Christmas Photos

Okay, quickly, because I have a grocery list to make and it's 11:22 pm and, because, I am exhausted!!!  here are a few Christmas pictures.  All from my phone, so not great, but I want the morning recorded on film.

 John and his gifts.  I'll be honest, the only reason I even gave John any gifts was because I didn't want all of the attention to be on Ada.  I mean, he's not even a year old, he wouldn't have known the difference.  But I found a few items on Target clearance, and Jessica passed along a few of Grant's old toys, and I got a free melissa and doug item from an online deal, and ta da...you have John's Christmas gifts.  One of the Target clearance items was a set of nesting blocks.  Ada quickly took over those as she built a tower for her new Sleeping Beauty barbie doll. 

 And here was Ada's favorite item of all.  A box of art supplies.  She immediately stopped opening gifts and began to draw. 

 My Christmas gift from Scott--a book about Dave Ramsey and debt, by the author of "Stuff Christians Like..." Scott and I don't do big Christmas gifts for each other;)  I gave him a movie ticket.  Our first Christmas married, I bought him so many books, and he bought me so many dvds.  4 years later we have finally figured out to do the exact opposite of that--I prefer books; he prefers movies.  I also prefer pajama pants.  I am easy to please--give me a good book and a new pair of pajama pants, and I am good to go. 

 Ada with the "loot" from her stocking.  Dora stickers to be exact.

 And Christmas morning breakfast--grits casserole, cinnamon rolls, and pigs in a blanket (requested by Scott).

 John got a sippy cup in his stocking--hint, hint, John--it's time to wean, buddy.  He likes to chew on it.  Drink out of it?  Not so much. 

And...the view out the car window on our way to Alabama on Christmas afternoon.  A White Christmas--HOW FUN!!! 

Favorite gifts seemed to be--the box of art supplies from us, a Eric Carle game from my mom (a little mind numbing for adults, but Ada LOVES it,) a cash register from Edna/Mae-Mae/Scott's mom, and a cardboard play house that you color from Mary Ann, my mom's sister. 

And the main gift that I think Ada wishes she had gotten--a leapster.  I came so close to getting her one, but I thought she might be too young.  I was wrong; she loved playing with Ellie and Luke's.  I am thinking birthday present...

Bottom line

It was a fun first Christmas at home.  I think it was magical for the kiddos, just as I hoped;), and the snow took magical to a whole new level. 

Now, on to 2011. 

Christmas Eve

We are in Alabama enjoying time with family.  We have been with my family since Christmas night, and we are headed to see Scott's family tomorrow.  I want to go ahead and post a bit about Christmas Eve and Christmas morning before too much time passes.  Things are a bit harrowing here because John is, once again, sick.  He has a giant of a cold.  His little cheeks and nose and eyes are so runny and chapped, and he has a terrible sounding cough.  I feel like it is one thing after another with that kid, but I am thankful that it is nothing serious, just inconvenient, and I know uncomfortable for him.  Plus, it makes him extra clingy to me and extra fussy, so things are a bit more trying than usual.

Anyway...back to the subject of the post...Christmas.  

This was Ada's first year to really "get" Christmas, so we opted to stay at our house for Christmas Eve and morning.  I confess that I felt a bit sad at times because it was the first Christmas ever that I wasn't at home with my family, but I definitely think it was the best decision, and we will continue to spend Christmas morning at home in the years ahead (I think, obviously we will make that decision from year to year based on the current circumstances).  We also wanted to be at our home Church for the Christmas Eve service.  

After the Christmas Eve service (which was great, but my kids weren't super cooperative.  At one point our entire family was out in the lobby with two crying kids, and I wasn't feeling super Christmasy or reverent), we let Ada and John open one gift--John was super excited about that;)--which was pajamas.  I think Ada was thinking, "really, pajamas, where are the toys?"  Then, we put John to bed, had some yummy appetizers for dinner, and did our second to last Advent reading before putting Ada to bed with anticipation of all that was to come the following morning.  

