2014 is winding down

The holidays are winding down, school starts back next week, and we are yet to finish some assignments that were sent home. Shek's flu actually threw a wrench on getting school work done prior to Christmas. I am so glad no one else caught that flu bug from him, because he was MiSeRaBlE....for sure, so we will be scrambling to finish up a few assignments before class starts back on Tuesday.

Usually, the hustle and bustle of Christmas, and the panic to get everyone 'enough' gifts can suck the joy right out of the true meaning of Christmas for me. The holiday, that brought the most delight to me as a child has not always brought the same delight to me as an adult. I love the celebration of Jesus' birthday of course, but the pressure that comes with it as an adult is not so fun, But this Christmas/ Advent season, determined to focus on Jesus, I read the  Advent book that our pastor, Louie Giglio wrote as well as the advent books by Ann Voskamp.

 We did the Jesse Tree and advent candle wreath that  goes along with Ann Voskamp's books for the advent season. Gam and Pop made the ornaments, tree, and wreath  that go with the devotional book. The ornaments were beautiful, and this will now be my favorite part of Christmas, I look forward to doing it again and again. I enjoyed reading the daily devotion, and having someone place the ornament for that day on the tree.

 I documented the  ornaments on instagram and it was fun and something we anticipated doing each day.

This is a photo of the Jesse tree complete with all the ornaments and topped with the star on Christmas day. Gam and Pop, the designers of the tree are pictured here with their grands.

Christmas Eve is always a busy day for our family, we always go to Christmas Eve services, followed by a birthday party for Jesus. This year, we headed to our church in the morning for Christmas eve services and then headed down to Zach's church for services at 4 pm.  I served with several of the ladies pictured above at our church, this photo was taken at our last Grove of 2014 rather than on Christmas Eve. I love serving at my church, and I treasure the new friendships with the ladies I serve with.

After Christmas Eve services at Zach's church, Honey posed with all her Great-grands. She was delighted that she could hear every word the pastor said, and all the songs. Usually in church services she has difficulty hearing anything, so she was delighted not to miss a word.

We came home for Christmas Eve celebrations at our home, the kids opened their traditional Pjs, but did not really want to pose for a photo...oh well....

Now we get ready for 2015....may the prayer of Jabez continue to be our prayer for 2015,"Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm[a] so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 1 Chroniciles 4:10

Spreading Christmas Joy...one tacky Christmas sweater at a time...

Guess what? 

See the joy on those faces, especially on that momma's face? What can it mean? It means today is the last day of school until January. That means homework needs to be finished up today or tomorrow so we can enjoy the holidays.

Today was Christmas tacky sweater day in Karlie's class. If they were passing out awards for it, surely she would win a prize....

She is wearing the stocking sweater vest that I used to wear back before the rest of the world claimed all these sweaters were tacky. So I saved a few of my Christmas frocks for days like today. She is also wearing my Christmas candy ribbon earrings, a snowman pin, my nativity necklace and a santa hat...she is also wearing red moccasins that totally complete the look.

AND

to think I used to leave the house like this on a regular basis not meaning to be tacky but instead festive just a few Decembers ago... 

Christmas~celebrating The Mighty God we serve

Emily and Zach have been working hard getting ready for a Christmas Program at Zach's Church. We went to see one of the three performances this past weekend.

Zach and Emily told us there would be camels, snow, lights,  a Santa and even some Frozen characters. 

I guess I have never really seen a camel up close, and for sure never in church. Camels are awesome looking...especially dressed up "Biblical"....Pretty regal looking animals.

Jolie was excited to meet "Elsa" and "Olaf"....

and of course she was excited to meet 

this pretty Santa...

but the highlight of the evening  for this mom was seeing Zach and Emily sing....

The show was an awesome production...a Christmas celebrating THE mighty God we serve.

#proudbelmontmomofmusicalumni

Post by Martha Berry.

School happenings....

The kids have had quite a busy schedule this past month with programs.

Karlie's group ended  the fall season with the Roman forum.

 The students were assigned different topics then assigned different rooms where they would stand as wax figures. 

 The audience then went with tour guides and the wax figures would come to life and

 explain their roman topic to the crowd.

 It was a fun way to learn about Roman life from the students.

 The juniors worked on a play, Aladdin, and performed it the week before  Thanksgiving break.

 Shek and some of his friends dressed in their Aladdin costumes.

 His favorite part of the play was

 the dancing?

 or

was it the cast party after it was over?

a little red dress

Several months ago we went to the movies with some friends. AND Jolie was more excited about the previews than the actual movie we went to see. She saw the trailer for the new remake for ANNIE the movie and immediately said, "I want to see that!" I grew up with the original Annie movie, sported the short curly redheaded annie hairstyle, and  I was also known to belt out  the song "Tomorrow"  so much that  my mother said, ENOUGH.! I too wanted to see the new annie remake....and we are still waiting to see it as it's not due to release till December 21. WHY, the long wait?

In the meantime, we went to Target, where we were greeted almost at the door with a whole section of little girl clothes from the ANNIE movie. Jolie being the fashionista that her sister turned her into...was more than smitten with the clothes.

 She loved the red Christmas dress, and immediately wanted to try it on. She was excited that it fastened with a zipper, because this baby girl will not have any clothes with buttons....she's been this way since day one...so a zipper was reason to celebrate.

 Yes! she put on her own show in the dressing room area of Target.

 Work it....

 Since it was a sleeveless dress..I said we need something dressy that will keep you warm.

 So we tried the velvetish cape that was sold separately but was designed to go  with it....she said, it has a button, but since it's a jewel she was okay with it...but I still was not sold on it...

 So we decided on a little white/ivory colored long sleeved jacket....

We liked it better and thought it gave her a more Christmasy look..now to find some nice shoes to match....

Bonfire Birthday

Back in the summertime, Karlie and I thought it would be a great idea to do a birthday bonfire. So we turned to pinterest and came up with a lot of ideas.

 We loved out party food display...

 Canoli's, trail mix and smore makin's looked so cute on this galvanized snack stand that I borrowed from church.

 Candy and kettle corn and cupcakes...

My girls pose by the goodies..

 We told dad we needed a fire pit, and we showed him our inexpensive pinterest fire pit...and he went to work...and then...

it just happened to be the coldest day of the year so far.  I think they still had fun even though it was more than just a little cold.

 A few snapshots

 and smiles....

 Bundled up to brave the cold.... and roast some marshmallows.

 Make a wish...

 Cupcakes...smores, friends and birthday wishes...

white cake and red roses

 Several weeks ago, we celebrated my birthday...I've always been partial to white cakes with red roses...that cake combo and I go waaaaaaaaaaay back....

It's the prettiest combo in cakes...if you ask me.

 We only have cake on birthdays...

that's why everyone is all smiles?

Me and my favorite....