Christmas Kindness - Part 2

The list continues:

13.  I'm unsure if I should actually count this as service, since there is practically nothing I love more than a newborn, but I am counting it anyway. Sade and I were able to babysit this little 6 week old for a few hours this week. It is a tough call, but Sade may love babies even more than me.

14. While running errands, we have made sure to put money in the Salvation Army buckets anytime we see them:

15. While shopping at Wal-Mart, Eric and I were approached in the parking lot for money by a woman and her child. I was grateful for her approach, and that we had a little money on us.

16. Bring thank you letters and doughnuts to the firefighters.

After ringing the doorbell, and delivering the goods, they invited us in for a tour! Another immediate blessing.

We all agreed the fire trucks looked so much larger than we imagined them to be. Posing with their new hats:

17. Make and distribute kits to the homeless. Our kits included food items, and a warm pair of socks.

They were a bit harder to distribute than I anticipated. To find the homeless you have to generally travel to areas of town where they congregate.  I tend to believe I am NEVER in harms way, even in the most, so-called,  "dangerous" of areas. Luckily I have Eric who travels to these areas a lot more frequently than I do, to let me know that I have to be somewhat careful. We had heard from friends that you have to be cautious when handing out things in this particular area of North Las Vegas, because you can quickly be swarmed by people. I took the advice, and determined to hand them out to individuals who were alone. So far, I have been able to give out two. One to a homeless man in the "dangerous" part of town, who also informed me not to go near the soup kitchen, or I would be mobbed (how nice of him to look out for my welfare), and one to a man who came up to our car (at our neighborhood Wal-Mart), looking for help. I was so grateful to have these in the car! Eric and I determined that he would take the rest of them in his truck, to distribute, as he sees a lot more homeless people than I do.

18. Drop change at a playground for children to find:

19. People that use the laundromat are another group of people I have a soft-spot for. There was a week 10 YEARS AGO, when we were moving from an apartment to our house, that we had to use the laundromat. Only one week! and I gained such an appreciation for those who have to do it on a regular basis. I am so blessed. So for out 19th ROAK (random act of kindness), we went back to the laundromat we used 10 years ago, and left quarters in a number of washing machines:

We have at least 5 more to complete, and have 6 days to do it. I am hopeful.

Six On Saturday - Parties & Performances......

It was busy around these parts last week. Lots of parties, performances, and field trips.

1. Sade decorated this stocking for pre-school. Megan was the driving creative force and designed the entire thing. Eric and Sadie helped with the execution:

2. As I previously mentioned we had a pre-school Christmas party at my house. The kids were kept busy with 3 different crafts, and lots of food and treats.

I was kind of seriously impressed with the kids designs. They did them with virtually no help. I would show you a picture, but it seems to have disappeared! But here is Sadie's:

Another craft:

Although I have no picture, as they have not yet e-mailed it to me, Sadie also had breakfast with Santa at Kiddie College

She is one lucky gal.

3. Her luck continued with a field trip to Bambini's to make pizza:

I am including this next picture so you can enlarge it and see the fake nails on this lady. Sadie could not keep her eyes off of them:

The finished product:

4. Jackson had an activity/party filled week too. Here he is with the gingerbread house he made at school:

5. Jackson also had his winter performance. He LOVES to sing, and has been practicing for weeks. Last month he took it upon himself to learn every word to all four verses of Jingle Bells. He was right up front and center, and did a wonderful job.

Poor Megan. Being a 6th grader has some perks, but you sure miss out on a lot of Christmas time fun.

6. Although this has nothing to do with anything else I have discussed thus far, I would like to share a picture:

That's right! That is ME, on a HORSE! You may not know, but I have been scared of horses for a good portion of my life. But the fear seemed to leave me these past few years, so when I had the opportunity to ride, I took it. It was hugely fun......

My kids almost couldn't contain their jealously.

12 X 12 - December 2011

My morning started off the same as usually does, by making breakfast, and then packing lunch for the kiddies:

After breakfast, Sade consulted her pre-school calendar to see what her "homework" was for the day. It was: "Name all of Santa's reindeer." I am enjoying this picture of her, because she looks just a little bit chubby, and thereby more baby like.

The kids waiting by the window for carpool. I love carpool. I entertain immense amounts of joy on the days I don't drive.

After Megan and Jackson left for school, Sadie and I got ready for her pre-school Christmas party which was being held at our house. Luckily the other moms were in charge of crafts, so I only had to be the host and worry about some of the food. Among other things, they made gingerbread houses:

The aftermath. You may notice someone left the left-over sugar cookies! Not good. Sugar cookies are my weakness!

My house was not even dirty after the kids left. Except my kitchen floor. I sweep my floor at least twice a day, and I swear the pile is this big everytime.

After the party, Sade took a nap, and I wrapped my gifts for a Favorite Things Party I was going to on Tuesday. My Favorite Things gift was green apple gum, and these new workout socks my mom gave me that I am obsessed with. They have built in arch support! Go out and buy yourself a pair. Seriously.

