Present for Jesus

On Monday we talked about what we liked about our birthdays. Naturally my children said they liked getting presents, (and eating cake). I reminded them that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus's birthday and that we could and should give him a present. Jessa wanted to give Him a picture :) We disscussed the kinds of presents that would mean the most to Jesus, then everybody wrote down, (or drew pictures), of their gift onto a card. We put all the cards in a box and then I let the kids wrap it. Jessa was on tape duty. Will did the cutting and the folding. It now sits next to one of our Nativities. I've been nicer remembering the gift I decided to give! Considering the Infinite and Essential Gift He gave us, it was the least we could do. Jessa decided she would help anybody who needed some help, Will was gonna say his prayers and continue to go to church each Sunday. Great gifts, huh? One week to go! Can't wait! Merry Christmas everybody! XOXO

Christmas festivities

We have a tradition at our house that the kids put a homemade star at the top of our tree. It wasn't an intentional tradition, but in years past we've tried different angels and stars. Will thought the angels were scary and none of the stars would sit right, so when none of them looked right, I asked Will to make a star. That finally looked right! This year it looks REALLY good! He drew it and cut it out, then traced it for Jessa to cut out. She did her best, lost interest and Will finished it. There may come a Christmas when our tree sports 3 unique and beautiful stars on top. Won't that be cool?! I'm looking forward to it.

Merry Christmas! Now Don't Come Back!

Jeff has been saying it for months now, but yesterday was the day. His employer, Owen's Inc., officially closed its doors and now we, along with many others, are out of work. (Sigh) We've been in this situation before, but never with a mortgage and 3 children. Now we get to hunt and fill out applications and send resumes. . . I know God is runnin' the show, still, it is a stressful situation. Jessa just asked me if Santa has a butt!! Ha! "Yes, Jess, everyone has a butt." "And Santa?" "Yes, and Santa." That girl- what a goose! :) K- enough blog. Got lots to too. I am hopeful and prayerful that our situation will turn around very soon.

Just Call me Suzie!

I'll admit that the past few years as I watched my excess of tomatoes from our garden rot and go to waste, I felt guilty-HORrible, really. This year, I decided I had to get over my phobia of canning and not let it happen again. On the menu, salsa and stewed tomatoes. With my blessed mother-in-law as my life line, I did it! In between the salsa and the stewed maters, she also peeled probably 300 pounds of pears we got for free, so that I could can those, too. I'm not saying this just because I know she'll see it :), but she is an amazing lady. I feel very blessed to have her and Jeff's dad for in-laws.

Anyway, it is quite a feeling of satisfaction to have those FILLED jars on my shelves. "If ye are prepared. . .".

Ghostly Treats

Will was chosen to be the "Star of the Week" this week in his Kindergarten class. Monday he got to bring a kind of a 'Show 'n Tell' backpack full of special things to share with the class along with some photos of him and his family. Tuesday he got to pick a book from home to share with everyone. Wednesday his teacher read a special letter I wrote about him to everybody. Yesterday, he got to bring a buddy to lunch. I got to be his buddy! We had a yummy school lunch together then played out at recess with his friends. Fun! As his last day of Star of the Week he is supposed to bring a treat to share with the class. I got out some of my Halloween idea books and together he and I found something we thought looked "cool" , (Will) and more importantly, cheap and easy. Here's how they turned out.

We have a Rat!

This is not a solitary incident. I wish I could say it was. There are several of my pantry items that have holes similar to this. I have caught the culprit MANY times, but can't seem to eradicate her taste for cardboard. Jeff has never seen holes such as these, but what they were put there by some rodent. I'm going to have to start checking my baby for sprouting whiskers, (or maybe just give her a 2nd helping of supper?!)

Emmy prays

We were amazed to catch Emily folding her arms for prayer. I don't remember when Will or Jessa started to fold their arms, (well, Jessa still struggles with this sometimes), but 11 months seemed pretty young to me! It happened two different times before I caught it on video. She has since continued to fold her little arm-a-doodles many times when we pray at mealtimes or as a family.

T-ball

Will played some T-ball this summer. It was a great introduction for him. He enjoyed going, playing, and most of all winning. The kids had one game at the end of the 6 weeks. They got cool red t-shirts and opened the concession stand and everything. Was there really a winner? I guess it depends on who you ask.

Oh, I do have to share an incident that happened early on. So, we're at practice and all the sudden I notice my boy racing up the sledding hill beyond the ball field following some older kids who were not playing ball. He was the only one. I yelled out to him. He kept running. I called again and started to run after him confused and concerned as to what was going on. When he saw me running and calling after him he stopped and finally ran to me. I squatted down and asked him where he was going? He struggled to keep back the tears that already filled up his little eyes and said, "I just don't know where the outfield is." I almost cried with him. We had a very detailed lesson following that practice. :)

The Pehrson's

Sometimes I get a little sad knowing my kids don't know my family the way I'd like them to. None of us are rich enough to travel cross country often to see each other. This visit was the first any of them got to meet my little Emily, but, at least they're not across the world. (Glass half full, right? :) ) Anyway, my mom, dad, and brother got to come out for a week in June! My sister came with them and she got to stay for a MONTH! Whoopie! It is always wonderful to see them and get to spend time together. It's a whole lotta 'Pehrson-ality' fo' shizzle!

Playing catch up!

I'd better do it now while I'm only TWO months behind. Thinking about the last two months, though, WOWZA! Lots of fun stuff! Okay, so lets start with Will's preschool graduation.

Will and Mrs. Klotz

Standing by his hook for the last time

The diploma!

Jessa and her signature "cheeser" smile

Emmy Jo- Yes, she has beautiful strawberry blonde hair.

Jess and her morning of makeup. She was channeling the '80's :)

One sad morning in June we found these two little guys that had fallen out of their nest onto our front porch.

She's a GIRL!!!

Emily and I went grocery shopping today. She just turned 9 months old and can sit pretty well in the shopping cart without having to haul in her carseat. Yea! Much more entertaining for her. Anyway, she was lookin' cute in her pink Old Navy fleece jacket and pink pants. All the old men at Aldi's had to stop and get her attention. It was sweet. She refused, however, to entertain any of it and didn't smile at a soul. Next stop, Wal-Mart. While I was stopped in front of the baby food an employee walked by who talked and smiled at Emmy for a second. I could see another employee coming up too and anticipated more of the same. It was more, alright. She approached us and started talking to Emily. Em just stared at her. The woman began to move away, but said something like, " HE'S a cute one!" Now, I understand that this happens with babies. But she was head to toe PINK! Well, it would've rolled off-a me pretty quickly had this woman not turned back around as she was walking away to say, "If he keeps up that look, he's gonna get ALL the ladies!" I don't consider myself made of eggshells, but geez, it kinda hurt my feelings. STOP being FRIENDLY! That should be the standard baby etiquette rule. If you're not sure-just stay quiet. But remember, please, that it was hard to miss the fact that pink pretty much threw up on my baby. Maybe this lady was color-blind? Surely.

A Sprinkler Afternoon

It was a hot Wednesday. HOT! So, I turned on the hose, attached a sprinkler and let them play. Clothes on 'n' all! I don't think they could've possibly been much happier. It was so fun to watch. Emily and I sat on the shaded porch and enjoyed their laughs and squeals. Will ran over to me once while they were playing, naturally soaked to the bone and with a grin ear to ear. I asked him if he was having fun. He said, "Oh! You shoulda been there!". :) Love those kids.