December recap

My friend Melody did a fun post a few days ago where she dumped her camera and found how busy her family had been in the past month. Well, I don't need to dump my pictures to find that out but thought it would be fun to remember our month too. Journaling in pictures is so much more fun (to me!) than using a pen and paper -- although I have plenty of those laying around too. . .

Margaret's ballet center allows parent observation once a quarter and December had one of those dates. It is fun to see how much she's progressed from time-to-time.
Our kids had their annual Christmas program at school early in December. The first night were grades K-3, the second night grades 4-8 so we trekked up there both nights.

Frederick is in the front row (8th from left, if there is a grandparent blowing up the picture on their computer). They sang "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth". He hasn't lost a single tooth yet. (One was pulled about two years ago. . .he's in 1st grade!!!)
Thomas was a roller-blading Santa Claus. Skinny him in that fat suit :) They sang a Ray Steven's song and Thomas's name was pulled out of a hat for the role of SC. The roller blades were just something different. . .one of his many talents :)
Margaret is one of the back-up singers (2nd from left) in the 2nd grade's rendition of "It Must Be St. Nick" (I think).
Marie was a snowflake in "Walking in a Winter Wonderland". So cute.
Then we had our Dollywood trip. Unfortunately we weren't prepared for how COLD it was going to be that day (the weather forecasters were way off) but it was a good time all the same. When we asked the kids they said the Toyland show was their favorite part of the day but for me this picture with Santa is what I will remember.After the cold day at Dollywood, the kids bought Tom a new jacket for his Christmas gift this year. This picture was snapped on our way to his work Christmas party.
It snowed early in December. . .snow is not rare, but when we get it it is special. . .
Thomas and Marie participated in a Lego League competition this year. Here is Marie, at the opening ceremony, signing an MIT professor's shirt. This was a big deal -- Tom texted me from the event to tell me!
And here is Thomas, setting up I imagine. This was a great experience for them and their dad this year.The Christmas swim party at the YMCA started off with a mock swim meet between our swimmers. This is a picture of Thomas on the starting block.
And Frederick getting ready to swim 25 yards. This was his first race, ever. It will be awhile before he is ready for a "real" meet.
And the things we made this month. . .gift baskets, blankets, candy, and the ABC album I made for the kids!Marie got her braces this month. . .and I just happened to take her picture both days at the kids' Christmas programs :)One of the family gifts we received this year (in addition to Dollywood season passes, a new tube for the boat, and Under Armour for all) -- a new television too!!!
We always have Christmas Sunday here at home, just the 6 of us, the Sunday before we leave for family two states away.This is the fourth year that we have gone to church, then home for gifts, an afternoon together, dinner that we try to make together, and a birthday cake (pie this year) for Jesus. Here is a picture from mid-afternoon. . .
Christmas Eve Eve is our family celebration at my dad and stepmom's house. Bonnie decorates like Better Homes & Garden's will be over for a photo shoot -- it's just beautiful. She is also an excellent cook so dinner is better than anything at a 4-star resort.
The kids took turns reading Luke 2 from their Bibles after dinner.
This year we gathered early in the afternoon -- she had crafts for the kids and we all played games. A few hours in we opened gifts, ate dinner, and then had more time for dessert, visiting, and kids watching a new movie. There were 7 adults and 6 kids this year.
I snapped this picture before going to bed Christmas Eve. . .although you can tell the quality of my pictures aren't the best, I'm trying to work with what I have. Sarah gave some great picture-taking tips before Christmas this year and I was practicing. . .
My wonderful mother-in-law made an incredible dinner for Christmas and invited my mom over to share the evening with us. We are such a blessed family.Although this was a busy month, my hope is to continue to capture the "little" things on camera -- those are where the true memories are I think. Everyone remembers Christmas, but do you remember the games you played with your cousins after the gifts were opened and food eaten? Or what about the snow days. . .what did you do??? These are the memories I hope to capture and record here this year.
And WOW. After writing this post I am AMAZED at what a busy time we've had. And seeing everything laid out like this. . .our cups runneth over.

Another season behind us. . .

We are back home after a whirlwind few days. It's always so nice to go "home" and see everyone and eat well and visit and relax. . .and then it's so nice to come back HOME and step back into our season of life as 6.

We almost always have discussions about why we live here and everyone else lives there when we get home. And they go something like this: "We left because you wanted to" "You like your job here better" "Are we depriving our children of their grandparents by not being closer?" "I love the weather here -- hate the weather there" "We like the peace and isolation from the 'real world' that we have here" "We don't like not having the opportunities for our children that bigger cities have" "I like getting out of that traffic -- I always forget how bad it is" "I wish I was there to help. . .but know it's good that I'm here or it would consume me" "I wish we lived closer to family" "I like having it be 'just us' at this time in our children's lives. . .we're a closer family because of it" "We have the lake here" And on and on. . .no questions are ever answered and nothing is ever resolved but we do know that we are here and the Lord has a plan. (The "I" statements above are not all me & not all Tom, just usually how it comes out.)

