with joy as I watch his eyes light up every morning when he glimpses the tree lit in the living room. The other day he asked me , "Is Christmas coming to Colorado yet?" Almost, I told him about a week and a half still. I could see him trying to contain the excitement and think about something else, but inevitably he circled around the tree and curled up on the couch just starring at the lights, waiting for Christmas. The Lord uses my kids to open my eyes to so many things and this very instance is one of those times. What are the things that I can't get out of my head this Christmas season? The bills that need paying, the baking that should get done, the gifts that need wrapping, or is it the Birth of our Savior! I know what I want it to be.

We let the kids help decorate the tree for the first time ever this year. It was exciting, overwhelming, fun, and stressful all wrapped into one 30 min decoration session! As heirloom ornaments whizzed by and I told myself "if they break they are just things." I honestly loved seeing my kids looking at each ornament and placing it (sometimes) lovingly on the tree. The clear favorite this year is the Charlie Brown ornament. The boys are Charlie Brown Crazy this season. I think that I got the ornament in a bag of candy a few years back and just never threw it away. So glad now that I didn't actually throw it away because it has been truly loved this year. My current favorite is a set of red, glass, candle ornaments that clip onto the branches. For years growing up my parents had a "candle tree" we had real candles that looked almost identical to these glass ones. My dad would light the candles on Christmas eve while we played games and opened presents and then again on Christmas morning while ate our big Christmas meal. Even though these candles aren't real, they remind me of home.

This morning we worked hard on the kids' Christmas t-shirts, which is becoming a little bit of a tradition I guess. Last year the boys made reindeer shirts and this year it's wreaths!!!! They turned out super cute I think and of course the kids love them.

Lastly Joshua was really wanting me to take a picture of him being a "sickie" he is actually feeling much better but loves to draw out the attention for as long as he can. He successfully made a little "sick bed" for himself on the couch and is happily watching  A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Dominick the Donkey & Others

Well I made it to November 9th this year before wanting to pull out the Christmas decorations! When I mentioned it to Luke this morning he said I was much improved having made it past October this year. I'm pretty sure that every post from here to the end of the year will consist of Christmas ideas, thoughts, and obsessions. Don't worry Luke would never actually let me decorate this early :) but I can dream can't I?

I always look forward to decorating for Christmas. If you've known us long you know that we go ALL OUT for Christmas. In fact this year we are thinking about purchasing another tree! Our new home has room for 2 and we definitely have enough decorations for 2! Probably the item I am most looking forward to pulling out is the Advent Calendar I made the kids last year. I adore it, especially when there are 2 little boys jumping up and down in front of it eagerly anticipating Christmas!

I am truly raising little versions of myself in my children. When I got into the car this morning ready to drive Joshua to school, I heard him in the back seat asking to listen to Laurie Berkner Christmas. Now if you're a huge Laurie Berkner fan like my son is, you know she just released a new Christmas Album. I did however have to break it to him that I ordered it, but it wasn't here yet. My heart however filled with joy at the thought of him loving Christmas music as much as I do. Our all time family favorite is Dominic the Donkey. I cannot believe how many people have not heard it before! I grew up loving it,  my mother had it on a mix cassette tape that a friend had given her. When itunes first emerged I searched out all of my favorites from this tape she had always played at Christmas time, and downloaded  them so that I could cherish all those memories of her and I decorating the house together, her singing and me finding her ridiculous. Now I can play them all and my children can find me just as ridiculous. I love how God works things out in life :) Here is a link to Dominick if you have never heard it I hope you will love it as much as we do! It's just silly nonsense, but we've found the more you listen to it, the more you listen to it! My next random favorite is Christmas in Killarney also from my mother's mix tape and now a favorite of my children as well. Of course my heart belongs to truly Christ centered songs like O Holy Night, but there's something about a little Christmas silliness that I enjoy as well.

