Christmas Party and Program!

This year C.J. had a cute little Christmas party at preschool. They started off with several songs that the kids sang for their parents. There is something so heart moving about watching your baby stand in front of people and sing. C.J. sang loudly and off cue, I can probably say he is tone deaf. Yet, those songs were the most beautiful songs I've heard. After the kids were done singing we had treats and then they participated in a book exchange. Where each child had brought a wrapped book and then they all sat in a circle. The books were passed around as music was played when the music stopped the child who had the books took the top one and so forth until every child had a book.

I truly love these times when I get to meet my son's friends and meet their parents.

Their snack tables were set up all festive.

They even had a fire place in their play house area.

Merry Christmas!!

From our house to yours. May God's love and blessings be with you all. Today holds the promises of many more to come. As we look outside at the beautiful blue sky and I take I take a deep breath of sharp cold air. I'm thankful to be alive. I'm thankful for my family and for God's love and forgiveness.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Sick!

It's part of childhood, it happens every year. Oh, how I dread it. The flu season. I am a picky mom when it comes to my kids being clean and their faces snot free. I cringe when I see the first sick kid, you know the one. The one darling little person who coughs and doesn't cover it and then with a graceful swift movement wipes snot on the arm of his shirt. Then smiles and continues playing. I know being sick ultimately is developing their immune systems, but have you ever wondered how something so tiny can expel things so great?

The amount of puke, diarrhea and snot that can come out of such cute tiny little bodies is disturbing and slightly impressive. While, I know I can't prevent my kids from ever getting sick I can lower their chances. I make sure they exercise, eat well, drink lots of fluids, wash hands, get enough rest.

During the cold season I do more precautionary things, maybe even obsessively. I wash pillow cases, door knobs, light switches, toys, I spray sanitizer. These things make me feel productive, useful. Yet, they still get sick.

Two sick kids= one tired mommy.

Making things

We always love doing holiday orientated crafts. This year we made snowflake ornaments, and for the first time a gingerbread house. I cheated I bought the kit. I must say my kids had ten times more fun knocking the thing down and devouring the candy, then building. I wish I could have gotten that picture, but sadly my camera's batteries died.


The kit.

Step one

The finished product!

December

I do believe as I get older my life it gets busier. This year I believe will be one of the best Christmas's yet. My kids are at that age where they know what is going on. I love teaching them new things, and giving them new experiences.

I have stated before, that I want to teach my kids to love. Let me clarify, I want them to learn to genuinely love others. To love everyone, not just people they know. To love their world and community. I really do believe if everyone could live a life of love, we could abolish so many problems. I don't want my children to ever turn a blind eye to the suffering of another.

Plato says we should be kind "because everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" One kindness generates others, and from this virtuous contagion we all benefit in a way that helps us face up to our personal struggles.

Personally I know helping others makes me grateful for the life I have. It opens my eyes to what REAL suffering is. This year I have tried to make it a point to teach my children to give and care for others. I'm not going to go into them because this isn't about tallying your good deeds. However, I was made known of a very small charity that helps developmentally delayed people who are living their life in foster care ages 0-adult. These are people who have been forgotten, who through no fault of their own are pushed aside because they don't fit in societies "normal". Many won't get a single present. These are people who live here, in our town, in our community. Here is the information below.

Melissa English
Special Kids/Special Families
menglish@skscolorado.org
(719) 447-8983 Ext. 10

There are many other ways to help those around you, without going through an organization or spending a lot if any money. Friendship is one of the best gifts you can give and it doesn't cost a thing.

I love my kids!
They make my life better!

December

Filling out Christmas Cards.

Wrapping presents.

December

Baking Christmas Cookies.

December

Putting up Christmas Decorations.

Baking bread

Above is a picture of my bread 'rising', yes I made home made bread. I mixed the ingredients, I kneaded it, with help from my little ones. It was a lot of work, but kinda fun, I really like trying new things.

My idea was to try and teach my kids thankfulness. I think I am the only one really thankful for store bought bread after this.


I learned a few things,

1) How thankful I am for store bought bread.
2) Homemade does taste much better.
3) It truly is a workout, great if you feel like punching someone.

My kids really enjoyed the kneading and punching part of baking bread.