Merry Christmas!

"When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with joy.  They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  They opened their gifts, and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."  Matthew 2:10-11


"The angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.  Today your Savior was born in the town of David.  He is Christ, the Lord'."  Luke 2:10-11


"A child has been born to us; God has given a son to us.  He will be responsible for leading the people.  His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6


Merry Christmas!!!

Meaning of Christmas

I have been so busy trying to get everything ready around here for the kids, etc  It's so easy to get caught up in all of that and forget what Christmas is really about.  This is something I'm really thinking about this year...Why celebrate Christmas as the rest of the world?  What do I mean??  Christmas has become something so far from what it should be.  Instead of celebrating Jesus and our families, we just WANT and WANT!  Chris and I have been talking a lot lately about this.
What do we want our kids to know about Christmas?  Do we want them to know about Santa?  I think Santa is fun to do with kids.  They get so excited about getting a surprise on Christmas morning.  I always loved it when I was a child.  And while there is nothing wrong with believing in a man in a red suit bringing you presents, believing in Jesus means SO much more!  Although Jesus' birth is considered to be around a different season than Christmas time, I love the idea of setting aside a time to really focus on the birth of our Savior.  That's a celebration that is neither false or materialized!  I so want my children to know that a Savior was born into this world of sin and sadness to rescue them, to redeem them.  That to me makes Christmas the most special time of the year.
Just thought I would share some of the thoughts whirling around in my head lately.  Maybe I sound ridiculous, but I think I'm seeing things so much more clearly.

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed."  Matthew 2:10

Holy

This song is a recent favorite of mine!  I love the words...God is so holy, and we are so unworthy of His faithfulness and love.  What a beautiful song of praise for our Redeemer!  I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and weekend!


"Holy"

What heart could hold the weight of Your love
And know the heights of Your great worth
What eyes could look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun
[x2]

You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are

Your name alone has power to raise us
Your light will shine when all else fades
Our eyes will look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun
Who is like You, God?

You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are
[x2]

Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are

Who shall we say You are
You're the living God
Who shall we say You are
You're the Great I AM
The highest name of all
You're all You say You are

You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are
[x2]

Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are

And You shall come again in glory
To judge the living and the dead
All eyes will look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun
Who is like You, God?

You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are

Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are
[x3]

Betwixxt/Handmade Home giveaway

Hello friends :)  Hope you are all having a fabulous Thursday!  It's almost Friday...hang on! I have another giveaway opportunity.  If you aren't keeping up with the handmade home yet, you need to be.  The next giveaway opportunity is from Betwixxt.  Check it out here  for more details and learn how you can enter :)

Simple Starfish/The Handmade Home

I have another giveaway opportunity!  This really is a week of giving for the handmade home!  This one is for a $50 gift certificate :)  You can use it for someone special on your list or keep it for yourself.  Check it out here.
Have a wonderful Tuesday night!

Crafty Addictions/The Handmade Home

I have another giveaway opportunity for all of you bloggers out there!  This giveaway includes 2 winners for $25 each to this cute etsy shop.  Check it out here.
Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!  Are you done Christmas shopping yet??...18 more days!

London Reid Jewelry giveaway/The Handmade Home

Hey everyone and happy Monday...well at least hello Monday.  Anyone else loathe Mondays???  Anyway, I follow a really awesome blog called the handmade home, and they are hosting a week of giving this week.  Their 1st giveaway opportunity is from London Reid Jewelry.  Check it out and enter to win a $50 shop credit.  You know you're not done Christmas shopping! ;)  Hope you have a fabulous week!  Click here for more details!

Home for the Holidays

Hey everyone!  Hope your week has been wonderful so far!  I am pretty much done decorating our place for Christmas and thought I would share.  It has been so fun experiencing Christmas with both of my kiddos already.  Alyssah has done great with the tree. She loves looking at it but hasn't tried to mess it up YET.  I may have just jinxed myself ;)  I still have to get her her 1st Christmas ornament and take the kids to see Santa. I think we are going Sat.  Mark is actually excited about it, but we'll see what he thinks when we get there.  I'm hoping for a smile this year [fingers crossed].  Merry Christmas...it really is the MOST wonderful time of the year!

The tree is a free-for-all this year.  I usually do a theme, but it's just a random collection this year.  I love it  :)

And the stockings were hung by the chimney, er kitchen bar area, with care ;)  I hope to have a mantle next Christmas!  Alyssah is using Mark's "Baby's 1st Christmas" stocking until I can find one that sort of matches Mark's "M" one.

Don't you just love Pinterest!!!

the kids' hallway

Thankful 2011

I feel so very blessed this year. I have a precious little family, awesome friends, and an amazing family!  I can't wait to see what our next year has in store!  Mark and I made these cute little pilgrim hats (pictured above) the day before Thanksgiving.  They weren't as cute as the ones on Pinterest, but they were pretty yummy ;)  I like finding cute, new ideas for the holidays.

