1st Week of Advent

 "Angel Hair" pasta

 The Wreath

Light one candle to watch for Messiah 

Let the light banish darkness 

He shall bring salvation to Israel, 

God fulfills the promise. 

Preparing for a Peaceful Christmas

Christmas seems to be a very stressful time for me.  With all the responsibilities, travel, tolerating people I don't want to see, and tight scheduling I just don't find "peace on Earth," or anywhere.  This year I have been following a thread called 12 weeks to a Peaceful Christmas from the Raising Arrows blog.  We are in Week 9.

I have done most of my shopping, wrapped and labeled everything as soon as I bring it home.  I have stocked my pantry with baking necessities.  I have addressed all of my Christmas card envelopes.  I have a plan for what we will do/not do as far as our celebratory outings and activities with the children.

Now comes the hard part:  this week I have to relax and have fun.  I'm not very good at this, but I have scheduled some fun things for this week.
Today: put up the tree
Tuesday: Aga comes to babysit, make her stay for dinner/take her out/ go on a date with the huz
Wednesday: Mark off, gingerbread? Erie Canal Museum? Library?
Thursday: Thanksgiving Day with my family
Friday: uh...
Saturday: um...
Sunday: yeah I dunno....
:)

EDIT:
Tuesday we went to the library, Aga took the kids to Wendys and Jarod and I went to Eva's European Sweets.
Wednesday we went to Billy Beez, played in the snow, watched a movie.

Fun With Elf Yourself

 Both my boys as babies.  Can you tell who's who?

Pam and I dancing- both of us much younger!

Michael and Jarod

 Jarod on the zip line

Pack Meeting

 The Boy moving up.... technically he was never a bobcat and entered BS as a wolf.  Finally got his neckerchief and badges!

The Invisible Bench skit

The whole den: the coolest 8 boys in Camillus!

In My Christmas Jammies!

New 'Do

 He said he wanted a "falcon."  (faux-hawk. he knew it was some kind of bird...)

 Frosty for being a good boy.

So handsome in his pea-coat!

Mark's Pizzaria w/ Boy Scouts

 The boys chillin... in the fridge!

Making dinner- and they served us, got us drinks, and cleaned up!  Can you say spoiled Mommy?

First Snow

 Yummy!

 Fat, fluffy flakes

 He's about to throw it...

 snow falling on cedars

 Our sentinel, Bo

 The brave little Bachelor Button

Loves his shovel

Bowling Party

 Boy Scout bowling/ pizza party 11/9/14

 Disco Ball

 The dancing star lights were more fun than the bowling

Frame 10 for Mark G: 97!

Frame 10 for Milesmom: 118!

Did He Just Say That?

Miles: "What the Cowbeans?!"

My Happy Childhood

Recently I was asked if I had had a happy childhood.  I of course responded that I had.  This comment led me to reflect on the truly great moments of my childhood and to gather some of them together in honor of this season of thankfulness.

I Am Thankful My Parents Gave Me:

1. (These are in no particular order)  My Extended Family- 6 Aunts, 4 Uncles, 4 Grandparents, 4 Great Grandparents, and 8 cousins.  It's not a huge family as some may have, but each meeting with each of these people brought me such unbridled joy!  I especially remember singing with my family after Thanksgiving Dinner, and the parties that my Aunt used to throw...

2. My Brother- Always an entertainer my brother was the constant in my life.  I could almost always tell what his next move was going to be and what he was thinking.  Although we have very different lifestyles now and live far apart, I hold our childhood memories together (sledding, plans, let's go sewing) in my heart as a reminder of his gentle and loving personality that I always wished I could have understood.

3. Dusty- Growing up with an animal changes a child.  When I think of our schnauzer I feel compassion and comfort.  His death was like losing a sibling, and I have never owned a dog again for fear that he would not measure up to the precedent set by such a faithful, loving canine.

4. The Trip Out West- One of the most amazing adventures our family ever had!  Behold the glory of the midwest of our country!  Snow in the Rockies, 4th of July in Nebraska, cousins in Utah, the Coors Brewery, the tent in the desert .... these are the stories I tell my boys and bedtime.  I mean I can't make this stuff up.

5. Music- All. The. Time.  My parents had a state-of-the-art stereo system that took up half the dining room.  Complete with reel-to-reel, record player, cassettes, amplifier, radio, and eventually a CD player this contraption worked full time!  In all of my memories there is music in the background.  When I tell Jarod about what we used to listen to he is (justifiably) jealous.  Thank you for providing the soundtrack to my childhood.

6. My Bike- Okay I know it's just an object, but I got the thing for my 12th birthday.  I am 33 years old and I use this SAME BIKE to ride my kids to pre-school.  I'm grateful for the freedom it gave me as a teenager and for the joy I get from sharing this activity with my own family.

There are many more little happy memories- tree climbing, camping, my friends, youth group, the lake... too many to recount here.  These things I have mentioned serve as windows into the bright side past.  I pray that my own children will be able to recall many happy memories of the childhood they are still creating.

Fall Pics

 Boy Scout Troop 173 Halloween Party

 Group Photo

 TiTi and I picking up the boys

 Mark at the Halloween Parade

 Wicked Woods Zombie Makeup

Skeleton Gentlemen Ready to Trick-Or-Treat