Let the Deception Begin!

I've had the cookbook Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld on my wish list since before my bday in October! A few of you faithful blog readers/lurkers have even picked it up on my suggestion, and others have discovered it for yourself. Anyhow, My sweet mom picked up a copy of it for me today!! I'm so excited to start sneaking veggies in my kids meals! Especially Jackeroo, he's a picky thing!

I think I'll make Sweet Potato Pancakes for breakfast! I already have some pureed in my freezer. I really can't wait to try the Blueberry bars that are loaded with spinach...I hear they are delicious! Thanks Mom!

Oh, and I WILL post my pics of my craft to my blog next week. I still have a few gifts to give to friends this week, and I don't want to wreck the surprise!

The Rescuer Part 2

Really? No one else has a comment about what God has rescued you from this year? (read my post below from Sunday if you don't know what I'm talking about)

Christmas Fun!

We had a really wonderful Christmas Eve/Day with my family. We did the traditional church service, then family time on Christmas Eve. Then we came home and crashed! Then we woke up Christmas morning with Hayden (Jack was still sleeping) and read the Christmas Story and prayed together. Then....we saw what Santa brought! Here's some pics of our time together...

Trying to get a family picture was nearly impossible...


These are some of my favorite Christmas ornaments

My grandparents used to always give us kids an ornament. This is a sheep with a favorite scripture attached...


H's preschool ornament

J's first Christmas



And then there was Thomas...Hayden asked Santa for Thomas the Tank Engine...and he got it! As soon as he opened the box with trains in it...we lost him. He seriously played with the trains for about 8 hours yesterday, and first thing this morning he said, Can we get out the trains?







And Jack in a comatose chocolate state...

the rescuer

Today our pastor spoke about Christmas and how it's a story of rescue. God sending His precious Son to be our Rescuer. It was a really moving service today, I was in tears for much of it. I know alot of you probably heard it, but it would be worth visiting the church website and listening to if you missed it or live out of town.Click here to download the message.(it was 12/23/07)

In the end, Chris challenged us to think about what the Lord has rescued us from this year. They had little cards for everyone to fill out and hang on your tree, to remember what Christmas is about...God rescuing us. For some of us it's illness, poverty, depression...it could be anything. Here are mine...

I've been rescued from...

My sins.My self inflicted frustration and self pity. Sadness over family stuggles (Disappointment with Matt's broken family and healing for my brother and sister in law over lost babies). Strained/awkward relationships with family. Broken friendship. Financial challenges.

It was refreshing to give God credit and glory for the things He's accomplished in my life and the lives of people I love. It's exciting too, to realize that He's not only accomplished alot in us, but a lot of the things are still "works in progress" and he's just beginning to heal and complete things in, through, and around us. God continues to heal and bring joy in broken and hard situations.

Here's what I am celebrating...My heart/perspective have changed on life with my kiddos. My brother and SIL are expecting a healthy baby girl! My husband and I are free from the legacy of disfunction his family gave him. Expected babies in our family/extended family have given us a fresh start with some awkward relationships and given us much to celebrate together! We've had a door re-open for friendship with a friend we care deeply for, but have not been in contact with for a year and a half. God has brought us through the most financially difficult season of our marraige, and our marriage survived intact! We have many more things I'm sure...but those are my highlights!


Our God is so full of hope...He flings open windows in dark situations and floods them with Hope. I can't wait to see how He will work this coming year!


Care to share what the Lord has rescued you from this year?

EightCrazy giveaway!!

My crafty friend Shannon is having a cool giveaway on her blog in honor of her 8,888th visitor! (She really is obsessed with the #8). You should really visit her blog and enter the contest...it's for a bracelet designed and made by Gems by George (her talented Mother in Law)

Shannon does lots of cool crafty things, and she'll even share how to do most of them, so you can steal her cute ideas!

Check it out by clicking here!

We Believe!!

Or at least we believe in going to the mall and sitting on Santa's lap, and taking the opportunity to bribe our kid to "be good so Santa will bring you a present!"

