Christ must be 1st at CHRISTmas! Cute idea ahead...

Saw this on the MOPS Int'l website and thought it was a cute idea.
With our kids we make a birthday card for Jesus and put it in his stocking and then on Christmas morning when we have breakfast we read them to Him at his Birthday party. And yes we do the candel in the panCAKE and sing, it wouldn't be a party w/o that (a least acording to my 4 yr old).
Merry Christmas! :)



A Stocking-Stuffer Christmas Story
By Sherry Fiscella

It’s easy to get caught up in a “Here-Comes-Santa-Claus” kind of Christmas. One way to focus on the real meaning of Christmas is by telling the story of Jesus’ birthday with five fun stocking stuffers.

After gathering the stocking stuffers suggested below, wrap and number them in the order listed. Next, place the items in a single stocking or distribute them among family members’ stockings.

On Christmas morning, help your children unwrap the gifts in numerical order. Use each item as a prompt to tell a portion of the Christmas story.

Stocking Stuffers:



Angel ornament: This Christmas ornament reminds me of the angel, Gabriel, who told a young lady named Mary that God had chosen her to be the mother of a special baby boy. The angel told Mary to name the baby “Jesus.”

Small box of blocks: These remind me of a builder. Joseph, who promised Mary that he would be her husband, was a builder. While baby Jesus was still in Mary’s tummy, Joseph and Mary took a trip to Bethlehem, a town that was far away.

Animal crackers: When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room left in any of the hotels. Instead, they stayed in a stable, a cave where animals were kept. These animal crackers remind me of the animals that might have lived in that stable.

A pacifier-shaped lollipop or a baby doll item: This reminds me of a baby. The most special baby ever born was God’s own Son, Jesus! Baby Jesus was born while Joseph and Mary were staying in that stable in Bethlehem.

A soft pair of socks or mittens: These soft socks remind me of wooly sheep. An angel visited some shepherds who were watching their wooly sheep near where Jesus was born. The angel told the shepherds to find baby Jesus. After finding the newborn Savior, the shepherds told lots of people the good news. I’m glad I can share the good news about Jesus with you this Christmas, too!








Sherry Fiscella loves stuffing her Christmas full of reminders of Jesus’ birthday as she celebrates with her husband and two children. A freelance writer and speaker, she may be contacted through her website: www.sherryfiscella.com.

babies are growing up

You know your "babies" are growing up when they call you by yuor 1st name instead of mama.
The twins are having a hard time going to sleep today and have been talking/ singing in their beds for about 30 minutes. I have tried laying them down and rubbing their backs, etc. without success. I left to for awhile to see what would happen, and I hear the sweet 2 yr. old voice, "Mama poopy." I thought if was probably just a trick to get me in the room again so I wait and a minute later hear her say, "K-Tina, I poopy." I did go that time, she's never called my by "my name" before so figured it had to be real. She was perfectly dry and sweetly smiles up at me and says "Sissy poop" her sister confirms so I check her only to find she is dry as well. They just laugh. They have defiantly been perfecting their "twin language" and can now use it to plan and trick mama! :)
We have been thinking about giving potty training a shot over Christmas, if this keeps up I think they might be successful at it. They know what their bodies are trying to do, its a start. Now helping them learn only certain people can call me certain names, which is hard I know since I have so many (even some of my adult friends have been confused at what to call me;)) Just not ready for them to be so grown up!:) I'll always be "mama."

"Baby Jesus"

Karis has produced her 1st Christmas single! ;)

Now that the twins have begun to really master language it is quite a fun (and noisy) place. I love to sit and listen to them talk with each other. I didn't quite believe others when they said that twins have their own language, but it's defiantly true for our two. They can sit and have full length conversations with each other, most are able to be interpreted by us, but some is just for themselves. Some of my favorite things about the language development is that they sing, alot. ABC's, Twinkle little star, B-I-B-L-E, and many more. Sometimes they, especially Karis, will just sing about a random thing they are doing or thinking about, usually to a tune of one of their favorite songs. Today I caught them playing with the nativity set when I was getting replacement bulbs to fix some lights on the tree, but I couldn't get upset b/c they were playing so nicely and singing about baby Jesus.

