Thursday, December 26, 2013

It was a very very Merry Christmas....

All that is left is, the bare tree and figuring out where all the new presents will go.  But boy oh boy was it a great past few days.  We had so much fun!  It was really neat watching Taylor start to understand Christmas, and Emma has always loved the holiday.  I especially enjoyed the elf on the shelf part, because Emma really thinks they are real and it makes it so much fun.  She has such a great imagination, and I love that.  I loved waking everyday hearing "where are Red and Snowflake?" our two elves.  Taylor also enjoyed them, but not sure he fully got the point this year.  He did however learn how to quickly unwrap gifts and see where his next one was:)

Here is just a quick rundown of the days leading up to Santa day! We made cookies with their cousin Hudson, built gingerbread houses, went to an early Christmas Eve service at church, went and saw some really cool houses with lights and saw Santa's at two of them, celebrated at Nana's house Christmas eve, sang to Baby Jesus and ate some birthday cake for him, woke up to Emma squealing "Santa really came and I got boots", celebrated Santa, went to Aunt Nay's for the Clark Christmas, and passed out early after all that fun!  Emma walked around all day saying "this is the best Christmas" and I have to agree.  The kids loved all their gifts and we got some great time with the families.  I may never figure out where it will all go, but oh well.

Here are some of the highlights in pics for you to enjoy!!

 Saying good bye to the elves
 reindeer food sprinkled
 Nana's house




 Christmas eve pjs before heading home



 Chocolate Santa for breakfast sure why not!


 Trying out her singing machine

 At my sister's house 

Monday, December 9, 2013

Becoming a Women at Peace

Thank you Tyndale House Publishing for supplying me with a copy of The One Year Devotions for Women Becoming a Woman at Peace  by Ann Spangler, I was so excited to get my copy and study it for this review.

I do not know about you ladies but I am always so stressed, hurried, and on the verge of coming unglued.  So, when I saw this book on the possible review options on Tyndale Blog community, I jumped on the chance.  I need help at being more peaceful and centered on God.

This book is beautiful inside and out.  The devotions are short and well written.  They are perfect for an easy devotion before work or on your lunch break.  They start with a verse, then there is a short reflection, and followed up with a prayer.  It will reach those new to the faith or those deeper in the faith as well.  The author is open and real with you and makes you feel like you are reading words from a close friend!

I recommend starting this book in January and seeking out the peace we all are so desperately seeking! We can do this ladies we can live with less fear, it is not of God to be afraid!

Check out my review on Amazon here!  Order your copy today and enjoy a well written devotion by Ann Spangler.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Ballerina Day

Today was a fun day for my sweet tiny dancer.  It was observation day at Ballet class, so all the parents go to watch in the classroom.  Then, it was Girl Day 2013 with Meme (papa got to be our driver today due to the cold)!  

Emma looks forward to both of these things, and I thought I would share a few photos of my favorite ballerina.

Check out her new purple ear molds in some of the shots, they are sparkly and so girly!

 Listening is no fun!
 all the grace of a beautiful ballerina!

 time to stretch


Then, it was time to go home and get all pretty for our lunch out and to see the Mini Nutcracker!  This is our third year attending the production by Metro Parks and Recreation.  It is well done, and geared for younger kids so it is shorter.  
We get all pretty and go to lunch at Red Robin, Emma's choice!
 The three of us!

 Selfie of us two!
Putting her new ornament on the tree from Meme!
 Time for the show!  She brought her nutcracker and her Christmas Barbie!

Just in case you missed Taylor, he is him in his new Christmas Pj's, he asked for a photo today by the tree.  Love his spirit!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Thankful for...

Being a special needs parent, is not always easy and it is definitely not glamorous.  However, it is full of the most wonderful moments amidst some of the hardest moments.  Today, I am thankful for those moments, those brief and magically moments, that help carry me through the storms that come when dealing with a medically complicated and hearing impaired child.

Emma has been through more in her life then most children and some adults have been through.  But it has never slowed her spirit down.  She has taught me to see the beauty around me on simple walks down the street or hikes in the woods.  She has taught me to dance and sing no matter how tired or worn down we both are.  Life is an adventure for her and she wakes everyday ready to take it on.

This week is one of those crazy weeks, where there are more doctors to be seen then days of the weeks, school functions to attend and both parents working.  But today while I finally got one moment to sit on the couch and do nothing, I got a wonderful phone call.  One of her teachers called to touch base about her school year so far.  Now, I have to say, when I saw the school number thirty minutes before she should be boarding the bus, my heart sank.  Oh no what could be wrong.  I was so surprised and pleased it was a good phone call!!

The teacher called to let me know that Emma was doing so well at school this new nine weeks.  She seemed to be relying on her assistant less and less and looking to her teacher and friends to help if she needed it, she was answering correctly more questions then last year, recalling facts easier, and going with the flow of the day much better.  I wanted to dance around the kitchen!  I am so proud of her.  No she might not be on the A honor roll, but to me her progress so far this year, is way more better then all A's.  Emma has spent the last two years trying sooooooo hard to learn and things seem to be finally falling into place.  I am so proud and honored to be her mom!

I am thankful that seven and half years ago, I gave birth this spunky, blue eyed child.  She has taught me a new way of life, I have had more sleepless nights, and more laughs then I can count.  Thank you God for my sweet Rose.  I am not sure what the coming weeks and years will bring, but I know who holds the future, and with that I rest easy tonight.  My growing Rosie has a God who loves her more then me, and He has her back!



Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Happy Windy Halloween

So, unless you live near me you might not know that Halloween was a yucky mess.  Many areas postponed trick or treating due to the storms that hit that day.  It rained all day, and it slowed down around trick or treat time, but the wind was so bad it knocked trees down and leaves all over the place.  So, we had to move to Plan B on Thursday.  Taylor got to attend a party at the library I work at, and he had lots of yummy cookies for lunch.  Emma has choir till 4 so after she was done, Daniel and I, took the kids to McKay's used bookstore for trick or treating.  They gave them great goody bags and they even got a dollar towards a book, Score for my book loving kids.  They each got a good book to bring home!  Then, we headed to Publix to trick or treat.  They had five little stations around the store and the kids thought it was fun to play in the grocery store.  Afterwards we met Daniel's mom at Red Robin for dinner and the kids spent the night with Nana, so daddy and mommy could work Friday.  Emma was out of school for parent teacher conference day.

Friday after we both got off work and the kids got home from Nana.  Meme and Papa brought Hudson my nephew up to our house and we ate pumpkin pizza from Papa Murphy's and got ready for some real trick or treating.  Our good friends the Huff girl's also joined us.  We had three beautiful princesses, a dirt bike racer and Woody from Toy Story.  We had a lot of fun walking the kids to each house and laughing at them being so excited.  However, they quickly tired and we returned home.  Where my two and Hud had more fun handing out candy and making s'mores on our fire pit we had in the front yard.  It was fun to see all the other kids and relax by the flames.

Enjoy some photos from our windy but fun Halloween: