I feel like I am sitting down with an old friend as I open my blog tonight.  My new ballerina-style fuzzy slippers are warming my toes. I am finally drinking water after drinking exclusively spiced cider, marshmallow-cocoa or specialty coffee for last who-knows how many days.

Dry furnace air and hauling kids around makes me so thirsty, and yes, so does eating more baked goods more than ever thought possible. Okay, so not only am I in my new slippers…I am also in my husband’s old sweatpants recovering from Christmas.

I just want to take a moment to say my blog and my dear two readers have come to mean quite a lot to me in this giant cyberspace called the blog-o-sphere (a place where reflecting, dreaming and sharing stories happens everyday). So, thanks for reading.

I have been in a state of grief (loss of a loved one) blended with a state of joy (Christmas). I hope to share some fun-ness and a bit of not-so-fun with you as I remember a few things from this season over the next few posts.

On to the fun stuff…

So this is me…Messy Jessy. Hi! The fun-ness of this photo can be listed as such: my winter cap, that I always look forward to wearing; a lipstick, that was price-reduced on Black Friday – that makes my face remember I actually have lips; a pashmina scarf that happens to match the lipstick; and a tried and true snowboarding jacket which, now, only sees the slopes in my backyard (as seen below).

Here are my kid-lets Molly and Ry. Can I say, “Smile for mommy!”, any louder in this photo! They both obeyed my command to smile, but darned if they were going to take their eyes off of their new gingerbread house that was covered in candy, pretzels and sprinkles.

Ry tries catch a snowflake…that or he is licking a runny nose lip. Let’s go with the trying to catch a snow flake thing.

Grammy Kris (Neat Pete’s mom) helped us celebrate the Advent season in style. She made an advent wreath for us, using real pine sprigs. Risky candles, for someone so easily distracted as I, but well worth the extra attention I had to pay to the beautiful and spiritually meaningful fire hazard.

Grammy Lu sent an advent calendar in the mail. It was a treat to have a special delivery that was so fun to use all month long (calendar seen in the photo below, posted on the door in the background). Now all the prayer squares of our Advent calendar are open and….

We want to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Happenings

Thanksgiving kicked off an attitude of gratitude in my heart. I had no grand plan, daily read or assignment.

I am just keeping my eyes open and more importantly my heart open to contentment, peace and thankfulness.

Here are some of the little things that have helped make my season merry.

1. A handmade set knit by a friend just for my little guy that Ry absolutely adores.
2. A trip to Ikea that offered a close parking spot on a very bitter cold and dreary day followed by a kind woman in the Ikea cafeteria that cleared my tray for me because she’s “been there” and Molly discovering the free cookies while Ry played in Smal-land (Ikea’s play place). All of which led to the purchase of new bins and an organizing frenzy that suited my needs quite nicely.
3. Lunch and story time with a friend. Ry, Lucy, Becki and Molly.
4. Sharing the wonder of Advent season with Ryan. Every step of Christmas (Jesus’ birth) and Christmastime (snowmen, candy canes, etc.) seems to bring him overflowing joy for which I am very grateful.

Mommy’s Little Helpers

Okay so the good thing about not reinstalling freshly painted kitchen cupboards?

Time.

Time to see and study all the shovings done for shove-sake in the inner depths of my kitchen cupboardry.

Also time for Molla and Ry to bring digging in tuperware to a higher art form.

This week as been spent drooling over new hardware online but more importantly a whole new structure for domestic kitchen bliss was formed. That and a lot of TV and pizza. It’s cold okay!

I am thrilled to pieces to have a lunch making center, beverage “row” and a pantry that has food in it (not just for stashing anymore!)

Now what to do with the rest of the clutter I took out of the now stream-lined cupboard system?

Kick it to the curb! That’s it! Lupus foundation is coming soon…yes!

Advent Begins

Molly under the tree at Grammy Kris and fil Phil's house.

Christmas is coming! I have been totally relaxed about Christmas this year. I was going to  follow a Count-Down-Calender to be super organized and unstressed. Turns out I don’t like actually following rules, directions or other people’s list (no matter how brilliant they are) when it come to the Holidays.

We strung a couple bunches of white twinkle lights along our front landscaping bushes, donated to Toys for Tots and broke out the iPod full of carols (mostly contemporary stylings which have been so fun to listen to in the car). More plans to come but for now we are enjoying a calm but spirited energy leading up to Christmas.

This season I want to start the tradition of lighting Advent candles and reading from the Bible about the birth of Christ. I have so much to celebrate about in the remembrance of Jesus!

Here is tonight’s first reading about HOPE!

Bible, Book of Isaiah, Chapter 60, Verses 2-3

2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.

3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

The New HDTV

Molly on her diaper table...soon to be TV stand.

Hey...that is NOT my changing pad!

So Neat Pete and I are buying an HDTV (I know…I wish I could say “bought”). I am trying to convince him that I could repurpose our old diaper table into a TV stand. Of course his common sense prevails to say…Let’s finish our current projects then we will see about other “creations” of mine.

Okay, okay but can’t you see the sprayer going already with a deep black/brown or cottage white and the new feet being installed and updated drawer pulls?

Here are my little dumplings with their Daddy on Thanksgiving morning. Thank You God for such a blessing.