Jackson had a couple of Hershey's kisses upon arriving home:

The kids had a pizza picnic in front of the T.V. for dinner:

Eric and I went to Arby's, and then did a little Wal-Mart Christmas shopping. Deep breath.

On our way there we listened to football on the radio. The Seahawks were playing. We also had a rather extensive conversation at dinner about football, more specifically about Tim Tebow. My knowledge of football is just of the many ways Eric has influenced my life.

After we got home, we put the kids to bed, and then I relaxed on the couch and watched a little T.V.

I won't tell you what I watched. But it includes the words, real and housewives. I can't give it up.

Jackson Said

A Little Background: Recently we donated some clothes to Child Haven, which is a children's shelter home in Las Vegas. As a result we have had a few conversations about why kids have to live at Child Haven, and why their parents can't take care of them.

Sadie owns a shirt like this that she wears to bed:

When Jackson saw her wearing it, he said in all seriousness: "We will never be able to donate that shirt to Child Haven!"

So true Jackson. So true.

It's My 12 Year Anniversary!

I'm sort of the luckiest person in the world. For a whole lot of reasons. But today I am feeling especially lucky because I have been married to Eric for 12 years.

12 Things About Eric For 12 Years

1. He is always nice to me. I was talking with a friend recently who said, "I bet Eric has never even yelled at you, has he?" It had never occurred to me, but the answer is no, he never has. Never even raised his voice.

2. He has never complained about any church calling I have ever had. Young Women's can be quite time demanding. I am gone a fair amount. But, it doesn't bother Eric in the least.

3. A few months ago, Sadie asked Eric who his favorite girl was, and he answered with, "mom." Sadie was a little taken aback by his answer because he makes all of us girls feel like we are his favorite.

4. He is more fun that anyone I have ever met. He is always up for anything. If I want to go on a bike ride, geocaching, ice skating, roller skating, whatever, he is a willing participant.

5. I did not know that men like Eric existed, until I met him and then met his Dad. It was shocking.

6. I can be a bit opinionated and defensive. It's true. But somehow when Eric gives me his opinion on a topic, I am magically able to see another side.

7. He knows about any and all topics. Need to know about photosynthesis, amount of salt in the oceans, how to fix anything, he is the man to ask. It is now occurring to me where Megan gets her brilliance.

8. He doesn't care what other people think. He will dress up like an elf, dance crazy with the kids, color my hair, sing in the car, help me with craft projects (he is the creative force in our family), and not worry about what the opinions of others.

9. I enjoy sleeping in. Anytime I can. If I were Eric, I would hold a bit of resentment against me for sleeping so much, especially since he often has to get up early to go to work, but he doesn't.

10. He kisses me goodbye everyday.

11. He doesn't try and change me. He lets me be who I am. Even when I throw my dirty clothes on the ground. Everyday. And he puts his in the hamper. Everyday.

12. He is my best friend and equal partner in every way. I'm so grateful I have someone to who thinks our kids are as perfect as I do, and always has my back!

Tomorrow I will post a list of all of Eric's bad qualities. Just kidding. Happy Anniversary Eric!

Five For Friday - Have I Mentioned

1. Have I ever mentioned that I am a bulk eater? I like to eat what I would say are massive amounts of food in one setting. For example, today for my quasi breakfast/lunch meal, or brunch meal as normal people would call it, I had 2 french toast sticks, a salmon fillet, and lasagna. And of course a diet coke. I then don't eat until dinner, at which time I eat another enormous meal. Megan eats like me, but Jackson and Sadie are snackers, like their dad.

I took the picture after eating most of the lasagna, and half of the salmon.

2. Have I mentioned that I am also a bulk cleaner. I don't enjoy cleaning up as I go (which Eric can't understand), which means at times (like 10 am) my house can get really messy. I will not tackle the breakfast dishes until after lunch. I don't want to have to do dishes twice!

3. Have I mentioned that large school projects tend to stress me out! We just completed the science fair project, and had to follow it up this week with a Spanish project. Oy vey! They are so incredibly time consuming. I took this picture long before the poster was completed, and before any color pictures were added, but you get the drift:

4. Have I mentioned that this year instead of doing 12 or 24 days of Christmas, we are doing a different project. My kids were not thrilled at first, but soon realized we would still be doing most of the same activities, just not in the fun 12 or 24 day format. We have already made snowflakes for the windows (my favorite Christmas project!), and wrote our letters to Santa.

This is the first year Sadie wrote her list all by herself! And when I mean all by herself, I mean I told her what letters to write, and she wrote them. But wouldn't it be cool if I said she wrote it all by herself, and everyone thought that she already knew how to spell and read? I mean she is brilliant, just not savant brilliant.

5. Have I mentioned that we also got all our decorating done last weekend. Woo-hoo. I am ecstatic for Christmas this year!

"Are you a bulk eater, or cleaner?"