I was gone most of this week on an annual retreat. A friend (Marci) and I yearly escape our everyday lives for a Tuesday through Thursday trip. We refresh, catch up with eachother, and try to re-center our focus on Christ. This year my eyes were opened as usual. We spent time discussing forgiveness and reading about it. I've never felt so convicted by Matthew 18:24-31. How many times have I hesitated to forgive someone because of how great I felt their debt to me was (how much I hurt). Yet, how ridiculous do I look to God who has forgiven me so much greater a debt (and done it over and over and over again.) We also meditated on Matthew 18:21 & 22. How many times must I forgive? Seventy times Seven. Jesus told Peter face to face, forgive and do it over and over and over. No matter how many times I've read this, every time I need to hear it again, it is like reading it for the very first time, and feeling convicted for the very first time all over again.

Wrapping up my thoughts on a lighter note- Marci and I also had a good chuckle as we listed a few of our favorite Christmas movies. Surprisingly Christmas in Connecticut topped both of our lists! So here is my top 10 favorite Christmas movies, and by this I mean the movies I can watch over and over and over......

10. The Santa Claus II
9. It's a Wonderful Life
8. Home Alone
7. Disney's Christmas Carol
6. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
5. Christmas With The Cranks (another tear jerk-er)
4. The Christmas Card (I cry every time I watch it)
3. Holiday Inn
2. Christmas in Connecticut
1. Holiday Affair


I know the first thought of many of you is how is A Christmas Story not on the list, but honestly I don't really like that movie that much. I might watch it if it's on tv, but even then I'm not a big fan. I also don't get into Christmas Vacation much either. Luke is your guy if you're into those, but I like the classics.

One of my favorite pics from last Christmas!!!!

Keeping up with Christmas

I feel like I've had about 20 different projects half done, or just started. Finally this week I am getting to a few of them. In fact Jonas napped for over an hour today and I got so much accomplished!

I have been in a very premature Christmas-y mood lately while working on a couple of Christmas projects, and Luke has mentioned several times how "creepy" it is to be listening to Christmas music at the beginning of October. I say, "whatever it takes to get me in the mood to finish these Christmas gifts."

This is a "not quite finished" Christmas project that I have been chipping away at.

This year I've decided to give a few more handmade gifts than I usually do. I LOVE receiving homemade gifts and it's getting rare to get something so unique anymore. The problem with wanting to make gifts however, is the time it takes to do it, which is exactly why I have started so early :) A few of the projects are surprises for people who read this so those will of course remain secret, but I'm happy to share the rest!

I've thinking about making a pouch for the boys' characters and I finally put one together this week!

I still need to add the closure, but I think the boys are really going to LOVE these!

I finished Joshua's character set- it includes Super Why & Dino Dan on the left

Joshua is so happy to be back at school this week after missing 2 days for our getaway and then his school's fall break. Jonas has finally chosen his birthday party theme and much to my disappointment he did not choose a dino party. He seemed to really want a jungle themed party and since he's a much better talker than Joshua was at almost 2, Jonas has clearly spoken his choice.

This is the beginning of Joe's Birthday Banner

Joe has been loving the decor I made for his cake table

caught trying to get into it! Sweet Little Hands :)

 I managed to get the Boys' names up on the wall in their play room (Special thanks to Toni, for making them for me, we love them). I also ordered a couple of poster pictures when Walgreens had a special on them. I only paid $2 a piece for the 2 you see and they are soooo cute and nice quality, I wish I had ordered more of them, but you never know what they are like until you try. Next time I'm for sure ordering more! The boys love the one of them with their South Dakota buddies!

More to come on my Christmas projects as well as a few thoughts on Numbness to the Word, something we have been talking about in Sunday School. Next week I will have more blogging time - Luke will be out of town for a few days :)

Spontaniety

I am one of the least spontaneous people. I almost despise spontaneity with its unpredictability and unknown outcomes. I love it in others lives and almost live it vicariously through my best best friend who is quite the opposite of me, but in my own life I avoid it and plan, plan, plan. This past week however, I took the road less traveled and it made all the difference.

