Word of the Year

On several blogs I read it seems people are naming 2013 or claiming a word for the year.  Maybe as a one word resolution?  My resolution post will come later.  But I will give you my word. 

Intentional

I noticed this word kept popping up more and more in my prayer requests texts with a BFF.  And truly it is the desire of my heart!  

I desire to be intentional with my walk with the Lord.  This means setting my alarm when I start to not listen to my internal 5 am alarm.  This means making the decision to still get up and to plan to get up even when the kids have been up several times in the night.  Because the days I don't get up early to spend time with the Lord... 9 times out of 10 I decided the night before...and then spend the rest of the next day that is just off irritated with myself for the decision.  

I desire to be intentional with my husband.  This having little kids in the house is not for the fainthearted.  They will make you tired.  And sick.  You can't hide from them.  And if you aren't careful you could forget to pay attention to and spend time with the one you love.  I want to be intentional with packing Chris' lunch each night and maybe even slip in a love note or two.  I want to be intentional with showing him love in the way I lay out his tshirt, underwear, and socks each night for work.  One of Chris' Christmas presents was a year of preplanned dates (one each month).  January is Date Night at the gun range.  

I desire to be intentional with my children.  This means having a plan.  It means being present.  It means being patient.  

So, what is your word for 2013?  

Happy New Year!

I love a good party!  I also love friends.  So...one of my BFFs decided to throw a Noon Year's Eve party for our kiddos and I got to help!  I didn't help much because she was on a roll!  

The idea of the party was to celebrate New Year's with our kids but not in the middle of the night.  :)  Everyone (this mama included!) is better in the middle of the day rather than the middle of the night!

Tasha took all of these pictures!  She is awesome with pictures and tagging!  (I asked permission to use!) 

The girls all had Stompees! 

The photo props

Tasha had her house decorated so fun for the occasion! 

This is the photo booth. Tasha cut out all of the circles by hand! 

Silly faces

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The girls all sitting together ready for the snowman bowling game. 

Snowman bowling set up

Next we made visors.  To wear up...Lorelei needed to wear her visor the regular visor way. 

 

 

 

Boaz felt he needed to make one too. 

This guy.

 

 

With hats.                                                        The girls in the photo booth. 

Me and my people. 

The girlz

Photo props and backdrop are fun! 

Next it was time for the countdown and balloon drop. 

Balloons falling! 

Balloon craziness!

It was so funny because there was a moment of quiet pause before they realized...the balloons fell...let's get them! 

Eating...check out Boaz sitting with all the girls!

Eating yummy food!

Clock cookies my friend, Erin, made for us.  Seriously I will give you her contact info if you need cookies made! 

Bubbles for toasting! 

Toasting in the New Year!

This is actually Tasha's family jar...but remember I said I used her pictures?  We each have a family jar to put our blessings in throughout the year and then we will go through them at the end of 2013. 

Yummy popcorn bar!

Nine Months

Yesterday our sweet boy turned nine months old.  He has three teeth that are out and two that you can see the edges of.  Boaz is known for his huge grin.  He is all over the place.  A full time cruiser and part time stander.  He doesn't crawl on all fours anymore but uses what Chris calls a turbo leg to help him go even faster.  

Boaz will give you bites of whatever he is eating when you ask and loves to clap.  He will come when called sometimes.  He unscrews everything.  Knobs, lids, you name it.

Boaz is 24 lbs 6 oz.  That is right people, he lost two ounces.  I told you he has been all over the place.  

He loves his new wagon!  And could you resist that face?!? 

Post Christmas Update

Well some parts of this are just funny.  I planned the nice Christmas Eve dinner and birthday party for Jesus.  Had to rearrange the schedule as Miki had to work later than usual.

So, this is what went down.  Lorelei and I went and picked Grandma up from her apartment.  We brought her home and I worked on finishing dinner preparations.  I got Grandma and Lorelei started on the gingerbread nativity.  That was funny because Grandma wanted to do it like the picture ---as a fellow rule follower I understand--and of course Lorelei is a bit more...freespirited (?) and had other design ideas.  My grandma is so sweet but you could tell it was hard for her to deal with Lorelei wanting to mess with her design.  I got video of my grandma and my daughter.  If I had any idea of how to get it off of my phone and onto here I would.  There IS a clip on Facebook if you want to see.

Well, then Miki texts and says that she is finally coming home but she wasn't feeling well and to just eat without her.  And then I look over and see that Chris is asleep.  I had one moment when I wanted to cry.  But then I just went with it and had dinner with my grandma and two kids who were super hungry with dinner being two hours later than normal.

Lorelei chose what gifts to give with the token she earned for her gift to the King.  Sweetest moment was when she said, "I want to order one of everyfing."  She ended up being able to order food for a mommy and baby for one month as well as a Christmas gift for a mommy and baby.  

Christmas began leisurely with Lorelei getting up a little after 9 and gracing us with her presence at 9:15-9:30.  Chris read the Christmas story while Lorelei and I acted it out.  It got funny when she started driving Jesus in the car to take Him to the temple.

Then we opened presents and played for the rest of the day.

And I ended the day trying to convince Lorelei that she never had an older brother.  She was in her bed crying about him and that he had died when she was a baby.  Lie to me and tell me that is normal. 

Grandma and Lorelei working on the nativity

It turned into a tent. 

Grandma opening her stocking

Lorelei was trying to smile like Boaz!

I have totally been capitalizing on the fact that they want to sit together!  (Contained)

Chris reading the Christmas story

Lorelei was Mary rocking Baby Jesus while singing a song about the shepherds.

Lorelei and her stocking

Boaz had an awesome first Christmas!

Slippers from my sister-in-law and brother!  I heart them!  Hard sole! 

Inside of Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

New kitchen.

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