Well, well...

I had trouble the other day uploading a post from my cell phone and was completely bummed, because I do quite a bit of posting from there these days.  I ended up posting it from my computer and no worries.  Well, today I got on to change my heading picture and background and received an error message when trying to upload my new photo...I have reached my photo upload quota.  So, now I have to purchase more space so I am able to upload photos to the Picasa Web Album.  I am completely torn about this because I have invested $0 in blogging, so the thought of this now costing money makes me sad.  Yes, I am cheap!!  I am going to do a little research and see what all I can do without changing my blog web address.

Christmas was great here! The kids loved their gifts and have had a wonderful time spending time with family.  I love the Christmas season, but can I be honest with you, I am glad the hustle and bustle is on the down turn.  It has really taking a toll on me and I have not left the house much since Christmas, which is completely fine with me.  I actually did not do any after Christmas shopping, which is unlike me, but I have been completely fine lounging around the house.  Christmas decor is still up...I am thinking that Saturday sounds like a good day to take it down!

Jase is so obsessed with Lego Star Wars.  He got a DVD for Christmas and it is actually pretty cute and quite comical.  It is pretty short in length, so he has watched it a few times.  I woke up this morning and told Shawn that I am now dreaming about Star Wars...ridiculous!!!

Reflecting back on 2011 and feeling very blessed.  Shawn and I were able to get away to Cabo for a few days, my little sister graduated college and got married.  Jase turned 4 and is now sleeping through the night with big boy underwear on...so big!!  Allyson had a fabulous 2nd birthday and is quite my little talker and I love her little phrases like "ta-da" and the hands on her hips while talking is too much.  Plus, I was looking at pictures from earlier this year and oh my word, she still did not have much hair 7 months ago; it really start growing over the summer.  We got awesome reports about my dad and his recovery with kidney and prostate cancer...cancer free!!  Praise God!  While I miss my nana dearly and tear up when I look at pictures or think about her, I know she is in Heaven and is not suffering anymore.  And this is not goodbye forever, just goodbye for now.  Miss you Phil. 

2012...what an exciting year ahead.  Shawn is going on a mission trip in February with Living Water International and he is super pumped about that.  Jase has a big birthday coming up...the BIG 5!! He will also start kindergarten...cuurazy!!  Allyson will turn 3 and that doesn't seem possible at all.  Shawn and I will celebrate 8 years of marriage, and 16 total years together.  I'm one lucky gal!  I'm sure many more things will be added to this list as the year progresses.

Thanks for following and sharing our memories with us.  Have a blessed New Year!!

Christmas Eve Traditions

Today was a great day. We started off the day at my mom's house and had our Christmas with them today since we will be stopping by my dad's tomorrow after church and Shawn's parents tomorrow evening. The kids, of course, made out like bandits and loved everything they received.

Later we went to our 5 o'clock church service, which was very nice. We took communion, and we usually only do that once a year or so. Both of the kids were in the service with us and that was a little challenging. Jase was great, but Ally, she wanted to talk up a storm.

Afterwards we went to my grandma Smith's house and ate dinner. It was nice to visit with her. I do not see her as much as I should, so it was nice to go over there. Allyson loved going in her tv room and making herself right at home. Jase entertained everyone with Star Wars facts. He is officially obsessed! And he has not even seen any of the movies, this is just from books we've checked out at the library. He is going to go nuts when he opens a Lego Star Wars movie tomorrow!! :)

We then went and looked at lights. The neighborhoods that used to have traffic a mile long are no longer crowded and the lights are just so-so. As a matter of a fact, other than one other house, we are the only house on our street with lights up. What's up with that? We came home and the kids opened up one gift, as they do every year. We started a PJ tradition when Jase was little, where they open up new PJ's on Christmas eve. Jase, of course, got new Lego Star Wars ones and he loved them!!! Allyson's had ballerinas on them. I bought her 24 months and the pants were hanging off of her. And the shirt for 18 months would have been too short on her. Oh well.

We then took the kids outside and they sprinkled reindeer food on the lawn. They loved it!! We read the Christmas Story (Jesus' birth and his gift of eternal life to us) and a couple other books and they are off to bed. Allyson is sleeping with Jase for the first time tonight...I hope that goes well. So far, so good.

We are looking forward to opening gifts in the morning...I know the kids are excited too. Tomorrow will be another busy day, yet enjoyable because we will be spending it with people we love. I am feeling very blessed and thankful for so much, and yet so unworthy for it all. Thank you, Jesus.

Merry Christmas!!

New Wall Decor

Jase is quite my little decorator. He and scotch tape are very close friends!! :) I just love it when I find him taping up his newest pieces of art on the wall.

We have been keeping up our "book and scripture a day" and enjoying it. I love it that the kids, especially Jase, look forward to reading the bible verse and book everyday. I am looking forward to continuing this tradition next year.

We have been so busy these past couple of weeks. All of the hustle and bustle have definitely caught up with me. I am so thankful that Shawn has been my HEB and Wal-mart go-to man over the past few days. He has helped in that area quite a bit.

The kids are get very excited about Christmas and gifts, but we are doing out best to instill that Jesus is the reason for the season. Jase told me today, out of the blue, that the true meaning of Christmas is celebrating Jesus' birth. It made my heart smile.

If you're reading, I hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas and cherish your time together with your loved ones, because you never know how long they will be around.

Santa Claus came to town!!

We (including me) were so excited for Santa to visit our street on the fire truck this evening. We had our front door open, waiting to hear the siren, alarming us that he was on his way. After running outside several times for false alarms, he finally showed up at 8:30. (It was 8:45 last year.)

