BABY SHOWER

On Saturday, I hosted a baby shower for my sister Joy.

Here are the memories. . .

Invitations (front)






















(back)

The shower was held at my parents church. This was nice because I didn't have to worry about hosting AND cleaning my house!!

It was at 2pm so we just had some snacks!

I made the decorations and also used what I already had.

And I used A LOT of spray paint!!!!

The party theme was "the alphabet" so each table had a different letter.

T

L

D

(the little towls wrapped up on the table were the party favors. I thought something useful would be nice.)

P

B (see the Batman hiding back there!)

There was water on each table and then a seperate punch table. (I forgot to take a picture after I added the punch!)

I borrowed the gray & white fabric from my sister and the blocks from my mom.

It snowed ALL DAY LONG. But not too many were afraid and almost everyone showed up!!

It was fun to have a lot of family to celebrate with us!

Opening gifts (not sure what I was doing here!!)

My sister and I. I am so excited to become an Aunt!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Decorating

We had a great Thanksgiving, 3 actually!
I didn't snap too many pictures of our celebrating. (I was too busy stuffing my face. I am not eating again until Christmas!!)

But, here are a few I did get.
*Henry as a clown.























Lilly chatting with my grandma.

Ben eating a turkey leg for lunch.























And another one for dinner.



















And we ended it all with a family concert. (Earplugs optional).

Yesterday it was 50 degrees outside. Which for me means only one thing: SPRAY PAINTING!!

I am working on a few Christmas projects, but for now I will show you some of what we have up.

Our stockings.

And I put Ben and Henry to the task of setting up the manger scene.

I think they were a little over zealous in their attempt at "bow down and worship".

It looks like the wise men and shepherds are doing push ups.

And that Mary and Joseph are about to smother Jesus. . .

Here is a look at what is on our Christmas tree.

We feel the more Superman's hanging, the better.

John Deere tractor.

Pete made this and it says Our First Christmas 2000.

My favorite - the homemade ones.

Pete and I bought this on our first vacation together.

Gingerbread Men. I think someone got hungry while decorating because one of the poor men is missing a leg. . .

And nothing says Merry Christmas, like Grave Digger.

Thankfully though, now that we have a girl, these pretty ornaments are starting to pop up.

And this is my all time favorite. Pete and I bought this hand painted one on our honeymoon. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (that is me squealing). Everytime I hang it, my memories fly back to that perfect time. . .

Here it is all lit up!!

Should have. . .

After the incident of the bathroom flooding, I should have known.
Seeing marker all over furniture should have taught me a lesson.
Having our entire alarm system ruined by a 3 and 2 year old should of kept me on my toes.
The kitchen ceiling leaking from the bathroom flooding, AGAIN, should of made me run!
But I didn't. I sat there enjoying the laughter.
Thinking of their cute faces.
























I didn't go.
























Until it was too late. . .





















Every piece of clothing I had folded and put away in the closet a mere hour before, destroyed.
(I guess at least it wasn't the bathroom, or the markers, or the. . . )

ENGAGED!!!!

My dear friend Beth (top left corner) just got engaged!!
We are so excited for her!!!
The girls and I, and a couple babies, went out to celebrate!

Operation Christmas Child

What a blessing this year to participate in Operation Christmas Child.

On the Samaritan's Purse website, they show a video of children all around the world opening their shoe boxes (click on the logo above to go to website). I cry everytime I watch it.

I have so many earthly things that do not matter, that I take for granted and that I am never satisfied with.

To see the JOY in the kids faces as they open most likely their only present each year.

Makes me reflect if I really show that much JOY when I think about the ultimate gift. . .

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the FREE GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So the kids and I watched the video. I cried again and the kids where wondering what was wrong with me! (Peter has a soft heart and I think he had tears in his eyes as well, even though he tried to hide it).

Then they went and took some of their own money to buy presents.

And we all filled the boxes with things kids on the other side of the world might enjoy. They also added a picture and a letter telling the recipient about about themselves and about Jesus.

Then we all went to drop them off!

Chick-Fil-A was a collection sight.

Because we paid for the shipping online, the boxes will be tracked and they will let us know what country each box ends up in!!!

JUST FOR FUN FRIDAY