December Daily: Day 10

In Graham's words when he walked in the door from school, "Cookies!!!!"

Today was no work and all play. :) MOPS cookie exchange...Dan's last day of class until the new year...the kids and I read Christmas books and played our favorite game until it was time for bed. It's a wonder they even went to sleep with all the taste testin' we did this evening!

December Daily: Day 9

*sigh* Christmas cards are in the mail....the last "major" project on my list of Christmas to-do's.

My mom brought a huge bag of pink grapefruit when they visited for Thanksgiving...so many that I'm still enjoying that sweet 'n sour juicy Florida bliss for my morning snack.

And while we're on pink happiness...it has been SO cold at night, and I'm outgrowing my jammies! So off to Goodwill I went...$1.99 for these fuzzy sweater jammie pants, y'all! I love how they're extra long and drape around my feet like a comfy house robe. A good thrift store bargain makes my day.

Made some cookies today...Hello Dolly's...layers of graham cracker, chocolate chips, coconut, pecans, topped with sweetened condensed milk. I promise, it's gooey goodness! I'll post a picture on day 10 of my MOPS cookie exchange haul. That is, if there's anything left on the plate to photograph. ;)

December Daily: Day 8

We are worn out. Graham went back to school this morning, and the rest of us...

Hannah Reece continues to enjoy our basket full of Christmas books. Today, I found her reading a book about Santa Claus to her baby doll. My late grandma made this Cinderella doll, on one side it's the "princess" Cinderella, with a shiny satin dress-when you flip her over, she becomes "maiden" Cinderella in her rags. This image warms my heart. So many of my Christmas memories as a child revolved around spending Christmas in southern Indiana with our extended family at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Grandma had some type of decoration or light in every nook and cranny of that house. It was a wonderful place! I miss her smile, her laugh, her attention to detail and the special way she tenderly doted on us grandkids. Precious, precious memories that flood my heart this time of year.

December Daily: Days 4-7

What a weekend. Even in the cold and rain, when you get 9 little kin-folks together at a theme park...there's fun to be had! Donned in our plastic ponchos and layers, we did Sea World. It feels good to be home...and I'm tired.

This post ministered to me tonight. This statement really struck a chord:

"Why is it so easy to forget that Jesus is our Emmanuel, the God who is with us? When life is loud, He is in the midst, and ever-so-softly, He calls to us to run to Him for patience and peace, for direction and strength, for deliverance from our own brokenness."

Jesus, Emmanuel, God who is with us...comforts my weary heart and body!

Without further ado, here's a little taste of the weekend in photos and stories. It did pour down rain at Sea World, so the only pics I have were taken at the hotel during fun and the gift exchange. Fun times together...

Graham getting a whoopin' from his Uncle Matt...
Cousins excited to exchange gifts with each other...
The whole gang!

I just have to tell you this story...and those of you who know me well will get a good laugh!

On one of many potty stops (mostly initiated by my big pregnant self!) Hannah Reece accidentally dropped her sock-cap in the public potty there at Sea World. She cried pitifully and was just devastated...I almost fished it out...what is WRONG with me?? I can no longer call myself a germ-o-phobe, I think I've officially OVERCOME! ;) I came running out and said "Dan, the hat is in the toilet, should I get it? He looked at me like I was positively insane and said "NO-OOO!"

Grandma and Grandpa read this story to the kiddos on Friday night and presented them with a little bell, just like the one in the story. Then, they marched down the hotel halls together tucking each child into bed. This was a highlight for Graham and Hannah Reece.
Oh, this totally cracks me up. We dropped Miss Charly off a the doggie camp in Orlando and this is what they presented to us when we picked her up:
The kids just were so tickled about this photo! They are so proud that their puppy got to meet Santa. ;)

Tonight, we read Luke 2: 8-10 as a family and lit the "love" candle. I loved how Dan described the shephards visit to worship Jesus in the stable like "a party in the stable"....a birthday party for Jesus! :) This passage in verse 19 stood out to me tonight:

"But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over."

Even Mary, mother of Emmanuel, God with us...treasured these amazing, holy, precious, moments with her son...God's Son.

December Daily: Day 3

Zzzzzzzz....oh, wait! It's not time for bed yet...gotta get that December Daily post in! Ha ha!!

Today was BUSY. We're looking forward to our little getaway this weekend, but I am moving sl-ow-ly. I can definitely tell that my energy is waning after 3 days of going strong this week. Anyway, enough about that...

Did a little sewing today, but this project's still a secret... that I can let you in on after the weekend. Just in case any of my family-type of readers are trying to peek. :)



So we're off to celebrate Christmas with Dan's side of the family this weekend at Sea World. There are many cousins on that side (almost 10 kiddos under the age of 9). Last year, someone had the brilliant idea for the cousins to exchange names and gift each other for Christmas. This has made it extra personal for our kids, they take a lot of time and thought choosing a gift that is just right for their chosen cousin.

Keeping it real here with the next photo...we whipped out the boob-tube babysitter tonight...the shame! ;) Packing can be a real challenge with this cute little blonde around that we lovingly refer to as "Taz". She just loves to come "help" and remove things from our big bag and distribute, I mean "pack" it into her purses/bags/laundry hamper...you get the picture! So movie night, it was.

That's all for Day 3, folks. Off to catch those Z's, gotta get some rest for the long journey tomorrow.

December Daily: Day 2

This is the way we "count down" to Christmas around here...sleeps are easy to grasp when you're 3 and 5! ;) Although Graham did mention to me tonight...."23 sleeps is a LOT, Mom!" This is a platter we received as a wedding gift that had a giant scratch down the center. I painted the middle with chalkboard paint, and voila! From serving platter to Christmas countdown chalkboard. ;)

We broke out our Christmas book collection...some I had as a teacher and others we've picked up at school book fairs, yard sales and the sale rack at B & N...this is our first year to have a full basket with enough for each day. In the years past, I've checked out many library books to fill-in so that we'd have a new book to read for each of the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Hannah Reece spent a lot of time in the rocking chair today either reading to her dolls, or to Charly, or with me. This is the first year that she completely "gets" Christmas, and is THRILLED about it...all of it!



We're headed to Sea World this weekend with the Oedy bunch...this is Grandma and Grandpa Oedy's Christmas gift to all of us. I made some muffins to freeze and take along for breakfast, plus working on laundry as I prepare to pack...looks like it's gonna be cold down there.

Reading, baking, laundering, preparing gifts, staying warm inside...that's day 2 in a nutshell.

December Daily: Day 1

A staying-busy-at-home kind of day today...started off with mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream!

Graham's homework assignment and suggested activity on the advent calendar was to make a Christmas card for someone special...and so we did. We love a good excuse to get out stickers, glitter glue pens and such.

Our evening ended with a dog pile on top of our sore little pup...doesn't she look pitiful? She had 3 vaccinations at the vet today.

My heart is content, and longing to experience Christ afresh....Emmanuel....God is with us.