Winter is in full swing here in Michigan and Eliana definitely enjoyed her first snow adventure!
She refused to keep her mittens on, so our field trip outside was short-lived….
We visited Santa and as you can see, one of our children is missing. Eliana was PETRIFIED. I wanted so bad to get one of those hilarious keepsake "I'm so scared of Santa pics", but I just couldn't. I felt horrible even taking her within 10 feet of the guy. In fact, we have a book at home with Santa on the front cover… if you put the book in front of her, she says, "no" and runs away.
Daddy and Ana selfie :)
Camden and Abi enjoying some ice cream on a very cold December day!
Love sleeping babies.. wait, she's not quite a baby anymore. Love sleeping toddlers :)
We brought Christmas joy to local Grammas and Grampas last week with Camden's preschool. This sweet woman is Gramma Polly. She is 99 years old and had the best time telling me all about her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and great-great grandsbabies! Just amazing. She enjoyed showing the kids a locket with pictures of her 4 children when they were babies.
Camden's class sang Christmas carols, decorated Christmas trees, and then ate punch and cookies with them. Eliana was in heaven hanging with Big Bro and all of his friends :)
Polly just adored Eliana. From the minute we walked in, Polly was smiling and waving at us. They had fun sitting next to each other exchanging stories and coloring…
They also compared shoes. Gramma Polly loved Ana's sparkly shoes :)
The coolest part is that after getting home and posting a couple of these picture on Facebook, I found out that Gramma Polly is a high school friend's great-gramma. Small world!
So blessed to be a mommy to these two!
Sally and Ballerina have been having fun… been a little naughty… and have had kind hearts too. Camden enjoyed seeing them reenact Splash Mountain into the dog bowl!
Of course on the day they are playing in the toaster, we wants PB toast for breakfast. We had to move the elves using tongs making sure not to touch.
Ok, the elves were back to causing trouble. This idea sort of went astray. Apparently Camden didn't really appreciate his face being painted by the elves. It didn't help that the paint also caused a rash… there I go being 'mom of the year' again :)
Celebrating 'The Reason for the Season'! My favorite so far :)
The Fowler clan is always up for some fun… especially around the holidays. Gramma hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater party and we had a blast!
As I started making Eliana's outfit, I actually thought it was cute!
The kids were entertained with Santa BINGO, Pin the Nose on the Snowman, and of course lots of prizes!
Stud….
Getting ready for the kiddo parade!
This is about as good as it gets when there's 5 kids 5 and under!
This Christmas season has been exceptional so far and I can just feel the excitement bubbling inside all of us as we get closer to the big day. Camden seems to somewhat get it this year… that Christmas isn't about getting gifts, it's vastly bigger and better. It's a celebration for Jesus and giving your time and resources for those in need is much more gratifying than opening a wrapped box.
Every morning when we get to school, we pray before going inside. (In fact we are in such a routine that Eliana folds her hands and says Amen as I park the car!) Camden, you amaze me little dude. You've been asking to pray more and more each day and I couldn't be more happy to let you. You pray for 'people who are stuck in the snow and they need tow trucks', you ask God to 'heal those that are sick', you pray for Jesus to 'keep Eliana happy so you don't have to hear her cry'. Some are funny and others bring tears to my eyes. Although you switch it up most days, one prayer has remained the same over the last month - your prayer to heal Maddux (a local 6 year old boy) from Leukemia. You've never met Maddux and neither have I, but we attended a fundraiser for him and for some reason he's been on your heart since then. Cancer is a huge beast that I know your little brain can't quite comprehend, but you don't care. You know Maddux is hurting and you know God can heal.
We spent last Saturday morning at our church 'Sharing the Joy' with our church family. It's an amazing event to help the community… and the kids loved it!
Snack break...
