Our Tree

Still trying to catch up on Christmas…as I think we’ve finally found and downloaded all the photos we snapped.

Advent really was special this year, B seemed to understand it in a way that made our evening countdowns come alive. To be honest, Little A didn’t have a clue but was thrilled to be her brother’s shadow in as many ways as she could!

Each night, just before bed we’d find a book under the tree to unwrap…the nuggets took turns unwrapping and then C and I took turns reading.  Then we’d read the Jesus Story Book Bible and then head to the stairs to ‘discover’ a surprise tucked into our family Advent Calendar.

The surprises were often ornaments for our tree…which these two worked together to hang after discovering each night.

Ella was always in on the fun…she’d often nudge her way into the scene and all the ornaments on the tree would sway!

This was our tree once all of the surprises had been hung. Yes, a random assortment of ornaments…but most reminding us of sweet memories we’ve enjoyed together, first as a family of two…then three and now four!

Be blessed.

Advent Books

Last Christmas, a friend had the idea of wrapping up each of their family’s Christmas books for Advent. The idea was to open one book each day, to sort of ration the crazy amount of books that come out this time of year to better savor each for enjoyment and to help little ones wrap their hearts around the true meaning of Christmas.

I remember hearing about the idea and tucking it away in my mind, hoping I’d muster the energy to wrap up 25 books this Christmas…which I surprisingly did!

With that said, it was a total hit…the nuggets loved it!  Each night, after brushing teeth and getting ready for bed we found the wrapped package corresponding with the day of the month tore it opened and enjoyed.

I wanted to share some of the titles we came across…each were great, the ones with *** were fantastic (in our opinion). I don’t know if anyone will reference this list, but if anything it will at  least provide me with a reminder for next year. I hope to keep collecting as the nuggets get older and look forward to title suggestions from other nugget parents!

 

Who is Coming to Our House? by, Joseph Slate

My Little Christmas Story by, Christina Goodings

***Happy Birthday Jesus! by, Michelle Medlock Adams

Christmas in the Manger by, Nola Buck

Angel! Angel! What Do You See? by, Cherie Pless Dittmer

***Stable in Bethlehem: A Countdown to Christmas by, Joy N. Hulme

***Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star by, Christine Harder Tangvald

***A Star for Jesus by, Crystal Bowman

***Christmas Angels by, Crystal Bowman

***J is for Jesus: The Sweetest Story Ever Told by, Crystal Bowman

***My Christmas Gift by, Crystal Bowman

***Jesus, Me and My Christmas Tree by, Crystal Bowman

***My Christmas Stocking: Filled with God’s Love by, Crystal Bowman –Addresses St. Nick (Santa)

The Christmas Star by, Marcus Pfister

***The Crippled Lamb by, Max Lucado

***Humphrey’s First Christmas by, Carol Heyer

***Mortimer's Christmas Manger by, Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman

Punchinello and the Most Marvelous Gift by, Max Lucado

Alabaster’s Song: Christmas though the Eyes of an Angel by, Max Lucado

Unwrapping the Christmas Creche by, Lisa Flinnn and Barbara Younger

Tonight You Are My Baby: Mary’s Christmas Gift by, Jeannine Q. Norris

Long Ago in Bethlehem by, Jerry Smath

Mary’s Baby by, Jane Chapman

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving by, Jan and Mike Berenstain

B is for Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet by, Isabel Wilner

The Little Shepherd’s Christmas by, Carol Heyer

This is the Stable by, Cynthia Cotton

The Christmas Baby by, Marion Dane Bauer

A Star So Bright: A Christmas Tale by, M. Christine Butler

The Christmas Story by,  Maggie Downer

 

 

Be blessed.

2012 Manger Painting

Here’s a glimpse of years past as we continue to enjoy this sweet family tradition…2009, 2010, 2011 .

This year was no different, messy and lots of fun! C and I haven’t had a chance to give our manger slats the time they deserve yet, however, the nuggets have and for the most part enjoyed every minute.

Little A took a little time warming up to the idea of paint on her fingers and hands, but as the photos reveal…she warmed up to the idea (as did her face) just fine!

Stay tuned for a glimpse of the this year’s completed manger…until then, we hope the photos provided a sweet glimpse of our silly and often messy life around our neck of the wood.

Be blessed.

A Bit Late..

