Christmas

It's January 6th and I'm still working on getting Christmas out of my house. I enjoy putting up decorations - well, I did this year! It was a lot of fun to decorate our new house for the holiday. What I don't enjoy is taking them down. Big time bummer. I'm not sad Christmas is gone, I just don't want to do the work. So, here I sit deciding to do a blog about my decorations and presents I made for the holidays. Will not help get my decorations down faster but will make me happy.

We did not get a tree this year because we went to PA to be w/my family for Christmas. I love my photo ornaments though that date back to way before we had kids. I figured I would display them on our little shelf so I could look at them all through December - even w/o a tree.

I had fun decorating the mantel this year!!

The Cannon Ladies (3 out of 4 of us only Cannon's by marriage) get together every September to make the best salsa you've ever tasted. It makes for a great gift for the men in my family too! My brother in laws (Crandall side) enjoyed getting these for Christmas this year.

I was feeling a little crafty this year and wanted to do a few other homemade gifts. I decided on a Lemon Sugar Scrub and a Brown Sugar Vanilla Scrub for the ladies of the Crandall side (Cannon adults don't do the gift thing). These were super easy to make! I have used them myself and they work great too!   All in all it was a great season! I hope you got to do a little of what you love during it!

 

 

 

2011 and All it's Wonder

2012.... Oh My!
January 1, 2012. A new beginning. It always feels nice to start fresh but I also love looking over the year and remembering the highlights. Here a few that pop into my mind when I mentally scan through the months...
In February I had a cousins Valentines Party. I love Valentines Day and I love my nieces and nephews. I had so much fun planning for the party.

Then I think of St. Patrick's Day. See, I'm not a fan of the huge holidays where a lot is expected of me. I like these little one day holidays where I can surprise and have fun with very little expectation. :) On St. Patrick's day we made our own pizza's and talked a lot about naughty leprechauns.

In April I went for my 3rd year to help run Answers WorldWide's International Training Seminar. It's a lot of work but so rewarding. It's one of those things that after the week is done, and I've met Christian's from all over the world, I sit and think... "And I get paid for this!?" 

Then in late April I made a 10 hour trip in the car with my two little boys. Brian was not able to get the time off work and I was itching to get outta Dodge. The boys and I packed up the Malibu and headed to Pennsylvania to visit my parents for the week of Spring Break. We had a great time!

In late May my boy Aidan finally decide to trust enough to learn to ride his bike. It had been such a huge ordeal and bone of contention amongst us all - as silly as that sounds. But finally one day he just decided to listen to the instructions of his father and then, wonder of wonders, it worked!

June brought on the end of school for Aidan and family vacation for the rest of us. We had a wonderful week in Grand Haven, MI at the beach. Ahhh.... really miss that at this moment!

 Then summer zoomed. We went to the zoo, to the museums, we had baseball, karate and playdates. It was a great summer. I planned lots of activities to keep us busy and out in the warmth. It was great. VBS came and went along with Aidan's birthday and a visit from my parents. It really was glorious! (Have I mentioned how much I love summer?)

Aidan, at just barely 8 years old, decided he wanted to show the world he believed in Jesus. He was baptized the end of August. Nothing really can make Christian parent's hearts happier.

Throw into August a trip to Cedar Point w/Brian's brother and family and all in all it was magnificent.

 September came with a new school year. Aidan for second grade and Ezra his first year of 'real' preschool. Where does the time go  - why are my babies old enough for school??

And then it happened. Late September after lots of stress, worry and frustration... we bought a house. US!? A HOUSE! It was so scary but kept praying that only the Lord's will be done. A nd here we are, in a new, real, house! Craziness!!

Fall brought on field trips and apple picking. It was a nice fall which helped my transition from summer fun to school and fall a bit easier! :)

In came October and my babies birthday. He turned four and somehow that made him more sassy? Oh, that boy is a trip! 

And who doesn't love a little Halloween? We had a good Halloween w/Aidan as Anakin Skywalker, me as Queen Amidala and Ezra as the evil counterpart to Mario as Wario. Honestly, dressing up is the best!

We spent Thanksgiving at home with the Cannon Clan. I am no fan of Thanksgiving but it went well and was almost relaxing.