We took Hayden and Jack for the first time to see Santa. We've never taken Hayden, because we always thought he'd be scared of Santa...but we went for it on Saturday afternoon (I know...crazy to go to the mall on Saturday afternoon!)

But we actually didn't have to wait too long, and Hayden did great!! On the way there my sweet hubby was wanting to wager that Hayden would clam up and not say a word to Santa, but I didn't want to bet. Hayden did so great! He lit up when Santa reached for him to pull him onto his lap and really easily said, My name is hayden and I'm 3...When Santa asked him what he wanted, he said "I want Thomas the tank Engine!" (of course! I think Hayden believes he actually lives on the Island of Sodor...you have to know Thomas even know what that is!) I was so proud!! Although, we didn't really explain very well, that Santa doesn't give it to you right then...you have to wait for Christmas morning! So, he was a little dissappointed to walk away empty handed!

Jack wasn't too crazy about Santa, but tolerated him for a minute. It was fun!

It helped get me into the Christmas spirit that i"ve been lacking, to see Hayden suddenly be so aware of Christmas, and Santa, and Frosty and Baby Jesus...We also went to Peacock Lane to see the Christmas lights, which was fun.

I went home and wrapped up a bunch of my presents to put under the tree...i feel like now I'm almost ready for Christmas!

My baby is ONE

Jack turned one on friday. It's so bittersweet to me. This year has really flown by, much faster than Hayden's first year. I seriously can't believe he's one! We had a fun day, we went to Build A Bear and made him his first Teddy. It's sort of a tradition, we did it with Hayden too. Then we had a small family party on Sunday. Here's Jack showing his #1



And eating cupcake


In other news, Hayden has been throwing major fits lately (more like tantrums). He's never really done this but Matt has been gone alot lately and it seems to have popped up about that time. I think he's just demanding a little more attention. I really laugh out loud sometimes at it...he just really loses it! This is him DEMANDING chocolate (who doesn't want a little chocolate sometimes?)




Although, he still does show a sweet side. I got a new toy for my camera this week (thanks to Lee Ann's hubby tipping me off!)It makes my flash work alot better and so I played around a bit today on hayden...





That's it...Oh, I'm getting another bathroom added to my house! I'm excited...it will also be a laundry room, which I don't have right now. I"ll post pics tomorrow so you can see the progress. Nighty nite!

Real or Fake Christmas Tree?

We always have gone and made the trek to our local tree farm to chop down our own tree. We don't have a lot of traditons for Christmas, but Matt and I have always forked out our 35-45 bucks for our pretty Noble Fir. This year, I've been thinking alot more about "being green". Cloth Diapering, wanting my own chickens, re-usable grocery bags...trying to use organic cleaning products...it's actually pretty trendy to be "green". So, this year i felt a little sad chopping down a tree and felt like it would probably be more green to have a fake tree and spare the world losing another tree. But, it turns out, the green thing to do is to have a real tree. If you care, here's a few links my friend gave me about Christmas Tree facts..

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

and www.christmastree.org

Here's some pics from our outing to Riley Creek Farm in LaCenter (the best deal on Nobles!)

busy busy

This week is super crazy I feel like! 2 birthday parties, crafting my brains out for christmas ( I can't WAIT to post pics, but I have to until I give the presents or the surprise will be ruined!), and sew sew sewing for MOM's this week. My poor Christmas tree is still all bound up from the tree farm in the garage, waiting for some family time to put it up and decorate it!

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. Matt is full swing into bball coaching, and I'm finding it hard to sit down the to computer without him home too much. I REALLY can't wait to post my gifts I'm making...oh well, I just have to leave you on the edge of your seats waiting!

The great news is, I've been making those nursing covers (like Hooter Hiders) for awhile now, but gals are catching on and asking to buy them from me! I've sold 3 this week! That's partly what I'm sewing for MOm's too, for a fundraiser we're going to sell them. I"m praying about starting a little business, but I'm not sure I want to deal with the license, taxes...ugh. But, I do want to work for myself at home, so we'll see.