Puppy Chow.
My arch nemesis during this season.
Yep, I would find myself throwing a bowl of this yummy treat together at ten in the morning.
Don't judge.
When I mean I threw it together, I do mean I threw a little bit of this and little bit of that in a bowl.
There are recipes out there to follow, but I don't.
No need for that.
Ingredients include melted chocolate chips, peanut butter, rice chex, and powdered sugar.
It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Of course, some/all of these ingredients are gone, otherwise I would be in the kitchen making more.
I'm sure by the new year, I will make one more batch and savor it; without sharing.
But after that I need to cut myself off.
The jeans don't fit as well.
Loose fitting clothes aren't always acceptable (i.e. jammy pants and sweatshirts).
Plus, for some reason, I tend to only crave this around Christmas time.
The second Thanksgiving is over, it's puppy chow season.
While some think about trees and decor, I think about the first savory bite.
So yummy.

Christmas Merriment

We enjoyed a fun filled, sweet, memory making season, as we celebrated with those we love.  Even in the hustle and bustle of two trips to WI, a week of Ben gone, and some silly car problems.  We were finally able to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas home as a family.  Just the four of us.  It was relaxing.  Laziness abounded.  Movies were a constant.  Lots of chocolate consumed.  Perfection.  

the girls slept by the tree on Christmas Eve

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus...the reason for the season

Hope you had just as much fun with those you love this Christmas!

Christmas TREELAND

(Side Note: I really wish there was a font on here that sparkled.  Sparkle should be a color too.  

It is when you have two girls.)

GIRLS Trees...........................

Nana gave each of them a tree a couple years ago (it could be just last year)

They woke up bright and early on this particular morning.

Oh wait, that's EVERY morning.

And shouted "We get to put up our Christmas trees today!"

Oh the excitement.  

Family Tree..................................

I love the fuzzy, grainy look of these photos.  

.....................................................................................................

Oh

and

I 

can't

forget

to 

share

how

they

brought 

it home....

Christmas Photo Shoot

I LOVE sending out Christmas cards.  

For the last couple years, my mom will send me a deal on Groupon.

I'll tell her I'm in.

She'll get it.

And away we go.

Ben hinted at not sending Christmas cards this year.

I instantly called him scrooge.

Dismissed his comment.

And let my thoughts race from one photo idea to the next.

Ben eventually gets on board.

He even looks up the weather to see what day is best.

I feel a little rushed since we usually have them in hand by now.

And we still have to get a good picture.

The girls tend to freak out on picture days.

Not sure what it is that causes this response.

But, everyone is on edge.

I hate walking into a photo shoot situation,

(which is just our camera on a tripod with Ben running back and forth)

feeling like we have to fake the "happy family" smiles.

We went to the Forest Preserve near our house.

We figured we'd turn it into an adventure after we got the "perfect" shot.

Its very hard to capture this.

Especially with a distracted 2 1/2 year old.

We came close.

We love them.

They represent us well.

Here are a few...

We thought we would have to search for a spot to take these,

while avoiding hikers and dog walkers.

Nope.

We got out of the car.

Walked a few feet.

Then looked over to our left.

There it was. 

 The PERFECT spot.

Glowing, as if the Lord was saying "Here ya go!"

Love moments like that.

Our best ones are hidden away in a secret vault until after Christmas.

One Star.

One camera.

One Mommy trying to capture a moment.

One Daddy.

Two girls to help put it on the tree.

No one got hurt.  

Just lots of fun and laughter!

Truth I Need.

(I read this is my devotional this morning.)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

"Approach problems with a light touch.  When your mind moves toward a problem area, you tend to focus on that situation so intensely that you lose sight of Me.  You pit yourself against the difficulty as if you had to conquer it immediately.  Your mind gears up for battle, and your body becomes tense and anxious.  Unless you achieve total victory, you feel defeated.  

