Our Unique Family

The other day I was browsing around at Finding Joy and come across a post on what makes Rachel's family unique... It got me thinking, hmmm what makes our family unique?  So after some thought and observation and chatting with my hubby and kids. Here it is... the things that we love about our little family, the things that fill up our days, and the things  that bring joy to us all. 

• Once a week, we all stop to spend time doing something we love... Pizza, Popcorn, and a movie!
• Almost everything we own has sentimental meaning behind it!  Just ask. I'll share the story! But my favorite item... Drop leaf table.
• Everything is a competition... we do have a houseful of boys you know!
• Books are a huge part of our lives.  We all enjoy reading and being read to.
• Food is a love for each of us, for some of us it's homemade fettuccine Alfredo or perfectly grilled steaks... for others it's chicken nuggets and peanut butter and jelly.

• Like Cage fighting or WWF? Tickets are on sale now... We don't have to watch it on TV, all we have to do is stick two boys in a room and before long the giggles, wrestling, goofing will begin.
• We love to laugh. The joy that is shared in our home is contagious and I love to share it with others.
• Everyone is unique and we try our best to celebrate those differences and passions.
• Deep conversations about God, beliefs, and faith spring out of thin  air. I love that God is alive here and a natural curiosity is always welling over.

I love the closeness that our family shares. I love that each person has a special place and purpose  and that even through the little tiffs and arguments, that ultimately we know we were woven together as a family by God's unique plan.

For the Love of Books!

I love books. I love to turn page after page and watch the story unfold before my very eyes.  I love the feel of the smooth, crinkly (that is a word, right?) pages and the musky smell of a good used book. I love to think of the adventures that readers before me have experienced and wonder if they also felt the same emotions or if the book has touched them in the same ways it has touched me. There is something magical that happens when I get to read a really great book, a classic. I have had this love of books from a very young age.  I cherish the memories of drifting off to sleep as my mother read chapter after chapter of Boxcar Children, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, and so many others.

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I also love now, that these are moments, characters, and stories that I get to share with my children. I love that William reads everything he picks up. I love that on Thursdays when he comes home from school with his new library books, he can't wait to get to his quiet room, and his comfy bed and sit for the rest of the day combing over the pages, analyzing the characters, and immersing himself into the story. 

I also have found a new way to share these stories with my children.  We spend at least an hour a day in the car. Like most of you, I'm always driving to and from school, grocery store, post office, sports practices, activities... you know what I'm talking about.  I know many mom's use car DVD players... but that just isn't me.  We usually listen to Christian radio or play alphabet and counting games in the car...until recently.

We were at our local library for story time, while I was glancing over a few of the DVDs when I came to the section of books on CD, my eyes instantly rested on one of my all time favorites, Little House on the Prairie.  I found myself hoping one day my boys might want to read a book about a family with 3 little girls... Yeah right!  But I decided I would get the CD and just see what happened.... turns out they love to hear about Laura and Mary, and the adventures they have as they travel in their wagon and make a new home.  We are now on the fourth book in the Little House on the Prairie series and the kids request it every time was get in the car. 


I love the exposure to classic literature they are absorbing. I love the history that the stories hold, and the raw adventure and emotions that are expressed as we listen intently. I love the questions and conversations that keep coming from my boys as they listen to what life was like in the pioneer days, and the joy that they feel with every victory the Ingalls family has.

I hope to continue to show my children the fun and adventure that can come from something so simple as a book; I also hope that they too will grow a love for the written word and that it will follow them through life.  ]

Do your children love to read, or be read to?  What do you do to encourage that love?
I'm always looking for more wonderful stories to share with my family...What are your favorites as a child or favorites that you share with you children now?

Christmas Morning 2011

Each year we spend most of our Christmas Holiday Traveling to see Grandparents, Grandparents, and more Grandparents!  And we LOVE it!  I love the memories and bonds that are made by spending time with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and sweet cousins! Because of our excessive traveling, we always have Christmas the weekend before we leave, which usually also means the weekend before Calendar Christmas. We get to have a small intimate Christmas with our boys and we don't have to worry about hiding presents or hauling presents all over Texas. 

