Conquering the Dust

 Saturday morning I decided that I was going to make some changes to my bedside table. We had some some rearranging in the living room and a larger end table was no longer being used.  I decided that I wanted it by the bed so I would have a little more space. 

So, I moved the smaller table out of the way and started picking up the variety of items that had fallen off it.  I happened to look behind our bed, mistake or not, I am not sure, but what was there surprised me.

Huge globs of nasty dust!  I never imagined that all that dust was a mere foot away from my head as a slept!  Gross!

Earlier in the week Nick and I had been talking about the dust build up around the house.  Dust is one thing that does not bother me.  Food crumbs sticking to the bottom of my feet - yes.  So the vacuuming and sweeping usually get done while the dusting does not.  All of a sudden the dust seems to have a life of its own and is sticking to everything and is EVERYWHERE!

My guess is that prior to moving into this house 5+ years ago, Nick and I had never lived anywhere for more than 22 months.  Moving often means that dust doesn't build up, right?  (Well, at least not to the extent that it does after 5 years.)  We were also only a family of 2 or 3 (after Micah came along) and now there is 5 of us living and breathing and stirring things up around this house.

With that all said, I am thinking that I might just have to change my tone on dusting and break out the dust rag once and awhile.  The dust behind the bed is no longer there and we are swiping it away whenever we see it. 

Once again, fun times from our exciting household.

(You know that life is exciting when you are blogging about dust.....)

Christmas 2011

I know, I know.... it is a little late, but late is better than never, right? :)

For us Christmas is only partially over.  Yes our Christmas tree is down, but the celebrations are not over.  My sister, brother-in-law and niece are scheduled to come home in early February so we have on last celebration with them once they arrive!  (We are sooooo excited to see them!)

For now, here is a brief recap of our Christmas celebrations.  Of course, I forgot to take pictures at all the gatherings. :(

My dad's family got together on the Friday before Christmas and we met at a hotel and the kids (and their parents) went swimming.  As always it was a good time.  Some of my cousins who live out of state were able to make it home so it was a good time of reconnecting with them.

Christmas Eve found us heading to a beautiful Christmas Eve service at our church with my parents.  We had  supper together and then the kids opened one gift each from Grandpa and Grandma.  My mom had made all the grand-kids PJs and my niece had already received hers so it was my kid's turn.  They were excited to try them on and then get on down to bed so that morning would come!

Christmas morning found us at home as a family.  The older two woke up Olivia and she was less than thrilled with the idea. :) I tried to get a picture of the kids in front of the tree, but it didn't work so well.  They are modeling the PJs from Grandpa & Grandma though. :)

Christmas noon found us with Nick's mom's side of the family.  The kids all received one gift from Great-Grandma and then we all played BINGO.  It was a huge success and I look forward to playing it again next year!

The older two received Pillow Pets which have been used night and day since they received them!  Who knew that a thing would be such a hit!

Christmas night was spent with Nick's parent's and sister.  It was a relaxing enjoyable time with family.  Olivia conquered her big gift and spent most of the evening banging and standing on the box.

The kids received a few smaller gifts and then they had one "big" gift from Nick's parents......

A Wii!!!!  They were thrilled and it has been put to use a lot since it was opened.  I think that we are going to have to find a way to get some more games for it very soon!

It has been a great start to our Christmas season!  Can't wait for my parent's to set their tree up and celebrate one more time! :)

Christmas Program Weekend

The 2nd weekend in December is quickly becoming Christmas Program weekend at our house.  Friday night the school has its Christmas program.  Saturday morning is program practice for church and then Sunday night is the the church Christmas program.  While it is a big weekend we plan in advance and there are NO other activities scheduled for this weekend.  We give the kids down time while they are home and there is the required Saturday morning sleep-in and Sunday afternoon nap. :)  With all of that in place the kids all did terrific!  So proud of all them (even Olivia who managed to stay in the pew for the entirety of both programs!)  Here are some photos from the programs.

 The K-2nd grade playing the bells at the school program.  Micah is in the back row on left and Rebecca is in the front row on the right.

 

 Rebecca waiting to begin.  Not sure what she is doing....

