Getting Ready for the Holidays...

As we prepare for another Christmas, the days fly by quickly, with all of the rushing and goings-on due to a lengthy "to-do" list.   Sometimes, it's difficult to slow down and stop and think about the true meaning of Christmas.

The true meaning of Christmas is love.  John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this incredible act of love.

Christmas for us is also celebrating and rejoicing in our family.  It is being grateful for the gifts that have been bestowed upon us.  And, it is gift-giving to our family and friends in expression of our love.

I love decorating for the holidays, wrapping presents, shopping, and making homemade gifts.  Eric really had fun shopping this year too... especially in the toy aisle!  (Future Christmas posts to this blog will reveal his finds!)
Spoiler sidenote:  We are expecting a special visit from Santa this year!

The tree-trimming and holiday decorating always start the day after Thanksgiving.  Garland, poinsettias, and tchotchkes are scattered everywhere throughout the house!

Normally, I make homemade candies, body washes, bubble baths, coffee and cocoa mixes.  This year, I was busy making homemade lotion bars, chap sticks, hand soaps, face/skin serums, skin toners, body scrubs, lotions, and healing salves.  Of course, I made a ton of fudge and caramels too (the staples!).   Below is a small sampling of the goods - also sans the candy because I'm still not yet quite done!.

We will spend time with family a few different times this year (in a few different places!) to celebrate Christmas.  And, we are very much looking forward to those times.  

For those of you who live far away and whom we cannot see, we send our wishes to you.

May the good times and the treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow.  We wish you love, joy, and happiness!

Fun with Fundraising!

We all know the joys of youth sports and the even bigger joys of youth sports fundraising!

Connor is participating in basketball again this year.   They received their fundraising packets on a Monday (after practice).  They only had until Friday to sell their goods (this year, it's beef jerky).   There are no individual prizes for top sellers, per se, but the 8th grade boys are competing against the 7th grade boys.  Whichever grade wins the mini competition receives the "major award" of skipping a practice and going to watch the high school team practice (and, the best part - a pizza party during the visit to the high school).

Our dear Mr. Connor was vehement about raising a ton of money.  His OCD really kicked in and he went out every night in the neighborhoods (at his Mom's place and at our place).  It was cold and windy in the evenings, but he bundled up and went knocking, door to door.

Connor raised... are you ready?

$500!!   WHOO HOO!    We are so proud of you, Connor!   

We will find out in a few days who won; the 7th graders or the 8th graders.  Will pizza be in the near future?  Connor is sure hoping so!

Ramsey Uses "The Force"

So many in this family are either Star Wars FREAKS (you know who you are - and, it's OK!) or are at least familiar with the concept and main points.    With the release of the new Star Wars movie coming up this week, the boys around here are getting excited - to say the very least.   And, Eric is determined to turn Ramsey into a Star Wars nut in order to blend in with the fam.

To preface the movie clips below, Ramsey has been doing this new "move" where he throws his hands up/forward and points at us (or the TV, or the dog, or....).   The other night, Eric laughed, "He's using The Force" - like Darth Vader.   So, since then, we've been playing like we're getting blasted when he throws his new move at us.  He goes bananas!

Last night, Ramsey was on one of his Force terrors again while playing with us.

And another....

Sorry, still more!

 And here we have a pivotal moment where he's using The Force, then running after us.  Then, it's "chase time", plus a few scares and screams.

And finally, the moment Connor was the most proud of.... "The Big Scream".

After this one, we did advise to ease up - er, quit!  This, although it was funny, was a bit much!  

No more excessive scaring!!!   Connor got a much-deserved whack on the head after this one.  lol

Random Acts of Kindness - A New Tradition

About a month or so ago, I had found something neat (yes, I said "neat") on Pinterest when I was browsing for Christmas ideas, indulgent sweet and savory recipes, and potential DIY projects.  It was a list that noted about 30 "random acts of kindness".    As a small bucket list item, I decided I was going to partake in this formally and it was going to become a new tradition in this household.   I also decided that I'm going to get the kids involved (Connor more so now since he's old enough and Ramsey later to teach him love and respect for others).

Being a good person and helping others is something I strive to do.  "Helping others" outside of the family isn't as always easy as it sounds (working from home, I certainly don't leave the house much!).   Instilling good values into my children is something I strive to do also.  Children are influenced by those around them.  And, what we teach them starts the path they will take in life.

I narrowed the list down, revamped it, plus added some of my own. I've been adamantly checking things off, one by one.  :-)

"RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS LIST" 

(Mind you, some of these things are no-brainers - they're things we already do and ways we act, but are things to be even more mindful of.)

