The Greatest Show on Earth and Some Decorating

This year we took Jackson to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus at the Bi-Lo Center.  He really wanted to go last year, so we were all super excited about seeing it this year (We left Will with Mimi and Papa, because we weren't sure if he'd sit still for that long).  We were also able to meet up with some our besties, Kolas, Jaymes, Katie, Ian, and Ta.  The Circus' theme "Built to Amaze" seemed appropriate, because we were all amazed.  The acrobats and animals were awesome!  The elephants were my favorite part, while Jackson's favorite part was the woman being shot from the cannon, and Brian's was the acrobats on the "Wheel of Steel."  A good time was had by all, although we all seem to be coming down with colds.  Jackson fell asleep on the way  home from all of the excitement.  We can't wait to go back next year!

 Daddy and Jackson watching the show

 Ta, Katie, and Jaymes (Jaymes had to have her own snow cone, no sharing with Kolas!)

Watching the man below walk upside down

This picture doesn't do him justice, he was really high!

Jackson and Katie enjoying the popcorn 

The boys watching

 Ta and Jaymes snuggling

 The grand finale

  Our ride home, Jackson fell asleep

On another note, we have been trying to decorate the boys' rooms the past few weeks.  I am terrible at decorating and making decisions about our home.  So even though we've lived in our house for two years now, we are just getting around to decorating some of the rooms in our home.  A few weeks ago, Brian finished a book shelf and colorful shelves (boxes) for Jackson's room.  Jackson loves anything construction so my friend, Elizabeth, gave us the cute hanging decoration below.  Jackson decided to get in on the action and had to get out some of his tools to help Daddy hang it up.  I have wanted to do a train theme in Will's room for a while.  My Papa Jack loved trains and steam engines, so they hold a special place in my heart.  When I saw this train mural online, I just loved it, especially since it is a circus theme too.  I put it on my wish list for the Gannon Christmas gift exchange.  Brian's brother, Uncle Dave, gave it to me for Christmas.  So I was really excited to put it up.  It was really easy to do since it is basically just stickers that go on the wall.  Will likes it and keeps going up and pointing to it and saying "Chooo Chooo."

Jackson's new decoration

 Jackson hammering a nail

 Will's new mural

Will cuddles up with some animal friends while we work

January Round Up

We have had a lot of fun at home this January.  It has been really cold and rainy this month so we've spent a lot of time indoors.  We've had fun playing with our new Christmas toys. Some favorite gifts have been the Leappads that Grammy and Pap Pap gave the boys.  Even though Will mostly just turns his on and off over and over again, he loves to press the power button.  Will has had fun wearing the Spider Man bike helmet around the house that Santa brought Jackson.  The boys have also enjoyed their new play guitars and the new books they received   Jackson was super excited to go back to school to Mrs. Heather (Hedder as he says).  He is learning several letters now.  He loves to point out colors and environmental print (like Lowes, McDonalds, Home Depot, etc.)  He is also counting a little bit.  

Will and his new turtle Santa brought 

 Playing with the leappads

 Gorgeous January sunrise in our back yard

Will loves dragging out toilet paper and diapers and using them as pillows  

Spider Man Helmet (It hasn't been used for intended purposes, just as a hat)

New Year's Eve 

Bubble Bath Fun 

Happy Times

A New Year

As I type this post I think of things to come in the year of 2012.  The beginning of a new year always makes me reflect on past years (good times and bad), and also look forward to what may come in the new year.  We never know what will happen each year.  As I type this I think of several people I know of who have passed away in the last week unexpectedly.  I know it may seem cliche, but when they woke up in the morning, I'm sure they didn't think that that particular day would be their last day on earth.  When someone passes very quickly, it always reminds me how important it is to make the most of each day, and more importantly to make sure our hearts are right with Christ.   

I love the Carrie Underwood song, So Small.  This verse below so describes me a lot of the time.

