Merry Christmas!

From our family.....Merry Christmas!  We are enjoying our time with family and are going to make the best of the next week that we all have together! 

Gingerbread House competition

Andrew's school had a gingerbread house competition.  We did not participate but went to support those that did.  There was some really good ones there.  Thought you might like to see some of the good ones (and winners).  This post really has nothing to do with us but thought you might enjoy seeing what these kids and mostly parents came up with.  The challenge was to make a house (all edible) based on a movie.

 Above: winner of best use of theme....Wizard of Oz

 Charlotte's Web (above)

 Kung Fu Panda (above)

 Above: winner of 2 categories, one was most creative, not sure of the other category

from the movie "Up" and winner of most creative (I think)

Pretzel Turtles

The kids helped me unwrap almost 3 bags of rolos to use for pretzel turtles, which by the way are one of the easiest (and tastiest) Christmas treats!  Just place a rolo on top of a mini pretzel and stick in the oven for about 4 minutes (or until shiny and soft) and then smash the rolo with a pecan (or m&m's, other nuts, whatever you want) and then drizzle white chocolate over the top.  So yummy and fun for the kids to help make! 

Warning, it's hard to eat just one and make a bunch because they will be gone in no time!

Update on us

Sorry it's been so long since I posted anything on here.  A lot has happened since the last post but I've been sick and trying to keep up with life so this was put on hold (again).  Finally went to the doctor today since I will be getting on a plane on Friday and while I do have a sinus infection she wasn't too concerned about an antibiotic until she looked at my throat.  Apparently it's bad.  I don't have tonsils so I don't get strep throat (and haven't since 3rd grade) but it is infected and has been very sore for about a week.  Hopefully I will feel better soon now that I have some medicine.

The kids are getting very excited about our trip to visit grandparents for Christmas this year.  I haven't packed anything yet, but I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow with more energy and motivation!

Andrew's teacher gave me this frame with the picture (she took it at the Christmas program) and gave it to me for helping in the classroom.  I love the picture.  Everyone is smiling AND looking at the camera!!!  I have a bunch of pictures but maybe I can find time to put some on here in the next week.  I'm going to get comfy and try to get better! 

Decorating

 letters to Santa (before they wrote them)

 helping daddy put the tree up...yes we have a fake tree but I can leave it up as long as I want!

 decorating the tree

This year I let the kids decorate the tree 100%.  I didn't move any of their ornaments.  The are so proud of their Christmas tree.

 the gingerbread village they made with daddy

We did all of this the weekend after Thanksgiving but as you all know, I've been lacking in my updates. 

Late Thanksgiving Post

Here are a couple pictures from Thanksgiving.  I made these shirts for the kids the night before.  I'm hoping to get the Christmas shirts done a little earlier so they at least wear them a few times before Christmas.

Christmas Countdown

Just thought I would share the Christmas countdown that I made.  I am going to put it in a frame and let the kids use a dry erase marker to change the number in the circle each day.  If anyone would like a copy, please leave me a message with your email and I will send it to you.  Please do not just take it from my blog. 

I hope the kids are excited about this and are willing to take turns.  We have another calendar with pockets that you move a mouse to count down the days so maybe they can each do one and then trade the next day.  Who knows!  Oh, and a chocolate advent calendar!  Well, there will be no question in our house for how many days.  We may even do one to countdown for IL.  The kids are so excited about the airplane.

Awards

Last Friday was Andrew's 1st awards assembly at school!  He got an award for being proficient and/or above grade level in all academic areas.  We are so proud of him for doing so well. 

Cuddling

We are enjoying our first morning of vacation with some cuddling.  I am in the middle of two little cuddly kids and I'm loving it!  Grace isn't usually a cuddly little girl.  She likes her own space and is way too wiggly if she is sitting too close to someone.  Here is a picture I took the other day of the kiddos on the couch cuddling.  I walked in the living room and found them like this.....

Today I am thankful for these moments.

