Due to computer issues I didn’t have access to the majority of my 2010 pictures, but I’ve finally gotten them restored (with the exception of November… I have NO idea where those pics went just realized Halloween pictures are gone too). Anyway… I wanted to do a year in pictures so here it is…2010 year in pictures… we sure had some great times…
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
December
I try to keep things light & positive for the most part, but at the same time I want to keep this blog real, and not portray a picture perfect life on the outside not revealing when there is hurt or pain going on. I’ll admit 2011 has started quite rough, and discouraging. I’ve felt a new kind of despair which always draws to my mind the line from “Anne of Green Gables” when Anne asks Marilia if she’s ever been in ‘the depths of despair’ to which Marilia replies “No, because to despair is to turn your back on God”. There is a lot of truth in that statement… to despair is to lose hope, and God is our hope… we have no hope apart from Him.
I’m seeking God for answers, and guidance but right now they’re not coming. As it usually does this time of challenge causes me to shut out the world (insert here stay off the computer, shut off the T.V. more), and be with my Lord more. Which I know is a good thing, and something deep down I know my heart & soul long for. So, after a few late night talks with Him, and a few late night sobs… I’m waiting with expectation to see what He’s going to do, and reveal to me this year 2011.
I came across this song the other night, and felt like it had been written for where I am right now… the first 2 times I listened to it were very cathartic to get out a lot I’ve been keeping bottled up for awhile. (Lyrics are at the end of this post if you’d rather just read it vs. listen to the song).
In other news (of a somewhat more lighthearted theme… although I did have a tear or two), Madalynn got an official big girl bed today… no more toddler bed. ((((((SIIIIGGGHHH)))))). I think this is the very last piece of babyhood I could hold on to.
She was getting a little too big for the toddler bed as she often sleeps sideways. The event that actually forced the issue, was when she was leaning over the side which was crib height to see me sitting on the couch while she was supposed to be sleeping, and she went over landing face first on the floor… complete with a bloody nose, and mouth. It’s still an image I have trouble shaking. Sooo, she now has a big girl bed, passed down from her cousin Kassie which makes it oh so special. We picked out some beautiful bedding last week for her, and Grandpa came over today to set it up, and (sigh) take the toddler bed down.
It’s nice because at bedtime I can actually sit with her in her bed instead of sitting on the floor to read stories, and I can lay with her to say our prayers, and talk about our day. I think she liked the idea a lot more in the light of day than she did tonight, and the reality set in, but she is now in fact asleep in her big girl bed.
Doesn’t it look so grown up???… sniff, sniff…
This is tonight right before bed with some of her animals.
Another change you can’t really see in that picture but I got her hair cut short… I’ve thought about it since we’ve been watching “Toy Story3”, and I think the character Bonnie is just so cute with her short hair.
Madalynn’s hair is so thick, but at the same time it’s baby silky so it doesn’t hold ANYTHING… barrettes, bows, pony tails or pig tails. So I went ahead, and got it cut, and I love it… I think it is so sweet, and actually makes her look younger.
I love how it flips up in the back.
‘He Holds Everything’ – Point of Grace
Waiting for that other shoe to drop
And you swear this world’s gonna come to a stop
Drowning on dry land and can’t come up for air
Your knees are so weak and you look at that mountain
Say there’s no way over and no way around it
And it feels like you’re so far from home
Even God’s not there
But
Oh but every single sparrow flying
And every broken soul that’s crying
He can see yeah you’re in His reach
If He can hold an ocean back with one little shore
Then what’s all this worry and doubting for
Oh I believe He holds everything
When it’s late at night and you’re staring at the stack of bills
It don’t add up and you don’t know how it will
Clinging to your mother’s faith with a half-hearted prayer
But you still don’t know
When the anchor man breaks in on your TV
And says these times they won’t be easy
And fear sets in and you wanna give in
Just let it go
Oh let it go
Every single sparrow flying
And every broken soul that’s crying
He can see yeah you’re in His reach
If he can hold an ocean back with one little shore
Then what’s all this worry and doubting for
Oh I believe, yeah I believe He holds everything, he holds everything
Just like that it’s all over. I feel like the only grown-up I know who is sad Christmas is over. So many of my friends have said it was great, but “I’m glad it’s over”. Weeks, and months leading up to it, and it’s over in a flash. This year I may a bit more disappointed it’s over as I came down with bronchitis, and was quite sick Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. I took very few pictures.
Madalynn was so much fun this year. Seeing her excitement, and joy when she came into the living room was priceless. She was so excited over every little thing. My anticipation of being able to spend the weekend playing with her & her toys didn’t come to fruition because of how I was feeling, but we had some great cozy moments, and watched “Toy Story 3” more times than I can count (and I cried at the end EVERY time). Several times after Christmas she would just come up to me at random moments, and throw her arms around me and say “Ohhh Mommy, what a wonderful Christmas!!”.
