For My Puddle Jumper

More and more, day by day I can see how different our boy-ish son is compared to our girl-ish daughter. One example is James getting his hands and fingers in dirty spots...and by that I mean the boy loves to stick his hand down the back side of his pants to scratch and loves to stick his finger up his nose and then lick it. Yuck! And he still says with a smirk and a smile "stinky boy!" every time he breaks wind. James most recent boylike act that gets him into trouble is wandering toward the gutter at the end of our cul-de-sac each time we go outside and stomping and jumping in the puddles! If I don't catch him before the act I can be guaranteed he will return with soaked tennis shoes and pants! So last night while we were shopping at Kohl's I was browsing the shoe section and came across these little boy boots by Carters - they're perfect for my puddle jumper! They were regularly priced at $39.99 (Stephen can't understand how KIDS shoes can be priced that much!) but were on sale 50% off for $19.99 plus I had a 15% coupon. So guess what James is getting for Christmas?......


Another great find at Kohl's was this t-shirt for Stephen...both Stephen and I think the movie "A Christmas Story" is a classic! So we were laughing when we found this t-shirt - anyone who has seen that movie will remember the Fudge scene.

And speaking of fudge...tonight I tried my first fudge recipe. When Mom Spence was here over Thanksgiving she made her famous family fudge recipe, I love it. But hers is made with walnuts and the kids weren't too keen of that. So I thought I'd use the remainder of Baker's chocolate and make some Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge (Stephen's favorite candy is Reese's Pieces, so I thought he may like this too!). In a pot on high heat I mixed together 4 semi-sweet Baker's chocolate squares, 3 cups of sugar, 1Tbsp. vanilla and a small can of evaporated milk. Brought it to a boil. Then I put the pot in the sink filled with cold water and stirred in 1 Tbsp. of butter and 1/4 cup of peanut butter. Once the mixture became creamy I poured it into my ceramic dish to cool and harden. It turned out super rich and yummy!

Best & Perfect

So I received a phone call from Madeline this afternoon when she got home from school. She was so excited because Mr. Lee (her older-keeps..the..kids..in ..line - bus driver) gave her a certificate for a free Whataburger for being a "student with excellent behavior". Stephen was in front of the house when the bus pulled up. Normally Madeline just promptly gets off the bus but he noticed Mr. Lee stopped her and was talking to her. So Stephen walked up closer and saw him quietly talking to Madeline and handing her something. Then he gave Stephen the thumbs up and yelled "She's the best bus rider!" :). Wow, props from Mr. Lee about being the best bus rider, and comments from Mrs. Moore on her report card saying she's the PERFECT kindergarten student....I'm baffled and wondering...where is this excellent behaved and perfect little girl Madeline at home!? Ha ha.

Seriously I was just telling Stephen the other day how I've grown exhausted from the kids misbehaving when they are together. James is an angel in the mornings while Madeline is at school, and obviously Madeline is an angel on the bus and at school - but when the 2 are together they fight, disobey and misbehave! Maybe it's a sibling thing? I don't recall fighting that much with Tason when I was that age, I better ask my mom. So after Madeline received that from Mr. Lee today Stephen asked her, "why can't you save some of that good behavior for at home!?". I asked something similar the other day and Madeline's response, "Sigh...Mom it's because you don't have a color or sticker chart at home." Something tells me even having one of those like Mrs. Moore won't get me excellent behavior at home. Hhhhmmm....maybe Stephen and I should just dress up as Mr. Lee and Mrs. Moore. :)

Awesome Message - 3rd Sunday of Advent

Our visiting priest yesterday at our evening Mass gave such an inspiring talk about the message of the readings and Gospel. Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a season observed by Catholics (and other Christian churches). I love to mark the progression of the season with my Advent candle wreath (like the one pictured above)- but it's been misplaced from the move. The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to prepare for the Second Coming while commemorating the First Coming of Christ at Christmas.