1.  Give a genuine compliment every single day.

2.  Tell a friend that you love them and how they influence your life.

3.  Smile at everyone that you see!

4.  Do something nice for a stranger (aside from the usual door-holding and such).  How about buying the person behind you (in the drive-through lane) lunch?!

5.  Donate $$ to a worthy charity.

6.  Volunteer in the community.

7.  Teach someone something new.

8.  Encourage someone to pursue a goal.

9.  Forgive someone who hurt you.

10.  Apologize for mistakes.

11.  Say "please" and "thank you" and really mean it.

12.  Catch up with an old friend.

13.  Be a good listener to someone who needs to vent or discuss a problem.

14.  Leave a generous tip for a friendly waiter/waitress.

15.  Post an inspiration message/picture on Facebook.

16.  Deliver fresh-baked goods to the local fire department or police department.

17.  Shovel a neighbor's snowy driveway or sidewalk.

18.  Give blood.

19.  "Adopt-a-soldier".   Send a letter with gifts to show support for the Armed Services.

20.  Tell someone that you appreciate them and why.

21.  Leave a positive comment on a website that you enjoy.

22.  Spend more time with your children.  (EASY!!  LOVE IT!)  Remind them regularly how much you love them and why.

23.  Give an unexpected gift.

24.  Send someone flowers on a random day.

25.  Let someone cut in front of you in line.

26.  Thank a teacher or a mentor.

27.  Buy a toy at the store at Christmastime and donate it to "Toys for Tots".

28.  Clean out the closets and toy boxes.  Donate gently-used items to the local Salvation Army or "Kids Against Hunger" thrift store.

29.  Donate used books to a small library.

And... something NEW that I just did a few days ago and added to my yearly list (after reading a very sad and tragic, yet lovely and inspirational story about a little girl who lost her whole family, plus part of her limbs, to a fire set by an arsonist - and who "only wanted Christmas cards" for the holiday):

30.  Send a child you don't know a card with a lovely message.  SEND LOVE.

"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."  ~ AESOP

I'm grateful for the special people in my life; my husband, my sons, my parents, grandparents, my in-laws, cousins, aunts, uncles, my dog (!!), extended family members, special neighbors, and my best friend.  I thank God every day for the gifts that He has bestowed upon me.

Merry Christmas family and friends!  I send my love to you.

Quality Brubby Time

It is fantastic how good Connor is to Ramsey.  When they play, they have a blast.  When they vegge out, they have such a sweet time.

Nothing earth-shattering here, but these kids (and Riggs) were far too sweet NOT to take a picture of.
They were chillin' out in our bedroom, playing the Kindle and watching Monsters Inc (one of Ramsey's favorites - which we have all seen... one... million... times).  :-)

Really?  Of course the best picture has to be blurry.  Oh well.  I'll deal.

The First Snowman of the Season

It was a chilly and snowy afternoon in early December...

Connor took Riggs out to play.  They went sledding and played fetch.   The sled came back with a million small bite marks.   No one was hurt.   Riggs likes to nip at the sled on the way down the hill (we have a weird dog).  

Then, it got dark.  They were out there for a LONG TIME!  We figured the two of them must be having a good time, but couldn't see them to verify their existence within the yard.    After about an hour or so of us wondering, Connor finally came in and had to let us know that he successfully created his first snowman of the season! 

Not a great picture, but it was COLD OUT THERE and, wimpy me, I was freezing.  This is as good as the picture gets.  Sorry!

The next day.... Here's "Frosty".  By this time, Connor had taken off the hat and gloves that he had originally bestowed his new snow-filled friend,   Look at the arms on this guy!!!

It's sure good to know that a 13-year-old boy (almost 14!!) still loves playing in the snow.

Alas, within a few 40+ degree days, Frosty was completely gone!  Poor Frosty.

Play Time After a Hearty Thanksgiving Meal

Well, it seems I don't really have any pictures of the wonderful meal or the chefs (Nana and Bumpa) cooking from Thanksgiving (apparently, I was too busy playing fire engines and trucks on the floor or sitting on my bum watching football?!?).
However, I did get some pictures of the kids playing, after the spectacular and special family meal.

Connor was the first one outside, playing fetch with Riggs.

Miss Sadie is all bundled up and ready to head out.  Ramsey loves Sadie.  He wanted to go outside with her!

The kids... Round 2: Getting ready to take the dogs for a walk and then more play in the back yard.

The kids had a great time playing chase and fetch.  Riggs was in HEAVEN!

Watch out for that big long tail, Doodlebug!!

Even after it got dark outside, the "big kids" played Ghosts in the Graveyard.

Uncle Cory shared all of his toys.  Ramsey loved the big red fire engine so much that Nana let him take it home!

...best seat in the house!