Last Thursday was my Grandfather's 92nd birthday! My mom decided to plan last minute road trip to see him in Mandan, ND. When I got off the phone with her I told Luke how I wished I could go too. Daydreaming about it I rifled through the possibilities of driving to Rapid City and picking up my mom, and then her, I and the kids (of course) would finish the trip together. The long drive with 2 little guys however, did not excite me. I took my daydreaming a step further and priced some airline tickets. After finding some that I could almost afford I ran the idea past my mom. She jumped at the idea and even offered to fund the trip (even better!) I didn't think I could make the trip alone with both kids since neither of them had even flown and I myself had never flown without my husband, so I checked to see if Luke could watch Joe if Joshua and I took off for the weekend. He said yes, and I booked the flight, pretty much the fastest I've ever moved on anything since it was Wednesday night and we flew out on Friday morning.

Joshua on the airplane for his first flight!

So thankful that my Uncle and Aunt (whom my grandfather lives with) are always happy to see me, we took off on an adventure, just Joshua & me.

A picture of the GIANT dragline Joshua got to ride in

Ready to head out on his tour!

The trip was PACKED full of exciting activities! We arrived Friday afternoon and that night we had a delicious dinner, cake, and Grandpa opened a few presents. Saturday was any little boys' dream come true as my Uncle had arranged for Joshua to get his own private tour of Falkirk Mine's Dragline. Joshua really enjoyed watching the giant shovel scoop up buckets of dirt. He got a little scared once or twice due to overwhelming size of everything, but I know it will be an experience he'll never forget. After our tour we took off for Minot to check out the Scandinavian Host Fest and meet up with My cousin Derek (and his wife Camilla) for dinner. Host Fest was filled with unique Scandinavian foods, gifts, and more. It was a lot of walking for 4 year old legs so we finally threw in the towel and sat down for a bit, but Joshua ended up with a super cute frog stocking hat for winter and of course a tiger one for Joe. Next we headed over to my cousins house and then out for dinner at a place called Space Aliens. I had never heard of it, but they seem popular in North Dakota. Decorated like space and filled with Arcade games, it was of course a hit with Joshua.

Playing in the corn at the Pumpkin Patch

Sunday we attended Church, a church that prayed and prayed for Joshua when he was sick and it was good for the heart to sit in the pew with Joshua next to me 4 years later and know that God faithfully answered their prayers to heal him. After church my mom left to head back home and Joshua and I rested for a bit after our action packed Saturday. Late afternoon however we headed to Papa's Pumpkin Patch and had an amazing time taking in all of the fall goodness. There were so many things for kids to do that you'd have to go 5 or 6 times to do everything they had to offer.

Monday we packed up our stuff and got ready to head back to Colorado. My cousin Scott made it home just in time to get in a little tag with Joshua before we had to leave. We ate a quick lunch and caught our flight back. Joshua was a little queasy on the return flight which made it a little more stressful, but we did make it back safe and sound.....and then the real excitement began.

Right after being reunited with Luke and Joe we got a flat tire. Just past the airport we had to pull over and try to figure out the tire situation. At first I was pretty relaxed having full confidence that Luke could change the tire and we'd quickly be on our way. What I didn't take into account was TONS of traffic whizzing by -not getting into the outside lane as they passed us- the van shaking on the jack as Luke slid underneath trying to reach the spare, visions of the van slipping off the jack and crushing Luke- whirled in my head. It was just too dangerous to attempt with as much traffic as there was. We flagged down a police car and  he called a tow truck for us. Of course the very best part was that we all got to ride in the police car. The kids enjoyed it much more than Luke and I did, but we were thankful to get the kids and van to a safer place where the tire could be changed. I finally made it home about 5:15 pm after landing at 2:30. So happy to be back home, but also thankful for all the fun times we were able to enjoy with family.
I usually don't go too picture crazy on here but I'm including a few extra photos from the trip just to give everyone the full experience :) I'm so blessed to have such an amazing extended family!

Joshua with his Great-Grandpa 92 years old!

Ready to check everything out!

Heading over to Dragline, the Giant shovel in the background

Heading inside to watch the shoveling happen

Front Row Seat for one Lucky Boy!

Joshua in his new Frog Hat

Being Silly with my mom :)

Living it up at the Pumpkin patch

Best Great-Uncle Ever!

Boooooo! flat tire

Joe who!?!

