Be Merry

Being merry was what I tried to be during the Christmas holiday...and for the most part I was, despite getting sick with the flu, and just as I was getting over that particular illness, the stomach flu hit. For the record, I would much rather have the regular flu over anything stomach related. Mark and I shared the flu together, and poor Christian and I got the stomach flu resulting in a couple of sickie days for him...and what was supposed to be vacation for me. But, the good news is, we are finally better...(or nearly!)

The weekend before we left town to celebrate Christmas, Mark and I took Christian to see ICE at the Gaylord Texan. It was amazing! The theme was the Nutcracker so all of the ice sculptures were the Nutcracker ballet related, with Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker theme playing in the background.






One of the best parts of this outing was after we went through the exhibition, a kind hearted man came up to Mark and gave him tickets for the snowboarding event they had outside of ICE. Those tickets would have been pretty expensive, and we only had budgeted for one event, so this was definitely an unexpected blessing. Christian had a blast!



I'll post about Christmas next time. Have a wonderful New Year!

Christmas Weekend Fun

This past weekend was pretty busy for us. Because of the ice storm last weekend, we lost an entire Christmas shopping/activity weekend, so we tried to pack it all (and then some) this past Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday began bright and early with Breakfast with Santa, an annual event put on by the Colleyville Lions Club. Mark, Christian, and I attended last year as well, when I was pregnant with Elias at the invitation of my co-worker and friend, Renee, whose family goes every year. We had such a good time that we decided to make it a tradition! Kids choirs sing and perform, we eat pancakes and sausage and take pictures with Santa. Check out the link for more information about the awesome work of the Colleyville Lions Club.


We got a similar picture of Christian last year here with Santa. This year he smiled! :) Elias was so enamored with the girl elf that he would never look at the camera. It was so funny, he never took his eyes off her :)


Renee with Elias and christian. Christian has the biggest crush on Renee. Seriously, he talks about her and asks me about her nearly everyday. "Mommy, did you see Wenee (Renee) today?" So funny! He first met her last year at this event and when he and Mark and Elias visited me at work a few months later, she showed him around and paid such attention to him (over Elias who was a newborn at the time) that it made such an impression on him I think. I am very grateful for that!


Another work friend also came with her family. She had a baby girl about a month and a half after I had Elias. It has been nice to have someone with whom I work and see everyday to bounce ideas and opinions, and questions off of! My sister Triana (whose baby and my niece Victoria was born just 13 days before Elias) has been an awesome help too! As a mother I am my own worst critic and I tend to worry about every little thing. Triana keeps me grounded in reality where kids and motherhood are concerned...it also helps my sanity! Ha.


The two babies meet...and become fast friends. They kept putting their foreheads together. Way too cute and funny.

After breakfast, we went Christmas shopping...nearly all day. made for a looooong day, but we had fun, even the boys.


Always has a smile :)


My Mr. Mr.

Sunday afternoon, we went to a birthday party for one of Christian and Elias' little friends at daycare who turned two at Jump Zone in Colleyville. Christian was all over the place playing with his friends, but I managed to snap a couple of pictures of Elias who isn't as mobile. :)


Elias and one of his favorite babysitters, Olivia, and with another little friend of his, Colt. (Mark is in the background reading updates about the Dallas Cowboys game that was currently playing. He was nice enough to accompany me and the boys to this kids birthday party).

Now, off to wrap Christmas gifts. Goodnight!

Icy and Cozy

These past couple of days have been good to our family. This is mostly because we have stayed in and not been driving on the icy roads, and the fact that yesterday neither Mark nor I had to go to work due to both our offices being closed because of the weather. It is very icy and cold outside, therefore we have tried to make the inside of our house as warm and cozy as possible. It has been nice to wake up and have Christian run into the bedroom and say "Mommy, you're here!" During the week I leave so early that he doesn't see me until the afternoon when I am picking him and Elias up after work. I choose to go to work early so I can get off early and have the rest of the day to spend with my family.

Yesterday, we had fun just being with each other the entire day and not leaving the house, except for when we went outside briefly to play. :)


Having fun slipping and sliding on the ice in our driveway.




When the boys were napping, Mark and I went outside to play in the ice as well :)

Later in the day, Christian and I opened day 6 (and then today day 7) of our Advent calendar doors to complete the activity that was written on a small strip of paper for that day. These are the activities that Mark and I had thought of and written down November 30, getting prepared for the Advent season. Yesterday's activity was to make and decorate cookies. Today's was making paper snowflakes.