Then, Scott and I had to stay up late getting the gifts ready and packing bags.  Scott made fun of me because I used the word magical so many times that night.  I just think that Christmas needs to be magical.  Right?  I actually never believed in Santa as a child, a consequence of being only 18 months younger than my older sister and hearing the truth from her at a very young age, but Santa or not, Christmas was magical, and I want that for my children.  Christmas is remembering God coming to earth in the flesh that he might grow up and save us from our sins!!!  It should feel magical and overwhelming and exciting and "goosebumpy," shouldn't it?  Can you imagine it, even a bit?  I get excited about a little Christmas cash under the tree (thanks, mom and dad!!), so can you imagine what it felt like to look at God in the flesh as a baby?  It's unreal and yet, so very real.  So very true.

So, that was Christmas Eve for us.  Church and packing and wrapping and making sure that things were magical enough for the big reveal the next morning.

I'll be back later with Christmas Day pictures, but here are a few images from that night.

Okay, never mind.  I can't figure out how to get the pictures onto this blog post, so just see the ones above for a glimpse of our night.

Almost Christmas

Here we are on December 23rd (my dad's birthday), on the Eve of Christmas Eve. 

I told Scott that as a child, Christmas Eve was my favorite day because that is when the excitement reached its absolute peak.  Christmas morning is over so quickly, but on Christmas Eve, the anticipation was almost too much to take.

Now, as an adult, I am feeling a bit panicked as the day closes in on us.  And my list is long of what I am hoping to get done.  I talked to my mom today, and she helped me prioritize the list;)  She even suggested that I just throw all of my dirty clothes into a garbage bag, take them with me to Scottsboro, and wash them there.  She is serious, and depending on the level of panic, I might take her up on it.  So, as John slept (he's still sleeping), and I got Ada settled and watching Curious George on television, I took a moment to regroup and refocus by reading today's chapter in Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.  I am desperate for the Lord to meet me in the midst of the self-induced chaos.  I don't want my focus to be on laundry and dishes and clean floors; I want it to be on what took place in Bethlehem on that first Christmas Day.  I want to get it, just a little bit. 

Here is part of what I read.  My favorite part...

The message of Christmas is that God came into the world in all his glory, and what was only a whisper became a shout.  And someday in the future, as we read in the book of Revelation, he will come back in his blazing glory, which Jesus called 'great glory.'  When he comes back in second coming glory, the Bible says the shout will be even louder so that every voice in the universe will cry and shout and sing his praises.

What does this say to us?  We discover in 2 Corinthians 2:18, 'But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.'  The veil is taken away.  The things that were mysterious, troublesome, and confusing have been made clear.  We now behold clearly the glory of the Lord.  It's Christ.  And as we behold him and look at him and gaze on him, we literally become like him. 

Every authentic believer in Christ is being brought to spiritual maturity by that very process.  We're gazing at his glory and being transformed into his image in the process.  (95).

I love this.  In my weekly women's bible study, we have been talking a lot about daily taking the time to simply "behold Christ."  We have discussed disciplining ourselves to search for, study, seek out His glory in everything and then meditate on that glory, on who God is.  I love the passage above because it says that this is the very thing that God uses to sanctify us.  It is never about us, is it?  Even the sanctification process.  It happens as we Behold Him and His glory.  Anyway, it was a nice little "getaway" to read that in the middle of this 23rd day of December, two days before Christmas.  I want to focus on Christ!!!  I want to get what that meant for God to send his son in order that he might die for me.

And I want to find a way to see God's glory in the daily stuff.  In the daily making beauty out of chaos.  That is what we talked/joked about at our last bible study.  How can we see God's glory in the laundry, we asked.  And Jessica mentioned that in the laundry and the straightening and the sweeping and everything else, we are, in fact, making beauty out of chaos.  It is a way that I can reflect him, right?  So...here is what my house looked like at the end of yesterday.  And Ada helped me.  She helped me after several spankings and pleadings and perhaps a raised voice here and there.  But, she did help me. 