 And then Christmas. Oh, how December was full of craziness, planning and parties. Spending too  much money, eating too much food and trying to capture the season. For all my dislike of the craziness and expectations... it was a really nice season. I made an advent calendar that kept us doing little things together or doing things for others. It really helped keep me grounded. The kids loved it. We traveled to PA this year to be with my family. It was great. So much love and insanity abounds when we all get together!

What a great 2011. Of course, we don't take photos of the bad things - but that doesn't mean they didn't occur. But with so much good, I really can't complain. The Lord has blessed. And every year that I can make it through with my family in tact is good... no, great!

House Sweet New House

The last month and a half have been filled with so much activity it's crazy! We are finally into our new home! We have lived here for 2 weeks and it still feels weird. A good weird though! Our upstairs bathroom is finally fully functioning! We remodeled it by (my dad) putting in a new floor, a new toilet, sink, vanity and mirror. It looks like a completely different bathroom. I love it!

Now there are so many projects that I want to do but I need the a. time b. energy and c. money. I keep reminding myself one thing at a time. Brian was out of town last week for work and while he was gone I got a tone of things done. I hung curtain rods and curtains in our kitchen and bedroom (a task that Brian can't usually complete w/o throwing a mini tantrum and saying words he shouldn't!), finished Aidan's room and purchased the mirrors for both bathrooms.

Look at what a good job I did on the kitchen curtains! :) Yep, hold back your excitement. Honestly, if you knew what a big deal it was for Brian to hang curtain rods you would understand why I'm so proud that I did it w/no problem!
Right now the problem is I have become obsessed w/getting the house organized. And not the usual 'ho hum' organized - it has to be cute and creative. I've been searching Pinterest day and night. There are so many cute ideas out there.
How many others of you have become obsessed w/searching things on Pinterest? It's a super cool site - why didn't I think of it! :)

Three Years Ago

Three years ago when we were living in a van down by the river.

Three years ago in September 2008 we had moved to Michigan from Kentucky. We had no one in Kentucky and both had crap jobs. We decided to move to Michigan so that we could at least be near family (Brian's whole family lives here in MI). We moved here w/no jobs and no place to stay. Brian had some leads to work w/Allstate Co. but no actual job. It was decided that we would move into a nice camper that would be put in my in-laws backyard until we found a job and a home. We pulled into my inlaws home to find out that the camper was too big to fit through their back gate and that they had worked it out for the camper to stay in the back of the youth pastors house. I remember going into a panic. "We do not KNOW the youth pastor!" Yes, he was a Wilhite and YES we know the Wilhites - but we did not know Josh or his wife Gwen. But off we headed to live in a camper in the back lawn of a very sweet and giving families house. There was a bedroom for Brian and I and a little bunkbed type bed for Aidan. Ezra was still a baby so he slept in a pack-n-play that got put up and down every day in the middle of the camper. At nap time I would set his pack-n-play up on top of our bed so I could close a door and give him some sort of quiet. We ended up living this way for six long weeks. My sister in law got married while we were living in the camper. I remember getting ready for her wedding in the chilly camper and thinking, "Really? Really? This is how it's gonna be?" But God, as always, was so good and took care of us. Our families had us over for dinners and some even gave us money to make our ends meet.
Brian had gotten a temporary job but it was not something he was very good at. He was amazing though and got dressed for work every day in the camper and went to work and did his best. Finally when it was starting to get too cold to stay in the camper Brian got an amazing full time job for Allstate Co. It was better than what we had hoped or prayed for - Brian was able to do what he was good at, teach. He's a trainer for Allstate. On November 1, 2008 we moved into our townhome. We loved our townhome. The boys shared a room but for goodness sakes - they had a room - and we were thrilled!

Holding the key to our new home!

Fast forward three years. September 2011. Aidan is now in second grade and Ezra is no longer a baby. We went through months of stress trying to see if we could own a home. We prayed (and still are praying) that it will only happen if God is willing. There were days we thought it would never happen. There are days now that we think "Can we really afford this!?" But last Friday were were given a key to an actual home! It's a tri-level that we fell in love with. It's a corner lot for the boys to have a HUGE back lawn. (Big enough to fit a camper in if anyone needs a place to stay!) The boys will have their own rooms. That's a lot of progress in three years. That's a lot of blessings from our God in three years. When we were living in the camper in the backyard of strangers... I would have never thought we would be "here" in three years. Woah! God is good. God loves us. Amazing.

