What's in a Cookie?

Christmas cookies are a tradition at our house, but they are so much more...They are time spent together....They are learning....They are patience and anticipation....They are the reward of a task completed....They are "Mmmm...."

A Little People Christmas

The best part of Christmas is kids. I love seeing the awe and wonder in their eyes. I love knowing that they understand the reason for all the anticipation, festivities and decorations. Here is Kammy's sweet little purple tree (her favorite color). It is decorated with a string of horse lights, which we found at the thrift store this summer. She has been waiting all these months to use them!

Kaite is 2, and I don't think she remembers much about last Christmas or the one before that--which was her first, and the one on which she took her first steps. What an exciting day! She was 8 months and 2 days--yes, she has been mobile far too long. She is a little fashionista. She loves ruffles and soft fabric. If I put a jean skirt on her, it only lasts a few hours and she goes and changes herself. I love how she is wearing "cordinating" socks and "sock mittens" in the photo below.I know it's not Tuesday, I have gotten so off schedule-- but here are a few of the latest "tiny words"

Kammy (very seriously) "I've done lots of lies in my life, but I always forgived myself for them."
Kammy: sitting, looking at the angel on the tree, "So, the devil used to be an angel and then he got FIRED right?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Overheard from the 5 year old, "I think you should quit making fun of boys. You can't get born without boys!" (HUH!?!?)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kammy at the parade, "I hope that the grand finality is a manger scene!" She was very disappointed that there was not more of Jesus in his birthday parade.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm not sure what happened but daddy was teasing Kal and she began to cry. Of course daddy was saying how sorry he was and I heard Kalli say, "That doesn't help! You really ought to know after 9 years of having me for a daughter that I have very sensitive feelings!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kammy has done "take away 1." Today we were supposed to learn "take away 2." Before I could get the learning blocks out and explain, she had two pages done perfectly. She said, "Nothing to it, mom! Take away is just counting backwards!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kali: I am starved and ready for lunch! Kayla: You are always ready for lunch! Kalli: No, I'm not. Sometimes I am ready for breakfast or supper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thoughts on gifts and wrapping.

What matters most to you... the gift or the wrappings?

It seems that we live in a world that puts more emphasis on the 'wrappings.' For example, if you look good on the outside, you must be a good person inside, right? We are often quick to judge a person to have very little value if their outward appearance doesn't measure up to our standards. God' Word tells us that this mindset is somewhat normal for humans--However; I believe we should try to see people with God's eyes. We are not divine, and we can't see through the earthly wrappings and trappings like He can, but se can strive to love like He does regardless of what our human eyes might see. Come Christmas Day, my children will tear into those packages and the wrappings, no matter how elaborate, will soon be forgotten. The gift however, (at least in this home) will be remembered long. The same is true for Christians, when our Christmas (the rapture) occurs, the trivial wrappings of this life will not matter nearly so much. I want to live my entire life as a gift to the Father--He who gave the ultimate GIFT to all minkind.

THAT is Christmas!

That being said, I do enjoy pretty packages. This year, as you know, I have not been well, and our packages are quite basic. I had wanted to go with all brown wrapping and then decorate with homemade snowflakes and sparkley green ribbons. Sounds beautiful, huh? I also thought of using burlap and then upcycling it through the year into pillows and other gifts for next year. Didn't happen. Instead I used leftovers from other years. They all coordinate in tones of brown, copper and goldthough. The tags on most of the packages have been used several years--which really is not a bad idea and one that saves money. Our family has the same people and we all have the same names each year, so I keep the tags. (You can't do this if you use the stick on ones, which I don't care for) but the kind that has the ribbon or cord attached, you can easly use over and over again. Same goes for the ribbons. I have had the same bows so many years, that I am almost weary of them, pretty as they are. You can also use simple $ Store ornaments for some very attractive tags. The gifts that had to be sent far away were wrapped in simple paper, even some burlap and tied with bows of twine, for an old-fashioned Christmas look, and one that won't rumple on the journey. As you can see in the photo above, .39 cent carpenter pencils add a touch of charm to daddy's present from his girls.

Now, what about the gift? So many people spend way too much and go so in debt each year. Is that what makes Christmas special? Children have so many toys that by next year they don't have a clue what last years packages held. The toys are broken, lost, or donated before many months are past. An excellent rule of thumb for gifting your children is this:

1 they want

1 they need

1 they wear

1 they read

This is usually what we do, this year they are getting 5 gifts, with #5 being a cheap hand-made fleece scarf in the fabric of their choice. We also do stocking stuffers:

1 small fun item (often from the $ Store)

1 candy item

and.... a toothbrush (you would be suprised how exited they are to compare colors!)

I am very proud of my children and they way they have learned to appreciate and care for the gifts they recieve. We have toys and clothes, now passed down to child #4 that began 13 years ago with child #1. I am happy to say that they still look brand new! Passing things down great cuts back on what is "needed" and my girls enjoy knowing that their big sisters "played with this when they were your size."

