Our first Sleepover

For the first time Jordan had someone spend the night. Yes...3 is a little young for this, but it was our cousin Peyton and she is only in town once maybe twice a year.

The girls wore eachother's pajamas (should have gotten a better picture of that), and they slept in Jordan's queen sized-bed. Peyton is still on central standard time, so around 9 when they went to bed, she was out while Jordan continued to sing to her. Also because of the central standard time, Jordan walked Peyton into our room at 5:55 am because, "Momma, Peyton has to go potty." Oh well! No one woke up through the night.

We went to Bethlehem!

During Jonathan's finals week, Josiah Jordan and I went with our friends Dan and Mindi to a live nativity. I remember doing this when I was young with my mom and dad and it really gives you a better picture of what it was like for Jesus to be born in a stable.
Well, the kids enjoyed seeing the live animals (camels, sheep, etc) and Jordan even tried to feed and pet some of them. A good time was had by all!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.....

Can't you hear the song? Since I am having a hard time getting used to the warm weather here in California during the Christmas season, today was the first day that it actually felt like it was December. And no...it was not because it was cold. It was still in the high 70's.

No the reason that it finally felt like it was December and nearly Christmas was because we had our first Christmas program that my kids got to be a part of, and we went and cut down our Christmas tree down and have it up and in the house now. To give you a little background as to why the kids have on beaks and wings, they did Christmas around the world at church today, and the pre-K's sang about a bird from Ireland.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

stress

I am not a very stressed out person but I am feeling rather "stressed" today. Let me list some reasons why I feel stressed:

First, we worked all weekend to tile our bathroom. Now, although we have all the tile laid, and half of the bathroom grouted (enough to get the toilet back in), we can't get the new toilet in. YIKES! When you work so hard on something for SO long you just hope that it will all come together in the end, right?
Second, since late this morning my left ear has felt plugged, and just lately it has started to ring. Not a huge deal except that those of you who know me real well....I don't hear well to begin with, so the ringing thing....it's not a good thing.
Third, I have been off for the last 3 weeks, and I think it is finally hitting me that I have to go back to school next Monday. YIKES again! I feel like I haven't gotten anywhere near the things I had planned to do, I don't want to go back to school and leave my kids home again....which leads me to....
Fourth, my inlaws watch my kids and they have decided to go to Florida next week to see my brother-in-law's soccer game. I am SOOO proud of my brother-in-law for making it this far...it is a hug accomplishment, but it just adds stress in my life to think of childcare issues for next week. YIKES!
So....that is my stress!
Sometimes I think that I need to just vent, sit back, look at it, realize it is not that bad, and thank God for all the blessings I do have in my life. Thank you God! Please help me to not be so caught up in my "stress" to not pay attention to your gentle tugs you are giving me.

I think I saw Goofy...

Jonathan's school was hosting a Thanksgiving feast down in Santa Ana last night, so we all loaded to up to go. A free meal (Marie Callendars), and good company greeted us, and we enjoyed our time together as a family. I think that Jonathan enjoyed showing us off a litte too.
We then drove on down to Downtown Disney. It was only 7:00 pm and the kids were excited to try something new. There is not much to Downtown Disney, (this was the first time for both of us), but nonetheless, the kids enjoyed hearing all the live bands, dancing in the "streets", playing at Legoland, going into Build-a-Bear, and just being together. It was a lot of fun. Next time I think we'll actually spend some money. :)

Hiking

We went for a hike today! Another fun thing to do while I have my month off. Josiah, Jordan and I went with a friend from small group, Carol, and her dog Tatonka (sp?). We had a great time. The kids were real troopers. They went much further than I expected them too. They especially enjoyed the water! Jordan usually freaks out if she gets dirty or wet, but she really didn't complain until we were on our way back. What fun! Next time we'll have to take Dazy!

Sod

so...since we have been to home depot sooooo many times....one of those times was to get sod for our backyard! We spent all of Saturday morning laying sod. Wow, what back breaking labor! But it was worth it!

No Home Depot!

Last weekend, before my sister arrived we had a long list of things we had to do. Of course this list included a long list for Home Depot. Because it was such a long list, we went to Home Depot 3 times over the weekend, and each time was with the kids. (Not very fun to take a 3 and 4 year old into Home Depot). The last time was after church on Sunday. As we drove up, we were still 1/4 a mile away, and Josiah started screaming from the backseat, "No Home Depot!"

I guess we had gone one to many times. :0)

I'm back.....

Well, new friends have encouraged me to get back into the blogging world. So here I am. (Thanks, Mindi :0)
I figured since I have the month of November off I would have more time to blog. So I'll start with today...
I FINALLY cleaned out our closet, Jordan's play room, and our office. We have been in our house for 6 weeks and you would have thought that we just moved in if you walked into our house yesterday. We have made a little progress, but we barely have any time to knock out the big stuff together. Well, this past weekend, after 3 trips to Home Depot, (yes, 3 trips) I think we are finally getting somewhere.
You know you have been to Home Depot too many times when you are still a 1/4 mile away and your children are screaming from the backseat, "NO! NO! Not again!"

wow that was a long time

well, i was gone for a long time, and I don't think that anyone even noticed. which is probably why I haven't written. but things are crazy as usual, and will only get crazier as it gets closer to the end of the school year. Busy-ness right now is attributed to:
1 training for a marathon
2 visiting family or family coming to visit
3 kids birthdays
4 josiah's soccer
5 jonathan's job
6 house for sale
7 uncertainty of our future
wow, that is a lot!Good thing we have God to help us through it all, otherwise I don't know how I would cope!