 The entire student body at the children's school.  

 Church program - Micah is in the back row 5th from the left and Rebecca is in the 2nd row on the left.

 Micah had a reading part and did a wonderful job!

 Miss Olivia enjoying some Cheerios and the church program.  Still smiling!

 Rebecca was in charge of hanging on of the ornaments on the Jesse Tree.  Stretching as high as she can!

 All of the Sunday School kids ages 2 1/2 to 5th grade.

I am so thankful for all the teachers at school and at church who take the extra time to teach our children some of the important lessons at Christmas time.  We appreciate all that you do for our children and we know that you reward will be great!

Cute Kids

I hate to break it to you folks, but our kids are the cutest. So thankful to have these blessings in our lives.

Thanksgiving

Before Christmas is here I wanted to take a moment to stop and post about Thanksgiving. 

The kids both had plays at school right before Thanksgiving.  Micah's class acted out the 1st Thanksgiving.  Micah played the Indian Chief.

 Here he is telling the white settlers how to hunt and how to fish . (He is in the red and white striped shirt)

 The first Thanksgiving meal.

 Our Indian Chief! :)

Rebecca's class had been reading several versions of the 3 Little Pigs.  So, as a class, they wrote their own version and then acted it out for us.

 Rebecca and one of her classmates held up signs for the audience so that we would know what was happening.

 Our cute pink pig!

We have kind of developed a routine with our family gatherings and so it has been easier to plan for them.  My family on Thanksgiving Day and Nick's dad's family on Friday night and his mom's family on Sunday.  I don't have pictures from all the gatherings, but here are a few.

On Thanksgiving Day the weather was beautiful!  Normally a large group takes a walk or does something outside.  Some years it has been really cold and so not many have gone.  This year there was a nice breeze and so my dad dug out his kites and we flew kites for a while in the afternoon.  What fun it was!

 Grandpa and Rebecca 

 My cousin and Micah!

 Flying the stunt kite with Daddy.

Olivia and my cousin's daughter.  So cute!

Friday evening was spent swimming in a hotel pool with extended family and cousins.  Of course the kids loved swimming and it was Nick enjoyed visiting with some of his cousins that we only see every few years.

Sunday lunch was again a good time of reconnecting with family and remembering all that we have to be thankful for.

God has blessed us in many ways!

Not a baby

We are officially done with the bottle and the pacifier.  Sigh.

Much like our older two, Olivia gave up the pacifier and the bottle without much fuss.  I forgot the pacifier when I brought her to the babysitter's one day and she did quite well with out it and so we decided that it might just be the easiest time to get rid of it.  

I really wasn't ready for Olivia to give up the bottle, but she was.  I kept hoping that she would drink her bottle, snuggle down and fall asleep in my arms one last time.  Olivia, like her older sister, isn't much of a snuggler.  Sigh.

While that is a WONDERFUL thing, it is also a little sad to think that my baby doesn't need these "baby" items any more.  The bottles are sitting on my counter all ready to be boxed up and put in the basement.  The pacifiers are in her dresser drawer just waiting for me to throw them away. 

I am so grateful that my children are healthy and happy and that they are growing and learning just as they are. 

Maybe getting rid of the bottle and pacifier is just another sign of how much I have to be thankful for and to never take my growing children for granted.

Trick or Treat

Once again we dressed the kids up for Trick or Treating, seeing some relatives and visiting my work.  Yes, if you know our family you will notice that some of these costumes have been worn before. :)  Just trying to get our money's worth out of them!  The kids had a ton of fun and it is always cute to see them all dressed up!

 Trying to get a group picture.  Trust me - this is as good as it got. :)

 I dressed up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz (thanks to Melissa for letting me borrow the costume!) and the girls came to hand out paystubs on October 31.  So Dorothy had the Cowardly Lion and Glenda the Good Witch!

 Our pretty princess.

 At my parents - Olivia was really not sure what to do. :)

 Me too!  Don't forget me here in the back!

 Again!

 This is so much fun!

 Done Trick or Treating and now handing out candy to others!

Fun times by all and PLENTY of candy for all! :)