It's so easy to get lost inside a problem that seems so big at the time

It's like a river a that's so wide it swallows you whole

While you’re sitting round thinking 'bout what you can't change and worrying about all the wrong things

Times flying by moving so fast you better use it all cause you can't get it back

I can get obsessed with things such as my health, my child's health, dirty laundry, potty training, etc.  All my worrying and obsessing doesn't do one lick of good.  So this year, I want to try enjoy each day the the Lord blesses me here on earth.  I want to take the time to be gracious and enjoy all of the SMALL things about my precious children.  I want to try my best to make each day count.  I know there will be ups and downs, and there will days when I want to scream and pull my hair out, but at the end of those days, I hope I can count my blessings and realize all God has done for me.  I hope anyone who will read this has a wonderful 2013 where they won't sweat the small stuff.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This Christmas instead of being stressed I tried to focus on the many Christmas blessings instead of the hustle and bustle.  I must admit it has been a major blessing to be a stay at home mom instead of a working mom, because I have more time at home to wrap presents, find good deals on gifts, run errands, etc.  We were blessed with a wonderful holiday season (other than the stomach bug that struck our home the week before Christmas).  Some of my favorite Christmas memories and pictures are below-

1- Jackson LOVED Christmas lights this year, so we had so much fun driving around at night and looking at houses.  My favorite expressions of his were "Wow!"  "Look at those lights!"  "Awesome!"
2- Jackson was really excited to go see Santa and tell him what he wanted.
3- Will loved our Christmas tree lights, whenever we came in and the lights were off he would go stand by the tree, point, and grunt for us to turn them on (or he would just turn them on himself, even though he got many spanking for it).
4- We bought Jackson a singing Christmas dog from Hobby Lobby.  Watching the boys to dance and sing with it was hilarious.  Will did a crazy one legged dance at least once a day with the dog.
5- Getting all of the adorable handmade ornaments that Jackson made during MMO- My favorite was the Rudolph made from Popsicle sticks.
6- Reading Christmas stories at bedtime
7- Baking and decorating sugar cookies with Jackson (Will only wanted to eat them)
8- All of the fun and memories we made with friends and  family during Christmas gatherings
9- Listening to Jackson sing Christmas carols loudly from his bed each night after we put him to bed (Ironically he wouldn't sing at all at his school's program.)
10- Talking about baby Jesus and the Christmas story with Jackson.  He is starting to understand and really getting into it this year
11- Seeing Christmas through the innocent eyes of a child has been so much fun!

 Aunt Loni and Will

 Kolas and his reindeer ears

Playing Lord of the Ring Legos 

 Jackson pretends to be invisible during the MMO Christmas Performance

Who need gifts when you have an old diaper box 

Mema, Will, and Me on Christmas Eve 

Jackson rocks out with his new guitar 

 

Jackson riding the horse Johnny and Renee sent

The new shelves Brian built for Jack's room 

Will's 18 Month Appointment

Today I took my smallest munchkin to the doctor for his 18 month appointment.  We saw Dr. Humphries and our favorite nurse, Ms. Kacie.  Will has really grown!  He is 27 lbs. just a few lbs. shy of Jackson.  He is in the 98% for the his height and the 90% for his weight.  He is not saying as many words as he should be, but we are working on it!  I guess, sniff sniff, I need to try to eliminate his pacifier some during the day since it seems to be slowing down his speech.  He had a hard day, and he has been running a slight fever I think due to the vaccinations.  Hopefully he will be back to 100% tomorrow.

Praying for my Children

Praying for your children is so important.  I feel like praying for my boys daily is the one of the greatest gifts I can give to them.  Today I was on Facebook and the christian author, Lysa TerKeurst, posted the comment below and I really love it. 

Here are 3 prayers that I pray over my kids every day:

* I pray they grow up to be some of the most godly people in their sphere of influence.

* I pray that they would be caught when they make wrong choices. 

* I pray that God would save them from the wrong friends and save them for the right friends. And that goes for their future spouses as well.

I have currently been reading the Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartin.  She really encourages parents to pray for their children using scripture.  She always encourages you to make a prayer list/journal over things you should pray for your child each year.  I agree with Lysa and always try to pray for my boys to have godly friends and godly spouses.  Friends are so important in guiding the path of your life.  I truly feel God has blessed me with many wonderful friends who have encouraged me spiritually and guided me down the right path.  I have also had other relationships that were not a good influence on me.  If my boys read this one day, I hope you will look at your relationships closely and ask yourself and God if you are surrounding yourself with the right kind of friends.  We talk about this verse a lot in my bible study and I love to pray it for my boys and others-

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Ho Ho Ho!!!

He's jolly, full of good cheer, and gives away toys.  Who wouldn't love Santa?  That would be Will!  Jackson loves him though and told him that he would like guns, a guitar, helicopter, and more tractors.  All I can say is you definitely don't have to teach little boys to love manly things.  The great part about our Santa visit was they gave me a little receipt to view the pictures online so I didn't even have to buy the bad pictures, I just got to keep them digitally for free.

 This picture was half way decent even though Will wouldn't sit with Santa

 Jackson was doing a really fakey smile by this point

Santa's looking like he can't wait for his break.