We interrupt this Christmas Season...

to wish Seth a Happy Birthday! My baby turns 6 today (well at 10:36 PM mountain time). Wow how these years have flown by! On Christmas, many many years ago, God gave the World his only precious son...what an amazing gift. 6 years ago and 4 days after Christmas, God gave me another amazing gift, MY precious son. We love you Seth Christopher!

From us, Seth got a scooter (replacement for the one of his that was stolen), a Nintendo DS game, Speed Racer DVD, and a Speed Racer toy. His grandparents and aunts and uncles gave him money. We had cookie cake with the family and we'll be heading to his favorite restaurant, The Olive Garden in a few minutes. We'll have his 'friend' (he calls it his 'fake' birthday) party on the 17th of January at Sci-Port. We do it later because it's just too hectic right around Christmas.

Christmas Goodies

This is always the fun part...making all the yummy stuff for Christmas. I know why I only do it once a year! I made cheeseballs and gave those along with crackers and some other goodies to friends and neighbors.

These bon-bons take forever to dip!

Luckily, I had a helper!

These brownies are awesome!! They are so easy to make! I got them from a blog I read and love! See, you can get so many neat ideas from reading blogs (trying to reason my blog addiction of course).

Great helpers I had! It really isn't fun rolling out gingerbread dough.

Seth took this picture and asked me to pose with a cookie cutter! I posed with my favorite one!

I am so glad Jonathan and Seth can really get involved in the kitchen now. They both love to cook and bake and create!

Making a gingerbread house...you can see what Seth really wanted to do.

Jonathan was so serious about it! I love those kits! So much easier and I love how they come with the little platform.

Jonathan was so upset for some reason when I asked him to pose by it and let me get a picture.

Jon and Seth's Christmas Parties at SWP

I felt like I was participating in a triathalon going back and forth to Jonathan and Seth's Christmas parties at school. What a fun time though! Both classes had pizza and cookie cake. Seth's class did a book exchange and Jonathan's class did a $5 gift card exchange. My friend Jill read a cute gingerbread story and each time she read, 'left' and 'right', they passed the card to the next person. I was so proud of Jonathan...his friend Jayla really wanted a Target gift card. Jonathan overheard her so he went over and offered her his...he was happy to trade for her Sonic, but honestly, he didn't know that's what she had. :)

Seth's teacher, Mrs. Penton was so happy to get her Wal-Mart gift card. Most of the kids in the class contributed to her gift so she got a good amount! So much better than lots of little things.

Seth was raising his hand to ask something??? Oh I know! He wanted some cookie cake!

Jonathan waiting to pass his gift card during the exchange.

The day before his actual class party, we had a little time set aside just for Jonathan's teacher, Mrs. Cockrell. She is such a WONDERFUL teacher! We feel so blessed to have her! Anyway, this is what she got all the kids. A cute little snowglobe that she dated 2008. Jonathan will treasure it always I'm sure!

My friend Jill is SO creative and SO thoughtful. At the beginning, she printed out a couple of poems about teachers and had Jonathan and Geoffrey read them to Mrs. Cockrell...yeah I had some tears!

So did Mrs. Cockrell!

Papa Simpson's Farm

Last Saturday evening, Airline Baptist took their children to Papa Simpson's Farm in Arcadia for their Christmas party. Nathan and I skipped our adult Sunday school class party so we could chaperone. We had a great time! The animals were so tame and friendly. They had Santa there (no personal pictures of Santa allowed). After riding the train and having roasted hotdogs (over a fire), hot chocolate, and cookie cake birthday cake for Jesus, we took a hayride into the woods. There, we heard a neat story, "What God Wants for Christmas" by the owner. Everything was Christian centered and she even shared the gospel after reading the story.

Jonathan and Seth along with their friends, Matthew and Geoffery were in my group.

Jonathan's Birthday Party

Yeah I know this is two weeks late! We had a great time at Jonathan's Birthday party. He had it at Party Central.

Riding the go-carts...the best part to Jonathan!

De-De (my mom) came down from DeQueen, but she spent most, well nearly all her time with Seth because he was not feeling well. Have I said before how much I love our families being close!

There were still a couple of kids missing from this picture...they were behind me at a table. Jonathan had 14 kids there! We invited 15 so that's pretty good! I told him since he didn't have a party last year (we had just moved and hardly knew anyone), that he could have a great one this year. I think next year, we'll be low key again. :) Maybe just a couple of kids and we'll go do something. Honestly, these types of parties can break the bank pretty good! He's certainly worth it though!

Too Good Not to Share

Thanks Leslie for sharing this with me this morning. It's just what I needed today!

