Recently took Jbird and JB ice skating (B decided to stay home). We put the ice skates on JB, but think they were just too big! We ended up taking them off and he had a blast running around in his boots.

This was one position he really enjoyed!!

Jbird did awesome.  It took him a bit to get it, but once he did, he was running across the ice.  It looks so funny, running in ice skates.  The gliding will come, just need to get him out there frequently.

Of course he fell

And fell some more, but always got back up!

The smile says it all...he was probably out for an hour!

I did manage to get a few shots of them together!

We have a frequent visitor to the house these days....

Here are 2 pictures from Christmas morning....

Something I have wanted to do for a long time now, I finally decided the time was right. We 'adopted' a child through World Vision. Maycol (pronounced Michael) is about 3 weeks older than B.

He lives with his mother and brother in Honduras. (From my calculations, it is about 1 hour from where JR's parents live, so hopeful someday we can meet him). If I recall correctly, kids that are sponsored have to stay in school and they do write back. Once a year World Vision will send us an updated photo. Our support goes to provide basic needs (I read that the average yearly income for Honduras is $1,800!). We recently emailed him (it is printed out and takes 1-3 months for things to get delivered to him). We will soon mail him a picture of the boys along with a few hand draw photos. Will be fun to get letters back from him. As we get to know him we can send small gifts, school supplies, etc.

Working on potty training more with JB.  He is doing pretty good, I just need to set a timer to remind him to go to the bathroom.  We have pulled out all of his underwear so he can get to them.  What he loves to do, is put on 5, 6 or 7 pair at a time....makes it difficult to get them off, but whatever works.  They all have 'characters' on the back and he gets very upset when I put them on the 'right' way because he can not see the characters...hence he wears everything backwards.

Looking forward to low key weekend and New Years!

Merry Christmas!!

Last night after Church I got frustrated with the boys and told them there would be consequences the next morning for not obeying! So, we got up this morning and they quickly straightened up their rooms. Then we came downstairs and gathered around the Christmas tree and read the Christmas Story from the book of Luke. Then had pancakes and bacon. Then we opened up presents. I really liked how things went this morning, because the focus was not on the gifts first thing. I might have stumbled upon a new tradition for us. The Christmas story and breakfast around the Christmas tree and then gifts.

Last night was our annual Christmas Eve service at church. Knowing how my boys like ties, their Granny and Aunt had found them some ties and matching shirts. Shockingly, we convinced all three of them to wear it to the service and they were quite excited. Here is a picture before all the ties came off....

On Friday night we took B to see The Christmas Carol. He has been to plays before but never a full-on production. It was a very interesting evening. In hindsight, I would have explained the story line to him a little better. I did not really take into consideration his understanding of the ghosts/spirits of Christmas and what they all meant. So, he was a little confused as to what was going on. Then somewhere around the time the ghost of Christmas past appeared, a gentleman behind us starting throwing up. Now we were in the balcony, on the next to the last row. It is a old theater with great acoustics. I can only imagine how things might have sounded to others in the building. This poor gentleman..I have no idea how old he was (younger than older)but what do you do. He threw up and then just sat there, and then threw up two other times. One of the other guys in his party went downstairs to get some help (ie clean up crew) and the other couple people helped him out. I am thankful he did not throw up as he walked down the aisle. So, there was a lot of flurry of ushers walking in and out, as well as other play-goers getting overwhelmed with the situation and walking out for fresh air. Lots of distractions. Some how through all of this, the gentleman sitting beside us had fallen asleep and was snoring! Then the scary ghost/spirit appears. It was quite the interesting first half. Despite the distractions, it was a good play and as B put it all together at the end, he enjoyed it too.

Not much else going on this week...been pretty cold when a little bit of snow!

I obviously have not been online much this week.

The boys recently had their Christmas programs. Here is Santa, who did a wonderful job...

Here is JBird..

We also ventured out recently and went sledding with the Cub Scouts...
JB and his silly little faces.

All three of them climbing back up the hill.

Tried to download some videos, but was having problems...did not intend for the following to be as lengthy as it was, just some thoughts that are heavy on my heart.
Thanks in advance for letting me ramble...I don't do that very often. Hopefully you will be encouraged or at least challenged to think/see things differently.

Yesterday I volunteered in Jbird's kindergarten classroom. Just could not fathom, looking at that classroom of 17 kids, how anyone could take the life of a small child. Knowing that just that morning, a man in Connecticut had walked into a classroom just like his and did just that. There is no understanding, our minds are not created to understand or make sense of this.

