For Unto You Is Born…
Celebrating Christmas Eve With My Family
Brina requested homemade Monkey Bread!
Thankful for a quiet and fun Christmas Eve with my family. It was a great day! We ate read books, played games, ate great food, made gingerbread houses, watched classic Christmas movies, and more wonderful fun with the family. It is nice to have a day to spend making memories together.
We got to open a family gift a day early! Jake got us the game “Forbidden Desert – Thirst For Survival“! we had a blast playing it together TWICE today!
Making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers! We had a great time making a mess and putting them together!
They turned out pretty well!
My sweet, thoughtful, and handsome man! He drove all the way across town early this morning to get me sushi, love him!
Sushi anyone!?
Starting reading this classic Old Yeller by Fred Gipson book to the girls today…so far they are enjoying it!
My parents got us some sweet hot cashews! DELICIOUS!!!
Watched the classic Christmas movie – Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer!
Another Christmas classic – Frosty the Snowman
Love It – EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem Aquarium
Jake and the girls got me an EcoSphere Aquarium for my birthday! I knew when the package arrived that it was some type of live plant or animal based on a text I received from Jake while I was out running errands – “There was a package dropped off this morning and it is susceptible to cold, can you make sure to bring it inside?” Oh Boy! As soon as Jake was home that night the girls were begging to check out the box. There was a lot of giggling, whispering, and checking out the special package that hung out in Jake’s closet with the lights on for several days before my birthday. Hmmm….interesting.
I knew if it was susceptible to cold and required extra light and/or warmth there was a good chance it was some living item. I didn’t hear any scratching, whining, or other funky noises or smells coming from Jake’s closet so that was a good sign. I was a little perplexed at what it could be though.
I was very surprised when I opened up my special birthday present to find an EcoShpere Aquarium inside it. I had never seen an EcoSphere up close before it was very neat! They got me an aquarium with four shrimp in it.
The best part about the aquarium is that it is super easy to maintain! My kind of pet! You don’t need to feed the shrimp, clean the tank, change the water, or anything else! Oh YES, that’s awesome! You just get to enjoy watching them swim around. It is a pretty cool system and the best kind of stress free pet to have around the house! If you are wanting to get a simple and easy small aquarium this is a great one to have around!
There are several places where you can get the EcoSphere Aquarium – on the EcoSphere website, at Amazon, on Target’s website, or another retailer that sales the EcoSphere products! If you have any Amazon or Target Gift Cards that you have earned from Swagbucks you could use them to purchase your EcoSphere Aquarium too! I hope you enjoy your EcoSphere Aquarium as much as I have! This is a great Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary, or Special Event gift for someone special in your life!
“Love It” is a series of posts on items that I use regularly in my household that I love! There are some items in our daily lives that make life more enjoyable, efficient, or just plain fun. I will be sharing with you some of the products that have been given to us (or to me) that have made it to the top of my list. It’s my way of giving a huge thumbs up!
STEM Robotics Club Co-Opertition Event
The kids robot performing its first tasks!
Recently the kids STEM Robotics team had their Co-Opertition Event to test their robot. They had two practice rounds to see how their robot performed on the new map for the upcoming competition. The first tasks went smoothly, but they had a hang-up on one of the targets towards the end. It was a good trial run to see what areas they need to work on for their robot. The team did really well and had a good turn out. They have learned a lot through their STEM Club.
In between sessions the leaders of the group brought a bunch of cool activities for the kids to do to pass the time (crossword puzzles, photos to cut out, poster boards to make, coloring books, puzzles, crafts, blocks, and more fun stuff). The kids had a blast and the time between sessions flew by quickly with them doing the various fun activities! Good Job Teachers for thinking ahead! The teachers also brought fresh fruit, nuts, and bottled water as a snack for the kids.
Thankful for the teachers and volunteers who invest so much time and energy into the kids and STEM Club. They really are outstanding and foster a true love of learning. STEM Club has been a truly amazing learning, team building, and educational experience for both of our kids. The first thing the leaders said when joining the team is “It will be the hardest fun you will ever have!” They expect all the team members to work hard, but they have fun learning together!
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Last Minute Holiday Gift Idea – Amazon Prime Gift Certificate
It’s beginning to look A LOT like Christmas….. If you are still looking for the perfect or last minute gift for someone on your list you can give the gift of Amazon Prime. It is quick, easy, and will be a blessing to the person on the receiving end! An Amazon Prime Gift is perfect for anyone (men, women, kids, college students, couples, and more) on your gift list! You can now give the gift of Amazon Prime Membership.
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Easley Baptist Hospital Festival of Trees
Around the world….loved the globe on top of the tree!
