Palm Sunday

The kids enjoyed waving the palms today at church. It brings me tears of joy to count all my blessings!

Operation Christmas Child

We had done Operation Christmas Child in the past with my MOPS group, but since I quit MOPS we didn't do it last year! I had been asked at church to be a mentor with the 3rd grade bible ministry. I have been enjoying my time and mentoring someone through Christ. Some days I think I am mentoring both of us, but it has been a good experience. I came up with the grand idea to take Operation Christmas Child into our 3rd grade ministry program. We had less than 3 weeks to get it together. It was enough time to get our program ready for the 3rd graders, but a bit more time would have been welcomed since we opened the idea up to the whole church. We had been talking about burning bushes at church and taking the leaps of faith even if we don't have all our ducks in a row. I am a "have all my ducks in a row" kind of gal, so this was a complete leap of faith, but a great one. We were able to put together over 23 boxes with our 3rd graders and had 98 boxes to turn in all together! WOW! Giving truly is better than receiving!

VBS

We are going to be out of town for our church VBS week, but we hit our MDO VBS that is in the morning and takes 3 year olds. The kids loved going every morning for a week and I loved it. Bryson still takes a morning nap, so I had a little over an hour a day to get some stuff done-Kid Free! We also went with our friend Sam, the boys were in class together and Ellery was sad about that, but loved singing songs with them in the parent performance night.

We aslo got a kick out of the prayer card Mason received. Ellery is not sick and hasn't been sick in a long time. I never got the whole story out of him, but Ellery has been prayed for!

Church singing

While we were at Papas the kids missed singing at Church. Really not a big deal since Mason never sings when he is on stage at church, but it would have been Ellery's first big debut with the preschool room. We were able to put on a concert for everyone. Grandma Debbie had a fantastic idea and created a curtain to open and close after each song. The kids really enjoyed the stage created and serenaded us with 4 songs.

Mother Daughter Tea

Ellery and I got dressed up and went to our churches Mother/Daughter Tea. I told her we were going to go do something special just the two of us, and told her we were going to the mother/daughter tea and she kept saying "Mom I don't like tea." Luckily they had cookies and chocolates. We were both enjoying our treats. We sat at the table with the Minnie Mouse tea pot and chatted with friends. They also had some arts and crafts set up for the kids. Ellery really enjoyed making things and we had to make everything. She was coloring her headband hat Forever. I kept asking her if she was done and she kept telling me "one more minute mom" or "I'm not done yet." She loves her arts and crafts like her mama!

Christmas Eve 2010

We hit the 4:00 Christmas Eve service this year and then drove around to peek at some Christmas lights. We found the Clark Griswold house this year, and he even has the Meliekliklaka spelled out with all the other decorations. I should have captured the moment on film. I would hate living next to it, but the kids really enjoyed looking at it. We have switched churches and our Church meets at one of the public schools so we weren't able to have candles, but they did give out glow sticks and the kids really enjoyed them. In keeping up with last years tradition we let the kids open presents on Christmas Eve. Rob and I can't remember who wanted to do this last year, but he is pretty sure it was my idea. We game them matching pj's and some fancy bath toys and soap. They were so excited to take a bath with their new toys that we forgot to feed Santa. We did remember to sprinkle out our reindeer sparkle food outside earlier in the night. The kids make it at Mason's school. The real highlight of the evening is when Santa called our house aka Papaw. Rob brought the phone to us as I was saying good night to the kids and he said "Papaw wants to ask the kids if they are excited for Santa" The kids heard the word Santa and thought it was actually Santa on the phone. Papaw played the role and even Ho HO Ho for them. Their faces really lit up with the Ho Ho's.

Church Christmas Program

We upgraded Ellery at Church to the 3 year old room even though she is only 2. When we told her she could do a craft in the three year old Sunday school room it helped her with the transition. Since we upgraded her a few months ago she has been able to practice all the Christmas program songs. She was very excited to be a part of the Christmas program. Mason was excited as well, we sang the songs in the car, at the dinner table, in the bathtub, you name the place we were and we probably were singing the songs. Mason sang the songs everywhere but at Church he clams up and doesn't participate. Ellery stayed in her sheep character, but was so interested in what was going on around her that she didn't remember to sing. Mason did his usual and tear up, except the situation, but still won't sing.

A special thanks goes out to Rob. I rolled back into town just in time to see the performance. Rob had to get the kids dressed and ready for the big event, he even did Ellery's hair! Go Daddy Go!

Baptism

Better late than never. We planned Bryson's baptism and in planning his we realized we never planned Ellery's. We moved when she was his age and didn't get around to doing it before we moved and just got around to doing it after we moved. Ooppps A big deal, and a special moment in our lives. Pastor Craig did a great job. Ellery cried when he touched her and Bryson was wide eyed and taking it all in.

We also wore out special shoes from The Demings. They are super cute and adorable. A big thanks for such a wonderful sentimental gift for the kids.

