Surprise in the Mailbox

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is going to my mailbox everyday to find it full of Christmas greetings from family and friends. I LOVE seeing the sweet faces of my friend's kids, updates of their lives, and how their family has grown or changed over the last year. I just think Christmas cards make a magical season more joyful, especially in a day when it is very rare to get something other then junk & bills in the mailbox. 

 Last year, I ordered our Christmas card from Shutterfly, because they had the cutest ones I could find. Their website is so easy to use, too!

 

Here is the style we chose last year:

 

This years collection is no different. Here are a few of my favorites:

I love the bright colors on this one.

I love the message of this one! If I choose this one I have the perfect black and white pic for it!

I also love this collage because to get just one perfect picture of the 5 of us is next to impossible! This one also is a folded card, which means you get to include more pictures and text inside! They also have several inside layouts to choose from. 

There are also about 20 others I like! Really, I don't think there are any I don't like!  Now, which one to pick....hmmm....I guess if you know me in real life you will just have to wait until it shows up in your mailbox! Now to get Christmas card worthy pictures. Ha!

And to top it off  Shutterfly is giving me 50 FREE Christmas Cards!!! Bloggers go here to find out how you can get some too!

Childlike Faith

Last week I got a call from Kaden's school that Kaden had gotten hurt on the playground and needed stitches. Even though that doesn't seem very serious I still had that sinking nervous feeling. Mostly worried about how bad it might be and how much pain he might be in.  I was already in town and not far from his school so I was able to get there pretty fast, but I also worried all the way there. Well, we got there and he did have a pretty deep cut on the top of his head but after examining it and calling for a medical opinion we decided it didn't need stitches so we took him back to school. 

When I picked him up for the day I told him how worried I had been when I got that phone call. He looked at me and said "Mom, didn't you pray." He said it so directly and confidently. I had to admit I hadn't. I had been too worried for that even to cross my mind. Sometimes, I guess, our kids teach us more then we teach them. 

Dear God, I am so thankful for the seed that has been planted in Kaden's heart. May that continue to grow and develop. And in the next scary or unknown situation involving my kids may I have the presence of mind to stop and pray.  Amen

Hard Work=Salad & Breadsticks!

We told Kaden at the begining of the school year that when he went a whole month of getting happy faces from his teacher EVERY day we would go to Wichita and let him choose the restaurant. So, last weekend we had some errands to run in Wichita and a reward to fulfill. Kaden's first choice was McDonald's with a play place but after a little more consideration ( & encouragement from us) he chose The Olive Garden.  And it was fantastic! The best part was seeing Kaden's excitement and ownership of earning such a special dinner.

Halloween 2010

Lightning McQueen, Ninja, Little Lion

Our trick-or-treating was delayed slightly by a flat tire.

Pure Joy

I didn't include the festivities from the boys schools and church but I couldn't resist this picture of the two year old boys from chruch. Aren't these little guys ADORABLE!

Madden, Quinten, Landon, Kyler, Nolan

Kaden's Writing

First of all, look at this coloring! Amazing for my son who hates it!

And Kaden found this notebook and filled it with his observations today (just like they do in the Magic Treehouse books). I LOVE to see that his writing is developing. He must have a pretty amazing Kindergarten teacher!

Grandpa (Grampo) took (tuc) me (me) to (ot) the (th) hay (ha) bales (balz).

There (there) are (ar) two (to) horses (horsis).

A (a) Horse (hoos) is at my (mi) house (hoos).

With an illustration of one of the horses.

Dear dad, I love you.

Dad is Mean (Men).

Dad has (haz) a nut. Hey, it's true! We did tell him he couldn't write stuff like this, even though I do want to encourage his writing! Probably not the worst we will ever see. Ha!

Fun House

* I have no idea what is going on with blogger's layout. After many attempts it changes the layout when it publishes, so I gave up. Sorry the pictures and captions don't match!

The PTO at Kaden's school puts on a fun house every year to raise money. It is such a fun event. Unfortunately, Kaden's school will close at the end of this year and will combine with another school so it was the last Fun House.

Kaden with his buddies at the end of the school day.

Kaden couldn't wait to try the pop toss. He won a pop on the first try!

The Car Bash --A boy's dream.  Hopefully he won't take a hammer to one of our cars now.

Kyler INSISTED on getting his hair sprayed lime green. Jack thought it looked so cool he got red and black stripes.

Aunt Kristen and Uncle Jake came to support Kaden's school. Bless them! Jake's face says it all. It was a little more chaotic then they had imagined. So happy they came even though it will probably delay me getting a niece or nephew by several months or years!

And by the end of the night Kaden really didn't feel well. Later we found out he had strep throat. 

Making our Home a Haven

Last week was a busy one in our house. Our normal activities plus potty training and helping with a fun house at Kaden's school ended  with an exhausted family and a very sick Kaden. So, what was going to be a VERY full and busy weekend was pretty much put on hold, which was probably exactly what this family needed. 

I also missed last weeks challenge, which was a good one. It was basically to find an area of your house and declutter it while also considering how to declutter your life to make sure the spiritual part is allowed the room it needs. I really need both elements of this so I am going to do this part of the challenge next week. Stay tuned...

SO, here is this weeks challenge:

Keep your candle going, the music playing, and add some tender moments with your family. Have a pillow party in the family room and get out every blanket and pillow in the house and be cozy with the kids or your hubby! Even if you live alone you can do this. Enjoy a cozy evening of hot cider and caramel corn. Give a 5 minute back rub to every single person in your house...and for a double challenge- try to give one every day to each family member! During your tender moment with the family, ask them how they feel about this challenge. Are they enjoying it? Is it helpful? Is there anything they would change. Give your family listening ears.

