Visit with Santa

Prior to yesterday afternoon, Ry was scared to get near Santa, but after a high five he was eager to sit on his lap and babble.  There is something unique about this Santa, that one cannot see from the picture. . .this Santa actually has LONG, curly, blondish hair hanging down the back of his suite.  Very unique. . .  We had a Christmas filled day yesterday including shopping, visiting Santa, wrapping presents and a Christmas party with friends.  I'll have to post more pictures after church.

Cookies, cookies, cookies

It is Sunday night and we have had a fun filled weekend.  And the greatest part is that it does not end at midnight tonight because Daddy has tomorrow off!!!  The theme of the weekend has been cookies. . .they have been baked, decorated and consumed all weekend.  Friday night we had an awesome time with Keith, Roxann and the Brister boys decorating cookies and playing dodge ball in the basement (actually, the guys and kids played dodge ball while Roxann and I got to chat upstairs!).  Chase was really fun to watch eating the cookie, because he never actually ate the cookie.  He just piled it high with icing and decorations and then licked off the icing.

And at 9am on Saturday morning, Madeline's friend Rheanne came over to bake and decorate the cookies.  They were sweet to watch, as they encouraged each other in their decorating skills and were eager to share their sprinkles.  Basically, their decorating techniques were very similar.  Add sprinkles and jimmies to top of cookie until they begin running down the sides of the cookie, onto the table.  At 11am, our friend Jackson came over for a visit while his parents went out to eat.  I must say that I am relieved that we did not have to make a trip to urgent care or the er.  While Rheanne and Madeline played quietly upstairs, Jackson and Ryan ran circles around the first floor, landing in the family room for a quick wrestling bout before again starting their circles.  You would have thought we had a tribe of Indians in our home, as Ryan and Jackson hollered and squealed in the midst of their runs and take downs.  It is so fun to watch boys be boys.  

And Saturday night Auntie Amanda and cousins Andrew and Jacob came for a visit, as they headed north after a week long cruise.  Madeline and Ryan loved hanging out with their cousins and I loved hanging out with my sister.  One of Auntie's love languages is gifts so Madeline and Ryan enjoyed a bit of an early Christmas yesterday.  As we speak, I think Madeline is asleep upstairs with her new polly pockets and big eyed animal things.

Today we went to church and enjoyed a time of fellowship at the Windley's open house.  We love our little church and everyone the Lord has brought to serve and worship there!  The sermon today was on having a patient heart.  One thing that really struck me was that we are to have patience in our failures, even when we are frustrated that we are not overcoming them. We never know God's timing and what he is trying to teach us or the ways in which He is molding us.  It encouraged me, as I have been actively trying to overcome an area of struggle in my life that has such a stronghold.  I was also encouraged to be a reflection of Jesus by loving people, even those who are unlovable and difficult.  

Decorating cookies with the Brister boys.

Madeline and Rheanne pose with their cookies.

Jackson and Ryan wrestling.

Madeline and Ryan with their cousins Jacob and Andrew.

Playground Experience and Pee Pee on Mommy

Since the weather has been so beautiful we having been spending a great deal of time outside and at the playground.  On Tuesday we visited our neighborhood playground and had quite an interesting time.  As soon as we got onto the grounds of the playground, a little boy who was about 4 told Madeline and Ryan to go away (no big deal, as that happens all the time amongst young children).  About ten minutes later, he called Ryan a stupid boy.  Not cool with Mommy. . . Since the boy's mommy was not paying attention and far off, I told the boy that it is not very nice to call people stupid and that he would not like it if someone called him stupid.  I could tell immediately that he did not care that I was an adult reprimanding him.  And then a few minutes later he started spitting towards Ryan and yelling ugly things to him from the tennis courts.  I promptly left.  After getting over the anger that some little boy was so unkind to my son, I felt bad for the little boy.  Obviously, there is a reason he acts that way and I cannot imagine what his behavior will be like years from now.

Situations like this just confirm my desire to home school the children when they are young.  It is Matt's and my desire to build them up in character and the esteem they have in the Lord, and not to be shaped and molded by the children around them, whether that's the behavior other children model or the way other children treat our children.  I definitely think Ryan could hold his own in peer situations, but I can see Madeline really withering under teasing.  She has such a sweet and tender spirit.  And right now she is such a follower, doing anything someone older or bossier tells her to do.  And while I think Ryan can hold his own, I can see him getting in lots of trouble, as he tries to keep up with older boys and prove himself.  I'm excited to start our home school adventure next year.

Well, Ryan has tinkled in the potty three times in 24 hours!  The only problem is that he either tinkles on my hands or my shirt and pants.  This morning I REALLY tried to point him in the right direction, but I quickly realized that he enjoyed seeing his tinkle going in different directions.  Thus, it is essential to go to Target today and get the boys' pee pee guard.  No more pee pee on Mommy!!!  Right now I'm sitting here typing, smelling of pee pee. . .

Shows over. . .off to play with the kiddos.  Matt and I are going on a date this morning and I am SO excited!!!  We are actually going go carting. . .I think he has no idea what a wimp I will be. Maybe I will surprise him! :)

Quiet Time and tid bits

I read some verses this morning that really pricked my spirit.  