All I can do is continue to trust that God is in control. I don't get it and that is okay. I do not control the universe and personally, I am glad for that. God does and why did God allow a senseless act like this, I have not the faintest idea. Did He cause it, no, the evil in this world did. But for reasons I cannot see, He did allow it. Yes, I believe He could have stopped it, but did not. Does that make Him any less loving, no, it does not. (Even typing that I can not fully wrap my mind around it, but I will continue to go on trusting in His sovereignty and just ways.) Does that lessen the hurt for the grieving families, absolutely not. I just pray that they draw upon the only One that can get a family through something like this.

I do know that regardless of whether I drop my kids off at school, take them to a movie, the library, a sporting event or even in the comforts of our own home, I cannot ultimately protect them from the evil of this world. That is why I am continually praying a hedge of protection around them...spiritually then physically. (Yes, I believe the spiritual battle is a much greater battle than the physical battle.)

I always find it interesting when things like this happen, everyone is so quick to start asking questions and how could God allow something like this to happen. I feel so strongly that we as a nation are removing God from so many areas...schools, government, events, etc. What we need is not gun control laws, what we need is for our country to again realize how precious life is and Who gives that life. There are so many instances where life is 'cheapened' from the unborn all the way up to the elderly. We don't value life like we use to and it is starting to seep into the corners of our fabric. Generations are being raised without a moral compass. What do we expect, that we can continually turn our back on God and then expect His hand of mercy and grace.

Yet, we see it over and over again, in the Old Testament. God's people turn their back on God, things deteriorate, they repent, things look up, they turn their back and the cycle continues. Because God is a loving God, but He is also a just God. I have heard it said that How can a loving God send someone to hell...my question, is how can a just God send everyone to Heaven. He will not force our hand. We either choose Him or not and if we choose not to choose Him, then we need to be prepared for whatever consequences could come our way (and yes, I do believe that the ultimate consequence is a life lived separated from God = Hell).

Sovereignty again, who understands it. Why did God send His only Son to live on this fallen world. Would you give up your son or daughter for a world that would curse Your name...? Yes, in just over a week, we will celebrate just that, the birth of Christ. As we are privileged to have the whole picture, knowing that in just 33 short years, Christ's life would come to the end, at the hand of evil. Yet, who can explain why a God would do that...my only answer, a God that loves beyond comprehension. Even as a parent, I don't get it, but that is okay, God did not create my mind to fathom all of that.

In the days and weeks to come, I will pray for the families that lost loved ones, including the family of the killer. Yes, they lost a child/brother too and cannot imagine the scars, emotions and maybe guilt that they will forever carry. I pray that they fall upon the One and only One that can give peace that passes all understanding. That is what I hold onto through the difficult times in life, because He is weaving a tapestry in my life that I can't see or comprehend. I only see the here and now, not the finished product. And I trust him with the finished product so I need to trust Him with the daily details (good or bad) too.

I think the cold has finally settled in!

Both B and Jbird are gearing up for their Christmas programs this next week. B has done a good job memorizing his lines. Now if he will just slow down when he says them. He brought home his Santa suit the other day to try it on. Figured I would get a picture in case it is too busy the day of.

For the first time, we are doing an Advent Wreath. We turn off all the lights and light the candles during dinner. The boys enjoy 'lighting' them.

B has discovered books on tape from the library. He laid in bed this morning for about half an hour listening to a book.

Last night we had our local Festival of Lights. We headed to one park where they were doing lighted lanterns. They are some type of paper and when extended, they are probably 2 feet high. There is a thing on the bottom that you light. As the flame gets going, then the 'balloon' part fills up with air. However, if you don't let it properly fill up, it does not go anywhere. With the slight breeze last night, there were lots of lanterns that were getting lose and staying down very low. One lantern literally missed landing straight on Jbird's hair by about 1/2 an inch. Another time I ran after a loose one as it headed for a child's coat hood, which had that furry stuff on it. The lanterns were really pretty when they were released properly. Would have been fun to watch them all go up at the same time, but it was sporadic over 5 minutes.

Then the boys decorated cookies at a local grocery store and we got to go on a hay ride. Then we headed to the library and made Christmas cards. Overall a fun evening!

A quiet weekend in store!

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days.....

We have the Christmas stuff put up and Jbird decided he wanted to hang some other lights. After he finished, we started working on a Christmas puzzle...that little guy almost puts me to shame. I have to admit I really enjoy and am good at putting puzzles together and Jbird has inherited that gene - that kid rocks. He worked beside me for over an hour, staring at a puzzle.

The thing I like about this picture...see both of his arms....

They are up. Yea! Whatever issues he was having with his left arm, are almost non-existent. Praise God. He still holds it a little ackward but will see what the chiropractor says on Tuesday.