Email from Michael

One of the many things I love about Michael is how thoughtful he is. He set up an email address for the boys when we were pregnant with each of them and has been sending them notes along the way. So sweet. I had to share this one he emailed to them last night because it was really helpful to me, too!

Advent 2010
Hey, guys. Your mom is doing a fabulous job teaching some basics this school year with you. One thing we have talked about is how to celebrate Advent. I thought I'd record here a very simple approach that we've tried to do - mostly in casual conversation around the table, but with a few focused teaching times, too. We're trying to do the things that'd be most helpful for your age and stage.



Last week: Hope - "Looking forward to good things God has promised - (to be with us and so much more)" (Romans 8:18-25, 2 Corinthians 7:1).


This week: Peace - "Knowing everything is okay because God is with us." (Philippians 4:4-7; Mark 4:35-41 - the story of Jesus calming the storm in The Jesus Storybook Bible is currently Sam's favorite).


Next week: Joy - "How excited and happy we are because God is with us." (Luke 1&2; 1 John 3:1-3; Romans 5:1-10)


Fourth week: Love - "Because God Who has loved us so deeply is with us, we can love other people, too." (1 John 4; 2 Corinthians 5:14)


One of the main things about Advent, though, is the waiting and expecting Jesus to come. Given the age and stage we're in, we haven't tried much to explain these distinctions. But sometimes in conversation we have opportunities to point out either dynamic - "God is already with us" or "we are waiting on God." Anyway, for each of the elements above, there is both a dynamic of God being (already) with us and a dynamic of we are waiting on God for some other/fuller presence. We should both celebrate and anticipate His presence. But in both dynamics, it's His presence that is the defining focus.

We love you guys so much! We are so thankful to be your parents!


Michael

Fireside Coffee

I'm enjoying a cup of this right now!
Fireside Coffee:
2 cups Nestle's instant cocoa mix
2 cups non-dairy creamer
1 cup instant coffee (not freeze dried)
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Mix all ingredients. Use 2-3 tbsp. per cup of hot water. Enjoy!

Oh, Christmas Tree

"Christmas Tree"

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Atlanta Half Marathon

Michael ran the Atlanta Half on Thanksgiving with Robert Prusa. They did great! I'm so impressed. The farthest I've ever ran is a 5k that took me 2 months to train for. Here they are!

Background

This is the boys' favorite song right now. (Along with the Veggie Tales Christmas CD)

Advent

It begins tomorrow. I want Christmas to be meaningful and all about Jesus. Reality is that we're still going to buy a present for our loved ones. I'm trying to make the gifts meaningful, or what they'd want but not get for themselves that's less than $30. It's so hard! I'm planning to get the boys 3 things each, too. Like the wise men bringing Jesus 3 gifts.  (They don't need anything!)
Anyways, I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I don't want to add clutter to our lives and home. I want to spend time together, make memories, and start more fun family traditions.
I just saw this video and it just pushed these thoughts out more and I had to share.
What do you think?

YUM!

After gaining 10 lbs. yesterday, you probably want to try this! I'm in love with this recipe. Thanks, Lindsey for sharing! It's the easiest, healthiest, and tastiest meal we've eaten in a while.
Slow Cooker Paella

Inside Joke

Have 2 kids 22 months apart can feel crazy at times. The benefit is that they are becoming best friends! It's so fun to watch them wrestle, laugh, chase each other, hug each other, push each other on their riding toys...so worth all the hard moments!
Michael was gone from early Monday morning until late Wednesday night AND we all were sick. We've been cooped up in the house (minus the Toys R Us trip, 2 trips to the grocery store, and one hour at the library).
Last night at dinner, Sam started chanting "DANGELA, DANGELA, DANGELA, Shake! Shake!"
I have no clue what that means, but Owen thought it was the funniest thing he's ever heard and before I grabbed the Flip to record this, he was turning red because he couldn't breathe...he was laughing that hard. I LOVE THESE BOYS!

Slow the Row!

