Sick house

Yes, it's that time of the year for the return of the dreaded "stomach bug". Isabel started it last Friday, and the domino effect has continued, leaving me the last to fall. So...not a long post today, but hopefully after this weekend, I'll have some new Christmas-y pics to share. The Lebanon horse-drawn Christmas parade is tomorrow, and most likely we will have to miss it this year. It starts at 11am, then returns for the "candle-lit" version at 7pm. If you have never been, you ought to come up. Silver Street is a great place to be, near our church, Lebanon United Methodist.

Have a good weekend, and get started on those Christmas cards. I have already received two, and it's not even December! Those over-achievers!

Countdown is on!

How many shopping days until Christmas? I know some people have it all figured out to the last second...I have even received an email with the countdown to Christmas in actual time, just to stress you out a little more. It's not working, though. I love Christmas and just about everything about it...shopping for the perfect gift, decorating the house and yard, wrapping presents, making and sending and receiving Christmas cards, going to parties...but most of all, teaching my kids the real meaning of Christmas, and creating traditions and memories that will last them all of their lives (I hope!). Have you heard that song "Mary Did You Know?" ? I was driving with the kids when it came on in the van, and it got us talking about Jesus when he was a baby, and whether or not Mary had any idea what was in store for her baby boy. As a mother, I just love that perspective on the Christmas story. I'll see if I can find the video...look at the right and check it out if it's there.

Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. Mine was mixed...I was able to celebrate with family before and after the holiday, but spent the actual day at work having an absolutely horrible day. My prayers are with the family of my 36-year old patient, who lost her life yesterday after a tragic stroke. She leaves behind a husband, three teenaged children, and lots of other family. So sad.

Cherish these days with your family, and create some new blessed memories with your kids.

Thanksgiving

"Isabel and Gabe dancing to the music!"

I know it's early, but the next few days are going to be crazy with the kids out of school, me working, and then trying to celebrate the holiday and get ready for Christmas shopping! So, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and encourage you to think of all of the things you have to be grateful for. The big things (health, family, God's grace), and the little things (listening to your kids getting along for once!). The other night I was downstairs making Christmas cards, and through the baby monitor, I could hear Isabel being in Gabe's room. Just when I was ready to go upstairs and tell them to get into their beds (for the third time!), I stopped to listen to what they were saying. Isabel was praying with Gabe, and it was so precious. She would say "Thank you, God, for Mommy and Daddy" and Gabe would repeat her. They worked their way through every member of our family, and then said "Amen" together. Isabel is such a little mother to her baby brother, and he loves her like crazy. If I would not have had the monitor on, or if I would have gone up the stairs in anger, I never would have been blessed to hear that prayer. And I so needed to hear that prayer. On that note, have a great and blessed day yourself.

Happy!

You know those days when everything just seems to go the way you planned? I have been having one of those today, and I am so grateful for it. The kids got off to school without a hitch, Gabe has been in a great mood (when is he not, come to think of it!), and the grocery shopping is done for Thanksgiving! Yay! I am looking forward to working tonight...I am so blessed to have a job that I truly love.

I hope that many of you have a day like this, if not today, then surely tomorrow or this week!

Where does the time go?

I can't believe it's been almost a week since my last post. I guess I have been busy with Stamp Camps and Elijah's last flag football game and getting the puppy spayed...the list goes on and on. Oh, yeah, and laundry, dishes, packing lunches, making breakfast, lunch and dinner; playing Hot Wheels and building pretend castles with Gabe, shopping, going to the library, making cards and Christmas ornaments...I am so lucky to have such a full life!

Please remember my grandma in your prayers. We call her "Mother", and she is 84 and lives by herself in North Carolina. She was in a car accident last week, and then she had a spell and fell flat on her face in the road a couple of days ago. She is in a hospital down in NC, and she is doing okay, but is now at the point where it is dangerous for her to live alone. She is a very independent woman, and this is very hard for her to face. My mom is going to be getting her and bringing her home to live with her soon, which will be a big adjustment for everyone concerned. So...please pray.

Just wanted to post a few random pics. Gabe in the rain; Gabe with my nieces, Katlyn and Kylee; and Elijah, Isabel and Gabe at the Pumpkin patch this fall. Enjoy.

Doughnuts and pizza

I don't know why, but for some reason I am really craving doughnuts and Larosa's pizza (not together, mind you). No, I am NOT pregnant, just haven't had breakfast yet and I am hungry. There is a new doughnut shop in Lebanon that I am dying to try out, so I think Gabe and I are going to go on a road trip. I'll let you know how they taste.

Tomorrow is my Christmas Stamp Camp, and I am so excited...I think Christmas cards are my very favorite to make. I bought this new paper, "Figgy Pudding", by Basic Grey, and the cards turned out adorable. Hopefully I can sell some of these extra cards, otherwise ya'll might be getting two cards from me :)

Have a great weekend!

Christmas cards and Puppies

This cute card was made using the "Baby Jesus is Born" set from the winter mini catalog from Stampin' Up! I got the idea off of Splitcoaststampers, which is an awesome site for scrapbookers and cardmakers alike. I am loving blues and browns for cards this year...I am an earth-tones girl, I guess. Stay tuned for more ideas. Also including a picture of Ellie...she is about full-grown now, weighing about six pounds. I am loving having a dog, more than I thought I would. Isabel takes such good care of her, and Gabe is the best playmate! You should see how crazy he and Ellie are together!

Get Ready!

So, how many of you have started on your Christmas cards? These pics are a sneak peek of ones I am considering using on my cards this year. I cannot stand to go to a portrait studio...Gabe is never in the mood to smile or even hold still, and I end up angry and mean by the end of the session...not a great way to kick off the holidays. So...I decided to try to make some memories at the pumpkin patch, and Becky Higgins has some great ideas of cards to make with your photos in the December issue of CK. Of course, by then I might have even better pics, who knows? BTW, the pic of Joe and me was taken by Isabel...pretty good, huh? I know she'll love it if I use that one for my cards; she was so proud :)

Have a great Monday, and enjoy the cold weather!

More cards!

To get you in the mood to stamp and create, I have posted a couple of card ideas. This month, I am hosting two different Christmas stamp camps, one on Saturday, November 10th and the other on Wednesday, November 14th, both from 7pm to 9pm. If you are interested, drop me a line at kelseyhs@go-concepts.com and I'll give you the details.

Enjoy your weekend! We are having our adult Sunday School class over tomorrow night for a "winery" dinner, and we even get an extra hour of sleep afterwards! How perfect.

November 1st!

November...visions of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce...yum! The only bummer this year is that I have to work a 12-hour day shift on Thanksgiving. But, the good thing is that my family is willing to wait until Saturday to celebrate, not only the holiday but also my oldest sister's birthday. I think she's turning 35 this year, right, Michelle?

Halloween was so great last night! The kids had a terrific time trick or treating and getting gobs of candy (which will probably last us until Easter!). Even Gabe was excited this year...much better than the screaming and crying last year. Elijah was a Bengal's player, Isabel a rock star and Gabe an alligator/T-Rex, depending on his mood. I loved my nieces' costumes...Kylee was an adorable cow, and Katlyn was a scary vampire. Too fun!

These are some of the promised pictures that I finally uploaded. Halloween, our pumpkins, a trip to the pumpkin patch, and Gabe with E.T. (who is still sleeping in Gabe's Thomas bed every night, BTW). Enjoy!