I picked Camden up last week from school and his teacher shared the following story with me:
The class was working on 'more or less'. Teacher asked the class would you rather have more or less cookies. All the kids said more… except for Cam. He apparently would rather have less. Teacher asked would you rather have more or less money? Again, Cam was the only one that replied less. Suspicious that maybe Camden didn't quite understand what was going on, she asked if the class would rather have more or less shots at the Dr. That got him, he replied with the rest of the class - less! In asking Camden why he chose less cookies and less money, he said he would take less and give the money and cookies to his friends. I had a mixture of being proud and skeptical at the same time. Is my kid gonna grow up to be a politician or does he really understand the sharing concept? lol!
So, Camden's not all rainbows… he does possess the typical five year old greediness when it comes to presents. The other day we get home from school and Cam sees a big box on the front porch. He says, "oh I hope that is the bunk bed I wanted for Christmas!" I laughed and broke the news to him that he wasn't getting a bunk bed. His reply, "oh man, but that's what I ordered." I sweetly replied, "well I don't run a fast food restaurant." He said, "yea, but you make some pretty good hot cocoa, so can you hit me up with some of that? wow.
I posted this story on Facebook and was shocked to see how many people responded with 'how smart he is'. Blah! Let me tell you that was the furthest thing from my mind! #1… you don't order Christmas presents and #2… where the heck did you hear the phrase 'hit me up'?!?!
The part I didn't post was after the fact we talked about those two things and he actually never even got hot cocoa because he forgot about it. Plus it was right before dinner so I didn't bring it up. He also felt bad about the 'ordering' Christmas presents part and said he hopes big box is for Ana. Good… because it is :)
Camden did a fabulous job at his Preschool Christmas program. He was SO excited. On our way to school the morning of the program, he asked if they were going to be on a stage. I told him I thought they were… he replied, "Oh good! I've always dreamed of being on a stage."
Being silly with his buddies before going on stage!
He did great, but seemed a little nervous. Here is a video that Ms. Emily snapped before the program of him practicing his song: Click here
Decorating Christmas cookies!
She refused to keep her mittens on, so our field trip outside was short-lived….
We visited Santa and as you can see, one of our children is missing. Eliana was PETRIFIED. I wanted so bad to get one of those hilarious keepsake "I'm so scared of Santa pics", but I just couldn't. I felt horrible even taking her within 10 feet of the guy. In fact, we have a book at home with Santa on the front cover… if you put the book in front of her, she says, "no" and runs away.
Daddy and Ana selfie :)
Camden and Abi enjoying some ice cream on a very cold December day!
Love sleeping babies.. wait, she's not quite a baby anymore. Love sleeping toddlers :)
We brought Christmas joy to local Grammas and Grampas last week with Camden's preschool. This sweet woman is Gramma Polly. She is 99 years old and had the best time telling me all about her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and great-great grandsbabies! Just amazing. She enjoyed showing the kids a locket with pictures of her 4 children when they were babies.
Camden's class sang Christmas carols, decorated Christmas trees, and then ate punch and cookies with them. Eliana was in heaven hanging with Big Bro and all of his friends :)
Polly just adored Eliana. From the minute we walked in, Polly was smiling and waving at us. They had fun sitting next to each other exchanging stories and coloring…
They also compared shoes. Gramma Polly loved Ana's sparkly shoes :)
The coolest part is that after getting home and posting a couple of these picture on Facebook, I found out that Gramma Polly is a high school friend's great-gramma. Small world!
So blessed to be a mommy to these two!
Sally and Ballerina have been having fun… been a little naughty… and have had kind hearts too. Camden enjoyed seeing them reenact Splash Mountain into the dog bowl!
Of course on the day they are playing in the toaster, we wants PB toast for breakfast. We had to move the elves using tongs making sure not to touch.
Camden touched Sally. I didn't even see him do it, but apparently the guilt got the best of him. Right after he did it he came running to me crying screaming, "I'm so sorry Mommy". I just laughed. Well… because Camden touched Sally, his magic wasn't powerful enough to help him get back through the window after visiting the North Pole the night before. He was one cold elf!
Our elves aren't all mischief… they needed Cam's help to go shopping for a class food drive.