There is a better way.  When a problem starts to overshadow your thoughts, bring this matter to Me.  Talk with Me about it and look at it in the Light of My Presence.  This puts some much-needed space between you and your concern, enabling you to see from My perspective.  You will be surprised at the results.  Some times you may even laugh at yourself for being so serious about something so insignificant."

Yep.  I freak out over little things and big things.

I focus on them until I am rattled.

I dig myself into a pit.

My mind sways like ocean waves.

With all the unknowns, I need to focus on Him.

Praying it sinks in.

Steadying the waves.

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Our morning routine.

Wakeup.  Hoping and praying the morning runs smoothly.

Sneak downstairs (if girls aren't in bed with me).

Make Coffee.

Grinder is so loud.  Bound to wake someone up.

Yep, there are the sweet little footsteps on the stairs.

Will they greet me with happy smiles or a hazy look in their eyes (indicating grumpiness)?

Get breakfast on the table.

Cereal again.

Make coffee while girls chat about their dreams.

Make Emma's lunch.

Clean up Norah after breakfast attacked her.

She wears both a bib and towel for her lap.  

Or an apron.

Rush the girls upstairs to get ready.

Lay Emma's clothes on bed.

Encourage Emma to change out of pj's.

Encourage Norah to read books.

I get ready.

Look into room, encourage Emma again to stay on task.

Put on makeup.  It helps me feel more civilized. 

Look into room again, no longer in the encouraging mood.

She's still in her jammies.

Frustration starts to settle (if it hasn't already)

She's been tardy so many times.

Mommy guilt sinks in.  

I didn't want to yell.

Girls brushing teeth.

Pushing each other off stool in bathroom.

One of them is crying.  Emma

One of them is yelling.  Norah 

Give kisses.  Say your sorry.  Don't push.  Be nice.  You're alright.  

All these fly out of my mouth to hurry them along.

Finally we get downstairs.

I run up and down a couple more times in search of socks, shoes, diapers, blankies, toys, etc.

Anything to get out of the house NOW.

Girls line up at the door.

We are ready to leave.

(I have an alarm set on my phone letting us know when we need to be out the door.)
It helps.
Some times.

Throw a few "Girls stop fighting", diaper being changed, hair combed (unfortunately not every morning), and stuff thrown in back pack.  This is usually how we operate in the morning.  I'm happy to say that the last three mornings have gone smoother.  Less chaos.  Getting out the door sooner.  With more ease.  

A FEW of My Favorite Things

FINDING JOY

I came across these humorous photos of Norah from 2 summers ago....ENJOY!

To quote my sister-n-law..."Oh, fatty baby!"

I remember this day perfectly.

I was shocked and amazed how she went to town on these grapes.

No choking.

No branches spit out of her mouth.

She knew what she wanted.

And no one was getting in her way.

She's always been our choking hazard.

Only with food.

Lately, we cheer her on with the phrase "Almost there".

Which means don't you dare take another bite until that food is chewed and swallowed.

She even starts cheering herself on.

It's a pride thing for her.

You can tell when she swallows.

She gives the biggest grin.

Then takes another bite.  

oh, how I love her.  

Finding Joy

What to do when dishes are calling and the remains from the weekend are begging to be picked up?  Blog of course.  Avoid the mess.  It's a wonderful rainy Monday.  Although, I may have dreaded the rain last week.  And it might get that way again this week.  I am fine with it today.  It's not bothering me this morning.  It encourages me to make myself another cup of coffee.  Which sad to say, our coffee pot decided not to work this morning at 5:30am, making the waking up process a little longer.  Oh well.  My husband, who is obsessed with many different kinds of coffee apparatuses, simply said "Use the French Press or the pour over."  Simple for him indeed.  For me, I have mastered the coffee bean to water ratio in the coffee pot, not in any of the other contraptions.  So I'll put my best effort into mastering those as well.  My cheap side says "NO" to buying a new coffee pot right now.  So I will learn.  Hey, it'll make me a better person, right?!

Here are a few simple fun pictures from our weekend

 We made Rockets, played for hours in the backyard, and finished it off with celebrating a precious friends' birthday!