Shepards Night!

I can't take credit for this fantastic night...but I can tell you that this was AWESOME!!!
I plan to do this every year...and I am sooooo thankful to my dear friend for inviting us to this incredible event!

Everyone, kids...adults...babies...(except for Brady) dressed in robes and sheets to get into the spirit of the Christmas story!

Everyone gathered their flocks...(stuffed animals)
and their nap sacks!

Which were full of Shepard food...cheese, crackers, meat, nuts, and dried fruit!

We sat together in a dim room and ate our food as we tended to our flocks..and talked about how the Shepards of old may have lived!
The point was brought up that they most likely had lots of spare time, which they could pray to the Lord and build a strong relationship.
This would then help them to be prepared to recognize the signs of the Savior being born!

We read the Christmas story from the Bible...talked about it...and then the Shepards went in search of the star...that would lead them to Baby Jesus!

We sang some beautiful Christmas songs....in honor of his birth!

What would a Shepard give to their Savior Jesus Christ?
The kids all thought about it!

Each Shepard wrote their gift on a piece of gold paper....
folded it....

And placed it in a chest for Jesus!

We ended with a small treat and some Hot chocolate!

We Miss You!

To DAD:
WE MISS YOU!
HURRY HOME!

Hot Chocolate on a Stick!

It's tough to have so much fun with the Polar Express Theme...and not take a bit of the Joy to others...so my kids decided they wanted to take some Hot Chocolate to their friends!
I remember seeing these adorable little Hot Chocolate on a stick last year...so we made our own!
We made our chocolate pieces the night before...because it takes 12 hours to set!
Then we made the marshmallows in the morning...they also need 4 hours to set!

Polar Express Movie Night!!!

Luke has been so excited about the Polar Express this year.
We are reading the book every night...and he REALLY wanted a Polar Express Movie Night!
Thanks again to my fabulous BIG girls...they made a train out of boxes!

We all had a great time watching our movie with our little ones nicely tucked into their train!

We finished the evening with North Pole cupcakes...and hot chocolate!
(I had a better picture of the cupcakes...but this was too cute...Brady caught trying to eat our cupcakes...early!)

The next day the excitement was still raging...and so I made a simple Polar express lunch!
I don't think PB&J has ever been enjoyed so much by my crew!

We took the kids on the local Polar Express Train Ride!

Which they truly loved!

I have to be honest...we (Mark and I) were extremely disappointed...we both thought it was highly over priced!
I'm just glad we didn't share our opinion with the kiddos...as we were leaving a couple of them said, "This is the BEST day of our lives!"

JOY!!!

I was asked recently what my favorite Christmas song was...and why?
I love all Christmas music...and I'm not sure I have a favorite....
But...1 stands out VERY strong in my head!

JOY TO THE WORLD!

Why?

Because CHRIST brings JOY to the world!
Not just to me and my house...and not just to America...but to the WORLD!
THROUGH CHRIST TRUE JOY IS RECEIVED!

He love everyone and he is protecting them and LOVING them!

It is easy to fill our souls with Christmas shopping...presents...santa...reindeer....and all the wonderful activities that bring Christmas to our homes....but without CHRIST there is NO real JOY!

I have seen many post of the Christmas shopper who has a cart full of toys and stuff, there face is hurried....concerned if they will be able to get the items they want...ready to attack any situation that comes in their path...
Then next to it...you see the starving children of the world...they have nothing...not even a decent pair of clothes to wear, let alone enough food to feed their frail bodies!

The point of the posts is eye opening and humbling....WHAT ARE WE DOING? ARE OUR PRIORITIES OUT OF WHACK?

As I look into those pictures and look past the obvious obsession of worldly stuff...I see similar faces...I see sadness! In both pictures!
Because MORE STUFF doesn't bring happiness either!

The only way to bring true...lasting JOY into the Christmas Season is to Bring the Light of Christ with us!

What can we do this last week before Christmas to bring JOY to as many people as possible?

1. SMILE!! (It's free and immediately effects everyone!)
2. GIVE A HUG! (I am a hugger, and I have found that pretty much everyone enjoys a gentle squeeze)
3. THINK OF SOMEONE WHO IS ALONE THIS CHRISTMAS....TAKE THEM SOME COOKIES OR MAKE THEM A CARD! (If you don't know of someone ask a friend or church buddy)
4. NEIGHBORS LOVE TO BE LOVED...(Especially the neighbor who is everyone's least favorite!)
5. OFFER CHRISTMAS GREETING TO ALL YOU PASS! (especially the ones who may not have heard Merry Christmas this year)
6. BUY SOMEONE'S LUNCH...and encourage them to pass it on!

I HOPE IN THE COMMENTS YOU WILL GIVE SOME MORE IDEAS...OF GIVING THE GIFT OF JOY!

We have 1 week left!

* Special Note: Start in you homes. Don't let the hustle bustle of the season make you grumpy! Treat your spouse and children the BEST EVER!
If needs be.....let things go...and just ENJOY the Christmas Spirit of JOY!!!!

Turning 38...Was Royal Treatment!

I have to admit...I love my birthday!
I think it's such a fun day to celebrate!

Growing up I would wake up early and make (or buy) cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for my family!

I continue the tradition today!

Seriously?
How can my birthday be anything less than FANTASTIC with a bunch of FRIENDS like this to share it with?!

These two sweethearts...have been planning my birthday for weeks...they have kept it all a secret...but I sneaked in for some pictures!
Here are the cooks and organizers!

The crew needed a quick bowl of cereal to give them the energy they needed for all of their night activities!

The mood was set...perfectly...for a Romantic Dinner!

We had the best waiter and waitress!

After dinner their was massages to choose from at the bottom of the menu! :)

We got amazing entertainment!

THANK YOU BROOKE AND CHELSEA FOR MAKING MY BIRTHDAY PERFECT!

Nativity Art!

I have been slipping on specials with my kids.
This time I just took a day with each kid and while we talked about life they made their own nativity scene!
Luke is the above artwork....painted, designed, and glued completely by him.
I love his details!

Annika wanted nothing less!
She wanted to do everything by herself!

Brooke and Chelsea worked together on their clay nativity...they are still working on making the stable...which when done...it's going to be AWESOME!

12 Days of Christmas / Service...FHE!

For Family Home Evening this week we decided to do the 12 days of Christmas for each other!
I have always told the kids....
YOU LOVE THOSE YOU SERVE AND YOU SERVE THOSE YOU LOVE!
If there is ever bickering, I figure that there needs to be more service.

I am hoping that if we serve each other everyday, then we will feel Christs love in our home this Christmas season!

The kids thought of 12 services that they could do for one another...I put 1 service in each sock...and we have one sock for each day until Christmas!

Day 1...and Brady is feeling the LOVE!

Everyone is having fun spending quality time with each other!

Traditional Elf Day!!!

Every December 12th my sister, Cindy, gets older...and for her special December tradition...we had Elf day.

Growing up, she was the actual elf, so she would buy little trinkets for all the 12 kids.
Now we keep the tradition...except now I am the elf!

All the shoes were set out by the Christmas tree...but if your Christmas tree is in Iowa...then they are put on the mantle! ;)

I'll be honest, I forgot it was elf day, but the kids NEVER forget!

I bought these adorable BLANKS for the older girls...they loved them...great for stocking stuffers!
This is Brooke's

The Wee ones got these little ceramics to paint!

Here is Chelsea's BLANK!

Luke wrote the Elves a letter...for me to send to the north pole!
I never expected the kids to actually think that the elf day was from elves...but it's sure is fun that way!