Halloween??

I don't know why I have such a hang up about Halloween.  I wouldn't even refer to it as Halloween on my blog my first 3 years of having kids.  I'd refer to it as 'costume day' or 'fall fest' ONLY.  I don't know why.  I'm not a 'devil worshipper'.  I'm not worried about my kids getting into trouble (yet!).  I remember going to church when I was growing up (and we didn't trick or treat), and I'm sure that's all my kids think of it as, dressing up, going to the fall fest (aka playing games and getting candy) at church, and this is the first year I let Cara go to 2 of our neighbors houses.  She loves dressing up, so I don't even know if she notices anything weird at all! :)  She's in bed by the time we have people coming to our door.  And I don't buy anything expensive for them.  They either wear handmade items (cara's poodle skirt last year) or hand me downs (Micah's dog costume this year).  This is our first year to even carve a pumpkin, and we've been married 8.5 years!!  I'm weird, yes I admit it!!  But I always just thought in my head, 'I don't celebrate halloween!' and Eric never really cared, so we just didn't.  When we got our first house 5 years ago, we bought a little candy, so we'd hand it out, for maybe half an hour, and then we were done.  And when we had kids, the dogs would wake them up, so we usually do it for a short time and that's all. 

I always hated when teenagers with no costumes would come to our door with a pillow case, so as soon as that happened, I turned the light out.  I also HATE the big decorations on people's lawns (yes Jen K, I read your post tonight, and it made me smile, but I'm just not that into it, which I obviously have an issue with!), especially now that I have kids, it scares them.  Cara went to our neighbors house and told Mr. Scott that she doesn't like the big spider and spider webs on his lawn! :)  Plus it drives me crazy when people (especially in our neighborhood) go all out with cemetaries galore in their front yard and then don't decorate for Christmas.  Don't get me wrong, we don't decorate for Christmas either!!  We do inside, but we just never have had lots of $$ to splurge on outdoor decorations.  This year we did have our carved pumpkin (already rotting with bugs) and a little painted pumpkin from Cara and a scarecrow from wal-mart on our front porch.  I was fairly pleased with myself.  The nasty black buggy pumpkin WAS probably scary! :)

Anyways, what is my issue?  I was speaking to one of our pastor's wives at church tonight and she mentioned her girls were at the age when they loved to trick or treat.  I love FALL!!  I love harvest time and all the deep orange/red/brown colors.  It's my absolute favorite time of year.  Cara loves pumpkins, we went like 5 times to the pumpkin patch this year.  So why do I have this hang up on Halloween.  I feel like I'm sinning or being bad to 'celebrate' it, and OH how I have judged people in the past!!  I've been dealing in my head lately about how everything doesn't always have to be Christ centered.  Don't get me wrong, I mean, everything should be, we are commanded to if we are Christ followers, BUT if there is a fun thing for kids, and you can relate it to God (aka, going to church, or doing a (yet unblogged) family devo revolving around pumpkins, what's the harm?  I kinda feel the same way about the tooth fairy (not that we are even there yet!!).  A friend said they do it, because it doesn't take away from God (like Santa or the Easter Bunny take away from Christ during christmas and easter), it's pretend and their children know that.   So....where do you stand?  Does it bother you at all, or am I the only weirdo? :)  haha.  And here's a cutie or 2 that did dress up this year!! :)

I like to 'match' them, so she's a cheerleader, and I tried to make him a 'mascot.'  That involved a random dog costume I've had for years and a football jersey on.  Mostly people were confused, and he was hot, so we just went with the dog!  Here she thought it was hilarious to shake the pom poms in his face, and he got so smiley!!

Splurge

So, instead of me telling you how cheap I am today (  ;) ) I will instead tell you of one of my splurges.  If you know me well, you know I take lots of pictures.  I've never studied it, and I'm not good at it, but I still love it!  And because I don't want to EVER lose all the pictures I've taken, one of my splurges each year is $24.95 to flickr for their pro account (I used to pay $40 something for 2 years....so it's cheaper that way).  When our computer crashed in December 2007, I didn't lose any pictures!  As soon as I download pictures from my camera to my computer (which these days is every 2 days!), I put them straight onto flickr.  It's just a habit, and I'm glad I have it. 