I had to come home from school today because Jonathan came to me saying that he had had diarrhea right when he got to school and that his tummy hurt. Luckily, they could get another sub! We have to really watch Jonathan because nausea/stomach pain is a sign his hernia could be acting up.

Anyway, again, this is too good not to share. I always have to stop and remember whatever is going on in my life, good or trying, God is in control and there's a reason for it. Funny too, I can always look in hindsight and alot of times, it's revealed to me why I was going through that 'season' in that particular time.


Ecclesiastes 3:1-8Ecc 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven,
Ecc 3:2 a time to be born and a time to die,a time to plant and a time to uproot,
Ecc 3:3 a time to kill and a time to heal,a time to tear down and a time to build,
Ecc 3:4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Ecc 3:5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
Ecc 3:6 a time to search and a time to give up,a time to keep and a time to throw away,
Ecc 3:7 a time to tear and a time to mend,a time to be silent and a time to speak,
Ecc 3:8 a time to love and a time to hate,a time for war and a time for peace.

There is always a purpose for what you do. Is this your time? Is this your season?Could this be your time to spend time with God? Your time to walk in the fullness of His power? Will you even embrace it?Are you sitting around complaining about what is going on it your life? Such as "there's way too much rain lately", "I hate where I live; there's nothing to do here", "I don't want to be here anymore in this situation"This is a time you will never get back!

Refuse to be depressed/sad or angry. Remember again there is a purpose for where you are in your life today; you may not like it but it's where God wants you to be. You didn't get the job you have just because you are qualified, you don't live where you do just because you chose to move there or your husband/wife was transferred there, you aren't going through this difficult time to be punished, you didn't find that friend just because you were lonely...God put you in all these situations for some reason only He knows and you will eventually come to see.

Open yourself up to what God's purpose might be for you. Embrace it and see how it will change your life!Everyone's season or time is different and the lengths that it lasts is different as well.

Are you struggling when He is telling you to rest?
Are you stopping when He is telling you GO?
Are you moving forward when He is telling you to slow down?

What season are you in?
Are you in WINTER? Dormant but not yet dead? Are you hiding away waiting to grow your roots?
Are you in SPRING? Growing but with a lot of rain and storms to get through?
Are you in SUMMER? Warm, beautiful, but scortching with great trials?
Are you in FALL? Beauty around you but there's a falling off of the dead? (things going away that you don't need in your life)

Is this your season, your time?Ask Him---where am I in you? Did I do what you asked of me? Is there something else you would have me do?The world won't end because you don't follow your calling, but imagine for just moment the ripple effect of one heart touched if you do!When this time or season is over will you say, "I did it! It's finished! Oh joy to God"Or will you say, "It's over and I let it go by. I never stopped long enough to get everything He wanted me to get or to accomplish."

Ecc 3:1 There is a time a for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

Christmas Questionaire

I'll be perfectly honest...I just can't get into the Christmas spirit this year. Well not that much.

I've decorated the tree, sent some Christmas cards, and put little candles in the window (love it, it's so "New Englandesque"), and hung a wreath on my door, but that's it.

I haven't finished my shopping, made any fancy candy or food, wrapped any gifts, listened to any Christmas music, or watched my favorite Christmas shows.

Maybe it's because I'm working more this year. Maybe it's because we've been sidetracked with Jonathan's hernia and Seth's upcoming surgery (removal of tonsils and adenoids which we've had to postpone because Jonathan's surgery comes first). Maybe it's because my babies have birthdays this month. Maybe it's because this month marks the 1oth anniversary of my dad being gone. I don't know. But after reading a friend's blog and seeing this post, I decided to join in on the fun too. It's my first real post about Christmas I think!

You can do it too if you'd like.




Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog is gross. Hot Chocolate I love!

Does Santa wrap presents or just put them under the tree? He wraps them.

Colored lights on house/tree or white? Definitely white.

Do you hang mistletoe? No.

When do you put your decorations up?As soon as possible after Thanksgiving. Never before. It's just not right when Christmas trees and decorations are up before. Sorry, it just isn't.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I don't really have one except the desserts! Well, I take that back. My aunt makes this awesome cheeseball every year for Christmas Eve. I devour it! She always makes them and knows that I love them...she even makes a special one for me to take home.

Favorite holiday memory as a child? Always getting to pick out a special doll from my granDoris every year. Going on a hayride, Christmas caroling to all the old people who went to my church and then coming back to church for hot chocolate and snacks. Going to look at Christmas lights around Texarkana and then eating out afterwards. Getting to decorate my Papaw's tree all by myself (he was single and didn't care what it looked like). Making little Christmas trains out of different types of candy with my mom each year. I have lots!