Here is a sample of Karis' 1st recorded Christmas single! ;)

She is only 26 months old, so not to bad!

toddlers rule

All parents know that the toddler years are interesting, busy, and full of surprises. These young children have unspoken rules, and when you have multiple children that fit into this category there are many amusing as well as frustrating moments.
If you have one 2 yr old, then that toys is hers, there is no contest. I am blessed with two 2 yr old and a 3 and 4 year old. So the old toddler rule of: I want it, it's mine; can cause quite a rowdy scene around our home.
Some of the consistent rules of a toddler I have found in my days of parenting:
- I saw it, it's mine.
- I want it, it's mine
- You have it, I can get it, it's mine.
-I beat her to it, it's mine.
- You let me use it, its mine.
- You set it down it's mine.
-You ever thought about getting me, one it, its mine.
- I'm giving you cute puppy dog eyes, it's mine.
- She's had it long enough (in my opinion), so now it mine (forever).
-It light's up, its mine.
-It talks, its mine.
- It sparkles, it's mine.

The list could continue.......................... on and on................................... :) ......................... but you know what I'm talking about.


No one ever had to teach us to be self centered (or most of the other not so pleasent attributes we have). And some say we are naturally good! Anyone that has spent a good amount of time with a kid, or looked honestly at themselves, can see that is totally false. We are a depraved and sinful people, even as cute toddlers.

Praying that during this season so fulled with 'things' and the 'stuff that I need to be mine' attitude that we are not overcome with ourselves, but that we are overwhelmed with the love a Savior that gave so we could have life. How many rulers/ false gods ever gave of themselves or resources so that the lowly could become part of their family/ inheritance?

I do look forward to the joy and excitement that will fill those 8 beautiful eyes of our children on Christmas, and I hope the same for our family and friends.
May you find many opportunities to fill your home with Christ as we prepare for His glorious birthday celebrations!

He will Carry you

No matter the stage of loss or the circumstance the pain is real. But our God is bigger than the struggle of the hour and will carry you. We say we trust in the sovergeignty of God and know that He works all things together for His good. (Romans 8:28) But in times of confussion and sorrow what/ who do we rest in? This song is so beautiful and speaks to this truth.

Thank you Lord for your great love, for being the Father that never abandons and the eternal comfort in times when we don't need all the answers that our hearts long for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLuaGiu73jc

"I Will Carry You"- Selah

There were photographs I wanted to take
Things I wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this?People say that I am brave but I'm not
Truth is I'm barely hanging on
But there's a greater story
Written long before me
Because He loves you like this

So I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness


But I know
That the silence
Has brought me to His voice
And He says

I've shown her photographs of time beginning
Walked her through the parted seas
Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes
Who could love her like this?

I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All your life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen Me
To carry you

Genesis According to a 4 yr old

Its pre-nap reading time. To my surprise (the good kind) all the girls have decided to read together today. Amara has chosen her children's Bible as one of her reading options today and snuggles in to "read" the stories to her sisters. Her interpretation goes like this:
"Once upon a time god Created everything, but everything went very wrong. Noah loved God and God told him to build an ark. He put two of all the kinds of animals on the ark. God made it rain a lot so they could get off and play. When the rain stopped God put a rainbow in the clouds. Noah went off and things weren't terribly bad anymore. The End of Noah's story."
I was in the kitchen trying not to laugh while transcribing her version of the stories.
"Mama did you like how I read the Bible. I read it just like God wrote it. He wrote the Bible, and Addys wrong because she said He didn't."
Think we are gonna have to get back to the old testament and fill in some of the missing pieces, but I praise God that she is listening enough to understand the parts she has.

PJs and God

Fall is offically here! It has come on strong and cool. With temps dipping down into the 40 at night I thought it might be a good time to break out the footie pjs again. Its amazing how just a different style of pjs can excite a kid so much. Although I must admit there are times during the cold months that I long for a good pair of footies. :) We dressed the girls in them last night and they all went to bed so proud and warm, it was a battle to get them into their dresses this morning though, not near as warm or cozy! They have been anxiously waiting to put them on again all day, so when the time finally came to get dressed for bed tonight they were super excited! Here is the conversation the two eldest are having:

Addy:I love footie pjs!
Amara: Me to I won't be cold.
Addy: I'm gonna wear mine, they have hearts on it!
Amara: These pjs are the best... o wait no, no,no. God is the best!... but I really love my comfy footies. God is better than my pjs, and your pjs too. He is bigger than all the pjs......

It continued on but I was to busy giggling to catch it all.
I enjoy hearing their conversations that show they are actually absorbing some of what they are being taught. I love the way God is in everything for a child and pray that I can gain some of that awe back.