I wish I could keep the house decorated for Christmas all year long!

The Christmas decor of the house is giving me such a warm, happy feeling.

I wish this house gave me that warm happy feeling all year around. 

Maybe after Christmas I should get a palm tree and put it in the middle of my living room.

Here are a few shots of my warm, happy!

Christmas Traditions

So far this year we have completed two of the Christmas traditions that we have here in the Carolinas.  

First, Santa headed through our neighborhood last night.  I LOVE THIS!  

The girls were in their room and Jonah was scootering through the house when I heard sirens.  

I yelled, "GIRLS, SANTA IS COMING"!  

They came flying out of their room and we ran out the front door just in time to have several fire trucks pass us.....lights and holiday music blaring.....and there he was.  

Little Man had a smile from ear to ear.  

Santa tossed out candy while yelling his usual, "HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas!"  

I wish I would have grabbed the camera to record the look on Little Man's face.

It was priceless!

  Unfortunately,  Ben was out of town. 

 

Tonight we attended another event that has become a tradition.  A local Methodist church in town puts on an AMAZING drive through Christmas story.  It started tonight and it goes through the weekend.  

Thousands  of people go through each year.  

SO AWESOME....it still puts tears in my eyes.  

You travel through the town of Bethlehem as the people are hearing the news of the birth of their Savior.  Your windows are rolled down so you can hear all of their reactions and interactions with each other.  There are hundreds of people involved, live animals, (sheep, cows, and camels) and it ends at the manger.  Big Sis attempted to take some pictures out of the window of the truck.  They are not the best photos, but you can get the idea.  It really is an amazing production.

Yes, I'm weird!

Yesterday I was talking to a fellow mom while our daughters were in gymnastics class.  She asked me if my kids (like hers) are begging for every toy under the sun for Christmas.  I told her that we got rid of our television programming in the beginning of October and I have been thrilled that my kids have not been asking for every trendy toy on the market.  The removal of commercials in their life has been AWESOME! 

She stopped.....then said.......You don't have a cell phone or a TV......What, are you Amish?

I cracked up.

Okay, so I'm weird.  I like being that way.  I like not doing what everyone else is doing. 

So, I am here to report that the dropping of TV service has been a great decision.  When my kids need to chill they turn on Netflix on the computer or in my bedroom.  (We have Netflix streaming though the Wii my bedroom.)  I watch the prime time shows I love on the computer and I don't miss watching all the other junk I wasted so much time on.  I don't miss commercials.  My kids are cool with everything too. 

How is hubby doing with it all.......he did go through a period of mourning at first.  He missed HGTV and watching football games on Sat. and Sun.  But several weeks back he told me that he was very thankful that I took the leap and shut off Dish Network.  He said he plays with the kids so much more on the weekends than he used to.  He said.....get this......that if I told him that I wanted to hook up the TV again, he would discourage it!  So....hubby is doing great with it, too! 

As far as the cell phone....I've been cell phone free for over 4 years.  (With exception to a "pay as you go phone"that I take with me when I travel by myself.)  I don't know if I will get one again.  I think about it here or there.....I have priced plans.....and then I walk away b/c I just can't get myself to do it.  I have went this long without a monthly cell phone bill....why start now. 

1.  I find it freeing. 
2.  It discourages me to watch every person on the road talking on the phone. 
3.  My parents did a fine job of raising me without one.....I don't see the NEED. 
4.  If I do get one in the future I think I will feel like I am giving in.  I know....stupid.....but honest!

I do not want to be Amish.  I would not live without my dishwasher, GPS, or hairdryer.  I just don't want to be like everyone else just because.  I bet I'll drive my kids nuts when they hit their preteen/teen years.

On the road....

I have the wonderful benefit of using Ben's laptop while in the car.  I have been searching Black Friday ads, searching baby names (we actually came up with a pretty fun list), and stalking my favorite blogs.  We still have 3.5 hours left so I decided that I would make a post about my favorite places to hang out on the net.

My favorite blogs and why:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Oh how I love The Pioneer Woman.  I love her food, her pictures, and her kitchen.  I have made several of her recipes and most of them have been keepers.  As I stated on facebook not so long ago, I would love to be her friend.

http://resolved2worship.xanga.com/

This blog is written by a mother of 7 BEAUTIFUL children.  She is a photographer and and her blog is Christ centered.  I enjoy reading her perspectives and looking at her pictures.  I often have much to reflect on after looking her up.  I have tried to figure her out...but I can't seem to.  I love this blog!

http://www.southernsavers.com/

This woman has saved me HUNDREDS of dollars.  She tells you what is in the ads, where to find the coupons, and even gives you scenarios to save the most money.  I love this woman and I feel like I need to send her a Christmas present for all the money she has saved me this year.  I realize that most of the grocery stores are only located in the South....but Walgreens and CVS are two that are all over the US.

http://allrecipes.com/

I rarely use my cookbooks at all.  This site has it all.  If I have chicken and spinach at home and don't know what to make....I can go to this site and type in my ingredients.  They will come up with the most wonderful list of recipes that contain those ingredients. If I want to make sugar cookies...type it in....change the list to the best rated....and thumb through to find what recipe you want to use.  I use this site at least once a week.  LOVE IT!

Okay, I guess that is a good list for now.  I am finishing this post a day later.  The laptop pooped out on me yesterday.  We made it to IL in record time yesterday.  We got a 14 hour drive completed in 15 hours.  I think that is very impressive considering Little Man does not usually like to sit down. 

I am thrilled to be here....but it's cold.  REALLY COLD!  And windy.  Cold and windy isn't my thing and it really makes me think fondly for my Southern Home that is 40 degrees warmer right now.  

So in closing I would like to make a small list of the things I am thankful for:  I am Thankful for my God that has mercy on me and has blessed me with so much.  I am thankful for my husband and these little people that are a result of our amazing marriage.  I am thankful for our families.  They always welcome us in and love on us, each in their different but special way.  I am thankful for our church that has helped guide and teach us about the things that Christ died for and what God expects out of us.  We are so blessed and I hope in the future that we can do a better job of blessing others. 

Happy Thanksgiving!  Don't eat too much!

YES!

I am sure there is only one in there!

There is no need for everyone around to take a vote....I'm sure!

I tried to fight it......

But it was no use.  

The boy is happiest when he is on the move.  And man, can that kids moved fast!  

I never thought of myself as a "scooter in the house" kind of person.  

It's funny how rules and ideals change over time.

4th grade musical

The show was sooooo good!  

I think I had a smile on my face the whole time!  

Big Sis is a performer.  

I wonder where she gets that from?  

Actually I think both Hubby and I contributed that gene.  

She did awesome!