Christmas Festivities

TACKY CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY

Our Sunday School class had their Christmas Party Friday night. Brian and I dressed our part and were not ashamed of our good looks! I think Brian's comb over makes his sweater even worse. I still don't know how Brian did win for tackiest!

 There was a friendly build your own Gingerbread House competition. After 2 years of building them with Katrina, I think mine finally turned out decent.

 Brian and my houses respectively.

We had a fun evening with everyone!

VISUAL NATIVITY

Saturday my Aunt's church had their annual Live Nativity. I love that this Christmas activity had nothing to do with Santa, Christmas trees, or presents. We were able to talk to Jackson about Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus a little bit more.

 Jackson absolutely loved riding the animals. He rode on the donkey all by himself.

 This is round 2, or maybe 3!

 The camel rides were also a hit. Daddy and Mommy both got to ride him too.

 Jackson told everyone he liked the animals but the camel was bumpy!

 Jackson also enjoyed petting and feeding the little goats and sheep. He liked how soft the sheep were. These are the things he likes to tell us as he is going to bed.:)

They also had a cupcake walk, and Jackson won the first time around. He had one cupcake after we at lunch at the Church, and of course wanted to eat them all!

It was a sweet time with our little guy!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

We only put white lights on our house because I like the classic look of them. However, Jackson loves all the colorful lights, yard decorations, and blow ups. It's not hard to find as you drive around.

We drove around to look at lights. Brian would slow down by the houses we knew Jackson would love and roll down his window. As we making our way back home, we happen to stumble upon this house.

 What's so special about this house you ask? They have their lights set to music! We tuned our radio to the station posted on the sign, sat, and watched for about 15 minutes. Jackson was memorised and enjoyed every minute.

I thought it was pretty neat that someone in the subdivision did this. I feel like we should leave a Thank you note to them and their neighbors! We will probably make another visit before Christmas. I am so glad we decided to turn left and not right!

Christmas Crafts

Something came over me, oh yeah it was Pinterest, and I decided to try my hand at some of the cute crafts that have been pinned all around me.

#1 Christmas Art

I printed off some different Christmas prints and framed them. I really like how this first one turned out. I think the red frame adds a lot to it. I put it on the ledge above the sink. I enjoy looking at it while I do the dishes.

 The other print I framed is cute, but doesn't make me smile as much as the other one. I placed it over on our shelves in the family room right in front of Jackson's Advent tree.

#2 Christmas Banner

I printed off the Merry Christmas letters on card stock. I bought three different scrapbook papers and glued the letters on to them. I punched two holes and then strung silver rope through the letters.

I had Brian hang the banner in our dinning room. I think it turned out well and like see it hanging there. 

#3 Christmas Flowers

This is not Pinterest inspired. I just needed something more wintery in the entry way. I like the way the red and gold look together with the "dead" branch.

#4 Jackson's craft

Also not Pinterest, rather Bible inspired. After reading our advent story for the night about the Shepards and our great Shepard. Jackson enjoyed gluing on the cotton balls. We wrote his new memory verse on there as well. He added his own drawings; a manager with baby Jesus and a racetrack for the race cars.

Weekend Round Up

On Saturday, we made our way to Uptown to take John out to lunch for his birthday. He picked Pappadeaux, definitely not my first choice but now this wasn't about me. Lunch was good, but I can't believe people actually eat lunch there because of how expensive it is. Our total was around $90 for 4 people and 1 ordered off the kid's menu!

After lunch, we had to make a quick shopping trip. I love how much nicer most of the buildings are in this part of town.

I decided to try my hand at a few crafty things this weekend. Here is a little sneak peek of one. I will let you know how they all went in a different post, but I am actually pleased with them.

Homemade pizza is a staple in our house on the weekend. Last night, we did BBQ chicken on half. Some how we did not have any BBQ sauce in the house, so we made our own. It turned out delish! We will be making this one again and possibly with our homemade sauce too!

I have been wanting to see The Smurfs, and thought Jackson might enjoy it as well. 

Pizza + Movie = Family Movie Picnic Night

Of course, we all have our blue on to match The Smurfs!

I really liked the movie and for some reason Jackson kept asking to see Gargamel. I see more picnic movie nights in the future. So fun!

We went to Church this morning. Then Jackson spent the time before nap playing with Thomas and all the other engines. He said they were helping him climb up on the couch and jumping off. Brian gave him some cushions to soften the fall and encourage this behavior!