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I never did the Santa thing. Yeah, feel sorry for me please! My parents just didn't go there. Amazingly, I never remember ruining it or anyone else. And yes, we play along here with the boys.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We get together with my extended family on my mom's side on Christmas Eve (same get-together where my aunt makes the cheeseball) and we draw names for gifts. So then yeah.

How do you decorate your tree? I love to decorate the tree. I use white lights on mine, multi on the kid's tree (their choice). I use ribbon for garland, bows, and nearly all the branches are covered with special ornaments. I always say I'll cut back, but I don't. Then I get more ornaments!

Snow. Love it or dread it? LOVE IT! I wish we had snow. It's really hard not getting snow here in LA. I miss it. I LOVE snow. We had it so good in Massachusetts...they have beautiful snow there alot. I'd (almost) be willing to move from here to go somewhere that it snows. Can you tell I miss snow?

Can you ice skate? No.

Do you remember your favorite gift? My Barbie Dream House.

What tops your tree? An angel.

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Do you want me to be real here? ;) No, I love giving. Love finding the perfect gift for someone and I love giving my kids gifts. Love the reactions when I do find that perfect gift for someone.

What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night and All Through the Night.

Candy canes. Yum or yuck? Yum.

What do you want for Christmas? Quickutz Dies, a new watch, and some decent PJs (I've got to look good for January's Bunco...Charity's having a PJ night!).

Do you attend an annual Christmas party? Yes, 87 of them. :)

Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJs? I usually wear a sweater and jeans to our get-together. This year, it might be my Old Navy Yoga Pants (the stretchy ones!).

Do you own a Santa hat? No thank you.

Who do you usually spend Christmas with? Just us until noon that day...then it's Nathan's parents/brother/sister/brother-in-law.

And the winner of the Heisman is...

Sam Bradford, Quarterback for the Sooners of course! We were so proud that he won! It couldn't have been awarded to a more deserving player. He plays his heart out and has a great attitude. Such a complete turn around this season. After losing to TU in the Red River shoot out, I thought we'd be done...I thought Bradford would be done and that McCoy, TU's QB would win this year's Heisman. Not the case! Thank you Texas Tech! :) And now we are National Championship bound! It will be a great game against Teboe and Florida come January!

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

8 years ago today (at exactly 3:10PM mountain time!) was the happiest day of my life! The happiest day because this little guy made me a mom.

Hernia Update

Jonathan saw the surgeon today. His hernia is 'ok'...meaning it's under control if that's what you say...I don't know I'm so tired! Of course it still has to be repaired surgically, but Dr. Banda said it could wait until January. We're still watching it and making sure he takes it easy. If he has any, I mean any type of flair up, we'll go right in. Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers.

Inguinal Hernia...Jonathan has one

I had to take Jonathan to the ER at midnight last night. He woke up screaming in pain saying his groin area was hurting. He couldn't walk or even sit up. His left testicle (sorry for so much information!) was bulging as well. He was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. Tomorrow, I'm sending him to school, but he won't be able to partipate in PE. I'll have to check him out because we have to see his Ped for a referral to the surgeon since his hernia will have to be repaired surgically. I'm so upset about this, especially being this time of year. I don't want to wait if we aren't supposed to, but with so much going on in December, it couldn't be at a worse time. Can you all please keep Jonathan in your prayers? He's doing better (long story, but after he threw up, the 'bulge' repositioned itself in a more healthy 'place' if that makes sense!), but is sore.

Flashback Friday

This picture was taken when Seth was 2. It got quiet in the house so I went to look for him. He was in the kitchen, in the fridge putting away something chocolate that I had in there! Back then, I never had a camera far out of my reach luckily!

WARNING...LOTS of new updates!

Sorry y'all. It's just so crazy right now. I hate to throw this at you all at once, but I have so much to share! I hope to get better and not do this so much! I've missed blogging! I will catch up on everyone elses soon too.

That's the way things happen on the Polar Express!

On the day after Thanksgiving, we went to Palestine, TX (south of Tyler) to ride the Polar Express. My friend Candy told us about it a few weeks ago and I knew this would be something fun to do as a family and that the boys would love it! We had a great time! The weather was awful...raining (we saw 4 accidents on I-20 on the way there!) so hard, but when we got to the train station, it let up thankfully. Then it rained all the way home.

Hey we got it! Serving the hot chocolate!

Not only does Seth have issues with food, it's drinks too. Now the kid could drink hot chocolate non-stop, but uh huh, not THIS hot chocolate!

My "normal" kid who will eat (and drink) outside food. HA!

Santa came on the train and gave all the kids bells. Jonathan whispered in my ear, "Mom that was not the real Santa...he had a fake beard and wasn't even fat!"

Seth said, "I can hear it so I believe!"