Our Christmas Tradition

Over the last four to five years, we have sprinkled Reindeer food on the lawn on Christmas Eve.

We make up a batch of this "tasty" stuff each year.  We mix oats and sparkles in a big bowl.  The smell of the oats attracts the reindeer and the sparkles twinkle at night with the Christmas lights so maybe… just maybe… the reindeer will notice our house and stop here first!

The kids love this each year!  They just reminded me we still need to make up a batch for this year.  It is a simple tradition, but so fun.  And sometimes a bell falls off Santa's sleigh that night and the kids find it on the lawn in the morning… so far two bells have fallen off in our yard over the years.  Maybe one more bell will be lucky enough to land in our yard.  That way each child would amazingly enough, have a bell of their own!  Wink, wink...

Thankful: Day 30

Day 30:  I am very thankful for Chief.  After over 15 years of marriage, I still smile when I think of him.  While marriage can be hard and life can get in the way for time spent together, I would not want to walk through this life with anyone other than Chief.

Another year of a month of thankfulness!  This will be a yearly tradition because while I might not post every day, this exercise makes me keenly aware of all the blessings I have in my life.

Thankful: Day 26, 27, 28 & 29

Day 26:  YoYo Dinners.  YoYo stands for "You are On Your Own" for dinner.  Everyone knows they can eat what they can find (within reason) and I am off the hook for making dinner.

Day 27:  Lizard started basketball and her practice is inside!  Hallelujah.  I was able to read my book and watch her practice in realtive warmth.  I am also thankful she loves basketball.

Day 28:  Laying by the fireplace in the evenings.

Day 29:  For the multiple kisses and hugs Little Man gives me each morning at school.  Once I say "last one" so he knows it is time for me to go, I get five hugs and five kisses (on the lips!) from him and give him a "fake hug" in the air as I walk out of eye site.  I have to walk him to his classroom door everyday.  It would so much easier to drop him off in the car line (especially on cold, rainy days like today), but I know the time will end very soon that he will not hug and kiss me that way so I am very thankful.

Thankful: Day 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 & 25

Day 20:  Having a excellent (and funny) OB/GYN doctor to care for me and deliver ALL three of my children.  My OB is going to phase out of daily office care and be solely focused on hospital care for his practice's patients.  This was probably the last time I will see him.  He choked up when he said good-bye saying he will be miss being a part of people's families.

Day 21:  My Dad being healthy and able to travel up for Thanksgiving.

Day 22:  Being a Mom.  I became a Mom 13 years ago today.  The hardest job ever, but also the most amazing job ever.

Day 23:  NOT heading out for Black Friday sales.  I understand the deals people find, but I'd rather spend time at home with my family.

Day 24:  Knowing that Chief and I are on the same page when it comes to big life philosophy type things … the ones that mean the most at the end of your life.  

Day 25:  Finally being able to go to church as a family again.  Activities mess with our schedule A LOT so it feels good to be able to go again regularly, at least for now.

Thankful: Day 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19

Day 14:  My healthy children. 

Day 15:  A brisk walk with a friend and our puppies.

Day 16:  Saying yes at the last minute to arranging a sleepover at our house for Lizard.  Sleepovers (and playdates) are not easy for us because of Little Man; it is not a relaxing break for us as it is for most parents when their kids are occupied with their friend.  It is MORE work for us.  So we don't do them a lot at our house.  But it made her smile and for that I am thankful. 

Day 17:  Heated leather seats.  God bless whoever created this feature.

Day 18:  A break from soccer for both Soccer Girl and Chief (from coaching).  It will be nice to have our activity scheduled lightened significantly.... at least for a few weeks.

Day 19:  Little Man and the silly way he says things.  He was telling me the time on my digital clock and he said "6-4-E" (cause you know the digital 3 looks like and E!).  And he said he can't wait to get his Adams Apple so he can match Dad, except for his face.  He also calls Mint Milano cookies (yum) "Limp Pilanos" and remote control cars "Mote Cin-Can-Troll."

Aging

I read a wonderful post at inCourage written by Kristen Welch who blogs at We are THAT Family.  Kristen is one of my daily read (sometimes more than once!).  This post is a beautiful message for every women on aging gracefully and true beauty.   Read her post here.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelery or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.  

1 Peter 3:3-4

Thankful: Day 13

Day 13:  I am thankful Little Man is doing so well in school.

School conferences are in early December and Little Man's teacher indicated in an email that if there were any issues (socially or academically) she has already spoken to the parents so there are no surprises come December.  We get routine updates about his behavior and progress, but we have not had a special meeting!  I never in a million years anticipated he would NOT be having difficulties in school.  I know now we did the right thing moving to medication.  As weird as I still feel giving him his dose every morning, I know it is what he needs to succeed.  For that I am VERY thankful.