One of her favorite gifts was a ladybug pillow pet from my parents… Oh my gosh… she loves it… I don’t think it’s left her side. My Mom picked it up the day after Thanksgiving when we were shopping at Target. She stuck it in the carriage behind something large when Madalynn wasn’t looking. When we got to the check out my Mom snuck it to the cashier, and asked her to ring it up discreetly, to which Madalynn replied “That’s my pillow pet”, she doesn’t miss anything. Fortunately, Christmas Eve she didn’t seem to remember that.
Also a big hit was a stuffed dog from my parents…
Christmas morning before she came in to see… My parents got her the dollhouse…
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!
We are ready for Christmas to come! I just have a few items left to cook, 3 presents to wrap, and bring it on! I can’t wait. Madalynn is so into it this year (and her excitement is reflected in her behavior…. hee-hee).
My ‘to-do’ list… I love recipes you make the day before!!
While we’re not hosting Christmas Eve this year, we are having my parents, and aunt over Christmas morning… I set the table tonight with this centerpiece that cost me zero dollars… all things I had around the house… a white serving platter (my friend Robin told me years ago to buy white serveware, and it was brilliant as it goes with ANYTHING, and makes it so easy to change up the table setting seasonally), some spare ornaments in ivory, soft gold, and pink, and 3 staggered candlesticks.
Of course Madalynn just thought it was great she got to blow out the candles…
I also framed our Christmas cards in these inexpensive clip frames (I think $1 or $2 each @ Michael’s), and displayed them on the bookcase in our dining room. I may have to come up with an alternate idea as the years pass, and the collection of Christmas cards increases, but it’s like a mini album showing how Madalynn has grown.
Our entry way… the framed print was my Christmas card several years ago before I was a Mom…
My new favorite ornament is a cinnamon star Madalynn made at pre-school…which I just think is precious… it’s a little hard to see in this picture it’s on a green ribbon, next to the glass/white ornament.
Last week we also got to go to Madalynn’s Christmas pageant at her pre-school… it was so sweet. We were in a rush to leave so this is the best picture I got… as much as I love this look… the current state of her belly makes it difficult to pull off… the skirts always slip down… it was like this the WHOLE night.
This was her on stage waving to her cousins & aunty & uncle…
The best part was her teacher puts together a video ahead of time of them acting out the Christmas story, and then we watch it. The kids were all seated up front, and as the movie played we kept hearing them yell out “Hey, that’s you”… it was so funny.
Last weekend we attempted “The Pioneer Woman’s” cinnamon rolls recipe here. They came out okay… I need to do a little tweaking. I didn’t care for her glaze, so I did an orange glaze instead which made a big difference. It made 5 pans, and I overfilled them… I should have done fewer in more pans.
My helper…
The final product…
This is why she makes me laugh everyday… this is her the other day playing the Wii with the headress, and the macaroni necklace she made at pre-school for Thanksgiving… I guess they helped her swing in tennis.
As you can see… all the shopping, baking, decorating, and parties has worn out this little girl. This was a couple weeks ago… she fell asleep in the car after we’d spent most of the morning shopping, and then I carried her in the house, and put her down on the couch, and she slept for quite awhile like this…
My stocking fell down for the upteenth time, and I was tired of putting back up (and no one fills it anyway), so I just left it. Madalynn noticed it, and came over to me and said quite emphatically… “MOOOOMMY!!! You need to hang up your sock-fing so Santa will bring me a Daddy”… if only that was all it took sweet girl!
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!! NOTE to self; next year I hope the elf on the shelf doesn’t arrive at our house until the 20th!
I’ve read so much recently in the blogosphere, online, and on Facebook about simplifying as it applies to the Christmas season. My spiritual self, and heart longs for it, and knows it is what God calls me to do. However my physical self lives here in a secular world where at every turn activities, to-do lists, and the case of the “I shoulds” grab at me demanding my time, attention, and sometimes tears. Not all of these are bad things either, or even secular, some are quite spiritual, and of God, but there is only one of me to meet all of the demands, as I’m sure all of us are feeling this time of year.
So, where is the balance? I really want to instill in Madalynn an understanding, and appreciation for the Christmas season that goes beyond Santa, and a ton of presents under the Christmas tree. I want to create traditions she’ll carry on to her children, I want her to understand, and know the true gift of Christmas that came in Christ.