We had a leisurely breakfast and played around on our living room “furniture”. Yes, cushions and blankets kept us pleasantly cozy and entertained!

{note: in the upper right hand of the photo the kitchen cabinet doors are painted and stacked ready for their new hardware. Of course we still have to order the hardware, so the doors might be finding their home in the living room for awhile!}

We played turkey-gone-a-hunting for about 45 minutes with a stuffed animal turkey. It was big hit, even for Molly!

We are off to local family gatherings for the afternoon.

For my family Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks, break bread and grow contentment.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Shopping

Ryan received a new p.j. set from Grammy Lu and Papa Den while shopping at the mall.

While telling us about his experience Ry said,

“We got my new jammies at nickels.  pause We got my jammies at pennies.”

The store? Why J.C. Penney’s of course!

Compliment

While cuddling with Ryan before bed in his dark bedroom he usually starts opening up about his day, his fears and tells a lot of Who am I jokes. True, all of our conversations are probably sleep-stallers but how can I resist when they go like this one did the other day?

Ry: You are my BEST Mom!

Me: I am the only Mom you have.

Ry: Well then, you are my BEST only Mom I have!

Me: Thanks, now go to bed!

Sit Down!

One evening while loading into the car to go to our small group* Ry decided that he was going to disobey our order to get into his car seat. He defiantly hopped around like a little squirrel as he sat in Molly’s seat, the front seat arm rest and the open space between the two car seats.

Peter: grrrowwl….Sit down in your seat! You are not allowed to disobey Mommy and Daddy like this. You have to listen!

Ry (as he is getting into his own car seat): You are just crabby because you are hungry.

Me: stifled laugh

*a number of families that get together from our church to learn how to live in community and integrate our common believes into our lives

Climber

So we have a little climber on our hands. Tables, toy boxes, baby gates, rocking chairs! You name it, Molly will climb it. I caught her on the table one day with her hand literally in the cookie jar. She is very strong not to mention strong willed even at 16 months.

I gleaned a touching lesson from authors and speakers, Jim and Lynne Jackson as they presented some insightful information at one of my MOPS meetings last year. They suggested that parents try to see the goodness in their child’s current personality “challenge”.

i.e. If you have an older child always tattling or telling the others how naughty they were the parent would try to see strengths of honesty and justice.

So my dear Molly what strengths can I pray for?

How about an adventurous spirit, willingness to learn and sense of determination!

Okay, but for now…Get OFF the table!!

Bible, Book of Genesis, Chapter 49, Verse 22

“Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.”

Patience is a Virtue

The front loader windowed washing machine has been great. It substitutes for a fireplace during evening meals. Really, it is transfixing to watch the sudsy beast rotate around. Without a laundry room door we are often pulled into its gaze.

Below is a photo of Molly lulled by the swooshing of the watery wash cycle…

until she realizes that Pink (her chosen one) is in there.

Poor dear. Patience is not a virtue that you possess. Not yet anyway.

Of course Molly reigned victorious as she cuddled in her crib with her fresh Pink and other assorted loveys. Notice her slightly mistrusting eyes as if to say, “Take one step toward Pink and I’ll call Dad on you!”

Super Hero Party

Renovation blues draggin’ ya down? Why not have a drop off birthday party with 7 kids under the age of 5.

Shake off the sawdust and cover those outlets! Be sure to remove all table saws and 10″ screwdrivers from the play area. Or if you are like me you do this as guest arrive.

Plan to get behind on your scheduled projects and try to have fun. I really believe hospitality is an attitude not a state or condition of my home.

Here are some highlights from Ryan’s 4th birthday super hero party.

We used cardboard and pipe cleaners (yes I know they are chenille stems but I just can’t convert) to create a party sign for the front door. Placing a sign at the door before company is expected is a welcoming tradition that Ry has established.

Pre-party happy jitters.

I keep a stack of white lunch sacks on hand for parties. By decorating them myself I always have the ‘theme’ I need.

Contents: mini play-doh cans (purchased at 50% off in the Halloween area), candy and batman fruit snacks.

I bought only a few commercial items. The balloons were a gift from Ry's party helper Grammy Lu.

We made a Bat Cave from a washing machine box, Spider-Man and Friends Memory game pieces and tempera paint. We kept the top open a bit and cut out two eye spy holes on one side and a secret mail slot on the other side.

For this super hero party I gathered all the toys in the house that would work as party props. Featured here is singing Spider-man with steamers.

Each guest wore a custom painted Super shirt. They each used fabric markers to decorate their own capes (white flour sacks). The little guests 2 and under had capes (1/2 a flour sack) with Velcro tabs on their shoulders. The doorway shown in the upper left of this photo was draped in red streamers for decoration and fun!

Super Molly snacked on pretzels.

Super Colin goes for a ride without his cape!

My baker Sam made this cake for Ryan. You know Sam don't you? He has his own club and everything. Sam put in extra Spider-Man details since we were having a multi-hero party.

This picture speaks for itself.

Who wants a photo? We want CAKE!

Of course the nice part about not having any furnishings in the party area was freedom! We ran, played Spider-Man Hoops, Spider-Man Clothes Pin Drop and Super-Man Jump.

Of course you can't beat an after party, "I love you Mom!"