Christmas Like a 6 year old!

Family nights are Mondays. We protect them and look forward to them. This week Dave has been a little off. Not feeling to hot, work stuff, etc. So we planned a low key event of frosting sugar cookies for the girls to bring to school today. As Im making dinner and baking the cookies, I ask Ella to turn on Christmas music ( tv music channels- weird, but we dont have a 'stereo' in our house).

I completely forgot that our tv service was shut off due to non payment! Call it forgetting, call it waiting for pay day...call it whatever you want. It was shut off.

~The kids do not know this, because the DVR with all their taped 'phin and ferbs' and 'hannah montanas' are all there safe and sound!~

So, I remember, as she is asking me how to work the TV, that the channel we use wont be there. Im in the middle of telling her to just turn it off and we will just sing, when I hear music. Some randon 'pay your bill' channel has Christmas music playing in the backround. SWEET!

So here is the scene now:

Leslie in the kitchen cooking/baking and focused on how close of a call it was that the kids almost found out there was no TV!

Kaylee doing her homework at the counter.

Joey shooting hoops.

Dave on the computer working,ESPN.com-ing, and a *bit* stressed about a house closing.

And Ella is in the room with the Christmas music dancing, and dancing and dancing. Frosty the Snowman starts to play... Ella shouts with Buddy the Elf enthusiasim " I LOVE THIS SONG!" and starts to intensify her dancing ( if that is even possible!)

And then it hits me....she still has the MAGIC of Christmas!

The idea that Santa is REAL, that ANYTHING can happen this time of year! She doesnt worry about HOW her toys will get to her...the idea that a 300 lb man can fit through our fake fireplace doesnt seem odd to her. She just believes.

When is it that Christmas becomes stressful and something to manage? Why do the bills outweigh the magic? Where does the magic go, and when does a fat man in my chimney suddenly become impossible?

She is not concerned with how she will pay for something, she will wrap up a toy from her collection and give it with the same excitement and anticipation as a gift she purchased with her last dime! God will supply her giving needs, she just KNOWS it!

Money may be tight, bills may be late, but my God always provides!

(Matt 6:29 & Psalm 62:8)

Since when isnt THAT enough! I dont NEED a new TV all year, but why do I feel like I do come Dec 25th? Will my joy not be as complete with out a fancy schmancy new toy under the tree? Its all in what I believe.

I believe that this year will be the best holiday season yet!

I believe that my kids desires are met and we are blessed!

Im expecting to Chritsmas like a 6 year old this year.

To believe that ANYTHING is possibe, to get excited for my favorite song, and to wait up for Santa to climb through my fake log fire!

Im going to enjoy every moment I have with my friends, family, and anyone else! I WILL experience the MAGIC of Christmas!!!

I really encourage you to do the same. To not make the season about whay you get, but in every opportunity to make it about what you can give! Give to charity, give to neighbors, give to the store clerks. You all have something you can give, whether its time, money, spare toys/ clothes, or even just a hug. Its there. You could be the person that answers thier prayers. Dont pass up that chance.

Remember the MAGIC of Christmas....believe that ANYTHING is possible!

Not much new to report

We are busy little bees finishing up our work before summer! Also, lost my camera for a month or so, and when I found it , it was dead. Now...to find the charger......

First Time Chaperone Mom

Since sending Kaylee to school, we have missed her so-o-o-o much! I had to jump at the chance to be a chaperon and spend the day with her! I also wanted to spy on her friends- learn who was to be trusted! I will say, Kaylee has a pretty fun group of kids in her class! They were all so well behaved and very courteous and obedient! No wonder their reputation precedes them positively!

Kaylee got to pick her group of girls- sadly- we lost one to another group! Rose, Abby, Kaylee, and Katie managed to have a pretty great time still though!

The Science Center was full of other schools in crazy big groups! It was really great we were able to split up into our small groups and wander as we wished! These girls had the best time touching everything, laughing hysterically, and I think they MAY have even learned something along the way!!!!

Miss Abby was hilarious! So full of life and humor! Her and Rose have convinced themselves that they are twins separated at birth. Although when asked about their birthdays, they had not considered syncing that story!

From Left: Katie, Kaylee, Abby, Rose

I had convinced them all that they were in the best group! Best part is: They BELIEVED ME!!!

Their favorite part was the 'Natural Disasters' area. This whole place turned into every disaster you can think of! Complete with rain and earthquakes! It was so much fun!

Kaylee's face perfectly captures my thoughts by the end of the day!

Birthday Girls!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY & ELLA!!!!

Ella shares a birthday with her Aunt Ashley, so to celebrate the day, we scheduled a great day at the zoo. The weather was beautiful! Partly cloudy and 72 degree. You couldn't have asked for better weather.

We had a slew of strollers, babies, and food! The eldest birthday girl was so generous and packed EVERYONE lunch, snacks, and dessert! She is a giver- FOR SURE!

Ashle, Berkeley, Paige, Kena, Kianna, Christina, Jays, Kirra, Laura, Lizzie, Joey, Ella , and myself= a REALLY GREAT TIME!

Ella loved every second of her '6 years birthday'! She is such a quality time girl, that having everyone stop their day to play with her was so filling for her!