Michael has been gone a lot lately for work and various meetings. We've been exhausted. He's had Elder meetings after the boys go to bed, Seminary class all last weekend, membership interviews, I made a meal for the Watson's because they are sick, swept and mopped the floor for the first time in a couple months (!), seminary class again, gave the talk at the weekly meeting at Tech, our dinner for 8 dinner group, we went on a date after dinner group (!), we've both been working out 3x a week, Michael is training for a half marathon, I had 2 Tech girls come hang out with me and the boys, had a couple over for dinner, I babysat the Teachey girls friday afternoon, dinner with the Crews's, Staff family Thanksgiving this weekend...and that's all just from this past week. He even stayed up past 2am last night reading for class. Poor guy. He has the best attitude, though.
We know that this is just a busy time of year for us and it will be a different pace once the Holidays arrive. We're looking forward to spending time with family, Staff training week, weddings, and New Years Conference in Nashville.
I've been more dependent on the Lord this past week, which is great. I'm always dependent on Him, but I don't always feel it as much.
If I ran this hard and fast for too much longer I'll collapse, though!
I'm learning that everyone is different (duh!) and we all have our own pace. We're trying to learn how much we can do, by God's grace, and still be healthy. I want the Lord to use us and to challenge us so we can see Him at work in us and through us. I don't want to just sit around and only think about me and my comfort, though. It's a walking in the Spirit deal; I want to listen to Him and have Him guide me to be and do all He's calling me to do, by His strength.
So, enough rambling.

Link Love...I love Google Reader!

Gift Ideas:
Simple Mom

Deals:
Free download of Veggie Tales Christmas music. We LOVE Veggie Tales in our house!

Fashion:
Ways to tie a scarf

Parenting:
I agree with all of THIS. (be sure to check out parts 1&2 also)
I also agree with THIS...you have to train your kids how to share and obey.

Cooking:
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe from Betsy that goes to Atlanta Westside with us
Slow cooker love.

Crafting:
Homemade gifts
Thanksgiving ideas.

New Reads:
Little Llamas are in Washington D.C. and I've only met a couple of times
Unless Seeds Fall are on our Atlanta team in Dahlonega. Melisa was a staff wife when I was in college and she's been super helpful to me the past 10 years (!)
1+1+1=1 is full of great kid activites.

Thanksgiving

I'm so thankful for my family. I love my husband and boys. I've really enjoyed being with them lately...more than usual. They are just so sweet and are at a really fun age and stage.
I took them to ride the Pink Pig yesterday. We went all over town shopping for a desk before and after nap, so it was a fun treat! I took a picture with my phone, but I left it at Mighty Jumps this morning.
They loved Mighty Jumps today! (It was much better than this experience!) It was our first time and we got a great deal on a package of tickets. We'll head back when Owen wakes up to play and get my phone.
Here's our "Thankful chain" we started. We're going to add 1 thing we're thankful for each day until Thanksgiving. It's been sweet so far, but I did think it was hilarious that Sam chose Daddy, Owen, and goats. (We're talking about the letter G this week and he saw a picture of goats.)

There are some more Thanksgiving activities here.

Halloween

You can see our pics here and here.
We had a blast! The boys enjoyed running with their friends in costume.
Hope you all had a good Halloween, too!

Heather

I wish Heather had a blog. She's so thoughtful, selfless, giving, crafty, frugal, and a great friend. We've been friends since 10th grade. We got to know each other because our older siblings were Seniors with cool skylight hall lockers next to each other and they shared them with us. We have so many funny stories of how immature we were/are.
She took care of her sick mother in high school. She'd clean, cook, grocery shop. I was in awe of her attitude about it. I've learned a lot through her life since High School. She's gone through some really tough things and still has incredible faith. Love her!

Sarah Beth

Andrew and Sam play so well together

We went to her house in Marietta on Monday so she could teach me how to use my sewing machine. It was literally in the box! (I used it 5 years ago but broke a needle and messed it up. My Mom got it fixed, but it's been sitting in the boys closet since then)
I can't wait to show you what I made for Patrick and Evy's baby! I won't spoil the fun for them since they're coming in town Friday for a baby shower!  Only a minor injury this time. (I pulled my thumb nail back and it almost ripped off half way down the nail bed).
I felt confident after her lesson, so I got the sewing machine out again during naptime Tuesday to finish Owen's pumpkin shirt. I did great at first, but ended up sewing the front of the shirt to the back in a weird way. I guess I'm not going to take up sewing as a hobby!

Family time in Dublin

We went to Dublin this past weekend and had a great time. Matthew and his girlfriend Kristen came too, so we had a good time getting to know her better (and we think she's great!) and just playing on the farm. It was great redneck fun...the boys went hunting, I made apple butter AND apple pie, drove a 4 wheeler, rode through the woods, etc. So relaxing with such beautiful weather!

Sam learned how to drive. Grandpa even let him run into bushes to teach him how to steer.