Meeting an Astronaut

Our church had an astronaut as a guest speaker. While we were singing our hymns and listening to announcements astronaut, Clay Anderson, talked to the children ministries and showed the kids pictures of him in space and in his space suite. Mason thought it was cool to meet a real space man, and now wants to be a fireman/pilot/space/racecar driver. All those careers wrapped up into one job. If he learned anything from the astronaut is that follow your dreams and perseverance pay off. He applied over 15 times before NASA accepted him into the space program. He also knew that is what he wanted to be as a child. If I learned anything is to nurture my children in following their dreams and go for what they want and not to worry about all the stuff in between! Follow your dreams and dream big.

VBS

Mason has spent his week nights at VBS this week and has had a great time. I volunteered two nights as well and taught in a classroom so Ellery was able to participate in a few activities too. She loves going into the sanctuary with all the kids and watching the skits and singing songs. Mason enjoyed himself as well, but he doesn't have the same rhythm and beat as Ellery does to the music. He also got to spend the week with his best friend Brielle. We haven't made it to bed before 9:30 this week because everyone comes home wired and excited, so we are a bit worn out, but having a great time.

We also have been car pooling with our neighbors next door. When Jill picked up Mason earlier this week, and started driving him home Mason informed her that his mom didn't go this way and he knew a better way, but then wasn't able to tell her the way. The conversation then continued on with Mason informing her that he lived in Omaha, NE and then he asked her if that is where she lived. He then was concerned if she knew how to get to his house. He ended the conversation with saying I know where you live, you live next door, but he was still concerned and wanted to know if she knew where he lived. She said it was a hysterical conversation. He made it home it home safely, but I think he was a bit worried on the ride home. She also said he asked multiple times why his mom wasn't picking him up. He is growing up and he doesn't sound ready for it and I know I am struggling with it!

Daylight Savings Time

I always hear funny stories that happen to people regarding daylight savings time, but have never been able to join them....until now. Rob and I took the kids out last night and watched the Big 12 Championship game at the Pub with some friends and had a great time. We were reminded to set our clocks forward after our victory, but failed to do the task and didn't even realize we failed until 10:12 am today.
We got up Sun morning and were up early enough, but not quite. We did our morning routines and left for church a few minutes late but we were only going to be 3-5 min late. I hate being late for church, but when I have Rob and the kids to contend with I have accepted being 5 min late each week. I was excited today because we were going to make it early enough to hear morning announcements rather than have to read them in the bulletins ourselves. We pulled in and I am always amazed at how everyone else is always parked and inside the building while we are driving up. We checked the kids into Sunday school, our first check-mark where they were thinking these people are clueless, but didn't have the urgency to let us know. We then go into church and again I am amazed at how everyone else is situated with coats off etc. I then notice that the choir is already sitting down and think man we are really late. Plus, our pastor is already speaking and I am bummed that I missed morning announcements. We got the last part of a sermon which I am still just confused and the pastor gives the remark lets close on just verse 1 of our hymn. Still I am clueless, but Rob is with it, he looks at me and asks if I set the clocks last night. I laugh and say no, did you? That is when I caught on we were an hour late for church. I can use the pregnancy excuse for not remembering, but I kindly asked Rob what his was and was met with a no comment.

Christmas Eve

I never got to open a present on Christmas Eve, but we decided to let the kids open one after we went to Christmas Eve service. Our church was wonderful and held a 5 o'clock candle light service and it worked out well with our meal times along with the kid's bedtime. I was able to drive us all including Grandma Ellen to church in our luxury ride in the White Stallion. We are lucky we went to the early service because the weather was deteriorating fast. We didn't let Ellery hold her own candle, but with great supervision from Rob, Mason was able to hold his own and was pretty proud of himself. Ellery seemed to enjoy the singing and music more than the candles anyways. Since the kids are into games, they opened Hungry Hungry Hippo and Cooties. They have had tons of fun playing Hungry Hungry Hippo, I don't blame them, it was a huge favorite of mine when I was little. I also like it because a blue hippo is not an option so it makes Mason pick a different color. At the end of the night we asked Mason if he wanted to put cookies and milk out for Santa and we were met with tons of resistance along with tears because he wanted a cookie too, so we didn't feed Santa this year. I think next year we will offer chocolate for Santa and do it regardless of the tears we are met with.

Walk Through Bethlehem

I started attending a MOPS group at a different church we don't attend, and I have met a few moms through it and get to learn a lot of new things. One thing I learned is that the church where MOPS is held puts on a wonderful "Walk Through Bethlehem" experience. We are talking camels, shepherds tending real goats, Roman guards that tax you while you are in the city, with tons of activities for the children to experience. You start your experience by walking through the outskirts of town where you can fish in the sea, watch Mary and Joseph hold a "real" baby Jesus, and then you go into a room where you must be counted and receive your bag of gold coins. When you enter the city you use your coins to purchase shepherd hats, bread making, games, sewing, hammering lead into a coin, basket weaving, and much much more. It was a very hands on involved learning activity and I think the kids enjoyed themselves and we enjoyed watching them learn and grow.