An Unexpected Christmas Blessing

As I've said in previous posts, God has been good to us this year. I will admit it alot of things have happened this year that have been really crummy but God has seen our family through
the tough times. Which brings me to share this story with you. We had decided this Christmas, we were going to scale back a bit. Not only for financial reasons but we really want to make sure as the girls grow up to instill the true meaning of Christmas. I will admit there were several things I wanted to get the girls for Christmas. I had wanted to get them this really cool kitchen that they played with at Sam's Club every time we went there. I wanted to get them new pajamas and slippers for Christmas Eve. Random stuff they really didn't need but it was stuff I thought would be fun to buy. Ben and me went a different route with their presents. Last night I was on the phone with my mom when call waiting beeped. I decided to ignore the call and call whoever it was back later. To be honest our family doesn't answer the beeps unless we think it may be important. I come by it honestly. (I love you Mom:) ) Anyway it happened to be our neighbor. Ben called her back and apparently one of her friends is having a giving Christmas with her teenagers. Her kids were to pick out a family and buy gifts for them instead of receiving gifts this year. She asked my neighbor if she knew of anyone who could use any help this year. Our name came up due to the fact I'd lost my job and Ben has helped her with many things over the last year. Ben bundled up the girls and went over to her house to pick up the presents.She also had wanted to meet the girls. ( I didn't go because of this nasty cold that won't go away.) When the girls came back they were so excited! They opened gifts there. They received coloring books,a Bible,new dress-up shoes,pajamas,slippers and a new play kitchen. Does God work in mysterious ways or what?! They may have been little things but it does proves that no prayer is too little, unimportant, or even unspoken, God is listening at all times and He does answer is awesome ways!

Piperisms

I thought I would take a minute and share part of Piper's personality with you. She is learning something new everyday. It helps having big sister Riley around to teach her so many things.
Its also a bad thing because she is growing up too fast. So here are a few things I have heard recently that has made me laugh.

Talking to Aubrey:
Ladies and Gentleman! Welcome to the Races!!!!!! (I wonder where she got that from? ;) )

Singing with Riley the Bingo song
And Bingo was his Nemo (we are a little obsessed with Nemo)

Ladies and Gentleman! Welcome to the Piper Show!!!
That's Me! I'm eating snow off my boot!

And here is my favorite conversation I had with her. I was trying to convince her to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. I've been prepping her for our visit to the mall. I really wasn't trying to be mean, I really wanted one picture of her not screaming with Santa. I asked her "What if Santa brings you coal? Which are like lumps of dirt." She'd tell me no and say she wanted Nemo toys. The day of the visit we are going over things again and this is what she tells me..
"Mama, I want lumps of dirt. I'm not sitting in his lap."

New Traditions

I am really enjoying Christmas this year. Riley and Piper are at that age where they are starting to understand Christmas. With this has come the 'I wants'. Every toy they have seen on TV or in the store they have to have for Christmas. So since they beginning to understand how Christmas works, Ben and me decided they were old enough to learn the meaning of it. My Grammy bought a Nativity set for my mom the year I was born. It is a really nice set. The fantastic thing about it is made of durable plastic and the figures are very life like. The camels I do have to say have great expressions. One of the reasons she bought it was so I could touch it without the worries of anything getting broken. My mom passed it down to me. So this year we have been talking about the birth of Jesus. We get down all the pieces and go through the story.
Its so amazing to see things through their eyes and the part I love the most is they are so excited about it. Riley will run up and ask" Can we get your pieces down?' This has also helped Baby Jesus stay in his manger. For a little baby, He gets around. Ben and me have traditions that we have grown up with and have shared with the girls but its also nice for us to create our own too. I've included pictures of decorating the tree. I found these bells at JoAnn's and they have been a big hit.( as you can tell by the pictures.) I really thought I would only have to keep Aubrey out of the tree but Riley and Piper love playing with the decorations. There is a huge clump of ornaments in the middle of the tree. Riley and Piper moved them higher to keep them from Aubrey. Now if only I could keep them out of the tree. Oh well. Good thing Christmas only comes around once a year.

Baby Steps

Its official. Aubrey took her first five steps!I can't believe it. This last year has just
flown by. I knew this day was coming. She is now crossing over from baby to toddler.
With her being the last one, I've been trying to savor every moment and its gone by way too
fast. Its also been fun to watch Riley and Piper get excited with her milestones. Now I guess it is time to dig out my running shoes. This Mama has just gotten awhole busier.

A New Breed - Purple-Spotted Little Girls

I know there has been a few people wondering if this story would make it on to my blog.
At the time it happened I failed to see the humor in it. Let me set the back round and scene for you. On Monday, (Ben's birthday by the way) I had decided to give the girls a bath after naptime. Now my room and bathroom are adjoining. I have a big garden tub. Its easier to give them a bath in there because it is bigger and I can sit in the doorway and multi-task if need be. The girls had been playing great and wanted to stay in the tub longer. Aubrey had had enough of her sisters and wanted out. Not a big deal. So Aubrey was crawling back and forth between the girls and me. It turned into a game. On one of her trips to see her sisters I didn't catch the little purple bottle of nail polish she gave to her sisters. Apparently she is just like Riley and Piper, she has a knack for finding items, that she can't have and super long arms. Plus throw in a need for approval from her big sisters and you have trouble.There is a big lip on the tub. Kinda like seat. The girls play with toys there,nothing out of the normal. With their backs to me happily playing with their toys, I periodically ask if they are ready to get out. They tell me no. And things continue. Riley turns around a few minutes later and says "Mama. the purple isn't coming off." Hmmm. Weird. I go over thinking its another game of theirs. To my surprise and to be honest, my horror, there is a half purple moon in my tub. I have them get out of the tub and see that it is all over their little bodies too. A couple of bottles of nail polish remover later. There are still flecks on their bodies and my tub( Happy Birthday honey! Poor Ben. I don't think he expected to come home to that) which will just have to wear off in time. I wonder if Harold's mother ever felt this way. Days like these I keep telling myself they won't be this little forever and I will miss these days. Plus years from now they will make great stories for family functions.

Happy Birthday to My Wonderful Husband!

Happy Birthday Ben! You do get better with age. It been amazing watching you grow as
a husband,father,and and as a man of God.I am very blessed to be your wife. Here is to many more great years! I love you!