Since I've had so many new readers as of late, I wanted to throw that out there.  I used to have a flickr badge on my page, so anyone and everyone could see all my pictures.  Then I started getting some lewd comments on pictures right after Micah's birth last year, so I've made all my pictures private.  So please, sign up for flickr if you're my friend, so you can see the literally thousands of pictures I've taken! :)  They have a free account too!  Here is a link to my photostream, with hundreds of new pictures from the past few days.  I will have blog posts coming in the next few days, but Sunday we celebrated Micah's 1st birthday, Tuesday was the girls dance costume party, and today was playgroup's costume party.  Needless to say, I went a little camera happy! :)

Here's a snippet of lots of not wanting to pose costumed kids from today:

And here's one from dance class yesterday.  Disney was quite the theme

!

Good Words

I've been spending time in Proverbs on and off lately to break out of the bible study I just can't finish right now (I never have an hour in the mornings before the kids wake up!).   And today I had some great words in Proverbs 4.  I could write the whole thing here, but here are a few verses that spoke to me:

v. 4b "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live.
v. 5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
v. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
v. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure."

The chapter spoke to me in so many ways.

I've been having a bad attitude about teaching WAM on Wednesday nights recently, for 2 or 3 weeks.  Once I get there I'm fine, and the kids are such a blessing, it's just all the planning that goes into it, and the repetitive-ness of it.  We've been singing Christmas songs since August, to make sure 3 year olds get the words and movements to 5 songs by 12/2.  Now, 12/2 is in sight, and I'm just not totally sure how we are going to do this in-room production.  I haven't been stressed (besides the first week) about it at all, which is nice, but as it draws closer, and I feel unprepared, I'm trying to give it to God!

I have been praying about to homeschool or not to homeschool for over a year.  I kept Cara out of preschool this year to give it a shot, but that decision was made 5 months before I decided (from God's prompting) to watch Aynslee this school year.  I've also done lots of reading on how you can teach a 4 or 5 year old something in 2 days and he retains it much longer, than teaching a 2 or 3 year old something in 2 weeks.  So, I've been letting the girls just play all day, and have not been feeling guilty.  We still occasionally do some 'learning,' but it's mostly craft or fun related.  I refuse to feel guilty if I don't pull out a worksheet every day now ;). 

Anyways, last week I went to a friend's house to 'see how she does it' with 3 different ages at home, and to support a friend who is jumping mid-year into homeschool.  I've been writing different people I know who homeschool emails (and if you haven't gotten one yet, be on the lookout) about HOW you do it, especially with younger ones at home, and how I don't fell led one way or the other COMPLETELY yet, and so forth.  Two things came out of that meeting.  First, I felt very overwhelmed!!  She had books, Books, and more BOOKS!  Lots of materials, she had her school room all set up, the kids were sitting quietly working!  Then, I felt this peace come over me.  I asked lots of questions, she showed me her old curriculum she used, which I got to actually page through, how she organized their lessons for the whole year (can you tell God used her to speak to me, I am miss organize/budget 2 years in advance!).  It was so nice.  It wasn't me, sitting in front of a computer screen trying to see which curriculum I should choose based on some blurbs online.  It was hands on.  It was free-ing. 

I have decided to homeschool Cara for kindergarten. I'm just going to put that out in the blogosphere.  I have also decided to put her in a Christian preschool next year.  Counter-intuitive?  Maybe, but I think it'll be one last year of really PRE school, that she gets to spread her wings and have fun with more organized things at a church/school, and I get to spend quality time with Micah, and hopefully baby Newsome #3 :).  I've talked to Eric about it, and he is supportive, he just doesn't want our kids to be the 'weird ones.'  My response, and maybe it's naive, is "well, if they are loving God foremost in their lives, I don't care if they're the weird ones."  I used to stress about, well if we homeschool, can they still get into Baylor (or another school we can ACTUALLY afford) :), etc etc etc.  Now, I know that God already has plans for their lives, and my whole purpose is to lead them in the way they should go, which is His way, and for our family, at this time, I feel it is to stay home.  And don't think I wasn't looking forward to them being in school and me having some 'time' to myself.  I still have those thoughts.  But God is changing my attitude and my thoughts about priorities right now, and I'm too excited to be selfish!!

I had not been spending as much time in God's word as I felt like I should be previously.  So, I started reading through the Proverbs, as I've done in the past, and He is really speaking to me.  I love His word, and the new things I find in words I've read hundreds of times.  And music really speaks to me.  I've said it before, but Addison Road's song "What do I know of Holy?" is my all time favorite song.  Every time it comes on I feel like I stop what I'm doing and truly worship.  Yesterday I was holding Micah, and it came on (I have KSBJ playing in our living room most days....much more calming than my voice!) and I just swayed and held him and gave the day back to God.  I know this post has been all over the place!!!!  But here are the words to the song, bolding is mine...what gets me every time!

