Christmas Gifts

I forgot to add these in last year so I wanted to go back and stick them in. The girls went shopping for Marc and I on their own.  They planned with my mom to go shopping one night that they were going to spend the night. I just wanted to share what they got us and how they did such a good job picking out gifts.

Marc's gifts:

from Kayla: an ornament, a small tool set because she heard him say that he had lost his, and an IHOP gift card

from Macy: a frisbee disk to play outside (he loves frisbee), gloves for running, and a manly headband to keep his ears warm while running

from Brooke: a hat for running and a glow in the dark ball

My gifts:

from Kayla: a word game, a "best teacher" ornament, and a Casting Crowns CD

from Macy: a sleeping bag (so I can go camping with them), warm socks, chapstick, and a journal so we can start writing back and forth like I do with Kayla (I was going to start hers when she turned 7 but she beat me to it)

from Brooke: warm socks, gum (because she loves to get gum out of my purse), and a small spatula because mine melted

I can honestly say that these gifts meant more to us than anything else we received. Oh how I love these girls and their sweet hearts. Marc and I are so incredibly blessed.

Christmas Break Project

Marc and I (well mostly me) have been talking about finally getting the back splash in our kitchen done.  We decided to try and tackle it over the Christmas break.  It was somewhat of a last minute decision but we headed out to a tile store where were thought we'd find some good variety.  Variety we found but not for the price we wanted to pay. So we went back to our house building supply stomping grounds. Good ole Home Depot and Lowes. It took several trips to each to figure out exactly what we wanted and to get enough materials.  I think Marc said he ended up at one of the two stores eight times over a 24 hour period - Woodstock, Holly Springs, Canton, Jasper, and Cumming.  Maybe an Alpharetta store in there as well.  I've lost track.

We put the girls to bed around 8:00 Friday night and got started on the butler's pantry. It actually went pretty quick so we tackled another small area by the refrigerator. Then we called it a night.

Saturday morning was the slowest part of our project.  Marc had to go out and pick up the rest of the tile. We also had to work through the area to go above the stove. The cuts on the frame weren't going well at first so it took some thinking to figure out what to do.  Once we got it worked out we laid everything out.

 

Once Marc and I start a project we like to work until it's done.  We were up until 1:00 in the morning finishing it (including the grouting and cleaning), but it turned out so good!

Strange how the lighting can affect the colors so much.  I'd say the true coloring is right in the middle of these two.

It was a big project but we love it. Next project: repainting my pantry shelves.

Christmas 2013

We had such a wonderful Christmas morning.  Macy woke up first and was a ball of excitement. Marc and I snuggled in bed with her for a while before Brooke woke up.  When I sent Macy to quietly check on Kayla she "somehow" woke her up. hmm...

Brooke has been asking for this lady bug every.single.time we have been to Old Navy in the last 2 months.  She was thrilled to see it show up in her stocking.

The purple tervis lid has been quite popular and caused a few disagreements.  Macy was glad another one showed up in her stocking this year.

Books! We added at least a dozen books to our collection.  I love that both of my girls enjoy reading so much. 

Sweet girl bought me a Casting Crowns CD.

More books!

Marc bought the girls a snow sled.  Of course we hardly get snow here in Georgia, but we do have a nice hill the girls love sliding down on cardboard.  We're hoping this sled works well on grass. 

The roller skates were a hit.  We have yet to try them out other than a little bit in the house, but she sure was excited to get them!

Scooters were the big presents this year. The three wheel design is great.

Kayla got this cool scooter that she has to wiggle to make it move.  She's getting really good at it too!

Before we left for my mom's my sister asked for me to bring a jacket for Brooke so that Brooke could show Molly how to ride her new toy.  Apparently there was some trauma drama when she first tried it out. She was pretty terrified. Brooke tried to show her how much fun it was, but it took Aunt Stephanie. I put her on there and we started chasing down Kayla on her scooter.  She had the best time.

We wrapped up our Christmas celebrations at Grammie and Grampie's house on the 26th. The girls were given some fun educational toys that will be a big help in school.

We are so wonderfully blessed.  I tried to make this season intentional and filled with some quiet family time that we often don't get this time of year.  While it was still a busy few weeks (especially since we had a late Thanksgiving) I think we did better than we have in the past. I love this time of year and focusing on the baby, born to a poor family, who lived his life only to give it for us. Yes, we were blessed with a busy season of activities and presents that overflowed from under the tree.  But more than that we were blessed that Jesus stepped out of heaven and willingly came down into this sinful and dirty world. We are blessed that he lived a sinless life so that He could make the ultimate sacrifice.  That is the ultimate blessing. Nothing we have or do can compare, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Christmas Eve

We had our annual Christmas Eve Brunch again this year.  It's a lot of work, but we love doing it.  Marc loves a good breakfast and I could do without it most mornings.  Unfortunately that means I don't cook it as often as I should. I joke with him that I will make a huge breakfast for Christmas Eve, we have the leftovers for Christmas morning, and that should last him for the next 363 days. :) 

Amanda's parents joined us last year, and although Chris and Amanda were celebrating in Africa this year we still invited her parents to join us.  Amanda's sister and her family were in town as well so we had a lovely crowd of people joining us! 

Sweet Kayla wrote another song this year to sing at the brunch.  This girl loves Jesus. 

"From the manger to the cross.  He saved us from our sins.  He didn't make us to sit around for Him.  He told us to say, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, You're the One!"

And then Brooke surprised us by wanting to get up and sing "Away in a Manger" in front of everyone.

After a short rest time we headed out for Christmas Eve service at church. This year they had a candlelight service which the girls enjoyed.

After service we headed to mom's house for our usual seafood gumbo dinner. Yum!

Parties and Singing

We are in full Christmas mode. This year I was in charge of our neighborhood's children's Christmas party.  The kids all showed up in their pajamas and we ate, watched Polar Express, and did crafts. The girls were a big help getting things made and set up.

Reindeer cupcakes

Santa hat brownies

Crafting

We have also had several concerts to attend.  The girls each had a music performance at school, but unfortunately Macy was running a fever and couldn't go to school that day.  She was devastated, but what can you do.  Poor thing. I took her and Brooke out for breakfast after we dropped Kayla off at school.  That helped a little. :)

The elementary choir at church gathered together to sing some Christmas carols. Unfortunately it was at the same time as Cubbies.  I sent Marc along to watch the girls and I stayed with Brooke and her class.  I hated to miss it!

My Sweet Babies

Last weekend the girls went to spend the night with my mom. Marc's company Christmas party was on Friday night and we were running a 5K Saturday morning.  We were in a bit of a rush getting out of the house Friday afternoon and on our way out the door the girls were frantically asking for their wallets. They hardly ever ask for their wallets and I couldn't figure out why they needed them on our way out the door to Nini's house. I then figured that since they knew they were going to Target to pick out wrapping paper they wanted to go shopping too. Fast forward to Saturday evening.  We had put the girls in bed and I came back to the living room to see this:

Our sweet babies had taken their money and bought Christmas presents for Marc and me.  They wrapped them at Nini's house and had snuck them under the tree when we got home. Every year I take them shopping to find something for Marc, and he does the same.  They pick it out and we buy it.  This year they wanted to use their money and go shopping on their own.  They made a plan and then made it happen. I am a very blessed mama and I am so proud to be the mother to these precious little girls.