My sweet friends!  I'm very thankful for them...they rock :)

my beautiful daughter and Matthew

Taylor made Mark's night by letting him bowl with her!   I'm so glad to have this pretty girl as a new friend.  I feel like I've known her for years.

Mark and his Aunt Joo, who he adores ;)

Happy Thanksgiving from the most handsome boy I know :)

the Adams girls :)  

my crazy, wonderful babies!

I seriously have the most gorgeous girl on the planet!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Adams family! 2011

Alyssah-10 months!

My sweet girl is already 10 months old!  She is all personality and is happy all the time.  At her 9 month appointment she weighed 18 lbs, 8 oz. and measured 27 1/4 inches long.  She is crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything.  She will be walking in no time.  She has started trying to cruise along the couch but doesn't stand for long.  She is wearing size 4 diapers and eats anything!  She is on solid foods for the most part now.  She just stopped wanting to eat baby food, so she eats what we eat for the most part.  She is resisting her sippy cup right now, but in time I know that will get better.   Here are a few recent pictures.  We had a studio session done a few days ago with Alyssah and Mark.  I'll be sure to share those soon.  Hope everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday!

before Auburn's homecoming game-A's 1st game (Mark's 2nd)

Alyssah on her 10 month b-day; decorating the tree

Brittybird's Favorite Things Giveaway

http://brittybirdbaby.blogspot.com/2011/11/favorite-things-giveaway.html

One of my favorite etsy shops is doing a huge giveaway with things from some of her favorite etsy shops.  You should check it out...it's a good one :)

Chris and Brandi Nicolais

My sister-in-law got married on November 5th, and it was a beautiful, fun-filled day.  This time Mark was the only one in it, so it was less stressful for me.  He did a great job being the ring bearer.  He's kind of a professional now-this was his third one and he's only 3! :)  The ceremony was gorgeous, and the reception was so fun!  We got to spend time with some dear friends and enjoy some family time.  Here are some of the pictures I took.  I can't wait to see their professional pictures.  I know they will be wonderful!

Sweet Alyssah

My adorable Marky Mark

Me and the hubs!  We never get pictures anymore...I'm always behind the camera!

My Mom-in-law and Sis-in-law

Me and the gorgeous bride

the kiddos...I think A was sleeping ;)

during the ceremony

beautiful cake...I loved the colors!

Me and my friend, Jess

Janine and Dustin's wedding

Our sweet friends were married on October 22nd...yes I'm late getting this post up!  The day was so much fun.  This was the 1st wedding that I was in that I knew all the bridesmaids, so we had a blast :)  Marky Mark was the ring bearer and is now a pro at it.  He was also in my sister-in-law's wedding this past weekend.  More on that soon ;)  Here are a few pictures I took and some I borrowed from facebook.  Congrats to the newly weds and God bless your marriage!  Love you both!

My sweet little family!

Me and my gorgeous daughter!

Cutting the cake

1st dance :)

Janine and her girls (and boy) before the wedding

Just the girls!

Perfect :)

Sweet kiss

Gracie and Mark! These 2 were great sports all day!

And this is what happens when you think you can light a handful of sparklers at once....My face is priceless. haha

Just for fun!

I kept all of Mark's clothes from when he was little.  I have sold some now or given them away since we were having a little girl.  We're not sure that we will have more, so I just started getting rid of some things.  Well I have kept special outfits or ones that Alyssah could wear too.  I have recently taken her picture in some of the same things and wanted to compare to see how much they resemble.  I think they look alike, but she is definitely changing a lot lately.  You tell me what you think ;)

Mark at  7 months (almost 8).

Alyssah at 9 months.

Alyssah at 9 months.

 

 

Mark at about 7 months.

Thanksgiving meal ideas

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/marshmallow-pilgrim-hats-682463/

Of course I started with a cute little dessert idea ;)  I love trying out new, cute recipes.  These little hats are precious!

I also like these.  For a snack...

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/pigs-in-pilgrim-hats-1027250/

And this.  SO fun!

http://familyfun.go.com/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-dinner-recipes/thanksgiving-appetizers/fruit-gobbler-688370/

I love the holidays and love having kiddos to make it more special!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Last weekend I took the kids to the pumpkin patch.  We met some friends and my parents there.  Mark had fun picking out pumpkins and riding the hayride.  Alyssah took it all in and even got in a nap, thanks to Uncle Joe :)  Here are the pics.  Can't wait for next year when both of my punkins will be walking around picking out pumpkins!

Mark showing me the fish.

Alyssah looking at the pond.

I just love this sweet face!

Telling me which way to go ;)

Yes, this was the only one I got of them together...oh well.  There's always next year!

Mark's, mine, and A's

Handsome thing! :)