I read a blog post today… HERE about a woman who downsized Christmas by giving her children 3 gifts just like the wise men brought to Jesus…
Three gifts of increasing value. myrrh, frankincense and gold. So starting that year, that’s what we did. Each of our kids received one gold present (the big one, like an X-box game or Lego set), one frankincense present (the middle one, like a DVD or book set) and one myrrh present (the small one, like a new outfit or CD). Three. And we encouraged the grandparents to consider paring down their ebullient over-gifting as well. And we upped the fun value of the stockings by putting more thought into finding inexpensive, creative things to put inside them so that they would grow to love simple, little things.
I love the idea of that, but am challenged in my heart if I could really do it. I get so caught up in seeing something I know Madalynn would love (within reason… I start in August/September so I’m not putting myself into debt to get her presents).
Something else I saw recently (I’m sorry I can’t give the reference… it may have been a friend on Facebook or another blogger… Hannah was it you?) talking about being present for her kids. That has stuck with me since I read it. I want to be ‘present’ with Madalynn to stop, and enjoy the little things about this season. Doing one ornament on her advent calendar each morning, and how excited she gets with something so simple. Getting so excited each night when we notice the outside lights have turned on. Sitting, and watching Christmas movies with her instead of putting them on while I get other things done. My biggest challenge is going to be in the baking department though…. for me to STOP, and really enjoy making cookies with her instead of worrying about the mess, or making sure we get each step right. Twenty to thirty years from now she won’t remember what happened while we made the cookies… she’ll just remember making them.
Yesterday, was a busy filled day with 2 Christmas themed activities, and celebrating my niece’s 12th birthday (how did THAT happen?) I know I’m a completely biased Auntie, but I’m so proud of my niece. She has always had a sweetness in her heart, and spirit that goes far beyond her years… she is the definition of a sweet heart, and does not have an unkind thought in her heart or mind. Happy Birthday pumpkin pie! (That’s what I called her when she was a baby).
Before that we went to my parents early for our gingerbread house tradition. Before the kids got into decorating the houses my Mom had a little devotion with the kids to remind them the reason for the season.
Madalynn’s three year old attention span didn’t last long, especially when Chatham was in the room… I do love the look on her face in this picture… they’re such good buddies.
Then it was on to the decorating…
Chatham was hoping for a spill…
Then we went to a “Polar Express” event at a local childrens/science museum. First they read the story, and then they took us on a train ride around the grounds, followed by hot chocolate, cookies, and Santa. It was sweet. Definitely geared toward younger kids.
She wasn’t too sure about meeting Santa… we observed him for a long time before she would go up to him… then she finally told him she wants a bike w/ 2 wheels… hmmm… I don’t know if that will fit in Santa’s sleigh.
Then on to the Birthday party…
I posted on Facebook the other day that I think there are way too many twinkly lights in my living room, and I’m not kidding… there’s A LOT going on in here.
Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child is just so magical. I think especially at the age of three where she’s just really beginning to ‘get’ it. She is so excited.
I’m also finding it challenging to bring things/traditions into our home that reflect the true meaning of Christmas, and not just make it all about Santa. Most of the movies center around Santa, and it’s difficult to find age appropriate movies that tell the story of Christ’s birth.
One however that was a treasure to me when I grew up was “Nestor The Long Eared Christmas Donkey”. A sweet story about a little donkey who was born, and didn’t know why God would give him long ears that caused him to be mocked, and persecuted. Of course, God did have a precious purpose in giving him long ears… a purpose that no one else could do. This movie also holds a special place in my heart because as a young child I watched it at my grandparents house, and was so upset by it, and cried so inconsolably that my grandfather was ready to call the TV network to give them a piece of his mind about showing things like that for kids. Thankfully, my sensitive heart handles it better these days.
I did the tour of my home last year, and everything is pretty much the same this year with a few additions…
These candy canes were on our Christmas tree for about 20 minutes until Madalynn went through two of them… now they’re in a glass on the window sill in my kitchen. Also, this year we have “Elf On The Shelf”… which Madalynn in all her literalness named “Elf On The Shelf”. Every morning at 5:30am… we go on a hunt to find where he landed today on his journey home from the North Pole.
When I was little my grandmother made me a felt advent calendar with a Christmas tree, and ornaments in 24 pockets at the bottom, and each day you hung an ornament on the tree with the star as the final touch on Christmas Eve. I LOVED this advent calendar, and of course I had my favorite ornaments each year. While, somehow as the years passed we lost it… much to my dismay. Last year I bought all the materials to make one for Madalynn… this is the end result. I’m so thrilled to have it for her. So, each morning after we find the elf we have to hang an ornament on her advent calendar.
What would Christmas be without Starbucks Christmas blend? Much to my delight… this year they have an ESPRESSO Christmas blend… it has been yummy making it as an egg nog latte the last week… YUM.
We hope the Christmas spirit has arrived at your
home too!!
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