Football and American Girl Birthday Party

This year, I opted for a small, family birthday party for the kids. I did minimal decorations, had hot dogs and hamburgers, and of course, cake and ice cream! The cakes were by Sabra Elmer!

Busy Busy Bees

I wish that this post was about how busy I am working for the Lord, but it's not. In fact, it's about how my busyness is taking time away from the Lord.

I love going and doing, but I don't want to get so caught up in things and being places that I lose sight of what really matters. What really matters is that I have a personal, real relationship with God and that my kids see that example.

I battle wanting to be at home and wanting to go! I love being home and enjoying time just piddling as my dad would say, but it seems as the kids get older there's less time for that. I always said my kids wouldn't be involved in EVERYTHING...and they're not. But, we're still crazy busy with the activities they have chosen. I want them involved in some things. I think activities like sports and music lessons teach kids important lessons like commitment, dedication, work ethic, team work, etc.

So, how do we keep it real with God in the midst of the busyness? I've tried to find some ways to use our time and I'm sure there are many more things I could be doing.  Below are a list of things we do to keep the line of communication open between us and God. I'd love to hear what you're doing to overcome the busyness that seems inevitable.

1.  Memory verses: My kids and I learn a new memory verse each week. We learn them in the car on the way to school! They soak it up! I'm the one that has a hard time learning them in a short amount of time!

2.  Prayer time before school...in the car also!

3.  Prayer at bedtime: I make sure to say prayers with each kid every night. their only going to be little for a bit and this is such an important training time teaching them the importance of prayer.

4.  Mostly at holidays and in the summer, but sometimes throughout the year, we read scripture and do crafts. It doesn't happen every night but the kids still see that God is important and we want to include Him in our lives outside of church.

5. We keep the radio on KLOVE. Trying to keep the bad influences to a minimum is such a struggle in this ever-increasing sinful world.

6.  We try to attend church on Sunday, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. Kids need to know that church and fellowship are important. How can we make every practice but are too tired to make it to church? Skipping church is not sending a good message to our kids, but I am SO guilty of this one.

7. Unplugging: We live in such a technologically advanced world. We are bombarded with technology and information. It is nice to just put the devices away sometimes and read to the kids or just talk. We love to stay outside as much as possible.

Although we're busy, we try to keep our family's focus on God and His Son, Jesus Christ! How do you combat the busyness?

Countdown to Christmas Advent Lessons

As the kids get older, I'm sad to say that we are getting extremely busy. With ball practices and violin lessons and other activities, we find ourselves away from home a lot.  (Discussing the busyness is for another post, though!) I made an advent schedule and we try to stick to it, but it just doesn't always happen! That's ok! When we are home and are able to read our scripture and make crafts, we have a ton of fun. If we miss a craft, I just pick the cutest ones for us to make up. But, we always read all of the Scriptures that we have missed! That's the most important part anyway! Also, the kids and I are working on memorizing Luke 2:1-19!! I'm so excited about this memory work! The kids are doing a great job! They have already memorized verses 1-5.

We had our North Pole Breakfast, even though it ended up being breakfast for supper!! I put all the details in my Elf post! We also made countdown chains after Bernard left the supplies for us!  Last night, we made up several scripture readings and a couple of the crafts. The kids signed cards to mail to Holiday Mail for Heroes and they made these fingerprint manger scenes! We plan on stopping by Grandmother and Granddaddy's house to give them to them!

We had Ugly Christmas sweater day at school, so Hannah and I made these cute ugly sweaters!! We were Christmas trees!

Bernard 2014--Elf on the Shelf

North Pole Breakfast--Day 1

Countdown Chain--Day 2

Movies and Popcorn--Day 3

No picture, but Bernard left the kids popcorn and the Hallmark movie Northpole.

Bug Eyes--Day 4 and Don't forget to buy can goods for the food drive--Day 5

Bernard kept making the boat tip over, so he let Santa take a boat ride instead! Day 6

Sledding down the banister--Day 7

Getting ready for our NOLA trip by sending pictures of when he went!--Day 8

Sleeping the tissue box in the hotel bathroom! (Yes, our elf travels with us!)--Day 9

He just sat on the lamp in the hotel room the next day--Day 10

Holding Baby Jesus in the "screen porch" cabinet--Day 11

Decorating the mirror--Day 12

Bernard took all the candy canes, hid them around the house for the kids to find, and then hid himself in the jar! He's been staying protected since Lila tried to touch him one day!!! I'm amazed that she is old enough to understand, but every morning she says "I wanna see "Nard".--Day 13

Wonder if B is a professional baseball player at the Northpole? Maybe this autograph will be worth something someday!!--Day 14 **Hannah asked Bernard if he would sign her softball too! So, of course, he did!

Lego Christmas Tree--Day 15

Scavenger Hunt, Bernard left clues all over the house and the kids found him in the tree! Day 16

Elf on the Shelf--80s style--One Eyed Willy, Goonies--Day 17

I guess the bathroom wasn't Christmasy enough!! Red and green light bulbs--Day 18

Too warm in Arkansas, Bernard had to sleep in the fridge!!--Day 19

Camping Out--Day 20

Toilet Paper Snowman--Day 21

Bernard helping us with our Random Acts of Kindness! Taping quarters to vending machines--Day 22

Cars and trucks as reindeer and Santa's sleigh--Day 23

Playing football in the village--Day 24

Covering Santa's countdown beard--Day 25

 Last day!! Bernard left a birthday party for Jesus including silly string, party poppers, noise makers, balloons, and cupcakes!

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Christmas decorating is my absolute FAVORITE! I love having white twinkle lights all over my house! It's just so festive and cozy!

The tree is one of the first things that I decorate! It brings back such memories from my childhood and I hope that my kids are making the same lasting memories! We always make apple cider, turn on a Christmas movie, and decorate the tree. The kids enjoy hiding little ornaments and then finding them, just like my brothers and I did!

My mom bought a new nativity and gave this one to me! It's called O Little Town of Bethlehem by Department 56.

I made this Arkansas picture in Photoshop using the lyrics from Alabama's "Christmas in Dixie." Alabama Christmas is my most favorite holiday CD.

 In keeping with my Junky decorating theme, I bought a pair of old skates from Ebay. I added a little ornament and greenery to finish the look.

On my table, I used several pieces from my fall table and added a Christmas touch! I have incorporated some turquoise with the traditional red and green...and I'm loving it! To add turquoise on my table, I put snow and village trees in mason jars.

Several years ago, my mom made these oh-so-cute bags for advent. Each year, I put small gifts in each sack for the kids. Some years it's candy and little trinkets other years I've bought a Lego advent calendar and put them in each bag. This year, for Ty I bought Mini NFL helmets and I'm placing those in each bag. For Hannah, I bought several American Girl outfits, nail polish, and other fun little girl things. For Lila, I bought a magnet advent tree with ornaments. Each day she gets to put a magnet ornament on her little tree!

This village is the Department 56 Snow Village. I have been collecting since I was a teenager! The pizza parlor was actually a gift from Brett because our first "date" was a Pizza Hut!

Since the mantle is the home of the village, my stocking have to be hung on the ladder with care!

Hannah's little tree is so much fun to decorate. It is pink and purple and turquoise...nothing traditional about it! But, it's so fun in her bedroom!  Ty's tree is a small, rustic tree decorated with ducks!  Lila has a small little lime green tree with red balls and nativity ornaments. Next year I plan to start her a tree similar to Hannah's!

Each year, Brett takes us on an adventure to the farm to cut fresh pine, cedar, and red berries!

Merry Christmas!