Kaylee was still at school, so of course we HAD to take a picture by the horse for her! We missed her so much! But she was happy to get to go to brinner at Aunt Ashley's house with everyone for dinner!


Our family is so blessed! There is more than enough love, compassion, support, forgiveness, and joy for everyone!

Bright Lights

I realize this may be the only time my home is photographed clean for a while, so I thought I'd take a moment to share why I took these pictures and the story that led to them......

2009 started out like a scene from a horse race. Everyone at the starting gate, wiggling and waiting to hear that gun shot and the gates to open. The first Monday of the year was that gun shot. We had a whole lotta new coming our way. We got a new dog, which adds new puppy classes every week. Kaylee started public school, so that added meetings-clothes shopping-homework nights-and new friends peering over the back wall. She was also starting a new soccer team that week which demands 2 nights a week and a few hours on saturdays. Ella got a new online teacher and she had meetings and greetings with her. Dave quit one 'job' to pursue another, which changed our schedule and added to the chaos. And his basketball league was picking back up that week, which means extra practices and game day Sundays. etc etc etc.... You get the point. Its all good stuff, its just busy.

So with all this going on, all that I had done to organize and put our house in order during the break, was becoming undone. FAST! One soccer Tuesday, we all walked in the door @ 6:30, the laundry is washed and folded and ready to be put away ( which didn't happen before our new puppy decided it was the perfect pouncing grounds). Trash was full and the counters weren't even visable beneath the recycling. The dishes were piled up in the sink. My floor was sticky and crunchy. Homework was sprawled out over a crumbly crusty table cloth. The dog needed to be fed and walked. Dinner needed to be made. Chores were undone and Dave had a practice he was getting ready for. Eeeash. I sent everyone off with a task to complete. Mostly ,so I could clear the kitchen and get a moment to think.

I took a DEEP breath in to allow myself a pity moment with the Lord. Just a moment. No more. As I huffed out my 'not so cleansing breath', all I could think of was the tasks ahead of me that night. I asked God this, " Will I ever be DONE? Will I ever have a day where I dont have to clean, and nothing around the house needs to be done?".

My mind drifted away to a picture of my house where the floors weren't sticky,my fridge was free from all fingerprints, the sink was empty, the toilets had no ring or boy pee, and there was a fully grown ,fully trained, sleepy doggy in the corner of my clutter free family room ( the lines from the vacuum were still there!). It was beautiful. The thought relaxed me.

Suddenly, my bubble burst.

" When your house is clean, your children will have grown. Your floors will be clean, but your house will be empty. You will be willing to trade your mess for thier youth. Love God".

I was reintroduced to the vision of my perfect house, and I noticed what I hadn't seen the first time. Although my house was pristene, it WAS empty. The dog slept on the floor because there were no kids to play with. My sink was empty because no one was there to share dinner around the table.

My vision that was lit up by magic and hope the first time ,seemed so quiet and lacking now. It felt real, like I had missed everything that led up to that point. My frustration had melted off of me as Dave walked back in from the garage.

Everyone had reconviend back in the kitchen for more jobs. I looked each one of them and I realized I was missing the moment because of my focus on the situation around me. The mess wasn't important. The mess wont last.

This season is mearly a flash- You have a baby when you press the shutter button- the bright intense flash that you cannot see past- is your childs adolesense, and then the blur as your eyes adjust back to normal.... and its over. Ok so maybe its not THAT fast, but you see my point. While your in the flash, thats all you can see.

So, what did I do? I put a smile on my face... and a broom in a child's hand.

Another got a garbage bag, and someone else unloaded the dishwasher. Dave and I made dinner together as the radio blarred.

We did not forego the work, but rather we enjoyed the journey. It is still my responsibility to instill a work ethic into my kids, but there are no rules writtten that it has got to be frustrating and intense.

So, I guess what Im saying is this:Dont be so consumed in what you HAVE to get done, to miss the chance to get to do it with your family. It may never be like Susie Homemaker's house next door, but who cares? She is a crabby old bird who doesn't exchange Christmas cookies! Id rather have a sticky floor and smiling kids while I can!

All too soon Ill be adjusting my eyes from the flash....

Ella is 6!!!

Well, somehow enough time has passed to produce a 6 years old as my youngest. Im not sure when or how that happened, but it did. My Ella Rae is growing up and becoming more of 'herself' everyday. Making friends, and decisions faster than I would like.

We covered the house in pink,red and hearts!!!

We ate our fill of candy, pizza and cake!!!

And we giggled all day long!

Her birthday is so close to Valentine's day that she chose to have a hearts party ON Valentine's Day!

Pretty last minute, some of the greatest ladies showed up to love on my baby girl!

We were filled to the brim with giggling girls, all loving every second of thier playtime!

Even the babies got in on the love.....

Ella loves those Merwin girls! ( so do I)

Aunt Ashley made Ella a super cute cake, along w/ cupcakes! So yummy!!

What a snapshot of these girls!

Happy Birthday my sweet Ella Rae!!!

New to all this!

So Im a new 'Blogger'. I blog on MySpace all the time, but this is a new challenge for me.

Im excited to learn everything and find out how it all works.

I realize NO ONE will probably ever read this, but just incase, I thought I'd prepare you for construction.

If you do stumble upon my page, please feel free to comment any ideas, tips, or websites that have helped YOU!