Every year during Christmas Season the girls and I try to swing by our local Easley Baptist Hospital to look at the Festival of Trees. They have the main hall packed with a variety of trees. The trees are sponsored by local businesses and people in the Easley community. Some of the trees are decorated by the same businesses while others are decorated by somebody else. It is a neat way to get in the Holiday spirit, see some beautiful trees, and have a fun adventure with your kids. The amount of trees is not too massive so it is easy get through the whole section in 20 to 40 minutes. The girls look forward to it every year.
Standing in front of the tree their school decorated!
SeaLevel Systems sponsored the tree that the Crosswell Art Students decorated!
Frosty the Snowman, simple yet beautifully done!
Baby Jesus in a manger!
The “I Promise….” Tree, neat concept. You could write on a card something you promise to do in 2015 and hang it up on the tree.
Some of the “I Promise” cards hanging on the tree.
Brina made an I Promise card too!
Loved the possum up on top of this tree! Creative!
Simply, beautiful, and true message!
Thought this one was pretty cool and patriotic!
Lovely!
The manger scene above the reception desk to the hospital!
Brina checking out the tree!
Awesome clock made from old license plates!
Karlie really liked the “clock” tree!
“For God So Loved the World…..”
What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
The kids are officially on their Christmas Holiday break – WooHoo! Love getting to spend extra time with them! We have a lot of fun activities planned and of course celebrating family Christmas this week. It is hard to believe that 2014 is already wrapping up, but thankful for the many blessings this year. I have the menu planned for this week, however, I am going to be somewhat flexible depending how I am feeling and if there are any last minute activities that change the schedule. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Crockpot Roast, Mash Potatoes
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Hot Dogs, Fresh Salad
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Chicken Fajitas, Fresh Vegetables
- Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Spiraled Honey Ham, Green Bean Casserole
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
I was able to accomplish a good bit of items the first half of the week! On Wednesday I got my second epidural steriod shot for my herniated disc so I was not able to do as much after that day. Thankfully, this time around I bounced back much quicker and did better. By the end of the week I was up and going again with some extra soreness and stiffness, but otherwise doing better. Hoping that this week with be even better. I am looking forward to spending extra time with the kids now that they are out of school for the Christmas Holidays.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read the book The Cat Who Came For Christmas by Cleveland Amory to the kids– decided to switch to a different Christmas bookPlan one special activity with the familyPrepare for Upcoming Holiday EventsSpend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with HomeworkAttend After School ActivitiesLunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before- Play a Game with the Kids – we weren’t not able to do this one due to the extra time of healing
Take the Kids to the Library to pick out books to read over the Holidays- Send out Christmas Cards – this is the first year in a LONG time I did not send out Christmas Cards, at first I felt really guilty about it (and still do some days), but Jake told me that with everything that has been going on these past couple of months I need to just let some things go because I cannot do it all, unfortunately this was one item I did not get done (my apologies to family and friends), hopefully next year we will be able to get back in the Christmas card groove again.
- Complete Our Christmas Shopping – still working on it, hoping to be done before Christmas if not I guess we’ll just spread it out a little bit more
- Finish Wrapping Gifts – working on it, Jake has pitched in and helped too (thanks Handsome)
Ship Out Grandparents GiftsDeliver Neighbor Gifts– the girls helped make the gifts and delivered them all to each of the neighbors, thankful for all their help this year! Even though we live on a small street we still have 7 neighbors (all who are related except us) plus our mailman!
Personal Goals
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)– almost done with my 2014 bible reading plans!Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – still haven’t been able to complete everything in one day, but I am getting closer!
Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekClean House (Focus – At least 15 minute daily “pick up” to keep the house clean as we prepped for the Holidays)- Organize Chaos (Focus – Get Gifts Wrapped, Mailed, or Ready to put under Christmas Tree) – getting closer
- Yard Cleanup (Focus – Leaves) – my handsome man worked on this for us! Isn’t he AWESOME! There are still some on the side yard, but at least the front and back are done now!
- Pet Care (Focus – Skipper a Bath) – she has managed to escape a bath with the cooler weather!
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails – need to focus more on this specific task
Keep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car – working on it
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – working on it
Pay Bills & File Paperwork- Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – went only 1 day, but went to 2 stores and went over the budget
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read a variety of Christmas and Library Books my Kids Picked Out from Home and the local Library
- Plan one special activity with the family
- Prepare for Upcoming Holiday Events
- Play a Game with the Kids
- Spend Extra Time with the Kids
- Complete Our Christmas Shopping
- Finish Wrapping Gifts
- Celebrate our Family Christmas
- Make Cookies and Goodies with the Kids
- Do a craft with the kids
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Clean House (Focus – At least 15 minute daily “pick up” to keep the house clean as we prepped for the Holidays)
- Organize Chaos (Focus – Get Gifts Wrapped, Mailed, or Ready to put under Christmas Tree)
- Yard Cleanup (Focus – Finish Leaves)
- Pet Care (Focus – Skipper Dog Food Bought & Bin Refilled / Snowball’s Collar Battery Changed)
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
- Pay Bills & File Paperwork
- Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
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