but do you recall- the sweetest and cutest reindeer of all???

Fred

I think we went all winter last year without making a snowman!

Not that we didn't TRY- but there wasn't good snowman snow( and everyone knows you HAVE to have the right kind of snow to make a good snowman!!)

So when we got our first REAL snowfall AND it was good snowman snow- we didn't waste any time!

Meet Fred.

I think the boys played outside for almost 2 hours - and for some reason throwing snow at the van was a huge amusement for quite a long time.

So it begins...

JAMmin'

One of the things that I've come to appreciate even more about our church (among many things) is their heart for children. They have a saying- "the earlier the better" - and so many people put in a great deal of time to make the children's ministry off the charts. Jaedon this year "graduated" to JAM (which stands for Jesus And Me). They have kids start out in a large room, sing songs together, have a lesson and then they divide by grade to their small group time. It's awesome and Jaedon loves it.

Back in July, when Jaedon decided to ask Jesus to be his personal Savior, he told the "kids pastor" about it. Well, they have done some great follow-ups such as discipleship worksheets that they send to the house for us to do with Jaedon. And a few weeks ago we got a birthday invitiation to come to the clubhouse to have a "sprititual birthday party" for Jaedon. How cool is that?

So yesterday we had a spiritual birthday party. Every child who the party was for (probably about 15 or so) had their own individual cake (!), they had some crafts, some music time and a Bible and hat for the kids as their "birthday present". I thought it was a cool idea and helped us have a springboard for some more discussion too. Jaedon told me on the way home that he wanted to be a JAM worker when he's an adult "because I already have the hat now."

Tootsie Rolls

We went to the Hudsonville Christmas parade (I'm just glad they still call it "Christmas" and not all that "holiday" lingo! way ta go...)

anyway- it was COLDDD but a fun parade. Andy, Lisa and Katelyn joined us this year. We met Blitzen and Tank the reindeer, saw Santa, lots of horses (and Jaedon was just all boy about pointing out he horse poop!), firetrucks and CANDY. Seth took off across the street and refused to stop as I went after him calling his name. I was very confused because he just did NOT stop while zooming across the rather large (altho unoccupied) road. After I caught up with him I saw that he had eyed a tootsie roll and was simply determined to go gather it up (and gather is the correct terminology when referring to the bulky mittens I insisted he wear!) Then he turned around with a HUGE smile on his face and said "ah- HAAA!!!" (as only Seth can!). It was a tremendous success! (and had the other-side-of-the-road-paraders in stitches too ;)

Droppin' the Shoppin'

I like to shop. Shocking? not really I mean I am female -but- thankfully-as much as I do enjoy going shopping I equally enjoy just looking. In fact, it's rare that I acutally BUY anything (unless I'm at a goodwill- I can ALWAYS find something there ;) Seems harmless enough right?
Well, over the past few months (maybe even the past year) I've had some insight on the not-so-harmless side of shopaholicism.

We decided it would be fun to go to the mall the other week- all 5 of us. I'm pretty sure I was in some caffeine-induced stupor when I decided that taking 3 young boys and a man to the mall actually qualified as FUN...however, we went. Actually- it was fun. Point being we did not really SHOP- just walked the mall, visited the Disney store, rode the carousel and played with the Thomas train set in Barnes and Noble. So ok, not really SHOPPING ;) However, when I was there I was looking around- at people not stuff- and was surprised that when we left (bagless- again) I felt very sad. I felt as if all these people were rushing from store to store looking for something that they HAD to have- and not even smiling when they were weighted down with 3 or 4 bags of their "happiness". I felt a deep emptiness after we left that I don't know how to describe- other than that it felt like I had just left a prison. (Altho-technically I've never been in a prison so I don't know exactly how that feels!)
Our Sunday School group has been talking about consumerism lately. There have been LOTS of deep and interesting discussion that have come out of it but one that stuck with me is how do we, as Christians, look any different than our culture when it comes to "stuff"? Are we the people at the mall on Saturday frantically looking for the next greatest thing that is sure fill some small void in our lives?
The other insight I've had about this has been personal- Do I need to buy stuff to make me happy? Ok- so the obvious, Christian response is "NO!"
But then I looked deeper- granted our income and budget would not even allow me to THINK about coming home with bags of merchindise from the mall on any sort of regular basis- but is it really about the amount of money we spend or just the fact that we spend? I have to admit that at the end of a loooong day, going shopping- just to kill some time- is almost theraputic to me. YIKES! I was struck by this fact when I heard it said "where do you turn when you need some salvation?" I don't use that word in the sense of Christ's salvation- but rather- when it's been a loooong day and I need some "out" time - do I turn to Christ for my strength-to "save" me from my weariness, grumpiness or fried nerves?
I don't have this figured out yet and what I'm saying may prove me to be a huge hypocrite- but I'm noticing that maybe I'm not so unlike "those people" I saw at the mall with huge bags and heavy hearts- maybe I just hide it better.
This is my discontent. Good timing with Christmas approaching don't you think? ;)