I spent nap time addressing our Christmas cards. I believe I will have most of them in the mailbox tomorrow. Christmas cards are one of my favorite things about the holiday season, especially the ones that include pictures or letters.

It was a rainy, cold Sunday. Perfect for some Taco Soup! I dumped a bunch of cans together before Church and the house was smelling wonderful when we returned.

It tasted even better with a little cheese and Frito's on top! This was my first time to make Taco Soup, so easy and yummy. 

We had planned to take Jackson to the Parade of Lights. Since it was rainy we opted to stay in and play instead.

What a fun, relaxing, productive, and fun weekend we had! Can we do it again tomorrow?

I Do Believe

At Hobby Lobby last night, I saw a neat picture. It had a big Santa with the Nativity scene at the bottom. Santa was holding Baby Jesus and the caption on the picture was "I Do Believe". Santa isn't necessary for Christmas to exist, but he is all around us. I want Jackson to know meaning of Christmas in the midst of how commercial it has come and love giving more than receiving. 

Tonight we went out for dinner and headed out to Bass Pro Shop for our tradition of getting a free picture with Santa. I will never pay for a picture with the man in the red suit. We had to wait a few minutes for Santa, so Jackson enjoyed the trains.

Jackson was very excited to see Santa and had to wear red so he would match him. He cracks me up! He marched right up there, sat down, and stared at us. We got a few little grins, but no real smiles from him while he was sitting on Santa's lap.

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

I Do Believe!

Memorizing Scripture #23

I can't believe it is the last month of the year. These monthly scriptures have done mighty things in my life and my relationship with the Lord. I can honestly say I know the words to the verses, but not all of the references. Those are always my downfall. I can tell you the book but not always the chapter and verse. My goal was to know all four. However, the verses I am learning with Jackson I do know all four. I think it is because we say them out loud together every night. With my verses, I usually just read/mediate on them silently. I will continue to read, study, and memorize these verses the rest of this year and from now on. From each verse I learned something I needed at that moment in my life or helped me get through some tough situations. God knew what I was going to need to hear and have on my heart to mold and change me but also comfort and provide peace.

I do not every want to lose sight of God or the things that are truly important in my life. I am going to memorize Proverbs 4:23. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Back to Reality

It was nice to have a weekend off still before heading back to work. I was able to get caught up on laundry, pick up the house, and feel somewhat ready for school. We spent the weekend wondering if we were still in WI. We had to bundle up for our nightly stroll.

Brian was extra glad he put up the lights the weekend before in 80 degree weather. When we bought the house, we didn't really think through the extent of putting up Christmas lights.

It was a wonderful feeling to come home to house that was already decorated for Christmas. Brian did a mighty fine job on the house. It looks even better when we turn the outside house lights off.

School has been way better than I expected. It was like a had a brand new class yesterday. Everything I worked hard to get from them before break, was what I got! Today was pretty good too! I guess we all just needed a break from each other. However, I am beyond tired! It is hard for me to go from getting lots of sleep and being rather lazy to getting up early, working out, teaching all day, cooking dinner, etc.

This is Jackson's new song. He started singing it one night all on his own. Now it is the most requested song by us.

It pretty much makes everything else not matter and melts my heart beyond words.

TB: The End

Friday was our last day in WI. Jackson and Garriosn played one last time on the tractors while I worked out. Papa Gary I think Jackson really likes those pedal tractors! Jackson said he like the purple one best because it had a smoke stack, let's hope that was the reason!

Since last Monday was our 8th anniversary since Brian proposed and the dress resides at my parents house, I thought it was time to see if my wedding dress still fit. I am thankful that it zipped with ease!

Mel is a retired firefighter and took us over to his old station. We had free roam to the fire truck and ambulance. 

Jackson had fun driving the truck, and Leo scared us all when he set the sirens off!

Off to Culver's we went for one final family lunch. We filled the corner booth all up and even needed to pull a high chair up for Katelyn!

My parents dropped us off at the airport. Jackson milk or backpack set off an alarm through security. Brian claimed the backpack and then had to have a pat down. Thankfully the rest of the flight home was uneventful, except for Jackson having to use the restroom 4 times (no pulling our leg, he went every time)!

It was a short but very sweet trip home to WI!