Tabletop Tuesday

Ah.... this is when I need my family blog up and running, because this post has NOTHING really to do with Tyson. I promise it's a working progress... JUST SLOWLY. Anyhow, I chose to post these pics on Tyson's blog because I bribed him, to help me undecorate from Christmas, with CANDY if he did a good job. I just could NOT take another moment of the Christmas decorations up. After all, they have been up since November 2nd. Could you have?

It's customary to undecorate by bringing ALL OF OUR decorations to ONE central location and then to pack them up, until next year, in the rubbermaid bins, in that ONE ROOM. I could tell Ty sensed a feeling of importance. Why? Because I even utilized Lilah and Jaxon's sets of hands to help. I would hand unbreakable items to them and say, "Go give this to big brother." They really followed directions and he just thought he was the man in charge. I am not THRILLED with the way the items are piled onto the dining room table, but at least it's done and ready to be put away. Some help is better than the wrong help.... well, sometimes.

2nd Week of Christmas Break!

With Christmas over, you'd think all the new toys and games that my kiddos received would occupy their time, but eh... it doesn't. The day after Christmas, as my kids walked around aimlessly, I lost it for a moment and told all three of them "next year, you all are getting what everyone else in our church gets for Christmas... 3 gifts! and that's it!" I really think I'm sticking to that threat. It just becomes more work for me the day after Christmas to put away all the gifts and revamp the toy closet. If they'd play with the gifts, I'd have no problem buying them. Tyson got 6 playstation/wii games and he refuses to play ANY OF THEM. He loves all his old toys and old games. Go figure. Anyway, back to reality... Daddy is at work today and mommy is left home trying to figure out what the heck to do with two almost 2 year olds and one almost 6 year old.

The age difference is killing me.

Here are a few ways we occupied some of the early am today.

Disclosure: Excuse the "look" of my children. They had not showered or undressed from the night before.

Mr. "Food Face" Plate.

What is it you ask?

It's a porcelain plate with a plain face on it.

After your food is served, you can decorate his face with your food.

I love the fact that Tyson can be creative.

But... it also teaches him to play with his food... not cool.

Check out the creative way Ty used his breakfast:

Cherrios and apples with peanut butter, to make Mr. Food Face silly.

Next up, "Welcome to Paper-Bag-Town"

Luckily I had white paper bags to do this craft.

The rest was supplied to us from a Highlights magazine.

Ty getting busy creating his town.

Then we just completed our paper bag town.

I thought it was fun, but I got out paper, stickers, and stamps for Lilah and Jaxon to get creative with while Ty and I did this. Ty wanted to do what Lilah and Jaxon were doing and Lilah and Jaxon wanted to do what Ty and I were doing. So, needless to say, this "fun" didn't last long.

Finally, HIGH HEEL FUN!

Lilah received these for Christmas from mommy and daddy.

Obviously, she's NOT the only one who uses them.

"Cutie" is an understatement.

Great blackmail photos.

Ty was having fun wearing these heels too,

UNTIL...

I told him I will show these photos to everyone on his wedding day.

Can you tell he's saying, "Nooooo!" In this photo?

I love having a little girl!

Here Lilah is about to fall. See her foot twisting?

Operation Christmas Child

One of our family Christmas traditions has been and is to help someone in need. Some do the Angel Tree, some donate to their favorite charity, and some physically work in the "Soup Kitchen" serving the homeless. Our family participates in the "Operation Christmas Child". This is our third year in a row that we have participated in it. I LOVE THIS for so many reason.

1. It helps someone in need.

2. The entire family gets involved in picking out special gifts for the receiver.

3. The gift is delivered in the name of Jesus Christ.

4. It teaches our children the beauty of giving to others.

We did this a few weeks back and I am just now posting about it.

It's a simple concept... You are given these tags. You choose the sex and age of the child you desire to buy for and you fill a box with all kinds of goodies. This year we chose to bless 2 boys. We picked the 10-14 year olds. Apparently, this age is not chosen as quickly as the younger children. If they run out of stuffed shoe boxes for the 10-14 year olds, this age range receives a box that is not age appropriate.

