Christmas in Pictures

First things First

Before (the 2nd pic is with the furniture already shuffled around):

After:

No before picture for this one. All of the walls were "blechk white", and the molding was a pale white with the picture rail the same color as the wall.

Brett had already painted the walls, but this gives you an idea of the "before"

After

Mutiny

If you look close enough you can see it. You can see the evil plot that these two share. The plot to cast me off and strip away all authority. Yes, they may look sweet and precious, but I tell you if you knew them, really knew them, you'd see it too.

For instance, the baby signs "more" when she wants more food. This is how it goes:

Me- "Veronica, say more please (insert "more" sign)

Veronica- pound, pound, pound (on her high chair tray)

Me- "More...."

Veronica- pound, pound, pound, scream

Aidan- "Veronica, say more (enter "more" sign)

Veronica- "More (signing and smiling)"

See it? You see it now?

This girl cannot get out of my arms and into his fast enough when he walks in the room. She hangs on ever word he says. They play and play and play. It's a mutiny I tell you!

Do I really mind? Hardly.

Score!

All of these great boxes just for me?? (and a sneak peek of the new wall color in our living room)

Advent is for Anticipation

This year was going to be the year. The year where we truly did not celebrate Christmas in the midst of waiting for Our Savior to be born. This year we were going to treat Advent with the reverence that it deserved. We were going to patiently wait, we were going to eat better, to not celebrate too soon, to really soak up the spirit of waiting, to unite ourselves with Mary as she waited for her Son to be born.

Funny thing about all that. The fact is, we're human. We weren't doing as well as I had hoped. We were finding excuse after excuse to celebrate early, to get carried away, to treat ourselves to special foods, etc. So, God threw us a little curve ball if you will. He provided us, through some generous donors who will remain anonymous, with the means to get some home improvement projects done. Not just any projects, but the project that I had been wanting to do ever since we moved into this house 2 1/2 years ago. The living room. The carpet is disgusting, our couches are well-loved, and the walls were screaming for some paint. Life happened, money disappeared 6 feet under (literally....sewer, remember?) and we have been dealing with a less than ideal situation in our living room ever since.

So what does God, our failed Advent attempts and home improvement projects have to do with each other? Because of our eagerness to get our house in order for Christmas we wasted no time in getting started. The old couches are gone, everything is out of the room, the ceiling and walls are painted, the trim is painted, the windows are taped, the dining room ceiling is painted (couldn't just stay in the living room ya know), and now....we wait! We wait like we were supposed to be waiting all along. While we wait, we don't decorate, we don't celebrate, there are no festivities around here. We cope. We agonize. We become creative with our current situation. Much like the anticipation that is supposed to be surrounding this time of waiting for our Savior we find it challenging. What put us here? What is causing such a situation in our household? I would like to say it was a renewed spiritual vigor. Unfortunately it is simply


CARPET!

Oh no, she didn't!

Pulling up and growing up way too fast!
I might add that she's quite pleased with herself too.

Congratulations!

Emma had her first karate test and was promoted to a yellow belt and Aidan was promoted to a green belt. He's half-way to black!

We have been so pleased with the Martial Arts academy. The owners have such a passion for the kids and have more patience between the two of them than anyone I know. They demand a high level of performance and the kids don't let them down.

I have to brag a little bit about Miss Emma. I have to admit that I wasn't so sure about how she would do with karate, but she has just blossomed these past 4 months and is doing a fantastic job. She was taken aside by the owner and told how proud of her he was and that he loves her attitude, and that she tested better than any white belt he's seen in a long time. He told her that she is a great example to the others in her class and thanked her for her hard work. Quite a compliment for our girl!!! He's usually a man of few words, so when he goes out of his way to say something, it's important!

Aidan is also doing a great job. He has such control of his body and has really developed into quite a powerful karate kid!