Christian and I cutting out and decorating the sugar cookies.


C just hanging out watching Sprout.


Elias was captivated by the lights on the Christmas tree.


My little reindeer.

All in all, it has been such a warm, cozy, (and icy!) family vacation for us. :)

As this is the 7th day of Advent, I will sign off with the daily Scripture and Prayer.

'Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.'
Luke 1:8-12

Prayer

I stand in the Temple longing for Your Presence
clothed in the righteousness won by the Son.
I move forward into the Outer Courts
as I pray for Your will to be done.

I enter the Inner Courts with praise on my lips,
to the Holy of Holies where Your Presence dwells.
There I find my voice ceases at the wonder
that You allow me into the very Throne Room of God.

I stand before the Father who created me.
I stand before the Son who purchased me.
I stand before the Spirit that cleansed me.
Blessed Trinity, help me understand Your Advent.

Advent-Day 3

I absolutely love this season that we celebrate as Advent. There is something so mysterious and beautiful in counting down the days of Christ's birth. Advent, by religious definition is the expectant waiting and preparation for the coming of Jesus. It is the preparation of the coming of a person of note.

Our church celebrates this event beautifully and solemnly; it gives a real sense of expectant waiting. Even though there are some of us who have grown up in the church, the event is no less exciting. What I envision is a band playing softly and gradually growing louder and louder until the almost deafening and majestic crescendo takes place.

This makes me think about how it must have been some 2,000 odd years ago (and many many years before) when the people of God were waiting for their Messiah to come. They had so much hope. Many of them lived every day in hopeful expectation that this would be the day that He would come. I imagine they felt what many of us feel today about Jesus' second coming and how some of us long for the day when He comes back for us. This thought makes me grateful for everything He has done for me...and not just for me, but for the whole of mankind. As believers in Christ, we tend to personalize everything. I recently came across a quote by an unnamed Catholic monk, when asked if Jesus was his personal Lord and Savior, he responded, "nope, I prefer to share Him." I love this. Jesus came to seek the lost and to save the world, not only certain individuals. Everyone.

Anyway, I will leave with a Scripture associated with this particular day of Advent, and a prayer. Happy day 3!

'Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'

Jeremiah 23:5-6

'I remember the promises of God
given to Abraham for his willing obedience.
I remember the promises of God
given to David as he sought God with his whole heart.

I remember the promises of God
given to Isaiah as he faithfully spoke God's word.
I remember the promises of God
given to Jeremiah even though his heart was breaking.

Father, You are the Promise-Giver.
Son, You are the Promise-Keeper.
Spirit, You are the Promise-Reminder.
Blessed Trinity, help me understand Your Advent.'

Prayer and Scripture from here.

A Home Depot Christmas and the beginning of Advent

Yesterday, we took a family outing to the Home Depot to get some additional lights for the Christmas tree, lightbulbs etc...fun, huh? :) I actually love Home Depot which Mark loves because we can go there...often. It turned out fortuitous that we took the kids because in the back of the store there was an activity for the kids to build and Santa was making an appearance.


Christian was pretty stoked that he got his own personalized Home Depot apron. As we were leaving he excitedly told an employee "I have the same clothes as you!"


Mark helped Christian put together a mini toolbox. It was fun to see them working together gluing and hammering the toolbox.




Painting the toolbox.


The finished product.

And if you were wondering what I was doing (besides taking pictures) and where Elias was, here is your answer :)



I am excited about starting the Advent Season this year, as I have been every year. There is something so beautiful and meaningful about each day. Our church celebrates this season so beautifully, capturing the miracle of Jesus' first coming.

December 1-Day 1: The Great Silence
In the beginning was the One who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out.
John 1:1 -5

Advent Prayer
Lord, there are times in my life when silence reigns
and the clamor of this world confound my thoughts;
I long for Your voice; for the whisper of Messiah
and I ask, where is the Advent, the coming of the King?

In those moments of silence, my soul longs for You
like the desert deer longs for a life-giving oasis.
And I realize You never left. You were cultivating
my heart through my longing, through the silence.

Father, in the silence, remind me that You never forsake.
Son, in the silence, remind me the Word is never voiceless.
Spirit, in the silence, may You teach me to be still and know.
Blessed Trinity, help me understand Your Advent.

We are starting the first day of the Advent season by doing an activity that Mark and I thought of. We had to think of 25 of them! But it was a lot of fun, and hopefully Christian has a lot of fun too :) Gotta go!