Better, right?  Certainly not perfect, but much less chaotic, I think.  And on that note, I need to make my way upstairs to "make some beauty out of chaos" with the master bedroom and the laundry in the hallway. 

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve.  May we experience Him!!!

Moving Right Along

We are moving closer and closer to Christmas Day.  We are doing that sticker countdown with Ada, and it is amazing to me the number of days that have already been marked off.  Everyday Ada asks, "Is it Christmas morning?"  as if she wouldn't know ahead of time.  This has been an extra fun Christmas season for me as Ada is old enough to catch onto the excitement.  It's the most anticipation I have felt since being a child myself. 

Another treat for us this week is that Cake!!

 (Kate, my youngest sister) is here for a couple of days.  She flew into the ATL airport from New York!!!, where she had been visiting with a friend, and we picked her up and brought her here.  My dad is coming today to take her back to Scottsboro for Christmas break.  I have been hearing all about her trip and living vicariously through her.  While she was making her way through SOHO and Greenwich Village, I was changing diapers and forcing John to eat baby food;) 

Really, I am teasing.  I wouldn't give this up for anything.  After leaving Lenox the other night, I kept noticing all these lit up coffee shops and cafes, and I began to "dream out loud" about all that Scott and I could be doing if we didn't have the responsibility of children.  And then I looked at him in disbelief and said, "Really, I would give up these TREASURES for a night at a coffee shop.  I don't think so!!!"  And then I felt strangely content to drive straight home to my suburb and tuck these babies into bed. 

I am, however, dreaming of the day when debt is paid off and I don't have a child quite so attached to me and maybe I can go gallavanting around New York for a few days.  A girl can dream, right?  Right now I am hoping for a night away with Scott in April for our anniversary (oh the wording of that sentence is terrible, but I don't have time to go back and figure it out), which of course depends upon a certain little guy being WEANED. 

The little guy I am talking about is pictured above.  He is playing at my feet as I type this.  NEVER FAR AWAY FROM ME!!!  In fact, a minute ago my post was rudely interrupted when that stinker crawled under the desk and turned the computer OFF.  Luckily, blogger saved automatically because I would not have had time to re-type all of this.

Anyway, I just wanted to blog.  It's my journal, of sorts, you know?  A place where I think out loud and record all that God is doing here in our everyday.  It doesn't always seem like much, and then I begin to read through the older posts, and He is ALWAYS at work isn't he?  Here are my stones of remembrance, right here, for all the world to see.

And now I will close with a quote from the book that I am reading, Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.  I think it sums up Christmas so well

For the son of God to empty himself and become poor meant a laying aside of glory; a voluntary restraint of power; an acceptance of hardship, isolation, ill-treatment, malice, and misunderstanding; finally, a death that involved such agony--spiritual, even more than physical--that his mind nearly broke under the prospect of it.  It meant love to the uttermost for unlovely men, who "through his poverty, might become rich."   This Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity--hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory--because at the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross.  It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.  (70-71).

Amen and Amen and Amen!!!  And Amen again!!  Do you agree?

Marathon-long Christmas post.

We have been "Christmasing it up" in the Moore family this weekend, despite John's confirmed case of pink eye (THIRD ROUND!!!) and sinus infection.  We are becoming quite familiar with that doctor's office!!  This time, John is taking an oral antibiotic rather than eyedrops, and I am THANKFUL for that!!

The good news is that John doesn't really act like he feels bad, his eye just has that obvious goopy, pink eye look, so we decided to go ahead with any plans as long as they involved John being close by my side.  You know, when you're feeling sick, mom is a must. 