hmm..

I was looking thru some old pics of Jaedon... and now that I'm looking at Owen's picture right next to these I think Owen has his own look about him. Altho I think you could say they pass as brothers ;)

Food Faces

Thank you, Grandma!!!!!

Several months ago I asked my knit-witty mother-in-law (said with upmost respect! ;) if she thought she could make the boys matching sweaters for Christmas. Before you think I'm the rudest daughter in law ever let me just say (maybe I am?!) she LoVeS to knit and she is VERY talented at it. It amazes me what she keeps coming up with!! So she said she was up to the challenge and we decided to create our own sweater. I chose a piece of one sweater in one book, another in another book, a sleeve here and cuff there... I have NO idea how she did it- but this is how they turned out. I think they are ALMOST as cute as the boys wearing them ;) And the hats... it just doesn't get too much better than that.

PS- Mom, I had TONS of comments today at church too ;) Thank you SOOO much!!!

More birthday pictures

so HEY! I've lived one whole week in my thirty's and no wrinkles....yet. =P
no really...I'm over it...I just thought I'd post some more bday pics. We went out to Great Lakes chinese in Hudsonville with Brads family (missed you Andy =( . It was really enjoyable (altho SOOOOOoooo not diet friendly!) My sister in law and I are thinking of establishing going out for bday meals more regularly...whatchya think, Mom?! ;) tehee...

Cutie Patootie Katelyn Rose -

Kids- do not attempt this at home- ;)

This picture just cracks me up. Little chunky monkey himself...

Three- OOOOoooh

Today is a tombstone...I mean milestone for me- I turn 30. Ok- to some it may not be a BIG deal (it is just another birthday afterall)...and to some it's a HUGE deal- no more Twentysomething...
I'm rather- eh about it. It seems like such an "adult age" and I really don't feel mature enough to sport it. I think there must be some unwritten universal rules of turning 30... I suddenly feel the urge to wear SPF in my moisturizer (note the first urge to even WEAR moisturizer), feel the need to schedule a mammogram (jk!), am seriously considering an aerobics class (and not caring how riduculous I look) and think carpools are the greatest invention on earth. OK- so maybe I will be able to "sport" the 30's ... I seem to be on my way to 50 at this rate. (no offense to the...uh... more- experienced -at- life readers).


30 days ago my inlaws showed up at my door bearing two laundry baskets full of gifts. My mom decided to give me 30 gifts (1 each day) for 30 days until my 30th birthday. It has been a lot of fun to have a gift to open each day- anything from toilet paper and toothpaste, to pillowcases (embroidered by my mom) and a garlic press! Thanks, mom, it was very thoughtful of you and fun too!
Brad (semi) surprised me with a birthday party too - very unlike him mind you (which makes it even better! ;) Of course, it's all but impossible to throw a complete surprise party when the person you're surprising is in the house all day long... so I knew SOMETHING was up. He told me "some people" were coming over. 31 people to be exact (a lot of them were under 4 feet tall too! ;) It was crowded, noisy, messy and perfect. I didn't know I had that many friends ;) Thanks, sweetheart- your time is coming!! ;)
Here's to 30- mammograms and all !!

