This year we put up this Give with Thanks Tree.... it was a little bit different from our traditional Thanksgiving tree in which we record our blessings on the tree. Each time the children served, they were able to put up a leaf. Loved this!!
The kids and I hardly had a moment to craft or bake (sadly!) but did put together just a couple fun turkey treats.... a Reeses Peanut Butter cup turkey and our old standby-- the sugar cookie turkey. Cute!
I think I printed a few too many thanksgiving placemats and crossword puzzles/word scrambles! By the end of it all.... Dane had written, "mom is weird" where he was supposed to draw his favorite foods! Can't blame a mom for trying to keep her kids occupied with thoughts of giving thanks and gratitude!
Dane and Grant finished up their soccer seasons.... Dane's final game was not the highlight of the season. Poor guy! They played the best team in the division and lost by a lot. Have I mentioned- Dane does not enjoy losing? But overall, it's been an amazing season. Blake and I LOVE going to these boys' soccer games.... they are such great players and put their whole heart and soul into their playing. Love them!
Blake moved the office this month! A few months ago, both Blake and I considered it SUCH a blessing that a bigger office two doors down from his current office opened up for him to use. We knew that switching locations to a new area would be less than ideal and so Blake held on to his current office despite the inconvenience of the small space for three and a half years! It's been a trial because he hasn't wanted to update too much, knowing that eventually he'll move it to a bigger space! Now that the office is moved, he is able to remodel and shape it into the office he always dreamed of. It's been quite a challenging couple of weeks, but starting to come together and we feel so blessed and so happy! I could not be more proud of Blake and the wonderful orthodontist he is. He deserves this awesome new office!
Anna is still pretty much the happiest little person I've ever met. And a true ray of sunshine every single day. She is speaking so much these days and becoming a little girl. I miss that little baby, but I love her thoughts and her words. Today we pulled into trader joe's and before we'd even exited the car she said, "mommy! I need to find the monkey!!" She is so smart.... and girlfriend knows her shopping venues. Such a cutie.
We began to put up Christmas decorations and Christmas tree the day we returned from Thanksgiving with the family! So fun to have my "helpers". Anna considers the play mobile Nativity set to be "my legos!" She plays with those figurines for hours- I love it. She feels it a special privilege to get her own little set of legos.... she normally gets into big trouble for messing around with Evie's or the boys sets. Dane and Grant are great at setting up the tree. Evelyn is awesome at helping me decide where I've gone overboard and need to pull back.... or where a certain corner of the house may need more bling! She is quite a little designer and I value her opinion. I always give her my Sharing Times before the actual day so that she can help me tweak it-- she has the greatest suggestions!
This year I pulled out our new Lego Advent Calendar-- SUPER cool! Each day you build and add one new lego piece to the Christmas scene. Our chocolate advents, our Advent boxes that have a special Christmas activity listed for each day. I felt very pleased with myself as I finished set up. Until later in the evening when I realized that I had about a million and one
activities/chocolates/legos and "fun" stuff to celebrate Christmas but not one of those advents were truly focused on Christ and the reason for the season. I literally began to tear up in my bed. I couldn't believe it. Sometimes we get so caught up in all the fun that we forget what our purpose and job as mom truly is. I decided then and there to find a scripture advent to take place before all the other advents (is this sounding crazy that I have a million advents? it totally is!) In Family Night the next evening, I told the kids all about my epiphany and the spirit I felt as I decided how important the scripture advent would be--- the thinking and pondering on the true gift of Christmas. I think they were moved.... I sure was. So many ways you can get lost in the details as mom. It's my goal this season to stay focused and patient as I teach my children about our Savior's birth and His life. I'm definitely going to enjoy the goodies, the gifts and the fun decorations around my house.... but that comes second. December goal.... teach my children the importance of their Savior.
