Oh Tannenbaum, Oh Tannenbaum...

How lovely are your branches. Especially when a 1yr old, 2yr old and 8yr old decorate thee.

Before decorating we gear up with a finger foods, munchy dinner. Bics was able to join us this year for the fun!

 

(I know- Pax has a rash on his face, he has been so 'juicy' lately from teething I can't get it to heal!) 

William hanging the infamous 'Superman' ornament. 

And of course the only natural thing to do after the tree is decorated is to have a light saber fight. 

This pretty much sums up how the tree looked when the boys were done. Vimmer sorted the ornaments and put several of the same kind on one branch. And of course the 'tree fairy' came that night after bed and rearranged the tree to be more appealing to the eye. 

On A Road Here in Little Rock

A few weekends ago we made a trip to Little Rock, AR for my cousin's wedding. I love family wedding. The boys had a great time flying and did really well.

Before our flight out we stopped by The Old Mill in north Little Rock. It was very beautiful. I kept expecting a little gnome to come walking out from behind a rock- it was that 'magical' looking. If I remember correctly, it is in one of the opening scenes of Gone with the Wind, I think when the opening credits are running. 

Vimmer was so exhausted from the weekend that he fell asleep in the car on the ride home at 5:30, we put him in bed, and some how he fell out but continued sleeping.  He slept through the night. (we put him back in bed of course)

They ARE Listening

Just when I think they are not listening to anything I say. And when I start to wonder if my efforts are making any difference, the Lord sends a spark of encouragement my way.

I found this great site that is full of ideas on how to impress the Word of God on your child's heart.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7
'Love the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.'

I started doing the ABC Scripture verses last week. I want to try and do one verse a week. So 'A' was 'A gentle answer turns away anger Proverbs 15:1' and 'B' 'Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Acts 16:31'. 

Well today while Vimmer was working on peeling stickers, he was getting frustrated and starting to get upset. I was cooking dinner and they were sitting at the counter. I overheard William lean over to Vimmer and in the sweetest brotherly voice say, 'Now remember Vimmer, a gentle answer turns away anger!' I froze and slowly looked over at them. Was it true? Did it actually sink in? Did William just quote scripture to his brother!? And at that point my spirit was encouraged. I felt like even though there is chaos, crying kids and messes and occasional feelings of failure as a mom, a seed was planted! 

Paxton's First Haircut

Being new to the area we didn't have a regular 'hair' place yet to take Pax to for his first hair cut. So I just picked this kids cuts place thinking it would be fun for all. 

Before Shot

He was so excited about the firetruck.

And then he lost interest in the firetruck after she started cutting and wanted down. 

All done!

So handsome, so grown up! 

Vimmer got to take a ride in a taxi cab and watch Curious George at the same time. 

This picture frightens me a little. William looks so grown up and almost like a teenager. My baby. Where has time gone? 

Now the funny part of the outing. It was definitely a kids dream place when it came to haircuts. I was raving to Vim durning the cuts, saying 'We are coming back here! This sure beats fighting them in a regular salon.' And then a few minutes later I here from across the room my husband speaking rather loudly 'Are you joking!? $20 for a kids haircut!? That's insane!' To which I replied to the kiddos, 'I guess we aren't coming back here!' Oh well, a first haircut splurge! 

Halloween Weekend Fun

On Saturday we dared to venture out to the oh so popular Dewberry Farms. It was crazy busy. We actually lost Vimmer for about 30 seconds. Just long enough for me to feel the panic set in. 

On Sunday we carved our pumpkins that we had picked out at the Pumpkin Patch. 

Paxton never ceases to amaze me. He grabbed a hunk of pumpkin off the table while we were carving and started eating it. I thought for sure that he would spit it out but he kept going and was quite disappointed when I took it away from him. 

We carved Mickey Mouse in to our pumpkin. 

And these are Vimmer's pumpkins he decorated with stickers. 

My first trick-or-treat-ers.

I finally gave in this year and let William be a ninja. He has always wanted to be one but I have always said no. I have a hard time wanting my kids to dress up as a 'killer'. I never want to glorify that. And I promise I am not judging- it is just something I have been convicted of. 

Vimmer had the option of a fireman, doggie, or spiderman costume. He of course wanted nothing to do with them and decided last minute that he wanted to be Bibleman. And this is the costume that he 'designed' himself. 

Paxton was a fireman but didn't want to wear his hat. Group shots of the boys have become more and more challenging. 

Off to trick-or-treat!