Because, I know the only way to make this happen is to be intentional. I got out my planner and actually made plans for several "tender moments" this week:

Monday: Since I am pretty sure Kaden will be staying home sick from school.  This will be the perfect opportunity for a pillow party complete with popcorn and a movie.  I WILL participate even though there are other things I could be doing. And I will play a game with each of the boys by themselves. 

Tuesday: Kyler and I have our weekly toddler time at the library together. While, Kyler naps Jack and I will make potions (one of his new favorite things to do). Since, this is our free night this week everyone is going to make dinner together. I am thinking Pizza, salad, and something sweet. Everyone gets a job and it will be fine if there are a few fingers licked, boogers added, and a huge mess made. Cooking with the boys just makes me cringe but it will be worth it.

Friday: I am helping in Kaden's classroom for Bats, Insects, and Spiders Day as well as his Halloween party. 

How the challenge has been going: It has been so helpful, after a busy and chaotic start of the school year to put my focus back on our home. I think I am much more gentle in the the way I correct the kids and I catch myself when I am not. I think the boys have been getting along better with each other as well. It just amazes me how intentional you have to be to change things and how hard it is to keep the the things that are truly important a priority.

To read Courtney's post on this challenge and to read about other women participating in this challenge go here.

 

Show us Your Life -Kid's Rooms

I can't believe a whole week has gone by since my last post! I am still living on the high of last Saturday - Ha! But, I had to get back into blogging for Kelly's Korner - show us your life because this week is on Kid's rooms. I LOVE decorating Kids rooms!  It is a place where you can really do anything and have so much fun! So let the tour begin!

First off, I am going to start with my first ever nursery I decorated. Well, actually we brought Kaden home to our small apartment so he had a bassinet in our bedroom, a closet in the office, and his changing table was the kitchen table - not kidding! We moved when he was 2 months old and that is when he got a nursery! 

The Airplane Nursery 

(This isn't the first actual room. We have moved several times. But, the theme stayed the same)

When Jack came along Kaden got a Wild animal room. And then when Kyler came along we moved Jack into Kaden's room. 

At first we just used the trundle for Jack's bed. He was barely 2 and it worked perfectly.

After our last move: Kaden and Jack 

got bunk beds and are in the process of getting a "sports" room. 

I LOVE this Target bedding! I think it just screams boy they will 

be able to use it a long time.

Reading area. I love these Anywhere chairs from Pottery Barn. They migrate between the boys bedrooms  for reading and playroom for watching movies, and are even used for fort making.

I bought these at Wal-Mart and can't wait to get them on the walls.

 Kyler got a brown and Blue Nursery.

I Love this bedding I got at Target on clearance.

Maybe in a future installment of Show us Your life we will have a pink room to show....Maybe.

To see more kid's rooms go to Kelly's Korner.

Best Day Ever

Kids slept in until 7:30, so we got to too.

I got some laundry and quick cleaning done.

My sister and I got to go for a run together.

Kaden scored his first 3 goals at his soccer game (and got close 2 other times)!

We went out for lunch.

I went shopping with my mom and sister.

Came home to play with Tim and the boys.

Dinner, baths, and bed for the kids.

Ended the day by watching a movie with Tim. 

Oh, and out of the blue, Kyler decided he was ready to use the potty this morning....went all day with only 2 accidents...and both of those were this evening!

My mama heart is full tonight!

Busy Busy Busy Bugs

I just can't believe how much has changed about our everyday life since Kaden started Kindergarten! Our schedule is all of a sudden packed and  that is just with 1 kid in school! Sure, makes me miss those days of just being home with 1 baby, bored out of my mind,  and with absolutely nowhere to go. One thing is for certain. I HAVE to get more organized. I am working on a plan now. The main thing I need to work on is dinner. I have always been a meal planner but here recently, in the choas, I have slipped into survival mode and have gotten away from it. I realized last night my meal planning is going to have to reach a new level because some meals are going to have to be portable. For example, Last night was Bug Dance- Family Math Night at Kaden's school from 5-6pm then I had PTO at 7.  Oh, and let me add we live in the country so it is not easy to run home to eat and we have to allow extra travel time. So, last night I needed to plan a meal that we could leave with it- mostly prepared at 4:35 - drop it by Tim's office. Then go back and eat it at 6 - with very little effort or mess.  Instead we went out to eat. So, once I figure out a plan I hope to share it. 

Pictures from Bug Night - Graphing, Map Reading, and Left & Right seemed to be the focus of the night (the need to include what they focused on is the teacher in me).

The high school kids who were there to help. I love that there are some GREAT teenagers for my kids to have as role models. Three of these girls I have had in youth group.

We will be singing through the week

This weeks challenge with Women Living Well is two fold. First of all, to play music throughout the day and for me to model gentleness.  

Why don't I think to play music more often? Music is so powerful. It truly can change the attitudes and pace in this house. I also want to remember that when my kids are older as I know there is a lot of music out there that will have a negative effect on my kids' attitudes and behavior. I am so thankful for all the contemporary christian music that exists today. That is what we will mostly be listening to this week. 

The second thing I am going to be working on is something I have been meaning to make a priority for a while. The first is to make sure I lower my voice instead of raise it when I am angry with my kids. I can always seem to do this the first couple times I ask something but by the third time I am furious. I need to remember even in those situations I need to respond without anger. And while I am focusing on my approach with my kids I am also going to make sure I am praising my kids in public and correcting them in private. It should be an interesting week! I will update next week how things are going...

"A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger."  Proverbs 15:1

I am also linking up at: