Christmas 2015

The most stressful time of the year but also packed with love, fun, and celebrations.

Alveda playing with the nativity.

Decorating a ginger bread house.

This is a redo.. we had a lot of fun!

Music concerts. 

Wendell had a speaking part.

Travels means packing to the max.

 Out to eat with my dad and step mom.

   Fun shirts from G&G McCulley

 Our Christmas

 Our Christmas head band, it jingles : ) 

 At G&G Hunt's.  She loved playing in the kennel.  

 Found this gem on our travels.  Relation to Phil.

We had a good year and enjoyed Christmas for the most part.  It's always a bit hectic and lots of travels but it does get easier as the kids get older.  We did our Jesse tree again and enjoy teaching the kids about Jesus' history and birth.  In America, we make Christmas a big deal, and it is for so many good reasons.  Praise God for the ability to have such joy and fun with our friends and family!

8 years old

Wendell is such a good boy, we are so blessed to have him in our family.  So many complain about boys but ours is a gem.  He's a soft and gentle spirit, meek and mild.  He loves school, loves to learn, loves to be challenged.  He likes to try new things, enjoys playing outside - even when it's freezing cold out, loves his DS/Wii/computer games, even likes to cook and read.  Does not love his chores, homework, or cleaning up but he does it.  He is growing into a new phase of not a little boy anymore.  We can see him growing up physically, spiritually and mentally... about the same emotionally.  He's also showing more signs of frustration with Harlie, and fighting and arguing is happening more.  Maybe it's a phase, maybe it's part of growing up, maybe it's the weather.  One thing we're working on this week/month is more chores - more organized daily cleaning - having a rhythm to our day, even at 8 years old.  And learning to respect, listen, and communicate with each other.

Anyways, Wendell is 8 now and here are some pictures from this years fun birthday celebrations!

Did you catch all that?  Mom, Dad and Ali ate lunch with him at school.  Wendell handed out treats at school.  A few presents.  Squeezed in some Chucky E Cheese and an 8 birthday cake (that Wendell helped make).   What else could an 8 year old boy want?

Noooohhhhvember 2014

Ohh.. 

(I think she looks like the Olsen twins off Full House here)

what?

Wendell 'flying' an airplane at the STEM festival.

Someone's not feeling well.

Sledding in the dark with little snow.

and loving it.

This one loves watching and jamming out to music.

What is wrong in the picture?

Mom and Ali

Look what I bought.

Nice plate mom, nice breakfast Heather.

What a dork.. seriously. Geekola.

"Mom?"

"I'm thinking about going down that hill."

What?

Date night?  UNI game?  Yes, please.

Wendell learned to make veggie pizza

annual physicals

(we're going to have Wendell's plugged nose looked into - first allergy test then ENT; 

and we found out Ali has a double heart murmur.  They said it's normal and not to worry; 

guess we go back in 2 years.  Kind of scary but no one else seems concerned.)

puppet show at the W'loo library

for my brothers

like his dad (and mom)

LOL.. my latest desk top picture

adorable.. going to miss this phase

I love my kids - I love watching them as kids but I love watching them grow up.  I will love being a grandma.  I seriously dream of them living next door (and having underground tunnels to our house). I can't imagine how much our Heavenly Father loves us.  I hope that when I die and go to heaven that I can go back in time, like in the movie A Christmas Carol, and watch history... of course I want the good stuff and not sad or difficult moments.  I want to see what God see's but also what God see's in the future, how all works for his good and glory.  I want to feel all the good feelings of being a mom to these little kiddo's.. watching them sleep, decorate the Christmas tree, making a new recipe for the first time.  I love life.. and watching our kids in this life.  But I also try to live for an audience of one, and that is pleasing our Heavenly Father. Some days, that's tough, but I hope he'll say 'well done good and faithful servant', some day....

Halloween 2014

Every year our kids (and myself) get excited about Halloween. My favorite parts are carving pumpkins, roasting then eating the seeds, and eating lots of candy.  

The kids love to draw on their pumpkin, dress up/show off, and eat lots of candy. 

However, I do wonder, what God thinks of Halloween. 

And my bubble is popped.

Sadly my kids love some of the 'scary' parts so that comes with the package.

I see other Christians celebrating Halloween so I feel like it's 'okay'.

I like to think the pro's outweigh the con's.

We do and will set limits.

  

We don't do blood and gore, evil, etc.

A week before Halloween our pastor commented to be careful of this 'holiday'.  

Witches, devils, and ghosts should be taken seriously, not a joke.  Hmm...

I love books and imagination and do feel this is a form of these arts in live entertainment.

Does this mean we Christians shouldn't enjoy a book about witches or ghosts? (kids version)

Go the next step, what about vampires or werewolf's? 

What if I liked reading the Twilight series?

I just want to note..sometimes I wonder if I'm choosing American over Christian.

Where do we draw the line?  

I don't know.

For now, I guess we will continue on our path.

Hope you all enjoyed Halloween, and also take a moment to wonder what does God think of this. Prayers for peace in our hearts, forgiveness and mercy where we are blind.  That God's Glory comes out of our pitiful choices.