Christmas Eve

“ A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

2012 has been a tough year.  To be honest, I am just a little bit weary of brokenness and sadness.

I am so ready for the time when, as Tolkien and Sally Lloyd Jones put it, "everything sad will come untrue."

But in the midst of this year, I have enjoyed countless moments of laughter, hugs, love, and joy.  I have seen the love of the Church and the provisions of God.  I have cuddled my son, spent time with my family, and rejoiced with my family as we get ready to welcome a new in-law!

And tonight, I will celebrate the birth of a little baby 2,000 years ago--a little baby who came to redeem this broken world. 

"He will make everything the way it was always meant to be."

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Midweek Randoms

Today was my last day of school before the break!  We actually didn't have any middle school students, but teachers were still required to be on campus.  We got to leave half day, so I grabbed Jack from daycare, ran a couple errands, and took a nap with him! (well not in his crib, but at the same time)

So I am officially on break, now!  YAY!  Tomorrow, when Bech gets home from work, we will get in the car and head to Brookhaven to start our holiday break.  

CAN.NOT.WAIT.

So here are some random thoughts/pictures/updates:

* I am loving being a teacher--I have gotten SO many fun gifts!  Lots of yummy food and candy, lots of fun to-go cups (I love tervis cups with lids and straws!), gift cards, and some really creative gifts.  One child made homemade tabasco sauce, homemade worcestershire sauce, and homemade cajun seasoning, with the cutest labels.  I can't wait to cook with them!

* I have a real issue with hoarding.  I even blogged about it once before.  No, I don't have a crazy hoarding house--what I hoard is Christmas money and gift cards (oh, and bath goodies!).  But I was so proud of myself yesterday...I spent some gift cards!  I had two Barnes & Noble gift cards, so I ordered 3 books I had been wanting.  I never spend gift cards that soon and I rarely (if ever) buy fun books for myself.  I can't wait for my new books to come in.  (I got three of Louise Penny's books, if anyone is wondering.  She's a Canadian mystery writer...really good!)

* Bech and I are loving having our buddy boy back home and healthy.  Here's Bech with our little reader.  Jack loves books right now (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is one of his favorites)...I hope he always loves reading!

* I have been wanting to start some family traditions for Christmas.  I know Jack wouldn't really get a lot of things right now, so we started small this year.  Monday night, we ran through Starbucks for some Christmas drinks (thanks, students, for my gift card!) and drove around some near-by neighborhoods to look at lights.  We left about 30 minutes before Jack's bedtime and drove around for about an hour.  I thought Jack, who was all bundled up in pj's and had his lovey's and pacifier, would surely fall asleep, but he didn't.  He fought sleep so he could see all the lights!

* Tomorrow morning, I am going to a friends to be crafty!  I am excited...working doesn't leave much pinterest inspired crafty time.

* I have a couple more presents that are in the mail or are waiting to be wrapped and one more present to buy (but I already have it picked out, so that should be easy).  I am glad to be done with shopping  and not having to run around last minute!

So that's what's going on around here.  Less than a week until Christmas...I can't wait!

2012 Christmas Card

Tiers Of Joy Christmas Card

This season, send Christmas cards personalized with family photos.

View the entire collection of cards.

"And, one day, when he comes back to rule forever, the mountains and trees will dance and sing for joy!  The earth will shout out loud!  His fame will fill the whole earth--as the waters cover the sea!  Everything sad will come untrue.  Even death is going to die!  And he will wipe away every tear from every eye."

The Jesus Storybook Bible

Favorite Thing

I'm linking up with the Nester for her Favorite Things Party.  These are my current favorite things under $15.

Satsuma Body Polish from the Body Shop.

Okay, technically this is $19, but the Body Shop has tons of other Satsuma flavored products that are under $15.  Plus, they always have tons of promotions (right now it's 3 products for $30--making these polishes $10 each!).

"Comfort & Joy" by Fok Angel and Friends

This cd is amazing!  I downloaded most of the songs off of Noise Trade, and I am kind of obsessed with it.  Classic Christmas songs with a slight folk twist (but nothing too radical).  And it's only $9 on Amazon!