So here is what we did...Saturday afternoon, after I tutored and did the weekly grocery trip, and after Ada napped (which was a prerequisite for all weekend plans), we piled into our car and headed for Lenox Square mall to visit the famous Pink Pig ride at Macy's.  I know many of you ATL natives are super familiar with the Pink Pig tradition, but this was a first for us.  I had heard about the Pink Pig last year from Tutti and other friends, but I recently heard more about it through my connection with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (part of the proceeds benefit Children's!!!) Well, we were obviously first time visitors and did not plan well.  If any of you are not familiar with the Pink Pig, go here to read the background.  In my words, it's an Atlanta Christmas tradition that began at Rich's department store in 1953 and is now located at the top of the Lenox parking deck in a big tent.  You won't be able to miss it.  Just look for the insanely long line!!! 

I am thinking that we picked the worst possible time to ride the Pink Pig.  It opens at 10 am, and next year, I plan to be there at 10 am!!!  This year we were there around 6:00 pm.  on a Saturday night.  two weeks before Christmas.  You can imagine the situation.  Plus, I just didn't realize exactly how cold it was.  So, after about two seconds in line, we headed ourselves into the mall to Baby gap to purchase hats and gloves for the kiddos.  I told Ada that she needs to act surprised when she sees those gloves in her stocking in a couple of weeks;).  Okay, so after purchasing the least expensive, but warm, things that we could find, we headed back to the line, tickets in hand.  Let me just say, the line moved fairly quickly, and Ada was so excited about the upcoming the ride, that she didn't complain at all.  She was too busy jumping up and down, dancing around, and putting her mouth on the germ infested rope that fenced in the line.  And the ride was a hit.  Ada loved it.  And it did feel Christmasy and festive and traditional and all of those seasonal things, and I am all for coming back, at a much less crowded time.   I also noticed as we were leaving the mall later, that the line was much shorter, so coming near closing would also be a good idea.  And--thank you, Lord--John was also a trooper, only getting really fussy right before we got on the ride, and he was a happy camper once the train started moving. 

Okay...so after we got off the pink pig train, we headed into the mall for Ada's first mall and escalator experience.  She loved it, and I felt like we were "country come to town" the way she was going nuts over the sights and sounds of Lenox.  I didn't realize how much we don't do malls until I saw her reaction to everything.  If we do shop (which is rare) it's Target or the local outlet malls, which have everything we need.  And I see why that is a good thing after coming up with a list a mile long of clothing items that I "have to have" after observing the crowds and the store windows.  Oh the boots that I saw.  The gorgeous boots.

Anyway...it was a fun, albeit tiring, night, and I recommend that everyone take a turn on Macy's Pink Pig Ride.  I also recommend that you go some other time than 6:00 on Saturday night, unless you don't mind a wait.

Here are the kiddos waiting in line, photographs taken by my new smart phone.  I am loving it, and can't believe I have one because it is so unlike us to have anything even slightly technologically up-to-date.  All photographs will be taken by the phone for a while because our camera is under the weather, just in time for Christmas.  But honestly, the camera's pictures were the same quality as the phone's, so it doesn't really matter.

 Little trooper, despite his pink eye.  Can you see it?  It's permanently pink, it seems.

Next Christmas activity of the weekends--CHRISTMAS COOKIES!!!  Using my mom's butter cookie recipe topped with homemade buttercream icing.  We were prepared with plenty of Christmas themed cookie cutters, sprinkles, and everything in between.  Ada was excited, to say the least. 

So...I made the dough last night after the kids were finally in bed, and I let it harden in the fridge overnight.  Then after a Sunday afternoon nap today, we rolled that dough out, and Ada went to town (with much help) making her Christmas cookies.  She even had a little apron to wear.  Below are images from the afternoon.  Notice that she went a bit nuts with the sprinkles, and I think she ate her weight in cookies before I regained control of the situation.  Oh well, how often do we make Christmas cookies together?  Not often.

By the way, the photo below is a picture of the buttercream icing, which contains, count them, THREE STICKS OF BUTTER.  I even called my mom to make sure I was reading that correctly.  But it tastes really good, as you can imagine.  I will post the recipes for the cookies and the icing at the bottom of the post. 
Again, the recipes both belong to my mom, and I have eaten those butter cookies all throughout my life.  The taste says home to me.

