"It's a girly tree!"

Sure is!  I planned it to be like that!  Think the ladies will notice...and remember that we are having a Christmas party soon?!

"Don't blame your therapist!" laughed Mary...

as she watched Alisa roll her eyes at me.  "Thank your Mom for coming up with that idea!"  Our PHYSICAL therapist worked with Alisa today by teaching her strengthening and stretching exercises.  Did you know that sitting criss-cross applesauce legs and playing with Barbies on the floor can turn into a stretching exercise!?  Or sorting and folding laundry can accomplish the same twisting, reaching, and stretching too!  I just giggled, dropped my head, and focused on my knitting.  Another therapist entered and thought it was neat that I brought knitting to a therapy session.  My cherry friend will be proud of me...using my down time to participate in yarn therapy!  It is very relaxing...I must say.  I might get the washcloth done by the end of the 6 to 8 week prescribed physical therapy.  

O give thanks unto the Lord...

every day...for every thing...in every way!  It is a choice I make to acknowledge His working in every situation in my life...and today...I truly am thankful as I scroll through the events of the last few days, weeks, months, and year.  We are blessed...truly blessed...and no one or nothing can disrupt that one fact! 

Tuesday has come and is almost gone...

Teddy very appropriately crowned himself today!  Thanks to Alisa, the kleenex box is empty and quickly became a play thing.

I recaptured my crown today as "Nice Mommy"!  I know...I play dirty!  What kid can resist the love of their mother...especially when it comes in the form of a huge bowl of puppy chow?!

Just daily questions that I get hit with...

"How long ago did you and Daddy get married?  Were Papa and Grandma younger then?  That was before we even made sense wasn't it?" asked Teddy  "You mean, before we even existed." corrected Alisa.
"Who invented schools?  Why do we have to go to school?" grumped Alisa.
"Are all babies born stupid?  How long does it take for us to learn everything?" questioned Teddy.

Honestly, I try very hard not to laugh...because they are really serious when they ask.  THEY WANT TO KNOW!  I smile...biting the insides of my mouth...and then try to answer to the best of my ability.  It is what mothers should do...talk with their children!

Sneezing, sniffling, sweatshirts, scarves, slippers, sorethroat...sofa!

We managed to get some good work done this morning...finally!  The kids suited up to go outside for awhile...I guess they don't want to give in and wear winter coats yet!

Alisa was a little trooper and made it through most of the day...finally...she found the couch and Mom found out that she had a fever!

A project...in steps!

A bag of white candy coating pieces...wax papers with pointsettia flowers traced on the under side...

little squirt bottle filled with melted chocolate...a not so steady hand to trace...cool...trace again...add pale yellow dots for flower centers...

set on top of a variety of cupcakes...for a bridal shower tomorrow.  The ladies who are doing the shower are using purple paper goods and ivory pointsettias.  I am sure it will be pretty!  I tried to compliment their theme...but I haven't figured out how to make melted chocolate make points instead of rounded blobby ends.  I know every part tastes good...and that is the most important! 

It's official...

I am the Mean Mom for today.  I just got the news from the little love who fills the fifth chair at our house.  Just thought that would take some pressure off other mothers for this chilly Monday!  It's me today.  You may have the title for tomorrow, but it is mine for today!  I am going to make a badge or a crown or a necklace...maybe that way I will be reminded that I am doing my job!?  It still feels like I am being called a name though...sigh.

"I can do this...for cheaper!"

Going to Michae'ls Craft Store can be overwhelming!  The girls and I can spend hours there looking around...except when it is lunch time...and Teddy is with us.  He had found his model glue and he was done!There are so many pretty things to look at...especially all the Christmasy things...to spark creativity...all costing a pretty penny!  Yes, it would be easier to pick one of those, and one of those, and ohhhh, I need one of those too.  But...we...practiced restraint...and found our inspiration colors and adjusted our "do it yourself attitude".

Combined with the treasures we had and what we found at the Dollar Tree...this project will be hard to forget!  And that is exactly what we are aiming for this week!  We will post the finished product...eventually, it will end up in the girl's room!

Treats for grown-ups

Last night, we had a time of fellowship with our Sunday School class.  We enjoyed good food, conversation, and raucous laughter!  We need to be encouraged in the things of the Lord...no matter what age we are.  We need to take time for Christian fellowship outside of the four walls of church.  However...don't let that take the place of your time within the four walls of church!  We made time for what we wanted to do last night...and it was good.  Are we making time for what we should do?  What time and effort do we set aside for what is better and best for our Christian walk and growth?  How encouraging were you this morning to others in their Christian walk?  Did you spend time inside the four walls of your church? 

The box came!

I am beginning to really appreciate Oriental Trading Company!  I realize some of the items are almost "too cheap", but "just cheap" is good!  I was so excited to find these little costume pieces for our Christmas program.  I couldn't have made five head pieces for cheaper!  They are soft and sturdy, plus they came with little vests!  The 2-5 year old class is singing "The Friendly Beasts".  We will have to change one word..."I, said  the donkey all shaggy NOT brown, I carried His mother up hill and down.  I carried His mother to Bethlehem town, I said the donkey all shaggy NOT brown."  This donkey costume is gray!  I can fix the cow spots to go with the song, "I, said the cow all white and red.  I gave Him my manger for His bed..."  I also have to add curly horns to the sheep, "I, said the sheep with the curly horn.  I gave Him my wool for a blanket warm..."

Our dove and camel will work out just fine!  I am so excited to see the little faces of our "smallest actors" on Sunday.  I think they will enjoy singing the song more because they will "look like" the animal!  They will contribute a great deal to the message of the Christmas story...in their own cute and always surprising way!  God chose the warmth and "comfort" of a stable for His Son's birthplace.  It was part of God's wonderful plan!  It was His perfect plan!  A lowly stable...a quiet night...a common people...angelic messengers...humble visitors with an important job to do...

"Did you forget what Christmas is about?"

has been a very soul-searching song these last few months as I have been working on the children's program.  Visit my cousin, Sara's art blog to find out where you can order "A Quiet Christmas".  It is worth listening to...all year long...but especially now! 

Ted told me this was a scrapbook page...

so, of course, I had to make sure I put it in "our little blog of memories"! 

This is the closest thing we have to a scrapbook for the last...how many years have I done this now?  Each child has a book of their first year.  Amazing that I was able to achieve that when I look back to the craziness of 2001, 2002, and 2003!  Those three books are proof that I got dressed and made it out of the house a few times...to go to a couple "Scrap till Midnight" events.  All of the other pictures...that are in print...are in individual shoeboxes or divided into envelopes labeled by events.  Present the digital camera.  Enter the blog.  All the pictures and details kept safely in one place.  Easy to add to any time of any day...and I can get it all printed out...a cheap way or an expensive way.  We are leaning toward the cheaper "do it yourself" way...times three...times the number of years on here.  I know our children will enjoy looking back and reading about all the things that they have done and said. 

Today's answer was the best ever!!!  To my boy...there are many ways for Don to use his new sled...the details may vary...depending on who is doing the writing!  Today, Teddy's mission was not to write about a sled...in the snow.  His goal was to get his work done so he could spend time helping Dad outside...in the leaves. 

**He was called back inside to finish this assignment and make corrections to the rest of the paper.**