Mrs. Meyer's Iowa Pine hand soap

I have blogged before about my obsession with Mrs. Meyers.  I love all of their products.  This holiday season, they have a special Christmas tree scent.  It's only $4.75 on soap.com.  You can also get Mrs. Meyers at Whole Foods and Fresh Market.

Purity face wash by Philosphy

Another obsession I've blogged about before.  I LOVE Purity face wash.  It is super simple, but it leaves your face feeling so clean.  Sephora has a 3 oz for $10.  That seems small, but it will probably last you at least 3 or 4 months!

That's what I've been loving this year!

Sick Jack

So I promise, I used to post.  I don't know what's gotten into me lately.  I think there is just so much going on that I don't even know where to begin blogging about it!

Jack has been sick for the past few days.  He started with a fever on Saturday.  By Sunday at lunch, we knew we would need to meet my parents halfway and pass him off.  I hated not being near him when he was sick, but I couldn't miss any more school!

By Monday morning, his fever was up to 104 degrees (and he wasn't really eating), so my mom took him to the doctor.  He tested negative for the flu, but every other sign pointed to it, plus he was negative for the other tests.  So he got started on tamaflu.  

Before this week, I had only spent 3 nights away from Jack in my life.  And they were rough.  This was doubly rough--being away from Jack Jack AND he was sick!

But my family took great care of him!  They cuddled him and loved on him.  And he is definitely on the mend.  I was able to meet my mom halfway again today and get my buddy boy back...YAY!

Sick Jack.  

Cuddles with Bella.  Check out his new Thomas pj's--I'm pretty sure Jack thinks he's the stuff in those.

Bech and I tried to take advantage of our time without Jack.  Lots of Homer translating for me and lots of studio time for Bech!  Plus, we went out to eat last night.

I missed my Jack, and I am glad to have him back with me!  

Catch Up

Yeah, I used to blog.  But it's the winter season, which means the semester of school is wrapping up.  There is a LOT going on.  I don't have to give final exams in either of my subjects (Latin and Bible), but I do have final tests and there are tons of school activities and parties!

So here's a quick recap of life lately:

* First of all, I ordered our Christmas cards.  I got 60 cards for less than $20 from shutterfly!  Impressive, huh?  I had won a $50 gift card to shutterfly in a blog giveaway, plus I used free shipping and 10 free card coupons.  So yay for saving money!

* Jack has been so fun lately!  I used a pinterest idea the other day and gave Jack a bath in the dark with light sticks.  Um, he LOVED it.  Seriously, so fun.  If you have kids, try this idea. 

* This is Jack in reindeer ears at daycare.  Let me just say, we are so blessed to have our daycare.  The girls are the best, his little classmates are so sweet, and I always sneak over once a day to visit my little bud.

* We lost one of Jack's two lovey's the other day.  Amazingly, he didn't even notice.  He was totally fine with just one for several days (although if the other one is in site, he HAS to have both).  I knew the lovey was somewhere in our apartment, and I finally found it...stuck in a cabinet with mason jars and muffin tins.  I have a strange child...

* I love decorating for Christmas.  Bech isn't as crazy about it, because glitter gets EVERYwhere.  But Jack seems to love it.  Especially because I got him a "Da-das" ornament for the tree.  We have a slight Thomas obsession in our house.

Who doesn't love some yummy homemade cocoa while decorating?  I love to add candy canes to my cocoa--gives it a yummy peppermint taste!

* This past weekend I got to visit with my college roommate (and bridesmaid!) and her sweet daughter Audrey.  Audrey is about 7 or 8 months older than Jack.  Jack was a fan...not sure Audrey was!  We will keep trying!

So that's about it!  Bech has a couple of big orders that he is working on.  I am ready for us both to have a little break and spend lots of cuddle time with Jack Attack!

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving.  Jack and I went down to Brookhaven on Sunday night.  I spent the extra days helping my mom decorate our house for Christmas, and Jack spent that time playing with Bella's Thomas train table!