Owen thought the bumps around the yard while riding the golf cart was the funniest thing of his life. Nothing like hearing your baby laugh hysterically!

We all went 4 wheeling. I haven't done it since having Sam and Owen and it was so fun!

Matthew and Kristen hit a beaver dam with the Jeep on one of the paths.

I made an Apple Pie from the Southern Plate website. It was delish!

If you give a Mom a Muffin

If You Give A Mom A Muffin
If you give a mom a muffin,
she’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She’ll pour herself some.
Her three year old will spill the coffee.
She’ll wipe it up.
Wiping it up she’ll find dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
she’ll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her
she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She’ll look for her cookbook.
The cookbook is setting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The checkbook is in her purse
that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the two year old’s diaper.
While she is changing the diaper the phone will ring.
Her five year old will answer and hang up.
She’ll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her
that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are… if she has a cup of coffee
her kids will have eaten the muffin that goes with it.
– author unknown

This week

We had a fun week! Parks, sports class, home depot, welcoming Doug home, "sewing" and just getting the house back in order. Tomorrow we're going to Burt's Pumpkin Patch.

Get well card for Doug

Sam was proud of spelling "stop". He's been reading a lot of words lately. I really think he gets it! (Which is crazy to me)

Michael's old cowboy boots fit Sam perfectly now, which is fun!

Owen at Sam's sports class

He hit the ball on the first pitch!

We made our own sandbox out of a storage box and play sand.

Enjoying the pretty weather on our patio!

I made a pumpkin appliqued shirt! If I can do this, you can. I was too scared of my sewing machine, so I just hand stitched it after heat bonding it, then fray checking it. It still counts as sewing, right?

Braves game

coming clean

I'm not sure if anyone really cares or not, but ever since I blogged about my work out I've almost completely given up. I thought throwing it out in blogosphere would make me feel more accountable to do it...oh well. I went last Monday before Doug's accident and didn't go back until last night and then this morning. It was really hard to work out after taking a break. I'm going to slowly build back up the routine.
Anyways, just wanted to keep it real! :)
This weekend...
We went to dinner tonight with the Prusas, which is always fun!
Going to Thompson's Birthday party tomorrow, then my parents house.
Going to the Braves game again on Sunday! (2 times this week people have offered to take us with them to the game. AWESOME!)
What are you doing this weekend?

Thankful

I know it's not Thanksgiving, but I have so much to be thankful for and I just wanted to share a little. I really don't even know where to begin, but we'll see what I type. :)
I'm thankful that the Lord protected Doug and that he's alive.
for amazing girlfriends that encourage me
that we have enough money for food, clothes and shelter
that Michael has a job...that he loves!
that I get to stay home with our boys
that I get to teach them for now
that Jesus has saved me and I don't have to do anything to earn it, even if I could
that we are filthy rich, relationally
for new friendships forming and reforming
that I have a sweet husband
that we have a handful of friends that would babysit for free
that we love our church and the people in it
that we have good cars-thanks to Michael's parents
that it's finally Fall-like!

I really could go on and on....
Here are some pics of what we've been up to in no particular order

Henry Yoder came for a visit and thought these glasses were too funny! I wish I caught this on video...we were dying laughing.

Brotherly love

Field trip to the Chattahoochee. Fed the ducks.

We make the letters different ways instead of tracing them. This is supposed to be better for them at 3 from what I've read.

Our apple craft

I keep whatever we're learning up by our kitchen table so we keep talking about them throughout the day. Sam and Owen love this!

We LOVE these Melissa and Doug blocks. Owen thinks the funniest thing he's ever seen is building a tower with them and then knocking them down. It's really funny and cute to hear him crack up!

Playing Hi Ho Cherry Oh is part of our curriculum. Got it for $2 at the Kindermart sale...YES!

Our bedtime story ritual.

Uncle Matthew came for dinner. Sam likes to be upside down a lot right now.

He's getting so good and fast it makes me nervous

Dublin just started recycling...yay!

At the ice cream shop downtown Dublin

Mrs. Vestal and Sam (he's her biggest fan)

My sweet boys

The Aquarium

My Mom took us to the Georgia Aquarium yesterday. Michael and I went when they first opened 5 years ago and haven't been back. It's so much more fun with kids. They were so into it. Thanks for the field trip and lunch, Grammy!

This looks like an advertisement for the Aquarium. He LOVED it! It was the first trip for both of them.

Owen's favorite part. The slow moving walkway

Bros