The Tale of 2 Christmas Photos

First...there was this sweet family photo...

 

Which seconds later turned in to this crazy one!

And here's a bonus photo...my favorite from Christmas.  Caiden enjoying a few of his presents!

Christmas Parties and Programs

Dawson's program at CLC was awesome!  Here he is seeing me in the crowd and getting my attention.

All the kids on stage.

 Caiden in his class on party day.

 Caiden's class - picture perfect just before Christmas!

2009 Cookie Decorating

We got together with Mom and Dad Binder to do our annual cut-out cookie decorating. It was so much fun.


Cole taking a snooze. This cookie decorating is exhausting.


Dale and Dad hard at work.

Caiden loves this!

Some of the completed cookies!

Christmas Program at Mom's Day Out

The kids at the mom's day out program that Dawson attends performed a Christmas play and hosted a luncheon. Dawson was an angel in the play. They sang songs and told the Christmas story.


Here's Dawson doing some crafts while Dale and I pose for a picture.


Cole and Dawson visiting with Santa.

Our Lil' Angel.

Our "angel" in action!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Hit of Christmas

The boys got many toys and games for Christmas but the biggest hit of all was the game, Hungry Hungry Hippos. They loved it! The only problem is keeping up with the marbles that comes with the game. They should give you extras but they don't. Fun, fun, fun!

Merry Christmas!

May you seek to know the Savior more deeply this year as we celebrate his birth. Many Christmas blessings to you and your family!

Santa's Prayer on Christmas Eve

by Warren D. Jennings

The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt by the side of the bed.
"Dear Father," he prayed, "be with me tonight.
There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.
I must jump in my sleigh and streak through the sky,
Knowing full well that a reindeer can't fly.
I will visit each household before the first light.
I'll cover the world and all in one night.
With sleigh bells a-ringing, I'll land on each roof,
Amid the soft clatter of each little hoof.
To get in the house is the difficult part,
So I'll slide down the chimney of each child's heart.
My sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I will fill all the stockings and not leave a track.
I'll eat every cookie that is left for my snack.
I can do all these things, Lord, only through You,
I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.
All this is to honor the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, least Your glory I rob,
Please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job."


Wishing you the joy and peace of the season!

Meeting "Santa" this year

Caiden's debut

Caiden received the honor this year of playing "Joseph" in the Christmas play for his preschool program. In the play, Joseph and Mary entered and were very tired...that's why he looks extra shy in this photo - he's "acting" like he's tired. He did a great job. We're very proud of him.

Christmas must be something more

I've own a lot of Christmas CDs. I try to buy one each year. This year's purchase was the Taylor Swift Christmas cd. I love it and have listened to it often. There is one song in particular that I really like and wanted to share with you. It totally reminds me of the true reason for the season - JESUS! It's entitled, "Christmas Must Be Something More." Its well worth the download on iTunes. In the meantime, here are the lyrics. Check it out.

Christmas Must Be Something More
What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing
Would the song still survive without 5 golden rings
Would you still wanna kiss without mistletoe
What would happen if God never let it snow

What would happen if Christmas Carols told a lie
Tell me what you would find
You'd say that today holds something special
Something holy and not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

What if angels did not pay attention to
All the things that we wish they would always do
What if happiness came in a cardboard box
Then I'd think there was something we all forgot
What would happen if presents all went away
Tell me what would you find
You'd say that today holds something special
Something holy and not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
100 mile an hour lives
And it's this time of year
And everybody's here
It seems the last thing on your mind
You'd say that today holds something special
Something holy and not superficial
So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something more
There's gotta be more

"Christ"mas Cheer Challenge

Hey...head on over to http://www.rscparents.com/ and join the 10 days of "Christ"mas cheer challenge. I wouldn't want you to miss out on the true meaning of Christmas!

Black Friday

I survived Black Friday and all I got was this absolutely awesome Garmin NUVI GPS! I'm not normally an electronics guru but I love this! Woo Hoo!

Christmas & Family

We've enjoyed a wonderful Christmas week with our family. Caiden's eyes were as big as saucers when he got up on Christmas morning and saw that "Santa" had finally come. Dawson is still too little to know what is going on but he sure noticed the stuff under the tree. Then, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and had a great meal together. What a perfect day it was!

Oh...and to begin my new year's exercise program...you may just see me in the yard chasing around one of these!

All Grown Up

Well, it has finally happened. I have now gotten old enough that I no longer care for or really desire anything for Christmas. Sure, I will enjoy opening my gifts on Christmas morning. But, the excitement and adrenaline rush that I have is in shopping for the perfect gift for our two precious little boys. I'm finally all grown up. Realizing this now, I can't wait to see their faces on Christmas morning. Especially, knowing that they are getting one of these http://www.amazon.com/John-Deere-Gator-seat-belts/dp/B000G0KT6Y/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1197436929&sr=8-1

Yes, I'm excited about the gifts and seeing the look on my children's faces. But, the most amazing thing this year is that Caiden is finally "getting it." Not the presents or the wrappings or the Santa Claus thing. He's getting the fact that the main reason we celebrate Christmas is because of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Last weekend we attended an event where a church displayed a live nativity. You should have seen the wonder and excitement in his eyes. After waiting for over an hour, the wonder was starting to diminish from Dale and my eyes, believe me! But, that moment when Caiden saw the live nativity and (what was supposed to be) baby Jesus, sealed the deal for me. I knew in that instance that Dale & I are all grown up. I knew we had done the right thing in waiting all that time. I knew that Caiden was seeing the "big picture" and what we've been teaching him in his 3 years of life, is now starting to click. As a parent, it is the moment you dream about (even more than seeing their faces as they open their gifts on Christmas morning).

This year, I'm totally driven by the fact that Christmas needs to be bigger than the presents, the stockings and wrappings. It needs to be centered around the birth of Jesus and what He has done and continues to do in our lives. Our kids need to see that. That is what the wonder of Christmas is all about (even if you are all grown up!).

P.S. If you are keeping up with my weight loss, since Thanksgiving I've backsliden a bit (gained a few pounds). But, I'm back on track this week, working out and hopefully I'll be back down on Saturday when I weigh in.