Rowan

We didn't forget Rowan's birthday this year! Really! We have just been so busy and I decided to throw the two boys a party together this time. I don't know if that will happen now with everyone coming down with the stomach bug. They may have to settle for us taking them out to eat and maybe a movie. It's kinda sad. It will be the first year ever that we haven't thrown them a party.

Well, here he is, my big seven-year-old boy! Can you believe it? SEVEN

1. What is your favorite color? blue
2. What is your favorite toy? legos
3. What is  your favorite stuffed animal? armadillo
4. What is your favorite thing to sleep with? my lion
5. What is your favorite fruit? pears
6. What is your favorite cereal? granola
7. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? cinnamon toast, with like the swirly in the middle
8. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? pizza
9. What is your favorite dessert? ice cream
10. What is your favorite drink? soda
11. What do you want to eat for your birthday dinner? eggs, bacon, waffles
12. What is your favorite animal? snake
13. What is your favorite book? Harry & Horsie
14. What is your favorite song? Our God is an Awesome God
15. What is your favorite game? MegaMind DS game
16. What is your favorite t.v. show? I Love Lucy
17. What is your favorite movie? Despicable Me 2
18. What is your favorite thing to do outside? build snow forts
19. Who is your best friend? Jude
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a toy maker

Rowan is still a fairly passive child. He loves to spend time at home. Alone. That being said, he does really enjoy playing with other kids and he loves to ham it up in a crowd. Rowan is learning to read this year and is improving greatly. Math seems to come quite naturally to him. He played soccer last spring and can't wait to start up again this coming year.

The biggest highlight of Rowan's year was that on September 2, 2013, he accepted Jesus as his Saviour.

We could not be more pleased with this boy. To say we love him would be a gross understatement.

Merry Christmas

...a day late.

A Few of My Favorite Things

These are the things that I'm "crushing on", if you will.

1. Vitamix

 

 

Oh the things I could blend...

These are so expensive but I must admit that I would truly love to have one. My blender is on the fritz & from what I've seen & heard, these are the best.

 

2. Lindor Truffles

 

 

Who doesn't love these? Jay usually gets me the tiny little bag that contains 3 of these beauties every year for my stocking. There are so many flavors that I haven't even tried them all. So far I have to say my favorite is probably the dark chocolate.

 

3. Le Creuset Spatulas

 

 

These are awesome. I only have the small one on the far left but I would be thrilled to find my stocking filled with the rest of these. Maybe even double of some sizes. They are pretty spendy as far as spatulas go but the one I have is the best spatula I have ever owned.

 

4. This Bedding from West Elm.

 

 

I love the slate grey color. Put together with some white crocheted pillows and a white throw it would be just the look I want for our bedroom. There is similar bedding on Amazon for about half the price.

 

5. Faux Fur Stockings

 

 

I just got these yesterday! I have to say, I totally dig them. They are bigger than I pictured and better quality. Each one is lined with the softest material. I didn't have them personalized because I thought  a glittered monogram hanging with each one would be more my style. I hung them up the second they came and I can't wait to fill them. (Not sure what they cost now but I got them on clearance.)

 

6. Hand Warmers

 

These are a favorite of all 4 of my kiddos. They swiped some from the UPS fill-a-truck drive and  played with them all day. Then Jay's mom sent this pack to split between the boys for their birthdays. It's a great stocking stuffer for just about anyone. I wouldn't mind having some myself. Throw in some of the boot warmers and I'd be one happy girl this winter.

 

7. Snow boots

 

 

There are so many options out there but I think these are cute as far as snow boots go. I honestly would enjoy anything that was comfortable & kept my feet dry. I haven't owned snow boots since before I was married. I know, I live in North Idaho. I guess I'm just used to it and since my trudging up Mom & Dad's driveway days are over, I just haven't felt the need to spend the money. But I would really love a quality pair of boots so that I could go outside with the kids for longer than 10 minutes. And not get frostbite.

 

8. Bare Escentuals Foundation

Girls, this stuff rocks. My winter color is medium beige. In the summer I need something darker. I love that you get decent coverage but it doesn't feel heavy or caked like liquid foundation tends to do to me. I recommend purchasing wide awake & their mineral veil as well. The wide awake is great for under eye circles or blemishes and the mineral veil gives your skin a nice naturally blended look. The best part is that my skin seems to get clearer(except currently for some weird reason) and it lasts me for about 3 or 4 months.

 

9. More Makeup

 

 

More from Bare Escentuals. This kit is called "city lights" and I have been eyeing it for a while. It is currently on sale. Yippee! Their holiday sets have been my favorites for eyes & lips(not a big lip person. makes me feel claustrophobic.). I do not care for their mascara. Not sure if its because they only have black & I use brown, or if it's their mascara brush, but I am not a fan.

 

10. Caramel Brulee Latte from Starbucks

 

 

I have had a couple of these this season and they are yummy. Trying to cut out sugar & carbs right now so I haven't been indulging but when you need a treat, these are a great option. I am generally a peppermint mocha or a chai tea sort of gal but these were nice for a change.

