Our week in photos #46

Here's a look back at our week!

Saturday - We got our Christmas tree!!  It was a perfect time.  Not too cold but there was still snow on the ground.  We found the perfect tree!!

 Josh and Nate enjoy helping cut down the tree. 

 The boys got to feed the Alpacas :-)  

We had fun decorating the tree and watching "Home Alone" (our tradition! ) 

Sunday - The Kids Christmas Program at church was amazing! 

Monday - A full day of school!  Followed by TKD for Nate

Tuesday - We did school and the boys went to piano.  We then just had a quite night at home. 

Wednesday - A full day of school followed by AWANA for the boys

Thursday - We went on a Field trip . . .Ice Skating!  The boys had never been and I think they did pretty well.  They discovered how much of a workout it was and ended up with legs like Jell-O! 

Friday - Darryl and I went out to lunch thanks to a gift card from on of his regular riders.  We got to go to the Cheesecake Factory!  Wow!  It was amazing!  We also walked through the mall and enjoyed all of the Christmas lights/decorations before heading back home.  

This Christmas season is just flying by and and I feel like we won't get all of our normal traditional things done but I also know that it's ok.  We just need to have fun and enjoy the holiday! 

Weekly Menu

I find it hard to believe that we are pushing towards the end of 2019.  I enjoy this time of year so much for sure!  Yet I am always amazed at how quickly it all goes!  If I don't stay intentional with everything, it slips right by for another year.

Of course, we still have to eat so here's the plan!

Friday - Darryl and I are going on a date day.  So I plan on keeping dinner simple.  I'm assuming we will be home for dinner but if not, I'm just going to have supplies for spaghetti on hand.  I can always use spaghetti for lunch next week :-)

Saturday -  I've been craving Chili (maybe because it has gotten really cold!) so that's the plan today.  My mom also gave me a great cornbread mix that I'm going to make to go with it.

Sunday - Today is my Christmas Concert with the choir.  To keep it simple - Chili Dogs and Chips.

Monday -  Nate has Tae Kwon Do testing tonight so we are all going.  Dinner needs to be super simple.  I'll probably have leftover Chili while the boys will have Chicken Nuggets.

Tuesday - Josh has been begging me for homemade pizza again so that's the plan.  Darryl and I have a favorite chicken alfredo pizza that I don't make often because it is super rich but I think I might make that one for us and Josh's "light cheese" pizza.

Wednesday - it is AWANA night - Frozen Pizza!

Thursday - I am going out to dinner with our Leadership Team so the Darryl needs a simple dinner.  I think if I have Sloppy Joes ready, that will be perfect.

As we come to the end of this week, we will be looking forward to Nate's birthday, Christmas, Darryl's Family Christmas, and New Years!  Wow!

Weekly Worship - Christmas Style -- Avalon - We Are The Reason

I have loved this song for years!  I can't even remember the first person I heard sing this but it doesn't matter because it's the song that I love.  This arrangement is beautiful too!

Our week in photos #45

A busy week!

Saturday - the boys spent the day at a friends house as part of an overnight birthday party.  No photos since I wasn't there :-)

Sunday - a surprise snow day!  It was beautiful but kept us home all day!

Monday - A total school day followed by TKD!

Tuesday - School, Piano and Lego Club!

Wednesday - School and AWANA!

Thursday - We attended a Funeral for a long time family friend.  He's site is just "down the road" from my dad so we visited my dads spot as well.

Friday - We were supposed to go on a field trip today but we are done to one car (hopefully it's an easy fix and can be fixed next week!) So instead we had an unexpected day at home.  I was able to mark some things off my to do list during the day.  We then enjoyed the annual Christmas Parade Downtown to kick off the holiday season!

Weekly Menu

December - the most wonderful time of year!  The lights and Christmas Songs plus all of the extra special things that go on - it is all so much fun!

We still have to eat though :-)  So, with that in mind, here is the plan for the coming week!

Friday - It's time for our town's Christmas Parade so we have to grab a quick bite to eat before heading downtown.  We keep it simple - Chicken Nuggets and and Corn Dogs!

Saturday - Josh has requested homemade pizza - I made it before Thanksgiving and it is his new favorite meal (He loves pizza - but the homemade is his second favorite.  What is his first, you ask?  Speedway.  Yes, pizza from Speedway!)

Sunday - We have leftovers - Leftovers sent home from a funeral; Plus Pulled Pork BBQ leftovers and homemade applesauce.  Sometimes we just have to stop and eat whats in the fridge! 

Monday - Hot Dogs and Mac and Cheese.  Simple on a busy night.

Tuesday - Ham and Cheese Quiche, Lemon Bread and Fruit (A carry over from last week!)

Wednesday - Frozen Pizza - it's AWANA night!

Thursday - I am attending a Christmas Tea with a friend of mine so the boys are on their own with Darryl :-)  I might just have some Frozen Lasagna for them to cook and eat :-)

December Goals

Wow.  It is December!  It won't be long and I'll be looking back at my 2019 year long goals to see how I did!  I feel like this year just started.  Well, except January last about 345 days all on its own HA! 

I do actually set some goals for December but I also try to just enjoy the season too.  I look for as many free Christmas related activities as possible and we try to enjoy the season too.  I don't fret too much about cleaning projects and watch as many Halmark Christmas movies as my family will tolerate :-) As the month progresses I start to focus on goals for 2020 and reflect on the past year too.

Here's what I'm hoping to accomplish this month!

1. Scrapbook January 2019 completely. 

2. Do Christmas activities each week with the boys - I've searched pinterest for fun, easy ideas and now I just have to follow through.

3. Write my 2020 goals.

4. End December current on school work.  When we come back after Christmas break we will have about 2 1/2 weeks left in the semester to wrap things up. 

5. Have all Christmas gifts wrapped by December 21st.  Why?  Nate's birthday is the 22nd and then we are onto Christmas week and I want zero stress. 

6. Finances - this goal stays the same . . .trying to just track everything all month.  It does help curb extra spending when I have to write it down!

7.  Take care of that random black bin in the bathroom from last month HA!

8. Get our Christmas tree and decorate it!

9. Make some Christmas cookies - ideally I'd like to make a couple of new cookie recipes - true Christmas style cookies but even just to make some cookies might be nice! 

10. Celebrate Nate's birthday - the plan is already in place, now just to enjoy his day.

11. Practice my song for our Christmas Eve Service.

12. Make one of the White Hanger Snowflakes that are the rage of the Internet right now.  I'm hoping that if they as easy to make they appear that I can make several to use as outdoor decor next year. 

13. Hang up Nate's race track on the wall downstairs. We took it out of his room and just need to hang it downstairs where there is more room!

14. Work on my song for when I sing in January.  The more I practice, the less nervous I am :-)

15. Focus on Flylady's "Home Blessing Hour" each week - not deep cleaning, not special projects, just doing some Home Blessing each week so the house looks nice :-)

16. Take my dog to get his nails clipped.

17. Mail my Christmas Cards.

18. Repair the boys Milk Jug Snowmen - it is a project we made several years ago and a few of the pieces have fallen off so I need to repair them! 

19. Well, I usually try to do 19 goals but I have nothing for number 19!!  Imagine that!  Oh well, I can handle 18 :-)

Weekly Worship - Christmas Style - Kari Jobe - Adore Him

I love Christmas Music - probably because we only listen to it a few months out of the year.  I enjoy how this song mixes new words with an old Christmas Hymn.  Familiarity yet a uniqueness too.