10 weeks until Christmas!

I always start my shopping early.  This year is no different, I have a lot bought already.  I still have a lot to do though. 

Our kids each receive 3 gifts from us on Christmas Day.  This is to symbolize the 3 gifts Jesus received, but also to set a limit.  We don't set dollar amount limits.  Some years one will get a big gift and other years another will get one.  Honestly, some of their favorite gifts aren't ones that cost the most. 

A craft box filled with crafting supplies was a big hit for Ann one year and Andrew asked for it the next year.
Amy always likes a big box of books.
Aaron can be hard to buy for.  There are only so many jerseys he can wear! 
Annie asked for a chapstick of her own one year.

We do stockings too.  We put little gifts and candy, gum, (chapstick) etc. in them.  They each get a new pair of pajamas on christmas eve, with slippers sometimes too.

Not having cable or being able to watch TV during the week, helps too.  No commercials definitely helps the "I wants"

I love Christmas and I love buying gifts.  Joe seldom buys too many, but he always knows what they are getting.  Family Christmas's are a different story.  I give him the low down on the way to the gathering.

Our goal is to make Christmas about Christ and not about the gifts.  The World makes it hard, but we fight it all the way.
I will share some of our favorite traditions in the coming weeks.

Monday Menus

Monday- Amy's Day
Chicken strips
Mac and cheese
applesauce

Tuesday
Ham steaks
green beans
mashed potatoes

Wednesday
Chicken and wild rice soup
bread
salad

Thursday through sunday
In St. Louis visiting the Reeds for Fall break.
Happy 20th Birthday Tori!

I think I'm going crazy....

This past week:

I forgot Annie's snack for her soccer game( no one wants rice krispie treats at 8am anyway right?)

I burned Andrews homework.  Yes, you heard it right.  I put Andrews homework in the the tree stump we now call a bonfire.  Fun email to teacher, who has to think I am a lunatic.  She says it was a first in her teaching career. I thought it was a an old one.

I was a no call no show for Ann's eye appt. we have been waiting for to try and explain her nightly headaches.

I wore blue today for blue friday.  We have the bye this week.

I did not know of Boss's day until the night before and had to run to the grocery store to buy him M&M's (premium mint ones, of course, he deserves only the best) and a card.

I thought I had missed a fund raiser pick up due to working late and went to the school the next day to apologize.  The pick up is next month. 
I think the office staff thinks I may have Alzheimers, I'm beginning to wonder myself!

Cross Country Champ

Our boys have their Dads internal clock that wakes them up at 7am EVERY day.   As they get older they can usually fall back to sleep.  Joe is a pro at it now!  Anyway, Andrew came into our room sunday morning at 7 and said he couldn't fall back to sleep, so he crawled up in bed.  Now I can't go back to sleep.  So I go into Andrew's room to get in his bed- (don't ask why.... Im delerious in the early am.)

 Aaron hears me and then asks what I am doing?
He says, "just come snuggle with me".
 "O.K.  but why aren't you sleeping?' I ask.
"I can't stop thinking about the race"!

Well after playing in a soccer match in the morning....

He ends up winning the Indiana Middle School State Cross Country Race for 3, 4, and 5th graders Saturday.  Needless to say he is still pumped.  It was a 3k at Northview Church in Carmel.  He ran it in 11:47.0, he beat the other boy by only .1!  They sprinted 80 yards to the end, shoulder to shoulder.(insert chariots of fire video)

Go to here for a picture of the final sprint. He is the one on the right wearing the white shirt in case you werent sure.

Go here to see the plain-text official results.

We are very proud of him.

Small group

Small group was fun today.  Chilly and windy, but fun.

The girls weren't supposed to be in the water fountain, but they were so cute I had to take their picture.Porter with the football!

Joe was playing football with the kids.  He is teaching the kids a route.

Porter is a new walker and Ann and Sydney were happy to help him.

Another water fountain shot, before she got her coat soaked and had to take it off.

God has blessed us with great friends and a fun small group.  We discussed the book "The Attentive Life".  We haven't been too impressed with the book, but we had a good informal discussion anyway and we all hope it gets better :)

Monday Menus

Monday- Amy's night
Steaks(we went out with Joes boss to Carrabas last week and nixed the steaks)
Amy said "but I don't know how to make steaks"  I told her Daddy would help.
Green beans
Rolls

Tuesday
Routisserie Chicken(heading to Costco today!)
salad
Applesauce

Wednesday
Fresh Linguine with sausage and spinach(Weight watcher recipe)
fruit

Thursday
Beef stew in crock pot

Friday
Chili in the crock pot