Success

I actually accomplished a 2011 resolution I set last January:

I

DONATED

BLOOD

4

TIMES!

And potentially saved the lives of 12 people.

It was totally free and it feels awesome.

Come join me sometime in 2012.

merry CHRISTmas!!

I am the Mom who buys books instead of toys.

I found this book the other day when out CHRISTmas shopping.

We love it!

 

"God Gave Us Christmas" by Lisa Tawn Bergren

 

Some excerpts:

"Did God give us Santa?" Little Cub asked. "Santa Clause reminds us about many good things like generosity and care. But it is God and Jesus that we celebrate most come Christmas. We always want to thank GOD for giving us ...Christmas," replied Mama Bear.
 

"Christmas is a lot about surprises."
"Mm-hmm, like presents!"
"Yes! Jesus is the best present of all. And God would've given us that present, even if it was only for you."
"Only for me?"
"Only for you, Little Cub. God gave YOU Christmas."

 "Jesus is a present for everyone, grumpy or happy, mean or kind. God gave us ALL Christmas."

 

It's an amazing book, highly recommended by the Raker's :)

 

Merry CHRISTmas, every one!



2 next month

Lately it has become easier to respond to this question, "How old is he?", with "He will be 2 in January". Almost 2 just rolls off the tongue better than 23 months. It is a milestone really; from here on out Doodle will be "2" and eventually "2 and a half" rather than a quantity of months. It is another reminder that he is growing up. Way. Too. Fast.

To commemorate, this is Doodle's 23 months list:

1. You often refer to yourself as "Dayden" and sometimes "I".
2. Christmas is next week. You love ALL the decorations, especially "Tip-i-tees" (Christmas tress).
3. Santa is fun to talk about and look at from afar. You were not a fan of your encounter with the jolly ole' elf.
4. Overnight stays at grandparents' are becoming a monthly occurence. You love "PaPaw and Nana's" and "Mimi and Poppy"'s houses.
5. We are thinking about letting Papaw give you a puppy.
6. Thomas and Friends and Mickey Mouse are each watched almost daily.
7. You have started lining objects up in a single-file line. These objects become a "choo-choo".
8. You are obsessed with trains. And tractors.



9. Pretend play is beginning. You will lay your toys on their sides and say "night-night". Then you start snoring.
10. You torment Milo endlessly in any way you can and have also started to chase Jake around the house.
11. Jake scratched you on your face for only the second time ever. See above.
12. You suffer from nurse-maid elbow. Dr. Collins had to pop a ligament in your elbow back into place because it slides over a bone and becomes stuck. You did not use your arm for 2 whole days within a 5 day time frame.
13. You love for the fire in our fireplace to be lit. You say, "Daddy. Fire. Do it. Please."
14. You are a little parrot, repeating nearly everything you hear.
15. When Daddy comes home from work you become SO excited. You two scream and yell and laugh and run and tickle and hide and push trucks all over the house together.
16. Dancing to Christmas music has become a favorite activity. You ask for the music and proceed to dance: stomping, clapping, jumping.
17. You like for Daddy to make himself into a bridge so you can crawl under him. He also does this for you using the couch cushions.
18. Ready? Set. Go! You are beginning to like to race!
19. When trying to convince us you should watch Mickey or Thomas and you are not happy with no as a response, you proceed to ask to watch, "News?" Nice try.
20. You like to play hide-and-seek. You say, " Where are num?" and "There it is" using a higher pitched voice.
21. You can count to 2 and know the colors blue, green, and red consistently and orange, brown, and yellow inconsistently.
22. Kaleb, Kameron, and Roby are three of your favorite people. You love your cousins.
23. You are snuggly. You like to give kisses and hugs and say "Wuv You, _____". Please do not ever stop being that way.

Thank you Doodle for being the absolute best thing that has ever happened to us. You are such a blessing to us and we continue to thank God for you each and every day.

"Every good and perfect gift comes from above..."
James 1:17

DIY-Merry Christmas style

I needed a new something to hang on my door and had aspirations to make an ornament wreath. My frugality prevented that from happening because I am not one to pay full price for any Christmas decoration. (My sister and I, and our Mom and her sister have a tradition of shopping for half-priced Christmas items December 26th. A tradition I LOVE and a girl's day I look forward to beginning December 27th!) Several years ago I bought these cinnamon-scented pine cones and had not used them for anything. I had seen a couple pictures in magazines which inspired this idea. One afternoon during naptime, I got to work with the pinecones, some ribbon I had on-hand, and my handy-dandy hot glue gun. Voila!

I am in love with these beauties and the man who made them!

Friends of ours had these in their yard so I inquired where they came from.They're handmade; these particulars are handmade by my husband! Our friends shared the template with us, Daddy was super excited to delve slightly into woodworking, and I got busy painting. They are gorgeous lit up at night with the floodlight.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!