Crazy Night Sleep

Last night my Ezra (3 yrs) was awake from about 3-6 a.m. I'm not sure what is up w/him but he has been having a hard time sleeping the last week. He keeps waking up w/nightmares or having "almost nightmares" -whatever that means? Last night he came to my bed saying he was sad because he wants to cuddle me. Me, being a mom to never turn down a snuggle, let him in bed and we cuddled for awhile. He was wide awake and we giggled together about how bad "daddy snores". Ezra was ready to go back to bed after about 20 minutes. I crawled back into bed and was having a hard time falling back to sleep. About 30 minutes later I was still awake and heard Ezra calling for Brian. Of course, Brian was snoring away and didn't hear him. I got back up and checked on the boy. He wanted me to chase out any nightmares and to get him more chocolate milk. (*gasp* I let him go to bed w/a drink.) I got rid of any nightmares and went downstairs for chocolate milk. I laid in bed w/the little guy for quite a while till he seemed sleepy. Again, I crawled back in bed and couldn't fall asleep. Thirty minutes later Ezra is screaming and crying in his bed. This time I was too exhausted and did the kick to wake up Bri. I sent him in to check on Ezra. He had a bad dream that Aidan kept leaving him and he was afraid Aidan was getting lost. I know "awe!" But, after almost 3 hours of lost sleep I did not think this was very sweet - I do now though! :) Brian, being the good daddy he is, stayed in the room w/Ezra for quite some time. He read him a few books and reassured him everything was okay. By the time Brian and I were both settled into bed and trying to fall back to sleep it was just before 6 a.m. Woah, what a crazy night. Reminds me of when the boys were babies  - not my most favorite time of life.
I'm getting too old for these sorta shenanigans! I was going to go raspberry picking today w/Ezra and my sister in laws. I was so blurry eyed this morning and it was rainy and cold. I bailed on raspberry picking. Instead, Ezra and I cuddled upstairs in our jammies. He watched cartoons and I was in and out of sleep. Not what I had planned but also not half bad.  ;)

School Days

School is in session for the 2011-2012 school year. I feel like the summer just zoomed passed. I have been digging in my heals and trying to stop fall from coming but it has done no good! Today both my boys started school.
I'm not gonna lie - there have been days that I wished would go faster when the boys were little and I was ready to pull out my hair. Now, that they are getting 'older' I have more and more days that I wish would slow down. The age old questions of parents everywhere... "Where has the time gone?" I know it's gone day by day in 24 hour blurs but it still seems like their childhood is rushing by me. These days I am trying to remind myself to take it all in. To enjoy the little quirks of an 8 year old boy that might otherwise drive me batty. To enjoy how Ezra talks to me through his thumb in his mouth when he's tired. I'm not saying they both don't still drive me crazy at least once a day! But I'm trying to remember to enjoy even the crazy!

Morning Checklist

So, with all that, here are a few shots of our day...

Aidan on his first day of 2nd grade

We started out w/a checklist of things to do before school this morning. It was just a fun way to get both boys moving and excited for the day. Aidan loved it and it even worked to get Ezra to wear his socks to school! He couldn't check off the "get dressed" line if his socks weren't on! Genius!
Aidan had a half day in the morning and Ezra had a half day in the afternoon which means I was running around for most of the day. It was good to keep me busy and not thinking on the fact that my kids are getting old and I am getting even OLDER! ;)

First day of preschool

Aidan coming out of the school on day 1

They both ended up having such good days! I was so proud that Aidan decided to not totally hate school today and Ezra didn't cry when I dropped him off - signs of a successful first day!

The end of the day and Ezra has made it!

Super Mario Birthday Party

Our special guests

Oreo cheesecake cupcakes and chocolate 'power up' cupcakes.

Some of our crew at Jungle Java

We had a great birthday party for Aidan this year at Jungle Java. He turned 8 years old and it was his first party with school friends! It was so much fun. My parents were able to come from out of town and join in the celebration. Aidan decided on a Super Mario theme this year and I had a good time searching for little touches to make it special. Everyone had a great time and went home happy.

The birthday boy and me