Ok, the elves were back to causing trouble. This idea sort of went astray. Apparently Camden didn't really appreciate his face being painted by the elves. It didn't help that the paint also caused a rash… there I go being 'mom of the year' again :)
Celebrating 'The Reason for the Season'! My favorite so far :)
The Fowler clan is always up for some fun… especially around the holidays. Gramma hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater party and we had a blast!
As I started making Eliana's outfit, I actually thought it was cute!
The kids were entertained with Santa BINGO, Pin the Nose on the Snowman, and of course lots of prizes!
Stud….
Camden wanted to make his shirt, so as we bought puffy paint at hobby lobby, Camden tells the cashier he's making a shirt for his Grandma's Christmas party. The guy asked if it was an ugly sweater party... I replied yes hoping that cam didn't catch on. *didn't fly* Camden said, wait a minute, mom you know I don't make ugly things...I know buddy, you make fantastic works of art :)
Getting ready for the kiddo parade!
This is about as good as it gets when there's 5 kids 5 and under!
This Christmas season has been exceptional so far and I can just feel the excitement bubbling inside all of us as we get closer to the big day. Camden seems to somewhat get it this year… that Christmas isn't about getting gifts, it's vastly bigger and better. It's a celebration for Jesus and giving your time and resources for those in need is much more gratifying than opening a wrapped box.
Every morning when we get to school, we pray before going inside. (In fact we are in such a routine that Eliana folds her hands and says Amen as I park the car!) Camden, you amaze me little dude. You've been asking to pray more and more each day and I couldn't be more happy to let you. You pray for 'people who are stuck in the snow and they need tow trucks', you ask God to 'heal those that are sick', you pray for Jesus to 'keep Eliana happy so you don't have to hear her cry'. Some are funny and others bring tears to my eyes. Although you switch it up most days, one prayer has remained the same over the last month - your prayer to heal Maddux (a local 6 year old boy) from Leukemia. You've never met Maddux and neither have I, but we attended a fundraiser for him and for some reason he's been on your heart since then. Cancer is a huge beast that I know your little brain can't quite comprehend, but you don't care. You know Maddux is hurting and you know God can heal.
We spent last Saturday morning at our church 'Sharing the Joy' with our church family. It's an amazing event to help the community… and the kids loved it!
Snack break...
I picked Camden up last week from school and his teacher shared the following story with me:
The class was working on 'more or less'. Teacher asked the class would you rather have more or less cookies. All the kids said more… except for Cam. He apparently would rather have less. Teacher asked would you rather have more or less money? Again, Cam was the only one that replied less. Suspicious that maybe Camden didn't quite understand what was going on, she asked if the class would rather have more or less shots at the Dr. That got him, he replied with the rest of the class - less! In asking Camden why he chose less cookies and less money, he said he would take less and give the money and cookies to his friends. I had a mixture of being proud and skeptical at the same time. Is my kid gonna grow up to be a politician or does he really understand the sharing concept? lol!
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| Camden's Christmas Program! |
I posted this story on Facebook and was shocked to see how many people responded with 'how smart he is'. Blah! Let me tell you that was the furthest thing from my mind! #1… you don't order Christmas presents and #2… where the heck did you hear the phrase 'hit me up'?!?!
The part I didn't post was after the fact we talked about those two things and he actually never even got hot cocoa because he forgot about it. Plus it was right before dinner so I didn't bring it up. He also felt bad about the 'ordering' Christmas presents part and said he hopes big box is for Ana. Good… because it is :)
Camden did a fabulous job at his Preschool Christmas program. He was SO excited. On our way to school the morning of the program, he asked if they were going to be on a stage. I told him I thought they were… he replied, "Oh good! I've always dreamed of being on a stage."
Being silly with his buddies before going on stage!
He did great, but seemed a little nervous. Here is a video that Ms. Emily snapped before the program of him practicing his song: Click here
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| Thanks Gramma and Grampa for coming! |
Decorating Christmas cookies!
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| Add caption |
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