Merry Christmas!

No blogging, just enjoying our first Christmas in our new home, and the kids! Have a wonderful Christmas!

Math Triangles

Our life this week has been math flashcards, as in memorizing addition facts. We have never done this before, and it is past time! Max doesn't like it. I bought these cool triangle-shaped flashcards, which I really like. A teacher told me that it doesn't matter what comes to his mind visually, as long as something does. So Max will be seeing triangles in his sleep. Even if it kills both of us.

Los Primos

What a joy to spend time with friends who are like family to us. We have been through so much together-even the birth of Simon! It was so good to be with the Bruneau family again. We had a blast remembering our time in Panama together. They will always be close to our hearts, and the impact they have had on us has changed our family-the way we think, relate to one another, and what we now hold as important. They taught us that people matter more than anything, and how to push everything else to the side. We are thankful for who they are and what they mean to us!

**They are in the process of raising more support so that they can continue to work in the camping ministry in Latin America. If you would like more information, go here.

Yesterday

It has been a weekend full of mixed emotions. It started when we attended a funeral for the father of our good friend, followed by a wedding of another friend, followed by a visit from our dear friends from Panama! All in one day. I did, however, spend the day talking to the Lord so I could process everything that was going on around me. Sorrow. Joy. Memories. Such is life.

Our Street Cat

Since our cat, Stella, became an inside/outside cat, we get at least 2 phone calls weekly. It usually goes something like this,
Nearby Neighbor: "We found a sweet white kitten. We think she is lost! Is she yours?"
Me: "Yes, she's ours. DON'T feed her! Just kick her out and she will come home!
I am so weary of these conversations, that I am trying to find a way to attach a note to her collar with this explanation:

My name is Stella. I may look young and vulnerable, but I am a street savvy adult cat who knows how to take advantage of people. I have a home and am well-taken care of, but am searching for better catfood. If you feed me, I may decide to stay forever. I will hang around until you kick me out or take me home. My address is ******. Please don't call my owners.

The only advantage is that we have met SO many people through Stella! Still, it has to stop.

A Back Porch Christmas

We went to the Christmas tree farm this past weekend, which was like a whole new experience for the kids! Our last Christmas in Texas was spent in other's people's homes, since we had sold our house and were on our way to Costa Rica! That means we haven't had a real tree for 4 years! It was time! Max was 2 the last time we got to cut down a tree, and Annabelle was 18 months old, so they have no memories of the tree farm. Needless to say, they loved it this year!

Max was all about the "work" of cutting down the tree, and the gloves, saw, etc. Annabelle and I liked the baby trees! Simon just loved being outside, after having been cooped up all last week with a cold.

And, yes, the tree now resides on our back porch. Between Simon and our cat and dog, it would not have lasted long inside the house, so we had to be creative! It still looks pretty, even without the glass ornaments!

Christmas Lists

I think this is so telling of Max and Annabelle's personalities. This is what they each want for Christmas this year:

Max: "real" camo clothes, a bow and arrow, a gun, a camo face mask, a chess set
Annabelle: a pink pig stuffed animal, a pink pearl necklace, a "Fur Real" pet, basically any toy she sees!

It's a GIRL!!!

I'm having a niece! Or maybe I should say, my sister-in-law, Stephanie, is having a girl!!! After 2 boys we were all shocked, but God is more than good! For me this means that buying pink baby things doesn't have to end yet, which I am thrilled about! I love shopping for baby girls, almost as much as I love holding them! Can't wait to meet you, Chloe!

SimpleMom Giveaway

I love all of the jewelry that is being given away! If you want to enter, go HERE.

More on the Killing

One more pic of the proud hunter, per Max's request!

Pies, Family, Farm and THE Prize!

**Warning! This post contains death and carnage! Look away, children and the faint of heart!**
Part 1: It started with Pie Breakfast. I hope we made the Andersons proud! We ended up with 14 pies. I tried pumpkin pie for the first time this year. I thought it was time, since I love pumpkin so much but shy away from pumpkin pie. I think it is a texture thing! Anyway, it turns out that my friend Marcia makes a killer pumpkin chiffon pie-it is as light as air! I learned I do like pumpkin pie! I think the apple cranberry pie was the favorite of the day, but I don't know why. I never tasted it!
My Mom and Darren helped me make the pies, otherwise it wouldn't have happened. Three little distractors, you know. My sister-in-law took the kids for half of the day on the day of the "pie making." That helped a TON! Overall, it was alot more fun than I thought it would be and the kids loved it!

Part 2: Thanksgiving lunch at my parent's house. Thanks, Mom! I really feel that you shouldn't have to cook when someone near and dear to you can do a better job of it! We forgot our camera, so no cute Thanksgiving pictures of the kids this year. They did look cute, though!

Part 3: We all went to the farm at the end of the day and spent the night. Tons of playtime with the cousins. It is so great to live close to them again! There wasn't alot of sleeping going on that night, but it sure was fun! Since Canton is a mere 20 minutes away, me, my Mom, and sister-in-law had to go the next day and had a blast! If there is anyone to shop Canton with, it is definitely my Mom. She is an expert on anything you could possibly find there!

Part 4: My brother took Darren and Max hunting over the weekend. This was a HUGE deal for Max, as he is obsessed with hunting but has never been! He shot his first doe. I am having to learn to deal with this "killing animals for fun," so I won't take this opportunity to voice all of my opposing arguments against hunting, especially for children. Because Max was so proud of himself, I was so proud! I screamed and jumped in the Sam's parking lot when he called me! It was a weekend that Max will never forget, full of man-cooking, new friends, lots of Coke, and guy time. Best of all, he spent the whole 2 days "camo-ed up." He looked older to me when he got home! We loved being in Texas for Thanksgiving this year!