Here, Darren, Tyson, Lilah and Jaxon are featured heading into Wal-mart with the empty shoe boxes in hand. Tyson was so excited. It's great that he gets involved. I think it was a BIG eye opener when I told him that the boys we were giving these shoe boxes to would ONLY be receiving what was in the box for Christmas and that's it. His reply was, "Well I think we should do like 20 boxes then." So sweet.
Our first stop, in Wal-mart, was to the clothing section. Tyson had a blast picking out two batman shirts for the boys. Other items included, socks, underwear, a football, balloons, candy, markers, a bar of soap, stop watch, neon glow sticks AND more.... You'd be amazed how much you can fit in such a small box.
We went to Wal-mart and the Dollar Tree to fill these boxes. We picked out all kinds of fun things that boys between the ages of 10-14 would love to have.
We were certain to include some spiritual items for the boys. In each box we gave them some bible trivia cards. We hope there isn't a language barrier and that they can use these cards to somehow know of Jesus Christ. We would have put a Bible in the box, but we were told that customs would remove it. We are so blessed to be able to read our Bible without suffering in extreme measures. We also put a personalized letter as well as a picture of each of us in the box. We thought it would be nice for the receiver to know who sent the box to them.
Our church collected MOUNDS AND MOUNDS of shoe boxes. This ROADWAY truck held a portion of the boxes. If I recall correctly, we had at least 2 of these trailers, if not three of them FILLED to the brim with stuffed shoe boxes. Our Church was a drop off location for shoe boxes.

"Let's See What We Are Going to Bake Today!"

Gotta love MEN! On Saturday morning, Darren decides to announce after he pulls all of my cook books off of the shelf... "Let's see what we are going to bake today!" Little did he know I was down to nothing in my refrigerator, INCLUDING EGGS, the main ingredient in most ALL sweet treat recipes. Tyson was ecstatic. AND... once you plant the seed in Ty's head, there is NO turning back. He was, for sure, going to hold his daddy to this Saturday afternoon baking experience.

All joking aside, I AM LOVING my husband more and more, day by day. He is truly every woman's dream man. He unloads the dishwasher and takes the trash out EVERY morning before work. He is 100% a team player with a our children. He is a God fearing and God loving man. He is responsible, reliable, trustworthy, motivated, self-less, involved, organized, clean, and hard-working. A great provider. Not to mention sexy! AND he loves to do FUN things as a family. Baking is one of his favorite holiday traditions. I'm not sure he was thrilled about following through once he heard that he had to make a trip to the grocery store WITH Tyson for all of the ingredients. But he went anyway. Grocery list in hand. Did he get everything needed?

Yes he did! After returning home from the grocery store, Tyson and Darren wasted no time and got to work immediately. I put the babies down for a mid-morning nap and folded a load of laundry. By the time I returned, the cookies were already prepared and finished baking. I got to participate in the decorating and clean up part though.

Darren, thank you for the wonderful memories you create for our family. I always wanted a fantastic father for my children and I got one, that's for SURE! Now if only you would eat the cookies with us.

This was just 1/10th of the mess that was left for me to clean up! Sprinkles, sprinkles, EVERYWHERE. Oh well, the mess was honestly well worth the memories and the excitement beaming from Tyson's face. He definitely is his mommy's son. Loves to get creative.

3 Blessings From Above!

Lately, I must confess, I have questioned why God blessed me, of all people, with 3 children. I'm so undeserving of such an honor. I have had to repent of my lack of patience lately and the ease in which I complain about what they ARE doing WRONG instead of what JOY they can and do bring to my life. The other day I stopped and witnessed these beautiful gifts that God has given to Darren and I to shepherd. It was a blissful moment as they were getting along so well and sitting quietly together as they watched a Christmas video on the computer. Tyson is really enjoying being home, on break, and hanging out with his brother and sister. He cannot wait for them to wake up every morning. He has even enjoyed sleeping in their room a few nights in a row. It's cute to watch him "father" them aka boss them around as well.

I have recently shared with my sisters in Christ that one of my biggest fears is NOT appreciating these times ENOUGH. Lord, be with me, during these next 14 days. Allow me to find the desire, energy, and enthusiasm to mother these children in a manner that is glorifying to YOU!!!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

Psalm 127:3-5