"The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men'".  Isaiah 29:13

This verse really hits me because it is so easy to become a lukewarm Christian, going through all the motions, but not having a passion for the Lord, a desire to live a life that glorifies Him in every way.  I hope to read this verse daily to be spurred on NOT to live like this.

The second verse has been my favorite verse for the past 9 years.

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength'".  Isaiah 30:15

I LOVE this verse.  What a great reminder that knowing the Lord can be equated to peace, trusting Him in every area of life.  I don't want my life to be painted as running around like a chicken with its head cut off, or be consistently stressed about life.  I want to find my rest in Him regardless of the circumstances, I want to trust Him in ALL things.

Matt and I have been having such fun with the kids recently.  They are at great ages.  Though he is all boy and a blur of activity, Ryan has a tender spot for babies.  He usually likes to pat or pet their heads and kiss them.  On a walk today, we met a one year old.  He was a bit unsteady on his feet, so Ryan took his hand and gently walked him down the sidewalk.  It was precious to watch.  And I am in awe of how smart and perceptive Madeline is.  She often shocks me with what she says.  Oh, she said something funny yesterday.  We are working on not sucking the thumb, so she told me that she wanted to go up to heaven with Jesus so that she could always suck her thumb.  

Our Week

One of Madeline's birthday presents was an unfinished treasure chest.  She took great pride in painting the inside and outside, and decorating the lid with jewels.

Last night was the Bridge's Christmas party.  Mr. Jamie pushed the kids around in the big stroller.  Actually, the ride in Mr. Jamie's stroller was more like a ride on a roller coaster, as he zoomed the kids from hallway to hallway.

Ryan in his jester hat.  Who couldn't be in love with a boy who smiles like that?

The Wells' were up to some mischief last weekend.  We stole the snowman from the yard of our friend's the Muchnicks and pretended to hold it hostage, sending them a ransom "email".  The snowman has been returned, but we are still waiting for our $1 million in unmarked bills and the Oreo ice cream pie.

At the Christmas party last night, the kids got up on stage and sang a few songs and it was precious!  Madeline sang loudly and Ryan was busting a move.

Madeline loved every bite of her tri-level marshmallows dipped in chocolate.

Can you tell that someone is excited about his first bite of chocolate covered pretzel???

Our Comedian

The boy knows how to get a laugh! Sunday, Daddy gave Ry a hair cut and accidentally used the wrong size clippers. So here we are in December and Ry is sporting a serious buzz. As a result, a hat is a necessity when playing outside. Unfortunately, he has not been keen on hats. The other day we headed out for a walk to the playground. I let Ryan pick out a hat and he did. . .it was a hat that looked like it belonged with a jester's costume. And it was big on him. He quickly realized that he could put the whole hat over his face. To get a laugh he started to put it over his face and do a silly dance/walk down the sidewalk. Madeline and I were hysterical in laughter. And then we almost peed our pants, we laughed so hard. Performing his walk/dance with hat over face, he ran straight into a big bush and ricocheted back, falling on his behind. Though a bit stunned, he lifted the hat, got onto his feet and carried on. The boy is crazy fun!

Town of Morrisville Christmas Celebrations

The Wells' had a great start to the month of December.  Check out the pictures below for details.

Just a cute picture.  Ryan loves his pet hermit crab and could spend hours just watching her walk around.  The only problem is that we forget that she is out and Ryan eventually loses interest and we lose Sarah!  Mommy and Daddy then have to go on the hunt, hoping not to hear a crunch underfoot as we search.

Friday night we started decorating for Christmas.  This is a decoration my mom got me a couple years ago that the kids LOVE.  The ice skaters actually move along the "ice".  It is special to our family because Grandma (my Grandma) had the same decoration when I was a kid.

As a special snack while decorating, Daddy popped us some stove top popcorn.  It was fun watching the foil top grow.  Didn't taste any better than microwave popcorn, but the experience was worthwhile.

Our little sneaky monkey!  Our Ry guy could not get to sleep on Friday night.  We heard him up in his bedroom talking and yelling and making noise.  When we went upstairs to check on him we found him asleep shirtless.  The little monkey had managed to maneuver out of his shirt.

The 1st Annual Morrisville Christmas Parade.  It was only 30 minutes and there were no floats of worth, but it was one of the best parades we have been to.  Wondering why?  The stream of candy was almost non-stop, which meant the kids had a blast chasing after it and guarding their booty.  We got to hang with the Bristers, the Shields and the Muchnicks during the parade.  That meant that out of 10 children, Madeline was the only girl!!!  Ryan had a blast wrestling with his friends and rolling down a hill and watching the older boys.  Madeline chased after her two "boyfriends", Chase and Conor.

Oh Goodness, what a beautiful girl!  This is Madeline in front of Morrisville's Christmas tree.

Before the Morrisville tree lighting we had some fun playing at the adjacent playground.  Madeline and Ryan "raced" their cars, and you would never believe it, but the ducky tied the motorcycle!

Uh-oh.  Pay attention Ry Ry, you are about to crash!!!

Madeline sheepishly sits on Santa's lap while Ryan stands a foot away in fear.