So. . .this will be an interesting year to journal about. I think we will be in a different place (not physically, I don't think) this time next year and that is something to look forward to. My brother and his wife are planning on leaving our hometown this year too. . .they just sold their house. My sister-in-law just got a new job out west where she lives and although it's in the same city she's been in for a decade she will attempt to move out on her own (she's always had roommates). My nieces are 5 & 8 so of course things will change for them as they learn and grow. My mom was widowed 18 months ago and needs to move out of the house she's in because it's too much for her to take care of. We are also praying for her health to improve. And there are always the unexpected surprises that come up in friend's and family's lives. . .job changes, babies, new homes, and new ventures. Those are always fun for me to keep up with too!!!

So. . .as we embark on a new year, God willing, we will change and grow and explore new opportunities for ourselves and our family. My prayer is that friendships we currently have will grow and mature, new friends will come into our lives, family members that do not know Jesus will meet Him this year, and that we continue to move forward with the Cross always in front of us.

He came!!!

JESUS CAME!!! The prophets told of His coming and today, we get to yet again celebrate God's fulfilled promise to all mankind!
I don't know what time the kids got up. . .we went to church last night then asked them to allow the adults to sleep until 8 a.m. Tom and I got up then and Margaret was still sleeping!! When we got downstairs, baby Jesus had already been put in the Nativity (we mail Santa baby Jesus each year so He can be our first gift of the day) and Thomas & Marie had already looked up the Bible versus Santa had left them. Aunt Kathy didn't get up for another hour so they had that time to wait. . .and wait. . .at 6, 7, 9, and 11 it's still hard :)

Gifts were passed out, opened, pictures, and fun!

Marie had such a good time explaining the baskets to everyone who got them (3 were passed out on Wednesday night). I was frustrated because the playing cards that I had ordered for the baskets never came, but since I had them sent up here when they come they will be easier to get to everyone.

Tom and I made breakfast for everyone and we had a late brunch.
My mother-in-law has invited my mother over for dinner tonight so we are getting ready to go and get her. . .she lent me her car yesterday to run a few errands so it's up to me to pick her up today:) So. . .while the day will surely turn to night, God surely sent His only Son to save the world. As we sang the "usual" songs last evening in church I couldn't help but get choked up as I saw the Truth in the phrases put on the screen. . ."Joy to the World, THE LORD HAS COME"; "Go tell it on the mountain that JESUS CHRIST IS BORN"; and "Hark the herald angles sing, GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING". May we continue to celebrate His birth every day of the year!!!! P.S. On a funny note: My mother-in-law takes baby Jesus out of her Nativity set since we stay here Christmas Eve/Day. We forgot to ask her where she hid Jesus and she had already gone to bed last night by the time we needed Him. . .Tom and I searched EVERYWHERE looking for Him. . .I felt like we were on an Easter egg hunt!!! We did finally find Him carefully hidden away. . .I was NOT going to go to bed without finding Jesus -- I can handle the idea of Santa Claus as long as he keeps JESUS first in his notes and gifts to the kids :) Our oldest, 11 years, had even written in his note to Santa (he knows the truth but keeps it alive for the others) where to leave the baby. . .along with a precious letter letting Santa know he was leaving his Bible open to the Christmas story so he could read while he ate his cookies. Sometimes I think they want to keep the magic alive for themselves too :)

Let the Festivities Begin!

We packed up yesterday afternoon and headed the 300 miles north to family for Christmas. The family gifts turned out GREAT!

I'm really happy with them and I think the kids are too.

Four families are getting the canvas baskets and then my dad and stepmom will get this:

And my sister-in-law, the most practical one, will receive the plastic tote. We wrote letters to everyone and signed them, then wrapped and packed.

We made chocolate-covered pretzels (ala My Kitchen Cafe) and the peanut butter ritz crackers dipped in candy coating (forget where that idea came from???? I've seen it millions of times though) and packaged those things up and put them in tins in the baskets too. The kids really enjoyed making those and I enjoyed doing it with them!

Time to head out for our first celebration!!!

My family's favorite dessert

PEANUT BUTTER PIE is, by far, the most-requested dessert in this house. We are celebrating our Christmas with just the 6 of us tomorrow and yet again, this was the request for our Christmas dinner. I almost always have the ingredients on hand! This is what you need:
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 8 oz. container Cool Whip
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1/2 bag of semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
1 graham cracker crust (I use the +2 servings size)
Mix the peanutbutter, cream cheese, 3/4 container of the Cool Whip, vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk together until the consistency is that of pudding. I usually don't put the milk in straight-away and use enough to make this consistency. . .2 T is usually about right though. You don't *need* an electric mixer for this but if you have one, might as well use it!
When everything is well blended, stir in 1/2 bag of the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Put all of this into the prepared pie crust
than garnish with the 1/4 whipped topping left
and a handful of chocolate chips.
At this point the pie can be frozen; just put it in the refrigerator a couple of hours before serving. Since we'll be eating it after church tomorrow mine is in the fridge.

An old church friend, Kim McCloud, brought this to my family after one of my babies was born (and my "babies" are 6 & 7 now!!) -- the pie has definitely stood the test of time in this family!!!