Jaedon's music program

Brad has been working at Vanguard for 7 years now and I have enjoyed being able to go to all of his concerts. (Mainly because I think he looks really hot in a suit ;)

Well, Jaedon had his very first music program this past week. I was looking forward to seeing Jaedon do his thing- and was joined by Brad's mom. Well, my "naps are optional" 2 year old decided that it would be a good time to pitch a fit (complete with yelling) during the (all of 5 minute) kindergarten portion of the concert! UGH! How frustrating to miss most of it! Oh- and thank you, Mom, for man-handling Seth all the way out to the car. Oh yes- it was a superb display of two year old tantrums! (I secretly think Brad was pretending he didn't know us ;) However- Jaedon did have fun and did a good job too.

Pavement and Picnics

Well, we took the plunge and decided to spend our economic stimulus money. I know I know...what's the rush ;-) We have been wanting to have a "real" driveway (as in not gravel which translates mud and muck from about November to April) since we moved here 6 years ago. Sooo.... here's the newest addition....

We had SUCH amazing weather this past week- 70's in November!! I did not get my trying-to-become-typical cleaning schedule done much b/c I just wanted to be outside. We took LOTS of walks, enjoyed the swings and actually had a picnic lunch too.
I won't mention the fact that we saw snow flurries this morning. Yeah...picnic season is offically over until next year ;)

What a chore

I'm starting to see why firstborns are so weird. (sorry, honey...and, well, a lot of other people I know...) They are our test drive- poor kid. He didn't ask to be born first!
Well, anyway, in hindsight I have come to realize that I don't think I did a very good job of giving Jaedon more and more responsibility (ie chores and jobs around the house). It's not that he didn't have things to do but it honestly didn't even cross my mind to start handing him more "jobs" with things to do. I think I missed my "window" when young kids are THRILLED to help out (I'm working on that with Seth...). So now Brad and I came up with ideas of chores for Jaedon to do and ...well, let's just say it was NOT met with very much enthusiasm. We, as paitently as possible, explain that everyone has to do jobs. That it's part of living in a family...yada yada... but we're still met with "No. I don't think I'll do that right now." or "No thanks. I don't want to do that."
So- now what? Fortunately, he has still done the chores we've asked of him- I just need some different ideas on the approach I need to be taking. The whole "I have jobs that I don't WANT to do but I do them because I love my family" speech works okay....but really - don't want to have to give a speech all the time ya know? So... here ya go... you're chance to shine and tell me what I SHOULD'VE done when he was 3 - and now what I could do now. Any thoughts?

Some more firsts

We enjoyed a high 60's weather day on Nov. 3! We took advantage of it and had a great time introducing Owen to the swing. He LOVED it. (ps - isn't that Grandma-made sweater TOO cute?!)
Goodnight Night Moon- a favorite (altho I still have yet to discover WHY).

MMm...Carrots!

Buzz, Bob and Tigger too

Here's a few pictures of our sugar-induced fun last night-

Does anyone else find the whole trick or treating thing a bit odd? We spend hours everyday trying to teach our kids how to share, give to others, think of others first, teach them to be thankful for what they have, point out how blessed we are with what we do have and that whole "there are kids in other parts of the world..." speech has surfaced at our house more than once already. There is the whole "be careful of strangers", "don't take things from strangers" mantra that we give.

We try to eat well balanced meals- sugar is WAAY limited at our house although not totally banned.

BUT!! For some odd reason- one day a year we let it all fly in the fan. "Stuff yourself silly with teeth rotting foods given to us by complete strangers and make sure you yell for them to give it to you as loud as possible!" Am I the only one that sees a bit of insanity in it all?

Then again, we find out that our neighbors are quite friendly, we smile when our kids remember to say 'thank you' on their own, we have fun seeing everyone else dressed in their costumes (even when we meet someone who has the exact costume on!) and of course- candy overload once and awhile is NOT the true cause of childhood obesity!

So okay, perhaps it's a bit strange - but we had a good time.