The start of Christmas 2012

On Friday, we put up our tree.  The kids "helped" me...a few things were broken but at least they weren't important ones ;)  It was a little stressful but it's their holiday too.  I love experiencing Christmas through my children.  It reminds me of how simple, magical, and fun it used to be when I was little.  

I am also loving this Christmas more this year because I am having a good talks with Mark about Jesus.  I love that I get to share with him about our Savior's birth and the reason He came to earth.

We were talking about how much he loves Christmas the other night and he said he loved our tree and Santa.  Then I said "and Jesus' birthday!"  He said 'it's Santa's birthday too'.  I said, "really?"  He said "it's Jesus' birthday and Santa's birthday!"  I think I can work with that ;)  What sweet innocence!  I want to be more like that.

I hope everyone's week has started off well!  Mine has been pretty interesting.  More on that later!

Blessings!

Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

I have a new favorite soup, and thought all of you would like the recipe.  I hope you give it a try!  If you do, let me know how it turns out :)  I originally found it from allrecipes.com, but tweaked it a bit for my taste.

Chicken Tortilla Soup (my version):

You need:
-3 med. size chicken breasts
-2 cans of whole kernel corn
-2 cans of Rotel (mild or reg, but I used mild)
-2 cans of black beans
-2 cans of chicken broth
-2 lg stalks of celery
-2 Tbs of taco seasoning

1. Boil your chicken and then set aside to cool a little.
2. Cut your celery into small pieces and put in pot.
3. Shred your chicken and place in pot with celery.
4. Add chicken broth.
5. Mix in corn, Rotel, and black beans.
6. Add taco seasoning.
7. Simmer on low for about 45 mins to an hour.
8. Serve with tortilla chips :)

To make it less healthy, I know shredded cheese and sour cream would be delish!

Enjoy :)  Have a blessed day!

Lately

These two precious blessings are keeping me SO busy!  Mark is a typical 4 (almost 5!) year old, full of little boy energy.  Alyssah (months from being 2) is an extremely busy toddler who gets into EVERYTHING.  Some days I'm in way over my head but also very thankful for these sweet little lives that have been given to me!
We are having Thanksgiving with my in-laws Sunday, and I cannot wait!  I love the holiday season :)

Stay tuned for some yummy, easy recipes to come later this week!

Blessings :)

Halloween 2012

We had a fun Halloween this year!  A bunch of families at our church get together every year and have a Smores-n-More night instead of going door to door trick or treating.  We decided to help with that and join them :)  I loved it b/c us parents got to fellowship and have fun too.  It's also a lot less stress on us ;)  Here are the pics I took...

the "Incredible Smash" (He never calls him the hulk!) and my sweet little witch (She hated the hat.)

the Hulk and his Hulk pumpkin

me and my sweet babies

Some of my precious friends.  Love them!

Pumpkin Patch pictures

Here are some pictures from Mark's field trip to the pumpkin patch :)  I'm so looking forward to Thanksgiving.  What will all of you be doing??

Thankful moments

Hello November!  I just love November and December!  As a kid summer was my favorite time of the year, but it is most definitely this time of year that I adore!  I love looking back on the year and seeing its fruit and all of the many things/people I am blessed with.  I'll probably be posting several more of these kind of posts throughout November.  They will mostly be for me to remember but hopefully you will be touched by them as well.

As my husband and I tucked our sweet little 4 year old in bed last night, he began to pray.  We have been working on saying his prayers and most nights he still wants me to do it for him.  Last night, was by far the most precious one he has done.  He started thanking God for his school, toys, food, and then he just said thank you for everything! ;)  As he was ending his prayer, he said thank you for Jesus.  Thank you for Jesus who died so I can live.  I immediately started crying...wow!  Such sweet little words with huge meaning.  I am so thankful for his heart!  As a mother it is so comforting to know that things we teach Mark actually stay with him as he is beginning to form his thoughts about the Lord.  I know he will do amazing things for the Kingdom, and I can't wait to see where God takes him.

I hope all of you are reminded of all the good in your life throughout the month of November and always.  Have a blessed weekend :)

"The Lord is my strength and shield.  I will trust Him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."  Psalm 28:7 NLT

Lazenby Farm

Mark's class along with two or three others at the daycare went to the pumpkin patch last week.  I took the morning off so I could go :)  The kids had so much fun, and I loved being able to share the experience with Mark.  He is at such a fun age.  He enjoys everything about life.  I know I can learn a lot from him and Alyssah about loving life the way they do.  Why do we have to grow up? ;)

They went to a pumpkin patch that is actually at a local farm here in Auburn.  It was fun seeing more than just the pumpkins.  The kids rode a hayride to the patch and it through corn and cotton that is planted on the farmland.  They picked cotton and learned about what they do with it on the farm and once it leaves the farm.  They got to pet a bull calf and play on an awesome playground.

My most favorite part of the trip was the story the lady leading the field trip told about the pumpkins.  It sold me on Lazenby Farm and we will be back next year!

She was asking the kids about what they know about farms.  She saved the pumpkins for the end and told this story.

She said you know that you and this pumpkin are a lot alike. (Stay with me...I wasn't sure where she was going either!)  She said when you open up a pumpkin there is yucky stuff inside.  We feel yucky inside when we do bad things or are mean to our friends.  Right?  The kids said yes.  She then said well when we say we are sorry or do good things we feel better and the yucky feeling on the inside go away.  Right?  The kids said yes.  She said so when we carve the pumpkin we take the yucky stuff out, carve a face on him, and then put a light inside for the face to shine.  Well when we are good we shine like a light to others.  Then she said you know who my light is?  She said Jesus.  He came into my heart and cleaned out the yucky and placed a light inside of me to shine for Him.  And he can do the same for you if you ask Him.  WOW!  I teared up.  A simple little story but what an impact.  I guess we are a lot like pumpkins ;)

Thank goodness for Jesus, and His love for us.  He will come in our hearts and take all the bad, ugly parts of us and make us the way we should be.  He can redeem us to be the people we were created to be.  I just love it!

I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the fall season.  I love the reflection that this time of year brings.
I will post pics of Mark and his friends at the patch soon :)

Blessings!
Karah