I made You promises a thousand times

I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?
Iguess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?
(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

menu plan monday for a couple weeks

Quick....before I lose it :)

Tonight: brown rice, broccoli, pizza
Tuesday: meatball hoagies, green beans
Wednesday: church
Thursday: chicken taco soup
Friday: I'm having a pampered chef party!! Kids will have sandwiches or chicken nuggets....adults will have baked potato soup
Saturday: halloween....out to eat
Sunday: crock pot chicken and veggies
Monday: spaghetti
Tuesday: beans and rice
Wednesday: church
Thursday: tortilla soup
Friday--Sunday: visiting my grandpa with my mom and kids! :)

Part of orgjunkie.com's Menu Plan Monday!

Not Me Monday!

Just a quick post, as part of MckMama's Not Me Monday!

I most certainly, in all the excitement of my youngest baby boy's 1st birthday yesterday evening, did NOT forget to bathe my children before bed, even though they desperately needed it.  And then, in an awesome parenting find this morning, I did NOT find black icing and chocolate cake left in my 1 year old's (I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST TYPED THAT!!) belly button.  Nope, not me!

Oh, and I most certainly am NOT typing this post instead of feeding the 3 children in my house breakfast! :)

Edited to add: I did NOT have leftover birthday cake for breakfast, nope, not me!!

Happy Birthday my sweet Micah Man

Micah man--

You are the most affectionate, handsome little man I've ever known :).  We just love your bright red hair and bright blue...changing to green (??!?!) eyes.  You love your mommy, daddy and sister beyond words and light up whenever anyone talks to you.  You are still crawling everywhere, and are practicing your walking more and more.  You are so content, so happy, so joyful!  You currently can sign more, milk, eat, mommy, daddy, and hi.  You say ni-ni (night night) when we lay you down and are happy about it.  As of this past Wednesday, you were fully weaned onto cow's milk, and aren't having any problems.  You jabber all the time, and say momma, dadda, ni-ni, no, hi, and try to say everything else we say! :)  You probably say more, but you and sister (and Aynslee) keep my hands full and I probably don't remember!!! 

Daddy and I are so happy God chose us as your parents!!  We pray over you and continually pray that you give your heart to Jesus at a young age.  We pray over your future wife, and that her parents are 'training her up in the way she should go' as well.  We can't wait for the day when you can memorize scripture with your sister, and we are so happy you are as comfortable with our church family as we are.  Micah, we look forward to many more years loving and raising you.  We are the lucky ones!!! 

Here's a link to your birth story, and I will post more pictures soon!

Family News, Busy, Sewing, Digi Scrapping, and Pumpkin Patchin' !!! :)

I'm sorry I haven't been blogging lately.  But oh my goodness have I been taking HUNDREDS of pictures.  I will never catch up, no matter how I scrap.  My post will start with the most exciting news in our family:

MY SISTER BAILEY IS EXPECTING HER FIRST BABY!!!

I'm excited beyond words.  She's around 9 weeks now, due 6/6/10!  She was originally due 5/31 and they moved it back a week.  She gets to find out the gender 12/14....only gives me 10 days till Christmas to get something made that is gender specific, so that means I've been super busy making lots of fun Christmas and baby gifts.  Oh, and until I hear otherwise, she's having a girl :).  I have about 8 pregnant friends/family/cousins!!  Once they have received their gifts, I will post pictures asap!  Don't want to ruin it. I'm especially excited about a gift for my cousin, but I can't post pictures until after Thanksgiving!

I've been sewing on and off, and I finally had my first sale on etsy!!  Please check out my site, and PLEASE let me know if you have other ideas or things you'd like me to make for your loved ones for Christmas. 

I've been digital scrapbooking on and off.  I'm working on a christmas gift for family, so I again can't post pictures!  The fall is full of handcrafting this year. 

I'm not sure if I've shared here before or not, but Eric's dad, Mike has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.  He's had his first round of chemo, and is overall feeling pretty good.  He was hospitalized last Saturday through yesterday, which is why I haven't been as good at blogging.  His sodium levels and blood pressure were really low and it was causing all kinds of side effects.  They finally got all his levels right and allowed him to go home around 9 pm last night.  Just in time for Micah's first birthday party on Sunday!!!  I cannot believe he will be 1 in 2 days?!?!?!?  Where did the time go?