For those wondering how Joshua's preschool experience is going, he is absolutely loving it! We went to his school just last night for an Ice Cream Social and Story Time for the kids, and when we got home Luke said to me, "I'm liking this school alot, I really feel like they love the kids." If there is one thing that kids pick up on it's authenticity. Kids can tell when you're just faking it. I know Joshua feels loved there and he's learning lots of praise and worship songs and making new friends. I think that it has been a great new experience for all of us.

With Joshua out of the house a few hours every other day Jonas and I have been getting acquainted :) Joshua has a VERY dominant personality so with him out of the house, it's kind of been like "Joe who?" Luke and I have both mentioned how different the dynamic is when it's just Joe around. First of all it's MUCH quieter. Joe is just a more reserved personality, and honestly I've loved our alone time! So has Joe.

The first day we left Joshua, Jonas was a mess and I thought, "oh great, this is a disaster." However, the second day Jonas really came out of his shell! When we got back to the van he climbed in, made his way to the driver's seat, reached up to the visor where the kids Cds are and chose his favorite, Choo Choo Soul. Then, he turned to the car seats, looked at his and proceeded to climb into Joshua's seat. Who knew that Joshua had the preferable seat? I tightened it up and went along with it all thinking that this was probably his version of getting to ride in the front seat. I can remember when my mother would drop my brother off at school, and I would make my way to the front seat feeling pretty special since I never got to ride in the front when he was along, of course this was long before the days of car seats and passenger side airbags.

Joe has definitely enjoyed choosing the music, riding in the good seat, and having mommy to himself for the first time ever. Today we went to Starbucks where he enjoyed an apple fritter, and "coffee" (water in a Starbucks cup). Then we went to a huge park by Joshua's school. We ventured back home and I put his big boy bed together while he smiled looking on and saying, "car, car, my car bed, mine, mine, mine."

I'm surprised at how much I'm loving our time together. Of course I love Joe, but I never knew all the details of his personality, his likes and dislikes are so apparent when Joshua isn't around. He actually has his own opinions! 

A Momma Bear's Cub

Luke has always jokingly referred to me as "momma bear" saying things like, "you don't want to mess with a momma bear's cubs." I'm a protective mother, especially of our oldest, Joshua. Since his rough start to life I have always been extra cautious when it comes to him. Even now if both kids are at the park and climbing too high I rush to Joshua first even though Joe is younger and smaller because I still think of Joshua as frail and fragile.

Since our visit to Joshua's school (Mount Olive Lutheran Preschool), I've been a little sad. I've noticed just in the last few days he's been more reserved, serious and anxious to be a part of a classroom. He's growing up and maturing, and even though it's what I've been praying he would grow into, I feel like it is happening so fast. My baby is growing up. We went to the Library today and instead of excitedly rushing in he walked slowing and quietly asked to read books in the chairs. I'm not going to lie, I was teary eyed watching him sit quietly flipping through a National Geographic Magazine.

If you've ever experienced God answering your prayer, I mean truly proving to make possible the impossible, I am sure that experience is seared into your memory. Joshua is my answer to so many prayers I prayed in desperation. Often I think his wild creativity and excitement for life are viewed by others as overwhelming, but where they see a rambunctious 4 year old, I see God's faithfulness. The blood disorder that Joshua was said to suffer from in its very description is the opposite of Joshua. "Lethargic, barely able to reach the top of a staircase without exhaustion," is what the doctor had told us would be the signs of him needing more transfusions. His energy, to me, is like a rainbow after the rain; a reminder that even when God didn't have to heal him - He did.

His growing up, maturing, and heading to school is what so many thought would never happen. while on vacation this last week we had a chance to visit our old friends at South Canyon. Many of them approached me saying they couldn't believe that Josh was the same boy they had prayed and prayed for. I have nothing to respond to them with other than "he really is a miracle."

I've been smothering him with kisses these last few days knowing than when I drop him off this Tuesday his goodbye to me will be short and if I'm not careful to enjoy these 'little boy' moments it will seem all to quick and I'll be dropping him off at college. I think the tears are just beginning for this Momma Bear.