 

 

DISCLAIMER: I know this may seem very materialistic of me but I do have to say that I honestly do not care what I get for Christmas. In fact, I would be okay with receiving no gifts. I really would. Although I do love me a good gift, in my opinion, it is more fun to find gifts for others to enjoy. I am not the best gift giver. I readily admit that I am not the most thoughtful and I don't often come up with the best gift, but I do thoroughly enjoy trying. Please don't think me greedy, just wanted to share some things I enjoy and maybe give others ideas for those on their list. It's not too late!

Right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O Christmas Tree

We did actually decorate the tree we cut down. I didn't get very many pictures. Attaching hooks to ornaments & making sure they don't get broken is a full time job with 4 kiddos so it makes it very difficult to photograph the process. We do have a few & I hope to take some more once we have the gifts wrapped & under the tree.(Rhett prevents us from putting them out too soon. He's curious to say the least.)

 

 

The Best Day...

Thirteen years today.

That is how long ago I met my husband.

We don't really celebrate the anniversary of the day we first met.
At the time it didn't really seem that significant.
But thirteen years later we know.
We know it was the start of a dramatic change in our lives.
I think often of the fact that I wanted to stay home that night.
And it's true that we probably would have met eventually.
But what if we hadn't?

I would not have known how being loved by him would change me.
I would not have met his family.
His brother's wife would not be one of my best friends. I would have never even met her.
I most likely wouldn't have traveled so many places.
I may have married another or never married at all.
There are at least 4 people who would never have existed. And at least one less in Heaven.
If I had married I would most likely be divorced. Let's face it, who else would put up with me?*wink*

Life would have been very different if I had not met him that night 13 years ago.

So I will celebrate in my heart. I will thank the Lord above. I will praise him for that night every day.

Because you can only meet the most wonderful man on Earth once in a lifetime.

Gift Giving

It happens every year.

The overwhelming task of finding the perfect gifts for each person on our list.

I am not one who buys gifts because it is expected of me. I buy them because I truly want to. I do. I think gifts must be my love language because I enjoy giving them as much or more than receiving them. But I'll admit, the task can be rather daunting at Christmastime. With four kiddos, parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces & nephews, and our spouse, it gets really expensive even when  you are spending frugally.

A couple of years ago we decided that we will no longer purchase gifts for siblings or parents. It was a family decision. My parents, siblings, and I all got together and decided that it was just too much to get a gift for every.single.person. So, my parents don't buy us gifts but focus on the grandkids instead. We have never purchased gifts for Jay's side of the family as it is so large & they all live far away. Half of them don't celebrate Christmas anyhow.

I am fine with this arrangement. It lessens the stress that comes with so much money going out. The only thing is, the kids get really spoiled. We tried to get them only one gift plus stocking stuffers the year before last. That did not work. They had things that they'd been needing and things that we really wanted to get them. Last year we tried to just be really selective but it still wound up being a lot of stuff. It was around last Christmas that I ran into this idea on the internet.

 I LOVE it!

I cannot remember where I first saw it but this lady explains it really well on her blog.

It's perfect. You see, with two of the kids having birthdays right at Christmas as well, this will really help to narrow down the gift-giving options for us.

Each kid gets 4 gifts:

1. Something they want
2. Something they need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read

It will make me put more thought into what we buy them. Because they only get one for each category. Plus it will free up some of the other things for their birthdays. It will help the gifts to be more meaningful. And it will keep the cost down.

At least, that's what I'm hoping...

Waste Not; Want Not.

Whilst decorating for Christmas, I began to notice a common theme in my home.

* I have a lot of stuff I don't like & I have a lot of stuff I don't use.

So, in an effort to purge our home rather than our bank account, I have decided that it is time I repurpose, repair, or regift many of my belongings. I have a lot of craft supplies that I rarely use these days & those should come in quite handy. The plan is to make as much of the stuff I have into something I truly enjoy. The rest will have to find a home elsewhere. Of course, there are always sentimental items that aren't particularly your favorite, but you can't bear to part with them. I also plan to find a way to put those items to use if possible.

Another thing I've noticed is that I need to find a way to display photos of our family. The living room is sort of an 'awkward' space and it is difficult to display them there. Our hallway could be a really nice place to display them but I'm not sure if I can commit to decorating my hallway. I like the blank/clean feel of it the way it is. I know, I'm boring.

The Hunt

Yesterday, we met with Mom & Dad & Tess at the Christmas tree farm just a hop, skip, & jump from our place. Often I will stay home with the little ones and Jay & the older ones go choose a perfect tree. This year I opted to go with and I'm so glad I did. We had a great time!

Floaties

 

Avril did not care for the 'floatie" in her bath the other night.

She started hollering for me and when I went in there, Rhett had already climbed into her bath, fully clothed. Nevermind that he had just gotten out of his own bath.