  This year December 18th was the big day.  We set out cookies, for Santa and headed to bed. (Yes, this works...by the time they begin to question our Christmas timing they will probably also begin to question Santa in general)

 Good morning!! William tried to get up at 3:00 am, but was sent back to bed.... at 6:24, He revisited the idea of getting up... and we obliged. Santa brought the boys a new tent, and sleeping bags! We can't wait to try them out in a few months.

 The boys dumping their stockings.

 Cade got a new Star Wars Leapster Explorer Game... and everyone loved it! They sat in this huddle for at least 10 minutes.

 William was so happy to get this shirt!  We are a little Star Wars obsessed around here!

We had a wonderful day!  Now we are gearing up for a week long trip around Texas!  Waco, Dallas, Muleshoe... Ready or Not here we come!!

Christmas Tree Topper: A Family Tradition

Growing up I remember several tree toppers.  A garland star with a multitude of colored twinkle lights, and  a glowing angel with really bad hair top the list of tree toppers that came through our home at Christmas.  Don't get me wrong, I loved our tree and looked forward to putting it up each year. However, the first year I had my own tree I couldn't wait to top it with a beautiful bow or bouquet of gorgeous feathers... but to my surprise what I got instead was so much better than I could ever imagine.  As Michael and I decorated our first tree I mentioned going to get our tree topper a little later in the day, while we did some Christmas shopping.  Michael looked at me in great disappointment and confusion and said, "No, I'll be making the star!"  Uhhhmmm ok.. I thought.  Then he began to gather supplies; which included cardboard, aluminum foil, and wire.... I know you are now thinking what I was... Seriously!  We have this beautiful tree and there is no way we are putting some sort of kindergarten aluminum foil craft on top of it! 

Well, 9 Christmas's later that same beautiful star graces our tree each year.  I love it and I love that Michael's parents have an aluminum foil star and one day maybe our boys will be making aluminum foil stars for their first Christmas with their new bride. This foil star has come to be one of the prized possessions in our Christmas boxes because of the simplicity and sense of family tradition that it holds.  

What tops your tree?  Does it have any special meaning?  

Ornamental Christmas Fun: A Family Tradition

Last week I mentioned that we have several Family Traditions that we look forward to during the Christmas Season.  One that we all look forward to is... The Great Ornament Hunt.

William's letter tube.  We keep all their letters from years past in this tube! I loved looking back at the letters and pictures that have been shared through the years.

Our Christmas tree is not one you would see in a catalog. It's not color coordinated and beautified with feathers, ribbon, and vintage glass ornaments.  No, our tree is actually a bit random. I would describe it as a misfit tree... definitely a personality of it's own... with each characteristic being special and unique. 

Some trees are beautiful but after you have looked at them for 2 minutes you have seen everything there is to see, not our tree.  No, our tree is one you can look at for an entire month and still see something new and special each day.  It's a tree that hold so many memories on it's fake polyester branches that I get sentimental goose bumps each time I pass by.

Each year our tree gets a new set of ornaments. They don't replace the old  but to add to the story they tell.  The funny memories they represent, the happiness that is felt on the night each ornament is hand picked and carefully carried home and added to the collection of memories that already find refuge in it's branches.

Cade's choice this year... He is our animal lover!

One evening during the Christmas season, the whole family piles in the car, and we head to dinner.  After dinner the hunt is on.  We usually hit one or two stores that have a mass variety of ornaments and each person grabs up an ornament of their choice.  Sometimes it represents a milestone hit that year, or a developing interest; and then again sometimes it's totally random and we all get a good laugh!

Brennan likes the sparkle ornaments.

Wreck'em Tech... Michael's pick.

This is as close to vintage as we get... ornaments from Michael's Kindergarten school crafts 1985, and my Kindergarten school craft 1987.

Some of my Favorites!!

  
 Because without the cross, you can't really appreciate the true meaning of Christmas. (Stained glass cross made by my parents preacher... gifted to me by my father.

 Christmas Nail gifted by my sweet sister-in-love, Kristi)  I love that after all the fun and laughs that come with each ornament, with just a few small mementos we are reminded of the glory and joy that brings this holiday to our life. Merry Christmas to you all!  May your traditions bring you joy and goodwill as you focus your family on the wonderful miracle of Christ's Birth!