Okay, the recipes, copied straight from the e-mail that my mom sent last night, that I read on my phone.  I know, I know, I am so behind the times, but I still can't get over how I can check my e-mail or facebook or google reader from anywhere.  Crazy stuff.

Butter Cookies

1/2 cup sugar, 2 sticks of butter(room temperature), 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of vanilla, 3 cups of flour, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.

With a spoon mix the butter and sugar really good. Then add the egg and vanilla and mix it in really good. Next add the flour mixture and stir until it is mixed all together - this part makes my arms tired.


This dough does best if it gets cold and hard in the refrigerator after you've mixed it. If you bake the cookies right after you mix the dough, it works best if you just drop spoonfuls onto the cookie sheet, without trying to roll out the dough. Bake at least 10 minutes in preheated 400 degree oven, maybe longer, 10-13 minutes. Check them to see if they are the right amount of brown.

Laura Beth, the above is how I bake them. I like them crisp. Ann, however, likes them softer - so she bakes them at 350 degrees - she says they hold their shape better at that temperature and she doesn't roll them out as thin as I do. Also - right after you take the dough out of the refrig it will be very hard. You'll have to leave it out just a bit and work with about 1/4 of the dough at a time. Don't try to roll out the whole ball of dough at once.
 
And the icing, also copied straight from the e-mail.
 
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting


1- 1/2 cups butter, softened


4 cups powdered sugar


2 tablespoons milk


1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract


Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add milk; beat until spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla.
 
Okay, I have to get off this computer.  It is 10:26, and I still have "miles to go before I sleep."

How We're Doing Christmas at Our House

Christmas at our house looks much like everything else in our life--full of good intentions, but a bit scattered in it's approach.

My brain fills up with ideas and images and suggestions from the millions of things that I read, and it all overflows into a bit of a mess.  Advent?  Jesse Tree?  Santa--to do or not to do?  How many Christmas gifts and which ones do we eliminate?  How do I make Ada understand that it's all about, only about, Jesus coming to earth to save us from our sins?  And the anticipation and the celebration and the gifts are just a way to remember that he came, IN THE FLESH, to earth, to meet us in our desperate need.  There are some days that Christmas feels like one more thing that I might, gasp, fail at doing.  And then I remember, that's why he came!!  Because he KNEW that I would fail over and over and over.  And so...

The Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people.  Titus 2:11.  Amen and amen and amen. 

So this is my humble attempt at Christmas this year.

Ada and I are doing this together every morning, usually in our pajamas, hair a mess, house a wreck, and, again, scattered in our approach, but by God's grace, she will understand the story of Christ's birth by the time we are through. 

And then we do it again at night, when Scott is with us, because, at three, repetition is everything. 

And because my own heart tends to get caught up in decorations and baking and making Christmas feel a certain way for my children (which is not a bad thing, as long as it doesn't become the ULTIMATE thing, right?), I ordered this for Scott and me to read each day.  Because I want to anticipate Jesus.  I want to understand, just a tiny, tiny bit, what it felt like for God to speak into the silence that Christmas day, sending a savior, who was Christ the Lord.

(I discovered both of these resources--Ada's chart and our book-- at this website, which continues to be a favorite of mine)

Another Christmas Conversation with Ada

While she was in the kitchen with me, as I prepared lunch.

Ada (jumping around excitedly):  "Santa is coming to our house!!"

Me:  "Really?!!! Is Santa real or pretend?"

Ada:  "Real!!!" (obviously)

Me:  "Really?!!!  How does he get to our house?"

Ada:  "Well, he comes on Christmas and brings presents."

Me:  "Will you see him?"

Ada:  "No, I will be in my room, and he will say 'ha, ha, ha [rather than ho,ho,ho?], Merry Christmas, Ada" (she breaks into loud laughter, bending over and holding her stomach...)

Hmmm....

We don't actually plan to "do Santa" (I know, party poopers we are), but apparently Caillou (her current favorite cartoon) has already poured much Santa knowledge into Ada's brain.

