getting that darn xmas card picture!

Last week, I attempted to take a picture of Jack and Lucy together for our annual card. And instead of "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth," for me I just wanted Jack to SIT STILL and/or LOOK AT ME. ;-) My goodness, he is wiggly ;-)

Once I realized that my goal of one picture of the TWO of them was going to be pretty impossible to get, I started snapping individual photos - Lucy was hamming it up - no surprise, and I got some great shots of her. I figured I'do a collage of several photos of each kid individually.

Getting a decent (I was really just aiming for decent; I had no hopes of getting any "great" ones of mr. always-on-the-go ;-) shot of Jack proved so difficult. I decided to take a break, and we went over to Katherine's house to let the kids play together. I brought my camera and followed Jack around, trying to capture a few face shots. Got some; good enough ;-)

I found a fun layout on Costco's photo website which had six photo openings, which worked perfectly. I uploaded the pics, ordered the cards, and I'm mailing out the cards this week. But in the meantime, here are some pictures that didn't make the card...

and my favorite, "non photo"...yes, thanks kids, that works just great... ;-)

All I want for Christmas is a...LUNCHBOX

I love childlike innocence - it just warms my heart. But beyond that, it reminds me about what's really important. Young kids (I'm certainly not including teenagers in this group ;-) seem to have the capacity to focus on exactly what's important (well, other than when they're saying the word "poop," "fart," and "burp" and laughing uncontrollably).

It's like our pastor spoke about at First Wednesday, referencing "Everything I really need to know about life I learned in Kindergarten." Remember? "Don't hit people" "Wash your hands before you eat" and "Flush"!

Well, I say all of this to lead into the story of what Lucy answers anytime someone asks her what she wants for Christmas.

And her answer is always..."A lunchbox" Then, she'll likely tell you that specifically she wants one because her current one doesn't stay closed well (It's a velcro strap that gets pulled when the contents of her bag fill up). And finally, as a perfect description, she'll tell you she wants one "like Audrey has" - of course - with a zipper and a purple one.

Here's her lunchbox:

Initially I was just tickled by her cute little christmas present request, but then I realized it's perfectly simple and somewhat opposite of what many children's christmas lists entail. It seems like today, kids are handed toy catalogs, encouraged to circle "anything they want", make long lists - with the expectation being that there will be a few "BIG" gifts they want - and they'll get. I'm not judging - I just mean to suggest that it seems like in one generation, Christmas gifts have gotten so extravagant. Jason and I were laughing about how it WAS a "big" gift for us to receive those metal lunchboxes with a colorful print or character on the front. Now, big gifts are $500 Ipads, PS3's, cell phones for five-year olds (okay, maybe I'm being slightly judgemental on that last one - I can't find a single reason a five year old needs a cell phone, but that's just me...)

And I know many adults easily agree, nod in agreement that our kids today are treated a bit extravagantly, perhaps muse about how it should be different, but then cover the floor under the Christmas tree with presents. Romans 12:2 comes to mind, a verse I keep on our fridge because I consider it a great reminder for me personally: "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (NLT translation)

It seems society turns FIRST to what other people are doing - what other people consider the "norm" - and then follow suit: "Well, this is how everyone does it". As a Christian, I should turn FIRST to God, His Word, and let that influence my decisions and my beliefs.

For me, that means making the focus of Christmas on our Lord's birth, the wonderful stories surrounding that event, and letting "gift giving" be a reason to go to God in praise for all that we've been blessed with and given. I know my kids are young - and I haven't yet hit the period when my kids are obsessed with whatever that "big" gift might be - but it is my hope and my intention that the way we are celebrating Christmas now will be implanted in their mind and suffice. Santa brings three gifts to each child (just as Jesus received three gifts from the Magi), and our budget for those gifts remains small.

To keep myself accountable, I tallied up what Jack and LUcy's santa gifts cost (Lucy: lunchbox, doll station I bought off Craigslist, and an Aquadoodle - $72, and Jack: lunchbox, Thomas battery-operated train, and duffel bag/suitcase (because he really needs one and he'll think it's fun to climb in ;-) - $63. And I suppose one could even argue that $135 on two children is more than necessary, and I could even agree with them, but, this Christmas I'm very happy with this.

