New Traditions

This year our family started a new tradition. And apparently, it is somewhat common, but we had never heard of it. It is called the Jesse Tree.

This is how it works.

-You make an ornament every day leading up to Christmas

-Each day either before or after making the ornament you talk about what the picture symbolizes

-You read out of the bible

It is a wonderful time that really keeps the reason for the season in focus

Here is a link to where I got ours


And if your wondering where we found out about this great new tradition; it was from a great friend of mine Anna (and she has a blog too, check it out)

Traditions

Every year my mother and I get together and bake sweets for family and friends. It is a great time of talking, laughing, and mother-daughter time. We did truffles one year, then cookies another, etc.

This year me made brownies. Thankfully there was not a lot of baking because most had a cream cheese filling - but, the cutting felt like it was never going to end.

There was a total of.....

560 pieces and 12 bags of toffee (a must have every year)

All the brownie recipes came from Taste of Home's cookbook-Brownies & Bars Cookbook. The toffee recipe is from my mother.

Take The Time

A must read blog post on foster care.

ONE CHILD

Down It Came

So I somewhat naively thought that letting the children see the tree all lit up last night would keep them from touching it out of curiosity... well, you guessed it - Miss Eliana could not resist the snowman with all its bright colors.

From holding it, to mom saying not to, to her letting go completely; down it came - braking all over the floor.

So the crafty mother that I am, I came up with a solution. The snowman had not broke, only the bulb around it (thank goodness, it was a gift). So I super glued the snowman to the inside of a mason jar, poked a hole in the lid, pushed in the lights that make the different colors, twisted it on, and vwala...



Snowman back in business :) I did however make sure he was placed farther back in the tree this time - away from where Eliana can reach.

Lights, Camera, Christmas Tree

So I had this idea last night to wake up all of my 3 children so they could see the Christmas tree all lit up.

It was a hit, and they oohed and awed; then I remembered it was still bedtime :( I feared the battle of going back to bed - but amazingly they did... quietly :)

Now there was a point to this, and that was....

It is precious and worth going out of the ordinary occasionally to get a little special time with just mom and kids. Sorry dad, but you were at work.

National Adoption Awareness Month

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. The focus of this month is the adoption of children currently in foster care.

This subject is very dear to our hearts since we adopted our oldest son through foster care.

Join in this month and help a child find their forever family.

Inspiration

My uncle Darrell and his wife Sara asked me to make them a quilt for their bed. Of course I said yes, and so I started thinking about what to do. I wanted it to be something that they would both love. Well, my uncle and his friend started a business for hunters called headhunter archery; so I also wanted to incorporate that into the quilt as well. As I was looking for inspiration, about a month ago I looked outside and knew what I wanted to do (I took this photo).



Both my uncle and his wife love hunter green and this will be a king size. I will be starting it in the next couple of weeks (I will keep you updated).

What do you think?

Family Photos

It has been too long since we have had some family pictures taken - well, we finally got the much needed photos taken. They came out great (at least I think so) and even better, we all enjoyed doing it. I also have to admit that it was nice to take pics of the whole family and not just the kids. But, as it often happens, not all the kids would smile at the same time (even when we told them that we would go to McDonald's after-wards for a treat). We even tried telling them to say "ice cream". All the hard work paid off :)






And just for fun the ones that will make it on my blog, but never on my wall....

Summer

It was a great summer! So to fill you in on what has been happening... to start, my mom and I took a trip to Kansas with the kids to visit (my) grandparents. We had a great time. They live on a farm, so the kids got to run and play with their dogs the whole time.


We shot off fire works.


Eliana had her first 4 wheeling ride
.

And then vacation was over... but not the fun.


The kids got to go on a "wonder walk" at our church to see all the things God made.


We went swimming, and to the park weekly.

Can you ever have to many floaties...

mainly we just enjoyed time with our families.

So how about you? what did you do this summer?

The Big 7

That's right, our oldest son Mason turned 7 on August 7th; and he just started 2nd grade. I can still remember when he was so small, such a cute chubby face, with such a big smile.

And lucky him, he had two birthday celebrations this year.
-One with just family.We did things like make cookies for breakfast, swim at the gym, eat cupcakes with fries for dinner (his choice). We really enjoyed it and his grandma B drop bye to say "Happy Birthday". It was a great day.

-And the other one was with all his friends at the park and then to the pool. He is at the age where it is more important for his friends to have a good time than himself (and if its not an age thing, its at least a compassion thing; maybe I even have a little bit to do with that in raising him:). Mason even let his friends get cake before himself. It is such a wonderful thing to see his caring and loving side come out. And all the kids that came were just as caring and loving in the cards they gave him - all put "love you Mason". It makes my heart melt.
What about yours, are you melting yet?


And just for fun Mason "Swimming" and sorry for all the screaming in the background, it is Noah and Eliana wanting a picture taken of them.

Blue Skys

Well I just finished a quilt for my mother in-law's best friend. She is leaving to start deputation with her husband and family (they will be missionaries in Germany). So my mother-in-law wanted to give her a very special gift that she could remember her as they travel to all the different churches seeking support. Is so happened that she thought one of my quilts would be perfect. I was happy and honored to help out (plus I got free range to do whatever I wanted). The only request was that it have blue in it.

I had a month to work on it, but with it being summer, I didn't start it until a week before she needed it. With getting all the school stuff out, planing a birthday party for our son, and daily life - it took the whole week.

So here it is - it came out beautiful don't you think?

The Front

The Back

Up Close


Keep in prayer the people of Germany, that they would come to know Jesus, that they would live for him, and that God would use faithful servants to proclaim His truth.

She's Here

Lillian
6lb. 2oz.

19 1/2 in.

My good friend Elisha finally had her baby... How beautiful!

We Found Her

Well I lost Eliana today.
(and yes you can looses a child in your own house)

I was getting the boys ready for church today, and turned around to - no Eliana. So (with the help from the boys) we started looking around the house. Any parent knows that kids usually hide in obvious places - and when there not in those obvious places, you can just follower the giggles:) But, today there was no giggles to follow.

We checked the whole house - and still no Eliana. At this point I was becoming very nervous - and late for church.

On checking her room for the 3rd time I saw a white diaper!

And out popped little miss Eliana.


And how did she get up there you ask?... From this big elephant.

It's A Girl

Let the gift opening began

The oh's and ash's

Cute and adorable dress made for little Lillian

And a per cut quilt i did just for mommy.

A happy mommy makes for a happy baby.

Jungle Safari pt 3

Today we meet the wild "quilt". I happen to know there are 2 of these animals in this jungle (in a few weeks there will be a 3rd) - but today we will spot only one.

This creature begins it's life the same as the "curtain" - all white with subtle green tie dye



But as we go deeper into the jungle we can see glimpses of a much more detailed camouflage...





Can you hear the monkey (ooh ooh ah ah)? I think we have found her



Yes we have, here she is with bright pink bow, lipstick, and edges.

Jungle Safari pt2

Today as we move deeper into the jungle we find the creature know as "curtains". The "curtain" is camouflage and will hide itself well where there is shrubbery and other plant life.



The birthing process for this animal is as follows:


As a new born this animal will be an all white sheet, but after the process of tie dye, it assumes a green coloring throughout (if you would like it to be really bright, you must use all cotton - I used cotton/polyester blend so it is really light). As the curtain matures even more, the shapes of plants and vines and leaves are applied by using iron on adhesive. The fully mature curtain is identified by two patches of little monkey faces.