Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Here's some highlights from our Christmas morning.

Lulu got a Sit n Spin.

That little tea set in the corner kept Lulu busy for hours.
She'll pretend to pour the tea into each cup and pass out cupcakes.

A baby stroller and glow worm baby!

Skylund loved this sign for his door.
I can never find anything that has Sky's unusual name.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Davis!

Lulu right away put her new hat and scarf on.

Sky enjoying a cup of Christmas cheer!

This made it a little difficult to set the table for our Christmas dinner.
Every time I turned my back this is where Lulu would be!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!
We woke up to a white Christmas, which was awesome
but very cold!

Classic Santa Picture

Remember these Joe?

I love our Christmas tree.
Five years ago, when I moved here to the Ozarks from California,
I sold everything I owned and just kept what I could put
in my little KIA Rio.
One of the things I kept was my box of Christmas tree ornaments.
My ornaments are an eclectic collection containing ones
from my childhood to the present day with
my children.
Each one has a special meaning.
Some come from a special place.
Some homemade from a special time.
Remember these Joe?

You were ten and Sky was four.
I put a big blanket on the living room floor, a bucket of beads,
and lots of sparkly pipe cleaners.
Put some Christmas movies in the VCR.
And you two were entertained for hours.
Hours of being creative.
Making new patterns.
Designing new sparkly rings for the Christmas tree.
There was no bickering, fighting, throwing, hitting.
Just hours of creativeness.
It's one of my favorite memories.
And every time I put these on the tree
it brings that memory back.
That's why I love our tree.

Our Tree

Yes.
Our tree is in the playpen.
It's to guard little hands from pulling the whole thing down among other things.
And, yes.
That's a life size Santa that can sing and dance.
It even has a microphone so you can sing along.
What can I say? We're redneck!

20 Little Attitudes
 of Gratitude

1. Mind your manners. Say please, thank you and excuse me.
2. Smile when you see your family. Turn your frown upside down.
3. Pick up after yourself and for someone else too. Be happy you have someone to pick up after!
4. Notice when others do kind things for you, show gratitude by action or words.
5. Say I love you before you leave in the morning and before bed at night.
6. Give hugs daily.
7. Don't worry about tomorrow. Focus on what you are happy about today.
8. Create gratitude journals to keep track of daily blessings.
9. Show thankfulness for even the little things others do for you.
10. Leave love notes in unexpected places like lunch boxes and under pillows.
11. Encourage someone with a compliment.
12. Verbalize what you are grateful for when you feel like complaining about life.
13. Keep a basket of small slips of paper on the table. Write notes of thankfulness during the week and read them to each other during a family meal.
14. Remember to thank God for blessings each day.
15. Surprise your family (or friends) with little gifts or treats to show you thought of them.
16. No grumbling about minor annoyances around the house.
17. Do special things to cherish time with your family. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
18. Reflect on happy memories regularly. Make inspiration boards or photo walls of special times.
19. Help someone out without them having to ask you. Watch for someone in need.
20. When you are doing household chores, be grateful you have a home to clean.

I found this list at (In)Courage a wonderful website to encourage women in there daily walk with Christ. I love this list and would like to put each one of them into practice.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Under The Weather

This little munchkin has been sick.

First time in her little life.

We've been to the doctor.

Just a virus that has to run it's course.

I Heart Daylight Savings

I big puffy heart daylight savings.

It allows me to get up in the early morning and go for a walk.

It's the time when the moon and the sun meet.

And all the little people are still tucked away asleep.

I walk and pray and begin to process my day.

It relieves stress.

It's my quiet time.

Of course, I'm never completely alone!