Bring on the snow...loving it!

Bring on the SNOW...
we are loving it!
I was sooo amazed at how BRAVE both of the boys were sledding down the GIANT hill at East!
Tanner was standing and riding his sled like a snowboard and Sam loved going down the hill by himself..."daddy go more!" I have to say Chris and I were like little kids too...Tanner had to fight us for the sleds!!!

We came home and made
SNOW CREAM!
yum...yum...yum
Tanner had a snow slushy...lactose free style!!!

...then of course we made our Snowman...

inspired by the "good stuff" page from a favorite book...

SNOWBALLS by Lois Ehlert

...although we had not saved a bag full of treasures to put on our snow man, like in the story, Tanner was inspired by the veggie drawer in the fridge...I LOVE IT!!!

In his element...

I tutor one afternoon a week so Chris, Tanner and Sam get to have "BOYTIME".
Thank you Chris for taking advantage of the semi-nice weather this week
and taking the boys on a hike!


Tanner could spend all day outside...he loves nature and science!
My favorite part about spending time outdoors with him though is listening to him talk about all of the things God made...
of course he thinks God made cars as well as the trees but we'll get there!

Sam does love to be outside...promise however he prefers taking lots of breaks!
Clearly he needed a break in this picture...if you can't tell he is grabbing Chris' legs!

merry CHRISTmas

merry CHRISTmasfrom
our family to yours

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Phillipians 1:2

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

tis the SEASON

"Let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions."
1 John 3:17

My Favorite Things...cookies, playdough delivery, homemade cards, Christmas inspired lunches, waking up the boys to see Christmas lights, family time...love my family!

STAR WARS...May the 5th be with you!!!

We celebrated Tanner's 5th birthday...STAR WARS style!!
Tanner has been asking for a Star Wars party since we drove home from his 4th birthday party:)

When the young Padawons arrived they received a Jedi training robe
and
began the task of decorating their training light saber.

The Padawons were given instructions for the events...
in order to become a
JEDI
these rules had to be followed!

 

Training Light sabers were used to:

balance balloons

pop bubbles

practice light saber skills

...when we finished each Padawon showed the others a special light saber MOVE!!

Next their skills were tested as they balanced on the ROCKS in the HOT LAVA

in order to shoot

DARTH VADER

with the STAR WARS nerf gun!!!

We destroyed the DARTH VADER pinata!

Candy was collected for FUEL!!

R2-D2 made a guest appearance!



After the Young Padawons completed their JEDI TRAINING

they were presented with

an

OFFICIAL LIGHT SABER...

just in time...

because DARTH VADER appeared and the new JEDI

had to defend our house against DARTH VADER!!!

making meRRy and briGhT

OK...let me just say I love the holiday season...it may be crazy busy but I love spending time with my family celebrating this amazing season of Christ's birth!  And what other time of the year is there a perma-excuse for a messy house???
...we were wrapping presents honey
...the playrooms a mess b/c we are cleaning out to donate
...those dishes are from baking...where are the cookies...um we gave them away!!
...crafting with the kids sweety

Gingerbread houses...daddy did the construction!
I would show you Sam's but just imagine tanner's WITHOUT the candy!
We read Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett.

EUMK 4's CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
What a sweet blessing to hear Tanner singing about God and the baby Jesus.  I love hearing him tell people his birthday comes right after Jesus' bithday!
(both classes...Tanner's is on the left side)

Let It Snow!!!!

Dear Santa,  All I want is new nerf guns! Tanner

Dear Santa, Santa has finished shopping and nerf guns were not on the list! Mom

Our favorite Christmas activity each year is at this sweet church!  Sam was big enough to go in each houses and do the activities with Tanner's help this year! 

A little advent crafting...memorizing

LUKE 2:14

"Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Dear Mom, Could you please make one of these trees for our houses...you know how I love balls! Sam
...the picture captured such a sweet moment
...he kicked the tree so hard balls fell off
...the little old lady laughed and smiled and said "Merry Christmas!"

Married to a Marathoner

He DID it...I am so proud of Chris for finishing his first marathon last Saturday!
For those of you who don't know...he started running in July when he decided to say good-bye to his long habit of dipping.
He has wanted to quit for a long time and after years of praying that he would quit God finally put the words in Tanner's mouth...
"don't step in that mud puddle...it looks like what daddy spits"...
and just like that conviction finally came at the hands of a 4 year old!

So he decided he needed a new hobby...

Thank you God for answering my prayer and for putting a new common interest in our marriage!!!