Speaking of 1st birthday, here's my man in his birthday shirt I ordered from him on http://www.hauteandmodern.com/  I love it, it's too precious and Dana was SOOO fun and easy to work with!

And here are some random pictures from the last few days.  We were playing how many kids under 3 can pile on Misty here:

And here are some pictures of the kids walking around the pumpkin patch the past few days and weekend:

My 3 kids :) 

 At a craft fair at my sister's church last weekend, with my mom.

Oh, and I, along with 2 friends who I pulled into this online offers business, got my most recent $500 gift card!! :)  And mine also came with the awesome Michael Jackson t-shirt (garage sale!!) that Julie's post shows. 

And check out these pumpkin patch pictures here, from Lisa Morris!

Coming soon...a post with pictures on our family devotion while carving our first pumpkin as a family!

New Obsession and a free canvas!!

Sorry, I've been really bad about blogging lately!  I keep thinking "I need to put that on the blog so I don't forget" then by the time I sit down, I have already forgotten!  I did want to mention a couple of things:

Micah now signs hi, milk, more, all done, eat (sometimes) and says, mama, dada, no, nanana, yayaya, and nite nite (which is kinda ni ni).  He is so stinking cute.  He had a runny nose for probably a month, and that has finally gone away.  I think all the top teeth are going to break through at the same time like Cara's did!  He still has bright red hair and I'm going to go out on a limb and say it is probably going to be wavy/curly.  It already curls on the back of his head and in the middle on the front!  He is cruising everywhere, but really has no need or want to try to walk on his own yet! :) He is down to nursing only at night now.....and I don't see that stopping anytime soon.  I think I'd miss it too much, but we probably will in a few weeks?

Cara has been such a sweet girl lately.  We had some time without Aynslee last week since her brother had the flu and her mom stayed home, and it was a good time to reconnect.  She says the sweetest, funniest things  Wanted to remember some of her things she probably won't be saying for long as she is getting to be such a 'big girl.'  Instead of "all of them" she says "allfalem," it's cute.  She loves Micah and LOVES to sing and dance.  She has memorized most of the Sh'ma, which is what our churches legacy milestones are based off of.  I have video of it, I'll get it online some day! 

Speaking of the Sh'ma, I just had it printed on a canvas for our home, here's what it'll look like. 

Go to Carrie's website to link to print a canvas for free (and pay shipping).  It makes a great gift!!

So when I'm not sewing or updating facebook in the evenings...I'm digiscrapping!  I just 'started' a few days ago and currently I'm organizing all the freebies I've downloaded.  Here are a couple of pages I've made, all for free!!  I LOVE it! :) 

Sleepy Sun by: Mari Hanson

This is my first Mamabzz review, and I had such a blast 'doing' it.  A couple of weeks ago I received this book in the mail, and was absolutely delighted by all of the gorgeous illustrations!  I couldn't wait until bedtime that night so I could read it to Cara.  Because of the title, Sleepy Sun, I assumed it would make a good bedtime story, and I was right!  Cara absolutely loved this book, the very first time I read it.  Sometimes when we read a new book, she sits there quietly and then rolls over and goes to bed, but not this night!  She immediately asked if she could 'read' it and proceeded to take it and remember a few key words from each page and read it back to us.  She even slept with it that night (and a few nights since). 

As a parent, I really enjoyed the multi cultural aspect of this book.  It speaks of all the sun has 'seen' that day, not just your own backyard, but many countries, farmers, busy cities, snow-capped mountains, deserts, forests, etc.  I'm sure it'll get any child dreaming in vivid color!!  It is a beautifully illustrated picture book, with just enough words on each page, and it ends with the sun getting very sleepy, which is a great transition for bedtime.  The ONLY problem I had is with one illustration.  It's on the page "and to countries far away."  It has pictures of cowboys, and fish, and paris, and ballerinas, and spanish dancers, and a boy with what looks like a monster or monkey of some sort on his head, it could possibly be construed as scary.  It's just a bit out of place, meaning as a mother, I hope my child doesn't notice it and focus on it.  To date she hasn't, and since she asks for Sleepy Sun most nights, I know it doesn't bother her!!

We got a signed copy and Cara just thinks that is so neat.  "Look Mommy, someone wrote our name in it!!" :)  It's on sale for $14.99 on amazon.com, or click the link below!

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by: Mari Hanson for this review.  I received the book for free with no other compensation.