Our 2nd reading was Phil 4:4-7 and the priest talked about "rejoice".
Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The priest was quite humorous and wanted to acknowledge the meaning of the term "rejoice". He mentioned that we all have known or met a "happy-go-lucky" person in our lives...you know those people that seem to always be chipper and happy (and annoying). He explained that in this sense the term doesn't necessarily mean to constantly or always be that chipper person - but to rejoice always in our hearts. To be glad and joyful sincerely in our hearts for Christ, always. So even in times of turmoil, always rejoice in your heart. It may be difficult but the choice is ours to rejoice. In the Gospel reading Lk 3:10-18 John says, "one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." So I do rejoice in my heart with thankfulness for the Grace of the Holy Spirit He has given me through His sacraments and continue to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I just felt like this message I received was worth sharing this on a blog post. :)


This weekend Stephen and I worked on hanging our new LED lights on the new house. Stephen was all excited about the eves and peaks on our roof line and decorating them. But as he was up on the 2nd level he realized it would be quite difficult (and dangerous) to get to some of them - so we improvised a little. Didn't turn out exactly how we envisioned but I'm sure the house will get brighter and brighter in coming years as we add on to the decorations.

P.S. I think I need to start moderating and approving comments left on this blog as I've been receiving a ton of spam comments.

Madeline's 1st School Fieldtrip

Madeline has been waiting for this day to come for a few weeks now - her class went on their first field trip! All 5 kindergarten classes at her school took buses to the The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum: IMAX Theatre. Mrs. Moore asked me to be their class chaperon, and 3 other moms volunteered as well. We left the school at 8:45am.

When we arrived it was quite busy with all the school kids visiting the museum so Mrs. Moore decided to break us up in groups. I had these 3 really well behaved girls - Tila, Madeline and Bella. I took them to see all the exhibits on the 3 floors of the museum.

Here the girls are waiting for the rest of the class playing "Bubble gum...bubble gum, in a dish...How many pieces do you wish?".

Some more of their classmates wanted to join in.

Madeline with some of her classmates.

I think it was harder for the boys to sit still than most of the girls.

Madeline's class aka Mrs. Moore's Monkeys!

Can you tell these are Texas students? Hook 'em Horns! :)

After walking around the museum exhibits we headed across the street to the State Building to have some lunch on their picnic benches...it was a chilly 41 degrees outside - needless to say we ate our lunches as fast as we could! Mrs. Moore took this photo of Madeline and I and emailed it to us.

After lunch we headed back to the museum to watch the IMAX movie "Under the Sea 3D". Here's some pics of the kids I was sitting with.

Some of the girls got scared and started clinging to me when the sea snakes and sharks came close to them in 3D!

I thought the movie was fascinating! And so cool to see it in 3D. It was filmed off the coasts of New Guinea, Indonesia and Australia.

And here is Madeline's class for one final photo opt before we got back on the buses a little after 1pm. It was a very enjoyable field trip!

Homemade Playdough

For Madeline's early birthday party this past weekend I made homemade playdough. I remember several years ago going to a MOMs club gathering and one of the moms making some for the kids to play with. I found a super easy recipe to follow - it's real simple to make. What I like about this stuff is it smells good (you use Koolaid packets for coloring and scent - my local grocer sells a store brand of 10 packets for $1), it's edible incase your lil ones decide to put it in their mouth and if stored correctly it keeps very well and is nice and soft (easy to mold). For Madeline's party I made 2 pink batches (strawberry & fruit punch), 1 purple batch (grape) and 1 green batch (lemon lime...for James). The girls sprinkled glitter into their pink and purple playdough. I gave them cookie cutters to make shapes.

Koolaid Playdough

What you'll need:

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 envelope unsweetened Koolaid
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

To make:

1. Mix flour, salt, lemon juice, Koolaid and water in medium saucepan. I used my wooden spoon. Stir in oil.

2. Mix over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until mixture forms a ball in the center of pan. Dough will start darkening in color.

3. Remove from pan {caution: will be HOT}. Knead on a cutting board until soft.

4. Store in airtight container or ziploc bag.

5. Licking is optional

It's a great, easy to make activity for your lil ones especially on these cold, rainy days when they need to stay indoors!

Christmas Survey

Hopefully most have received our Christmas letter and photo. Above is our family photo we sent out. I thought it would be fun to share my Christmas survey answers in this blog post.

1. What do you want most for Christmas?
Peace for all my loved ones.

2. Do you believe in Father Christmas?
I believe there was a historical Saint Nicholas (Nicholas of Myra) which became the model for Sinterklaas (which became the model for modern day Santa Claus).

