Christmas!

Christmas Eve we made our first real gingerbread house......

(Thanks to Aunt Rachel who brought the kit with the pre-connected house!)

Tyler really concentrated on making the tree - and did a great job!

And opened our traditional Christmas Eve gift - the pj's!

Tyler knows what it will be every year and now he doesn't even ask or argue with me.

He knows it just has to be done.

For that he got to make whatever funny face he wanted in the picture....

Tyler could barely sleep Christmas Eve....He was the most excited he has ever been. I don't know if he really was or if he was acting for our sake..hmmmm?

Anywhooo

He still got one gift he didn't even ask for but has wanted for a very long time.

I just haven't given in until now.

The following rules apply when wearing these:

1. Never to church on Sunday Morning

2. Never to school

He hasn't got it down yet. His first attempt wound him up in the splits. The second attempt wound him up on one knee - he tried to play it off and made a peace sign and yelled "YEAH!!!"

There has not been a third attempt yet. He is letting them rest.

Mimi B sent his most prized gift of all - sweet green.

(I had to hide this so he would stop carrying it around)

Mimi and Papa got him the other most prized gift - The beloved Darth Maul light saber.

To say he has been obsessed over this thing would be an understatement.

Popo was not left out - he loved his new toys too.

In 2.5 seconds he got that squeaker out of that toy.

We now use it to lure him in the house - it's really funny!

This year we let Tyler pick out gifts for us all by himself. We asked him questions on why he would chose the things he did, gave our opinion on said gift but ultimately let him decide if the gift was right.

Daddy got Spiderman for the Wii

Mommy got Monopoly for the Wii

Hmmmmmm....see a trend?

Deck the Halls

Tyler had his recital tonight!

He played "Deck the Halls"

He was very nervous before it started....he does look flushed doesn't he?

He still played very well.
Thanks to Ms. Heather for all the time and lessons this year!

As soon as my computer decides to cooperate...
I will have some video of him actually playing the song.

Punishment to fit the crime

Charlie was stopped a few weeks ago on our way home from class for speeding.

That in itself is funny because Charlie drives like an old man.

Today he had to go to court for this speeding ticket. It was his first in this city so he was hoping for traffic school and no fine. When he called to find out what he would have to do and where he would have to go they told him the speeding ticket was $170.00 and the court fees were $120.00.

Totally freaked out at the possibility of having to pay $290.00 today he went into the courtroom.

The judge called his name....Charlie went up.

The judge said "Since this is your first violation in my city I will cut you a deal. If you can turn around to the people sitting here in this courtroom and sing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, I will let you go without paying any fines."

At first Charlie thought he was joking - he wasn't.

Charlie turned around - faced his captive audience and sung.

That was probably more punishment than those people were ready to endure.

When he called me to tell me what had happened - guess what was playing on the radio.

God sure is funny.

Did you know?

From 1558 - 1829 Catholics were prohibited to practice their faith in public. So to teach young children they made up this song to help them remember....

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

1st Day: The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross.

2nd Day: The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.

3rd Day: The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit

4th Day: The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

5th Day: The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

6th Day: The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.

7th Day: The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

8th Day: The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.

9th Day: The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

10th Day:The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments

11th Day:The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.

12th Day: The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.

I just thought it was a song! Who knew?!?

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

This year I would like to have drawing pencils, a shading stone, a pencil sharpener, transformers and a darth maul light saber.

He was so nervous to talk to Santa - it was so cute.

He also confirmed that Santa IS a Red Sox fan.

Snow Day and Earrings...

Well we had some snow again!!!!

Looking at my dog in the white snow made me realize he needs a bath.

I picked Tyler up from school the other day and this was in his ear.

This look really scares me if he tries to use it when he hits the teens!

(even though in this picture - he is really trying to look mean)

Approved?

We have been attending the PATH (parents as tender healers) class on Thursday nights as part of our adoption process. We have taken this class before so it is all old hat to us - literally they are doing the exact same work as they did 7 years ago - however there is a new group of people so the conversations are different based on these peoples experiences and such.

Two weeks ago we discussed discipline.

As a resource parent you absolutely cannot under any circumstance spank.

Do you think this would be ok instead?

More than His portion

"Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest." Matthew 11:28

Whatever burden you have to carry, God will shoulder the better part of it. God will take the greater portion of your struggle on himself. He will bear the extra weight and move with you to resolution.

Imagine holding a glass of water and wondering how much it weighs. You don't know, but the longer you hold it, the more it seems to weigh. Hold it for a minute, and it's okay. But hold it for ten minutes, and your arm begins to ache. Hold it for an hour, and you might have to call an ambulance. But if you take the glass of water to a table and set it down, everything is okay again.

God will take your load on his back and give you rest.

I know I needed these words this morning - do you?

What a day!

Today was one of those days when you just say - what is going to happen next! It started with getting to work and my boss NEEDING his sugar and creamer (he is a girl about his coffee - just ask him) so I make a list and go out - in the rain and cold - and get it.

A while later I decide I need to have a cup but the water reserve is empty I went to fill it.

I missed. My pants however - got those.

Let's just say it looked like I peed my pants and I had to go REALLY bad.
The boys in the office were no help - unless you want to be laughed at then they were very helpful.

I was soaked!

Luckily it was just water so I dabbed as much as I could off, borrowed a fan from another office and sat at my desk until I dried off.

Did I mention that it was already rainy and cold today?

Let's pray I don't get pneumonia......