Christmas Toys

It ended up being a kitchen kind of Christmas. Dishes and cookies and vegetables to cut.

These kitchen items have been by far the biggest hit.

Well, that and the window markers from Ann. Oh my word. She loves the window markers.

And Bitty Baby? Well, she gets tucked in a lot. And she is sick a lot. And she requires lots of blankets. I am thinking that I should move her from Ada's room to downstairs. I have found that downstairs toys get played with much more than upstairs. And it looks like the "dining room" has officially become the play room. That wasn't the plan. It just happened, so I am going to embrace it.

There are other toys, of course. An Elmo suitcase that gets packed a lot and Curious George pajamas that she wants to wear every night, plus sidewalk chalk and some new, fun bath towels. These things are getting used as well. (The make up is in hiding, mom). I will post pictures of these things soon.

Final Christmas Post

These pictures are a bit scrambled...oh well, here goes.

Bitty Baby, the "Big" Christmas gift this year. So far, Bitty Baby has spent a lot of time sick in bed. At least that is what Ada tells us when we ask her if she wants to play with her. She always tells us in a tone that says the answer should be obvious, "She's sick. She has a feber."Okay, these are a few pictures from the Sunday when we were headed back to Atlanta. The kids were all hanging out waiting on lunch to be ready. Luke is showing Ada something on the computer.

still waiting...now the pacie and blanket are in on the mix. And Buzz Lightyear. The pacie gets tossed on the third birthday. I dread that already.

Just one morning during the holidays--reading with Mary Ann. (mom's sister)

The scene at my parents' house on Christmas morning. This was after santa presents and breakfast out at Ann and Steven's house.

Ada opened make-up and promptly put finger nail polish on her face and hair. The make up is now in hiding.

Like I said, these are out of order. This is Ada and Andrew at Ann's earlier in the day, eating breakfast.

Sadly I have not one picture of opening "Santa gifts." I don't have a picture of the gifts under the tree. Nothing. But there are enough pictures from the week to remember Christmas '09, I think. And that concludes the Christmas blogging.

Finally, the Christmas posts continue

We'll start with Christmas Eve. We started the evening by attending a candlelight service at Church, and Ada did surprisingly well in the service. I think the candlelight and hushed voices intimidated her just enough to keep her quiet. I was relieved. Ellie and Ada wore their matching Christmas dresses. After Church we headed to "Near's" house for dinner and one gift each for the cousins--Christmas pajamas. Well...Luke's were Toy Story pajamas.

Ada is really into doing things herself these days, so it took her a while to actually get the nightgown on.

Then, the kids enjoyed macaroni and cheese and mandarin oranges, and the adults ate grilled steak, sauteed mushrooms, baked potatoes, and salad. It was oh so good, though a bit chaotic. By the time we sat down to eat, the little ones were getting sleepy and fussy.

We ended the night at Ann's house, with Steven reading the Christmas Story to everyone. If you look to the left of the picture you will see that John also got in on the action. I didn't post a picture that included all of me in it because I was looking quite "large and in charge," if you know what I mean. I tend to be transparent on this blog, but I have my limits;)

Do ya'll know about the Jesus Storybook Bible? It's a must have!!

I'm out of order, but oh well. Here are the girls in their matching nightgowns with Aunt Sarah. Thank you, Ann, for carrying on the pajama tradition.

Ada doesn't do so well sleeping at the Barber's house, for who knows what reason (we predict that will change as she and Ellie get older. I imagine it will be quite fun to spend the night with Ellie), but we like to do Christmas Eve over there, so they can all open their gifts together. Oddly enough, there was a crazy wind storm going on all night long, so we had an especially bad night. It involved much waking up and various shifts in the sleeping arrangements, but we managed to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before morning.

I will be back tomorrow with a final Christmas post, and then I will continue with regularly scheduled blogging.

In the mean time, John is causing me so much back pain. Oh my word. Suggestions anyone? Sometimes it hurts so bad it takes my breath away. I am ready to drive myself to the hospital and get this baby out--too bad we've got six weeks to go.