My girls save their money all year just to buy each of their family members something. They all go together and get something for mommy and daddy, then 3 of them will go together and buy for the other one, so that all 4 of them get a gift from the other three. I love that they are learning early the joy of giving.

Each year, we try to reach out to a family in need, remembering that the need does not have to be financial, it can be emotional as well. Even if this person/people are not usually on our gift list, we add them. The gift does not have to be expensive or elaborate, it is the thought and prayers going into it that matter most.

When I wrap, I think of the person who's gift I am wrapping and pray that God will bless them through the new year and ask that they may always strive to keep Christmas in their hearts.

Another random thought I have about giving is regarding people who seem to use the "I just can't afford it" excuse not to give to certain people that they don't like real well. I say "excuse" because we ALL can afford the things we really want to afford. Maybe I'm just too simple of a person, but what woman doesn't enjoy a new tea towel or what man couldn't use another screw driver? Seriously....it's the thought that counts!

Whatever your thoughts on gifting, and however you celebrate, may we all remember that the tradition of "giving" began long ago, when God gave His very best.

The family dog...

....okay, so he's Kammy's dog (and the next best thing to a horse) but we all like to claim him--well, sometimes anyway. He is NOT a house dog. I have this opinion about animals in the house, and while it's comepletely personal, I'm also entitled to it. I have found that ALL dogs shed--and smell--why even my kids and I shed and the hubby smells. (haha) Yep, I have enough to deal with in here.

Last night, however, he had just had a bath and was looking so sweet that I let him pose under the Christmas tree. My heart may have been somewhat softened by the fact that he nearly died this summer. I'm going to go ahead and admit that even I was in tears. Evidently the previous renters left decon on the property here, and while the landlord "thoroughly cleaned" the house and shed (yeah, right....it was FILTHY!) they never noticed the numerous packets in the garage, shed and yard. Strange. In my humble opinion, they should have found and removed it, especially since they DID approve our pet. Funny, but....people don't always honor my opinions. I decided maybe it was how they operate...charge a huge pet fee and then kill the pet. That way they get the money and don't rish the damages. Do I sound bitter? I'm really not. I am thankful. My children learned the power of prayer and even the strength of God's comforting arms during his doggie hospital stay. I have to say, he looks pretty classy and we are thankful he is still around to get that HUGE bone Kammy insisted on buying him for Christmas.

Fast Fluffy Fleece Scarves...

The girls and I whipped up a few last minute gifts. Some easy peasy fleecey scarves. They are warm and comfy and as you know, fleece comes in the funnest colors and prints! I've been asked by several for a tutorial, so here goes....

I used 1/2 yard of fleece for each scarf. You can totally play with the width here--I made some narrower ones for the little people. Just bring the fleece home and fold it in 3 even rows the long way. See? 1, 2, 3.Now cut, so that you have 3 long strips all about the same width.Sew all 3 long strips together using a tight seam down the middle. Make sure to backstitch or tie off the ends securely.Then, make cuts all the way down both sides, making sure not to get too close to the middle seam. You'll want these strips about 1 inch wide. It will take about a million cuts, so use a good fabric scissor, and you shouldn't get a blister (like I did.) Of course we did make 14 of these....and that might have something to do with the blister.

Throw your finished product in the dryer with a softener sheet to freshen it and fluff it. The center seam will not be as visible after you do this.

If you have a dog, you can now go out and play with him AND stay warm on a cold winter day....that or you can just beg your mom to let him in for a while.

My New Mantle ;)

For lack of a fireplace mantle, I had no where to hang the girls' stockings. This was a huge concern to certain little girls--especially the 5 year old one!

Daddy was the solution, as he many times is. He built us a shelf for the living room, and now the stocking have a home. I love the look of the new crown moulding shelves anyway so this was as good an excuse as any.I didn't put a lot of effort into decorating, just strung some jingle bells on twine and used things I already had. I made the stockings last year from fabric off the clearance table. Not only are they cuter than the storebought ones, they are smaller too, which makes them easier to fill! ;)The picture I had above the couch was very "springy" so I used my white frame and some ribbon to hang a green snowflake. You know me and my green--love it!Who knows, it might evolve a bit more before Christmas, but for now I am happy--and the 5 year old is happy too!

I know that all of my faithful friends and prayer warriors will want to know, so here is the "health update" I am still waiting to get in to an endocrinologist....there is a very limited number of them here in the valley, so I have been warned that the wait might be lengthy. I was able to go to my chiropractor and I think he helped some with the pain in my back, shoulders and neck. He told me that the muscles in my neck are weak and swollen (I knew SOMETHING was swollen) causing strain on my back. I'm really not entirely sure what all is going on--being sick is not my cup of tea. It's a tough job, trying not to worry over it all--still praying for answers--and SOON!