3. What is your favorite food at Christmas?
Kerstkrans! It's a Dutch puff pastry, almond paste filled, Christmas ring/wreath shaped. Wish I could eat one this Christmas!

4. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?
I've done a little.

5. Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?
Nope still need to pick up a few things.

6. What is your favorite Christmas song?
I have a few but probably "O Holy Night".

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
I still like "A Christmas Story" and I also like "Polar Express".

8. What is your best memory of Christmas?
As a child receiving this talking Mickey Mouse telephone...as an adult the birth of our daughter Madeline only 24 hours and 4 minutes before Christmas.

9. What do you look forward to most at Christmas?
Hearing how all of our family and friends are doing and seeing the excitement and joy in my children with all the festivities the season brings.

10. What are you doing for Christmas this year?
Having a quiet time at home. Stephen works Christmas day but we'll probably try and take the kids to see the new Chipmunk movie that is coming out.

11. Who do you want to kiss under the mistletoe?
Well Stephen of course!

12. What kind of Christmas tree do you have?
A 6-7' Noble Fir.

13. Do you take part in a secret Santa?
We have in past years but it seems our families are not participating this year.

14. Do you go to any Christmas parties?
Sure if we're invited.

15. Have you ever had a white Christmas?
Yes, when we lived in Oregon.

16. How early do you wake up on Christmas morning?
Not too early, probably around 8am or so.

17. Do you still get a stocking?
Yes, the kids have their big stockings with their names stitched on them from Pottery Barn kids, and Stephen and I have Hawaiian ones from Hilo Hatties. I love to fill the stockings.

18. How many Christmas cards do you normally send out?
This year I believe I sent out 95...it's usually around 100.

19. What is your Christmas wish?
That all are open to receiving God's amazing Grace.

20. Egg nog or hot cider?
I LOVE egg nog. James had it for the first time the other week and loved it too!

21. Angel or star?
We put this beautiful glass cross on top of our tree.

22. Decorating the tree or putting lights on the outside?
Both! Although due to weather and time constraints we still have not gotten our lights up on the house.

23. Warm cozy fires or sleigh rides?
Love fires. But one time had an awesome sleigh ride in Lake Tahoe.

24. Caroling or Christmas stories?
Christmas stories - I sing waaaayyyy off tune!

25. Red or Green?
Red is one of my favorite colors!

Thank You Mary

I love art. It's like a language in itself. And hundreds of years ago, for the majority of people who were illiterate it spoke to them the story it was telling. And what a beautiful story these 2 paintings are telling. I am so very thankful to the Blessed Mother of God, Mary...could you imagine what humanity's eternal fate would've been had not Mary been obedient? Thankfully she was and replied: 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38.

I just read this astonishing statement made on the Called to Communion blog, it perfectly speaks truth... Eve, by her disobedience, became the mother of all the dying. Mary, by her obedience, became the Mother of all the living, i.e. those living with the supernatural and eternal Life of God.

I also came across this article with such awesome advice...
As Mary was asked to bear the Christ-child we are asked to bear Christ Jesus in our word. Jesus left us to continue His work—by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is a saying that says, “you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.” But sharing the message of Jesus is more than speaking words, it is doing the stuff that Jesus did. It is our job to love people the way Jesus did and to share the good news of the life that Jesus has to offer. It is our responsibility to respond like Mary to the call to bring Jesus into the world. God gave Mary a big and important job that she didn’t know how to do, and we have been given an important job (sharing the good news with our neighbors). And we might not know how to do it. But the Holy Spirit will empower us to do the things Jesus did as the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary. It might not be easy. Say “yes,” to the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Love the unlovable. Pray for someone. Give to the needy. This is the best way we can celebrate Christmas.

The pigskin sport weekend update

Brett didn't have much to smile about yesterday night in his game against the Cardinals, and unfortunately neither did Stephen and his 3 brothers who traveled to AZ to root the Vikes on. Seriously what a bummer of a game! James and I fell asleep on the couch in the 4th quarter. I guess we scored one more time but still came out defeated. Overall though I think Stephen and his bros had a fun time in AZ.

Hey at least our Longhorns WON.....

A second can really matter. Woo hoo, looking forward to watching the BCS Championship game! Hook 'em Horns!