I love this time of year, the happy spirit that seems to be "in the air," the beautiful decorations and lights, delicious Christmas tree smells, and the time spent among family and friends. I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas season too!

Happy Birthday, Jack!

My sweet, all-boy, Jack is two today! (Technically, not until 3:59 pm, but who's counting ;-)

We set up his train table and trains last night and did a big reveal; he loved it. Jason's got it on video that I'll post soon, but his reaction was sweet...he ran to the table, saying, "choo choo trains! choo choo trains!"

Here's a look back at Jack's first TWO years:

Dec. 2, 2008

half-birthday in JUne! "I'm six months old!"

one year old!

celebrating at his first bday party! *remember how he pinched out the candle flame?!?

18 months old! Getting a big boy bed!

Celebrating #2 in Atlanta over THanksgiving...

Ring Check!

Men - if there are any of you out there that actually read this ;-) - you'll not be interested in this post.

A friend of mine recently lost a stone from her engagement ring - so sad! I hate it for you, R!

While visiting Atlanta for Thanksgiving last week, I decided to take my rings to Shane Co (where my engagement and wedding band came from), for their complimentary check and cleaning. I'm so glad I went because I discovered that not only were a few prongs in fact, loose, but I was LONG overdue for a rhodium plating.

I learned white gold - desirable for it's strength and the fact that it's four times less than platinum - has one downside, in that over time, the metal itself can turn a yellowish color. Mine had done this, but I hadn't even noticed because it's such a gradual change. The saleslady showed me the difference by putting my ring next to one that had recently had the rhodium plating, and boy could you tell the difference! It's supposed to be done about once a year; well, we've been married over six years, and I had never had it done! woops!

But all was well because Shane Co. took care of tightening the prongs, cleaning the rings, and doing the rhodium plating, and when I picked up my rings, I could not believe the difference. They looked brand new! And I really couldn't believe it's all free - so hard to find good service these days, I think...

So, just a little suggestion, but ladies-go get your rings checked and serviced! I'm so glad I did with mine!

Funny side story...while my rings were at the store, Lucy told my Aunt Kay that "Mommy gave her rings back to the store." My aunt didn't know that I had, and she thought Lucy was fabricating some big 'ol story!

Delectable Cupcakes

Lucy is in love with Fancy Nancy books, and both sets of grandparents have been so generous in sending her LOTS of books. One of the most recent was "Fancy Nancy and the Delectable Cupcakes." Lady prepared a fun decorating cupcakes station for Lucy when we arrived to celebrate Thanksgiving here in Atlanta. Lucy was so cute when she announced excitedly, "Oh! They're going to be delectable!" :-)

They had chocolate toppings, crushed peppermint, marshmallows, and icing of course. They decorated a cupcake especially for each person, complete with initial lettering! Lucy split the decorating and eating about half and half, while Jack got about two marshmallows on a cupcake before he began to focus solely on eating the toppings!

Which baby bedding?????

The baby's room is coming together - or really I should say Baby's Room/ Guest room...

We're not setting up a "themed nursery" complete with painting the walls, coordinating everything for this baby, and so I had been on a major hunt for a while for a neutral bedding, ideally something white with red accents.

Well, after searching forever and finding nothing, I found a set at Play It Again last week that would work. I didn't exactly LOVE it, but it coordinated all the colors in the existing room, and the price was right - $36. So, I bought it.

Only to get home and that very night find out that my friend Jeri had a baby bedding set that was white with red accents. Of course...

So, here are some photos of the two sets: which do you like better?

Here's the room so you can see what I'm working with...

Set I bought:

Jeri's crib bedding set up (sorry, it posted twice and won't let me delete... ;-( I really hate computers!):

cute little farmyard theme...

So, weigh in - whatdya' think? Thanks!

Christmas Lights at the Botanical Gardens

It seems Christmas begins earlier and earlier each year! We counted five homes in our neighborhood that already have their exterior lights all done up. And we were noticing this on our way to do the walking tour of the Christmas lights at the Botanical Gardens.

There were five families meeting together (thanks Molly for organizing our fun get together! ;-), and the kids had a blast running along the trail. The light displays were great, and it definitely put me in the Christmas Spirit!