Christmas Preparations

 This year we are doing two different advents..

1. Counting the Days, Lighting the Candles by Elsye Fitzpatrick- I am really enjoying it. It has a reading for every night till Christmas and we are lighting the advent candles each night as well. There is a Scripture reading and explanation every night. It is really just perfect for our elementary aged kids. Good engaging questions and deeper theology to get them thinking. 

I can't wait to get to Christmas Eve and light the white- Christ- candle!!! So exciting! 

2. A Book Advent- I have collected books (and get the ones I don't have from the library) and wrap one for each night. Every night we open and read one book together as a family. There is a good mix of classic Christmas tales and Christ centered nativity ones. Its been fun and who doesn't love opening a present every night for 24 nights:) 

{Giving Thanks} to the Giver of every good gift

We are bountifully blessed this Thanksgiving (and always)! 

{So thankful for a good God, a merciful, loving Savior and our amazing family and friends
..... and the list could go on and on.....

 Beautiful day to play outside! 

 This is a typical way that games end in our household:) 

Happy Veterans Day 2013

 Hopkins had a special Veterans Day assembly and we were honored to have grandpa come. 

 This is my little Daisy Girl Scout troop- my friend Rebekah and I started a 1st grade troop at Hopkins this year. It is a blast and we have some awesome little girls! 

 The scouts got to walk the flag into the assembly. 

 Grandpa was recognized for serving during the Vietnam War in the Marines. 

Ari was a bit emotional after the video that was played honoring all the Veterans:) 

It was nice walking the hallways and seeing all the papers the kids wrote about Veterans Day. 

Our little man is growing up

{Lijers}

Nerd culture is cool in this house

{My Twinners}

Toothless Wonder

{My Ella Bella}

Trick Or Treat 2013: Jellyfish Costumes and Fantastic Mr. Fox

This year we went with 3 jellyfish and 1 little fox.

I found the jellyfish online and they were pretty easy to make. 

I used an old cowboy hat and wrapped it with bubble wrap to get my shape. I then strung battery operated Christmas lights around the hat. I then covered those with colored tissue paper and topped it all off with iridescent clear wrap. And LOTS of packing tape to hold it all together. Next, I hung iridescent ribbon, tubing and tinsel from the brim of the hat. The coolest thing about these jellyfish is that they glow and look SOOOO cool at night! And you can't lose your kids in the dark:)

Elijah has wanted to be a fox since the summer and I was SO excited to come across an adorable fox costume at Old Navy on Clearance for $10.80! I LOVED his sweet little tail:) 

 We love our tradition of going to grandma and grandpas 

and eating pizza for dinner with them and 

then walking in their neighborhood together. 

The kids scored lots of candy!