All four of the kids were excited and all four of them got a prize!! Jase got a matchbox car, Allyson got a pink TY bear, Jeremiah got a yo-yo (and he was a pro at it), and Destiny got a remote control car...so cool!

Host Family

We have had the privilege to be a host family for two boys and a chaperone this weekend. They are part of Children of the World - International Children's Choir. They arrived Thursday afternoon and will be performing at our church tomorrow morning.

Destiny is 9, from Uganda, and Jeremiah is 11, from the Philippines. Auntie Carla, the chaperone, is also from the Philippines. All three of them have been great to have over the past few days. Our family has grown to love them and will miss them when they go.

We have been able to do quite a few things with them: see Alvin and the Chipmunks at the movies, kickball at the park, backyard football and soccer, Lego and tinker toy construction, card making, story time, Santa Claus' arrival on the fire truck, say nightly prayers together, and sharing meals together.

It's been a blessing having them in our home. We are praying they are a blessing to the congregation in the morning and continue to have safe traveling mercies as they travel the USA.

5 Nights in a Row!!

We have set a world record here at the French house and I am so excited!! Jase's pull-up has been dry 5 nights in a row!!! Super excited for him! He has gone 1, maybe 2 nights in a row with a dry one, but 5 is unheard of. We are hoping this is a sign of more dry nights to come and not just a fluke.

Super proud of my big boy! :)

Jase's Christmas Party

Yesterday Jase had his party at school and all the kids had a great time. One mom made the kids cute place mats out of 12x12 scrapbook paper and had them laminated. Another mom made super cute reindeer chocolate donuts. See pics below! :) (Pinterest...yes please!)

Instead of a craft, they had a book exchange, which I am definitely a fan of. We cannot wait to work in Jase's book he opened.

Christmas Biscuits!

I woke up this morning and decided to make the kids (and myself) Christmas Biscuits! I've taste tested 2 of them and they are yummy!

Merry Christmas!

Dear Santa

Jase brought home his picture with Santa today...so sweet. This year, his teacher included what he asked Santa for on the bottom of the picture. You'll see below, no big surprise. :)

Allyson on the other hand didn't want anything to do with Santa and would not take a picture with him. I asked her this morning if she wanted to go see Santa and she immediately shook her head and said no. You could see the fright on her face right away. Maybe next year.

Christmas Party

This past Friday we went to our Sunday School Christmas party. We had a great time enjoying each other's company and there were plenty of laughs. It was a tacky Christmas sweater party, so it was funny to see everyone's lovely attire. We did this last year with the college, so this year I guess I just wasn't feeling that festive, so I decided to sit this year out.

We each brought white elephant gifts (something you have at home) and those are always fun to see what people bring. I opened up a gift and it was...are you ready for this...a Circle E Birds of Paradise brand new candle!! I LOVE this smell!! Of course, the next person stole it from me; I don't blame them!

First fire of the season

First fire in the fireplace that is. Last time the fire was lit (several months ago), the gas pipe cracked and it if you turned on the gas, it would leak out...not safe!

After several trips to home improvement and speciality stores, Shawn was able to get the correct part to repair it. We were so excited to get the fire going, that we decided to make one tonight.

Shawn and Jase loaded up the fireplace with wood and Shawn started up the gas to get it going. The fire was blazing away, but only one problem...the vent was CLOSED! The flames were so high that Shawn couldn't get his hand in there to open it up.

Next thing you know it is getting major smokey in the house, Jase is telling us that the firemen are on their way, and smoke alarms are going off. My sister and her husband were over, so he ran upstairs to fan that smoke alarm and I fanned the one downstairs. It was a mess.

Shawn was finally able to open the vent and we opened up windows and doors to help with ventilation. It is in the 50's outside and we have windows and all the doors open...a little chilly inside now.

It was pretty funny. And my sister just texted me and told me that they smell like they have been at a bonfire, even after changing clothes!!! Making memories, right?

Reindeer Park

I had mentioned that I took the kids to Reindeer Park on Friday evening, but haven't taken the time to put together pictures that a friend took of us.  We had a great time and the snow sledding was my favorite part.  Allyson and I rode it twice together and all three of us rode it together once!

Allyson's Mittens

I went up to Allyson's room this morning to wake her up and found her with her socks on her hands like mittens. It was so cute, that I had to take a picture of her when I brought her downstairs. How do you not start off your day in a good mood after this?

Picnic Time

After Allyson finished dinner this evening, she went into the playroom and two by two she brought her picnic to the table. It probably took her 10 trips back and forth to bring all of her items to the table. I love watching her play!

Snowman Dance

This evening we went to the local Reindeer Park, where they had a snow area, sled riding, wagon rides, ice skating, rock wall, pony rides and a few other things. Well, they had a Snowman there that enjoyed dancing and of course Jase couldn't help but join in the fun. This recording is of him the second time around. Ha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhdAZqEOrdY

Christmas Craft Time

This morning we continued our Christmas story craft. We made angels (again) to represent the angel visiting Mary and telling her the great news that she was going to have the son of God. Jase really enjoyed making this one. We used scrapbook paper and markers on-hand and Jase used his safety scissors to cut out the shapes of the angel. At first I told him to cut out a triangle and he was struggling, but then I drew one on the paper for him as a guide and that was much better. He did a great job with it!

We also started something new this year. I wrapped 24 books, along with a different Christmas story bible verse and labeled them accordingly on which day to open them. Today the kids opened up the first book: Christmas Cookie. It had a good message about the true meaning of Christmas. I hope the kids look forward to opening a book everyday and reading the book and bible verse throughout the day.

It was a great morning together with my kids on the living room floor. I love these simple mornings with them.