On Wednesday afternoon, Bech got off work, stopped by Brookhaven to grab us, and we all headed to Jackson.  We ate Thanksgiving lunch on Thursday, stayed til late afternoon then headed back down to Brookhaven for Thanksgiving dinner.

Jack loved seeing family and eating lots of food--his two favorite things!  

Look at those sweet curls on the back of his head--I could eat them up!

Yup, he's a goofball!  

But don't you love his Thanksgiving outfit?  It's from patycake kids, a favorite brand of mine (and local!). 

Bech and I rarely remember to take pictures together, but I got one in front of my parents' tree.  Bech got new glasses...what do y'all think?

Mom, Ansley, and I headed to Jackson Friday for a couple of hours to get some Black Friday deals.  Jack stayed with Bech and Blaise.  I think it's safe to say he had a blast!

Again, I am in love with this shirt.  This is a gift from my mom...so cute!

This is the first Thanksgiving in a couple of years that we have been home for the holiday, and we loved being with our families (although we loved our Thanksgivings with Courtney, Katy and Paige!). 

Life Lately...

Again with the business!  The holiday season is starting and we are already feeling it.  As a teacher, I can tell that this Thanksgiving/Christmas season is going to be extra crazy!  But at least I will be almost complete done (just a few exams to proctor) come December 15th!

So here's what we've been up to lately:

Jack and I went to Brookhaven two weekends ago so that I could go to Mistletoe Marketplace with my little sister.  We stuck around for church at Faith Pres so that we could see some of our favorite people...Jack and Nell Chinchen!  The Chinchens started African Bible College and we hadn't seen them in a while.  Plus, they hadn't met Baby Jack yet. 

We also made time to eat some yummy Janie's cookies!

There are few things I love more than a little boy in a turtleneck and Jon Jons.  This is Jack's pirate outfit!

I am obsessed with pumpkin waffles.  Jack and Bech are good fans, too.

We went to Bech's work to unload a wood kiln.  Jack thought the forklift was pretty fun.  He is ALL boy!

This weekend we went to New Orleans for the PoBoy Festival.  Bech's parents have a condo right off of St. Charles, so we took the street car to the festival.  Jack was so tired (it was right during his nap time), so we aren't totally sure how he feels about street cars.

Now Jack and I are in Brookhaven, getting spoiled and decorating my parents' house for Christmas.  Bech gets off work on Wednesday and will swing by to get us on the way to Jackson.  Yay for Thanksgiving holidays!

Trip to the park

We took these pictures a couple of weeks ago, but I am just now getting around to posting them!

Jack is at such a fun age right now.  He loves to run around like a little wild man, and we love to run after him!  We took him to an amazing park in Jackson and let him go to town.

Can you tell he likes to slide?

He also likes his Uncle Bubby...we let him run around after Jack for a while.

Swings are another of his favorites.

My little teddy bear!

Silly Bud!

Yup...I am just loving this age!  I think Jack was in a little funk this summer--moving and living out of suitcases was hard on him.  But lately he has been so sweet and so fun.  We love our little Jack!

Midweek Confessions

I know...it's been a while since I posted.  I have had a crazy past couple of weeks.  And with the holidays coming up, things are just going to keep being crazy!

I'm linking up with "E, Myself, and I" today for Midweek Confessions.  So here's what I have to confess this week:

* Last week, a student answered a pretty easy question in Bible (or at least, that's what I thought).  Her answer was wrong.  I responded, "Wow, I didn't think it was possible to answer that question wrong, but you just did."  Oops...perhaps a bit harsh for a 7th grader!

* We really need groceries.  But Bech has been staying late at work to get ready for a wood fire this weekend, and I really don't want to go to the store with Jack.  So we are just scrounging around.  Last night, I made a box of Annie's Mac&Cheese (that we had bought for Jack).

* I did, however, manage to run into a local store for some peppermint ice cream.  I can't help it--I love Blue Bell Peppermint!  And they don't sell Blue Bell in Vermont, so I've been missing it.  So no real groceries, but I did get my ice cream!

Alright, that's all for this week!  Check out the other link ups!