B sort of understood the concept of our Family’s Thankful Tree.  We added leaves at dinner time, so often the leaves identified food that B was thankful for (that he was in the middle of eating) or food that he was thankful we hadn’t prepared for dinner. It will be fun to watch his little heart grow as I’m sure next year will be much different!

Thanksgiving Day and the anticipation of provided many reminders of thankfulness as we celebrated a HUGE miracle first hand and looked forward to a house filled with people we love.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Be blessed.

The Bear Family

In effort to keep the children’s book theme going, this year we decided to dress up as this beloved bear family.

After all, we often feel like we live in a tree house and both nuggets are consistently referred to as ‘bears’!

We’re trying to be humble…but to have to share that we WON our neighborhood costume contest…now the pressures on for next year!

Be blessed!

Summer’s Bookend

People around our neck of the woods describe the Minnesota State Fair as being the ‘Unofficial Bookend of Summer’, as it ends on Labor Day and public schools across the state begin school the following day.

I am thankful that we aren’t tied to a school schedule just yet, but am thankful for traditions like the State Fair that help my heart say good bye to one season and usher in the next.

Our first stop was the animal barns. 

Little A wasn’t sure what to think about this huge critter…

While B seemed to enjoy Aunt L & Uncle J’s goats from the comfort of his wagon…

Next stop (after enjoying a famous Dairy Barn milkshake) was the giant slide. Both kiddos rode, and both really enjoyed themselves!

After the slide, we hit up the cheese curd and french fry stands all in anticipation of a Fair favorite, Machinery Hill.

We camped out on Machinery Hill for awhile. Trying out the majority of machines being displayed.

After the big machines lost their luster, we headed for the Mini-Midway where B got to choose one ride.

None of us were surprised by the ride he chose!

Later, after the All You Can Drink Milk Bar & Sweet Martha’s Cookies, we stumbled upon a tractor simulator…our miniature machine lover was was thrilled. He did donuts with the steering wheel and watched his virtual field on the display of the windshield go round and round and round.

Later, B enjoyed one more ride on the Giant Slide as he convinced C to ride with him one last time…

And then we capped our evening off with the famous ‘Mill Ride’…the oldest ride at the fair…

And then, as tradition stands…enjoyed some mini-donuts on the way to the car.

After faces were covered in the sugar that only mini donuts provide, we gave our hugs, said our goodbyes and got ready to sleep hard after enjoying a special afternoon/evening at the fair making forever memories!

It was a great way to ‘unofficially’ say goodbye to summer as we look forward to the fall and whatever this next season might hold.

Be blessed.

Backyard Campout!

A couple weeks ago, we found this surprise in our mailbox!

Ever since, ALL of our toes have been tapping to the silly happy go lucky lyrics.

We’ve come to enjoy ‘Rosita, the Mosquitah’… ‘Livin’ in a campin’ tent’… and our favorite ‘The Bullfrog Opera’.

C has had a backyard campout on the top of his to-list all summer and the silly lyrics to these songs seemed like a fantastic segue for our little guy.

So these two dug the camping gear out of storage…

Popped their tent…

Made sure no ‘Rosita Mosquitah’s’ got inside…

Brushed their teeth, packed their essentials (water, pillows, matching shoes and yes… ‘Ella Dog’)…

And turned in for the night.

The next morning, B was quick to tell me all about the ‘Chorus line of crickets’ that he heard (a lyric from a song) and about the other things he heard as he fell asleep and woke up.

Such a sweet memory for these two!

Happy Camping!

Thank you M for sharing such a fun CD with us!

Be blessed.

Impromptu “Photo Shoot’

I recently discovered a hidden treasure!

While my mom and I were sifting through some keepsake boxes, I discovered a box filled with keepsake clothes…some of which were smocked dresses that are just Little A’s size!

Little A has donned a couple, but the chance to capture her in each has slipped through my hands…so this week, after Church, C obliged to an impromptu photo shoot. The plan was to capture little A in her blue bird dress…but B & Ella joined in on the fun and the photos are price-less…at least to this momma!

We started off in the shade, in front of the fence…

All the commotion attracted Miss Ella to the other side of the fence as she curiously checked out the fun…

Theses nuggets giggled and giggled as they received licks from their favorite pup through the fence…

What a sweet thought to imagine little A passing on these special dresses to her future nuggets!

Be blessed.