Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! May we all celebrate the true reason for this blessed season - Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

TFT

TFT would stand for "Toys for Tots." And while we didn't specifically donate to this organization, we did purchase several toys to give to others - and we (okay I) also cleaned out the toy room and the kids closets to donate some very gently used items...

And earlier this week the kids and I loaded up and dropped off these toys to give to a local ministry...


Believe it or not, I purchased these SIX games for just under $13 at Toys 'R Us. What a deal!

At one of our recent MOPS meetings, we had a gal from our group share about her money savings tips. Seriously - this young woman knows how to pinch a penny. She showed up with her HUGE three-ring binder, color coded, with all of her coupons sorted, clipped and ready to use. She told us how to combine in-store offers, matching them up with coupons, to get great prices.

Some of the things I knew and already (try) to do on a regular basis... I love saving money. I clip coupons weekly. I plan our meals a month at a time. I buy everything I can used (especially for the kids) and literally check Craigs' List daily.

A lot of her tips were awesome! And some of them, quite honestly, might not be doable for our family. But still, she left me thinking about how to save and stretch our budget even more...

After she spoke, our table discussed various ways we try to save money. A friend shared with me one of her favorite websites - Keeping the Kingdom First - and I've signed on a "follower" of this blog. This blog's writer comes across some awesome deals - some of which I've used to purchase gifts for our family and loved ones this year...

So the above photo - with the SIX games for just shy of $13 - I found out about this deal from the above blog which had a great post telling exactly how to maximize the savings - by combining manufacturers' rebates, in-store specials, a gift card giveaway, and a TRU coupon...

I am grateful that we were able to get a good deal - and that it will be able to bless some young children here in our local community this Christmas season!

Circle of Lights

Thanksgiving weekend was unusually mild here in central Indiana. We took full advantage of the weather - with JB hanging lights outside - and the children running around the yard playing. That Saturday evening, we loaded up the crew and headed downtown to see the circle of lights... Evidently we weren't the only ones taking advantage of the warm temps - it was packed! But it was also lovely... What a fun evening of walking around, looking at lights, and believe it or not, stopping by Steak 'N Shake for a milkshake (rather than hot chocolate!) It was an awesome start to this blessed holiday season! And... It was the first time we've ever taken the kids downtown to see the lights! Why hadn't we done this before?

The best I could do at getting a photo of all three kids. Yes, it's blurry. And yes, only two of the three are actually smiling. Maybe E looked grumpy b/c he was too warm in his coat!

A beautiful nativity scene located at a church across from the circle.

One of the window displays for the power & light company.

The windows lit up at the power & light company...

The "Circle of Lights."

A fun group photo.

She's back!

While I wouldn't say she's quite 100% just yet, it is safe to say "she's back!" The silly, sassy and spunky sissy who is the princess among our children!

What a mess

I mess up. A lot. I mess up as a child of God, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend... I sometimes have a messy house. A messy kitchen. Messy children.


And I don't like messes! I feel like I clean up many on any given day. And while there are some messes I can handle tackling, I am glad to know that there are many that our loving God can take care of quite well!


Speaking of messes... If I were to sum up the past 8 days in our home it would be with this post's title - what a mess!


Last Thursday, E's diapers took a turn for the worse. I assumed it was because of teething. Because, well, he is teething! However, I quickly realized this was likely caused by something worse than that...


Come Friday morning, we found he'd gotten sick several times in his crib overnight. The poor guy - he never cried or called out for us - so we didn't know until we went in to wake him up. He got sick several more times that day...


And then C started in too... She was one sick little girl.


Then Saturday night I fell ill with the same stomach virus.


We thought O had escaped it until he started getting sick on Monday morning!


The kids got a lot of rest, watched a lot of television, ate a bland diet (BRAT - bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) and only had clear liquids for a couple of days. So far so good.


We tried to reintroduce food - bad idea. Both E&C relapsed big time.



That brings us up to Tuesday of this week - the last time anyone had gotten sick... Finally! We may be out of the woods!


Then today in the wee hours of the morning I heard E crying and found him in terrible shape once again (I'll spare you the details - though I will say it involved lots of baby wipes, changing clothes & crib sheets and a bottle of febreeze). He's had a rough day diaper-wise but so far has kept food down and is acting more like his happy little self.


When I called the pediatrician last week, the nurse said it might take 10 days for the symptoms to go away. I thought she was crazy. Evidently she was right. Today is day 8 - and I'm hoping tomorrow the kids (especially E) will be just a little bit better...


So this week has been a mess around here. We've done loads and loads of laundry... We've changed sheets. Gone through a whole canister of Lysol wipes. And cleaned. Cleaned. Cleaned.


But there has been some real beauty to these days too...


I've had lots of time to snuggle with each of our precious children. It isn't often they are willing to curl up on my lap anymore - so I will take any moments I can get.


I've had some treasured quiet time with Jesus - in the early hours while rocking and comforting our baby back to sleep... In these times I've prayed over him, our family, our friends.


I've seen the children helping each other - showing love and grace knowing that no one feels quite themselves.


So this week HAS been a mess around here... But I am glad that God is the Great Physician - and that any mess we have is nothing in comparison to how big He is!

A rare occurence!

Yes, a photo of JUST us a rare occurence these days. It seems that most pix have one or the other of us - along with a child or two or three... But here are some from our recent trip to the DR. Among the things I'm most thankful for is my amazing husband! God richly blessed me with a wonderful man and father to our children!

We took this one ourselves... It is a bit off center b/c of that.

At dinner one night - early in the week.

Us at dinner a few days later... I wish I tanned as easily as he does!

Hijacked!

Thanksgiving weekend, before any of the littles got sick, and before I was under the weather myself, we enjoyed "decking the halls" of our home for this amazing Christmas season. At one point, JB was outside hanging lights and I was consumed with an important (and very long) phone call. C grabbed my camera and set off around the house. I can't blame her. She's quite the creative child, and though she has her own "kid-friendly" camera, it has needed new batteries for over a month now... That evening, we downloaded all the images. Here's a few of the ones that made us smile and chuckle. Hope they make you too!

The children lined up Mary, Joseph and some of the animals outside their playful manger scene...

O positioning Joseph just so...

Lined up to the side...

She captured a shot of Daddy hanging wreaths above our windows...

In case you wondered what O looked like that day, think of Captain Rex.

Wow. She got a great photo of baby E with a nice smile. That's better than I do half the time!

Ah... A picture of one of her babies who is playing the part of Baby Jesus in our home this year, complete with swaddling clothes and laying in straw.

A photo. Of O and one of the pugs... I can't even tell you the last time we captured a moment like this!