Strong Enough

So as I was driving to the store this morning after dropping the kids off at school, I started thinking about the last year.  So many times I find myself focusing on the losses we have had over the last couple of years.  2 lost pregnancies, a lost job, another lost pregnancy.  But this morning it just hit me all of a sudden that we have gained so much since last year at this time and all that we (I) have to be thankful for.  I've been reading the bible with the kids at breakfast and doing short lessons with them about gratitude.  The worksheet is sent home with Andrew from church but it's a little over his head.  Anyway, it has really made me think.  We were so blessed last year by friends and family that made sure we were taken care of.  The girls at church have no idea how much they blessed our family with groceries.  Our family spoiled our kids at Christmas last year because we couldn't.  And of course the best gift was David going to work 2 weeks before Christmas and his first paycheck came in the mail on Christmas Eve.  We weren't expecting it until after the holiday but it came and I cried and thanked God for providing for us as he had for the previous few months.  People were so generous to us last year and I tend to forget how much love surrounded us during that time that would have otherwise been so difficult for us to get though.  David losing his job was a big thing to us, but with so many people praying for us and giving to us, we were so thankful and knew we would come out of that situation with God on our side and with a new job.  David has a good job now with great benefits and a lot of holidays off and vacation.  He is gaining new experience to add to his resume.  We have everything we need and almost everything we want.  I get to sub a few days a month and sometimes several days to bring in extra money.  Sometimes, God just gives me these gentle reminders of just how great he is and how big he is.  He is bigger than my problems.  He is bigger than my loss that I can't get over no matter how hard I try.  He is bigger than the problems in my marriage and my strong willed child.  He is my strength and the only way I will get through each day.  I'm in a different place than I was a year ago but I know in the end I will be stronger in my faith and even closer to God.

I heard a song as I was leaving the store called "Strong Enough" by Matthew West.  Have you heard it?  I'm going to see if I can add it to my playlist at the bottom of my blog because I need to hear it more often to remind myself that I can do all things through Christ.  I can't do it on my own.  I'm not strong enough.  Here is a video with the song.  Hopefully it works.  Don't forget to pause the music on my blog before playing the video, otherwise you will hear 2 different songs.
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7110956038895446501

Flag Football

Yesterday was Andrew's last flag football game and also his team party.  It was a great day although cloudy and it sprinkled a little.  We were bundled up and it was wonderful!  Yes, we were on the Raiders.  No, we didn't choose it (or like it)!  Andrew is #3 and is wearing gray pants.

 The trophy/coach gifts/cupcake table.  It was so full of stuff!

Coach David running around the room when introduced!

 Andrew "Prime Time" Noland running around the room full of parents!  The coach always makes it so much fun when he introduces the kids!

Sports are done now until basketball starts again in January.  It was a lot of fun and Andrew loves being on a team!  David and I are both very proud of him !

Science Projects

 Because I have absolutely nothing else to post pictures of I decided I would show you the Science projects from this year.  The first month was the Night Sky which I think I already posted but I'm too lazy to go back and check.  Second was the planet project.  The students were asked to write 3 facts about a planet.  Andrew chose Jupiter.  I typed up the facts but then he wrote them all on the back.

 This last month was Living and Non-Living things.  We took pictures and just put them on a tree map (as requested).  The teachers give very little information regarding the projects and they are to be done as a family so there is a lot of parent involvement which is why the projects don't also look like student projects.  Next up, a desert scene.  I want to be really creative with it but I'm not really feeling it.  We better get busy though, November will be over before we know it! 

We are headed to Andrew's conference today for the 1st trimester.  I can't believe how fast this year is going!  I know he is doing really well but I'm still anxious to see what she has to say.  

Halloween Pictures

 Andrew was the Transformer Bumblebee and Grace was Strawberry Shortcake.  And seriously, these kids have to be banned from my camera.  I can't remember to always check for fingerprints on the lens before I take pictures and these are a little messed up thanks to a fingerprint......again!  Maybe after they get their own cameras for Christmas this problem will be solved. 

 Andrew posing for the camera.  He kept coming up with new ways to pose and I just kept snapping pictures.

Trick or Treating at our door with daddy!  He gave them glow sticks and necklaces to put in their buckets.

 At Bill and Wendy's, our lovely neighbors who adore our children (or at least pretend to).  We start and end at their house.  After we get done we head back to their house and the kids pass out to a few trick or treaters which  makes them very happy!

 In front of a house they loved!  This house always has all these decorations out and they show a Halloween movie on a screen in their garage.  Fun!

A little candy break before moving onto our last street.