Thankful

I've been taking part in the Thankful in November posts daily on Facebook.  Not to be corny, but to remember why I'm so blessed.

I am thankful for everything I put on there, but here's a synopsis of what I'm thankful for (both lofty and small):

• I'm thankful that I'm a child of God.  That He sent his Son to die for me so I could be His.

• I'm thankful for my extended family... from my parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, siblings, in-laws, nieces/nephews, etc.  There is seriously NO ONE I'd rather be with than family.

• I'm thankful for those friends who I consider family.  You know the ones... the ones I can have over even when my house is trashed, the ones I'd let come clean my house when I'm sick and can only watch them, the ones I can spill all my angst to... yeah, those are the ones.

• I'm thankful for all my other friends... the ones that entertain me, challenge me, make me laugh, make me cry (in a good way)
• I'm thankful for Don...  for lots of reasons.  He's a great daddy, he's ambitious (but not to the detriment of our family), he's funny, he's SO cute, he's disciplined, he has a heart for God's will in his/our life, he's a leader, and he loves me.

• I'm thankful for Sis...  she's so silly, HILARIOUS, sarcastic (in a good way... see HILARIOUS), she's part-child/part-woman, she's beautiful (inside & out), she's smart, she keeps me on my toes.

• I'm thankful for Bub...  he is never still, he's so smart, he never gives up, he's a great cuddler, he's so funny/silly, he has a heart of gold, he's smart

• I'm thankful for coffee... 'nuff said
• I'm thankful that Bub sings every time he's in the shower... it makes me smile every single day
• I'm thankful that Sis has such a gift for art...  she shines in that area!

• I'm thankful that my kids inherited Don's genes for memorizing lyrics...  they crack me up with a concert on a regular basis!

• I'm thankful that I am able to spend more time with my family now.
• I'm thankful that I'm able to cook more often now
• I'm thankful for the internet/Netflix/Facebook/Twitter

• I'm thankful for my health
• I'm thankful for this time of year when I get to see my family more often
• I'm thankful for my car... I love my "mom car!"

• I'm thankful for our cute apartment.  I seriously think we have the cutest apartment in our whole town!

• I'm thankful for traditions... tomorrow Don, the kids & I are volunteering to help put meals together for people who aren't able to get out...  Friday, I'm going shopping in the insane crowds with my sister... all because of traditions.

• I'm thankful for our church and our church family...  what an integral part of our lives!
• I'm thankful that I am able to sing on our Praise Team at church...  I'm glad to be able to use my voice.

• I'm thankful for our military men and women, both past and present...  from the bottom of my heart.  <3

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families/friends/loved ones.  Remember your blessings.

*The pictures are just pictures I like... a portion of what I'm thankful for!

Showstopper

So, part of Bub's Christmas gift (see here) was 3 tickets to a Colts game for Don, Bub's best friend, and Bub.  Ever since we went to his first NFL game last year (see here), he's been a HUGE fan of the Colts.

They went a week and a half ago, and with my VERY amateur skills, I made a video from their trip.  I'm a little frustrated because it looks so amateur-ish, but it IS my first time making a video, so I guess I'll cut myself a little slack (no I won't... I just don't want to whine any more about it).

The boys' favorite singer is TobyMac, so I used a little of his music to accompany the photos.

Enjoy!

Final Christmas wrap-up

Warning:  This post is heavy on photos.  The cuteness may be a little overwhelming, so please prepare yourself.

Once we were finished on Christmas morning at our house, we headed to my mom and dad's house.  My nieces and nephew got a Wii.  They weren't even sure whether or not to be excited!

Although Little Buddy was pretty sure he was excited about Mr. Potato Head!

Bub got a homemade belt from my niece... made out of wrapping paper.  He was so sweet and gracious about it.  He told Little Sissy that it was a little big right now, but he was sure he'd grow into it.

Sis got her gift from my sister in a Pull-Ups box, which was funny and embarrassing all at the same time.

When we headed to my aunt's and uncle's house, my grandma handed out flashing rings to everyone.  Big Sissy and Little Sissy decided it would be funny to be like Rudolph.

Oh, and did I mention the Snuggies?  The kids each got one.  Camo and peace signs... it doesn't get much better (or warmer) than that!

I really have to work on my self-portrait skills.  My nieces and me.

Where you find my mom, you usually find my niece close by.  She is a NANA'S GIRL, for sure!  My mom posed with all her gifts... her snuggie (last year's model, according to the box), her new necklace, her new HGTV book.  And Little Sissy, of course.

Christmas can be exhausting!  Just ask my brother...

My dad is telling a tall tale, I'm guessing, to Big Sissy and her mama.

Once Christmas is over, we make it our mission over the rest of Christmas break to spend as much of our gift cards as possible.  Sis had a gift card to Claire's, so she bought some non-prescription glasses.  As someone who had to wear glasses growing up, I don't really understand her fascination with them, but she does look cute in them!

Along with our shopping trip, we always make time for a hot chocolate/latte break as well.  Yes, Bub's shirt does say:  I'm pretty much one of the best people I know.  He's pretty modest, isn't he?  :)

I hope your holidays were swell and filled with memories, too!

What did Santa bring?

I'm not gonna lie... my 11 year old (Sis) knows the truth about Santa now, and it kinda breaks my heart.  But she played along beautifully for the sake of her 9 year old brother.  So we had a visit from Santa, just like always.  :)  Then we opened our gifts from each other before we headed over to my parents' house.

Whoa!!!  It's like I'm in a comic book!

Opened his three tickets to the Colts game in Indianapolis for Bub, Don and Bub's best friend.  He was so excited! 

We had a beautiful white Christmas! 

And I got my iMac.  So exciting!!!

Christmas Eve

I forgot to finish Christmas Eve.  And Christmas.  And New Year's Eve.  Oh, I crack myself up.

Here are some shots from Christmas Eve (because it's easier to just include pictures than write):

In this one, Don and I were trying to embarrass our children.  Based on Sis's expression, I'd say we did it!

Ode to Joy (Re-Run)

*I just heard this song on the radio, and it reminded me of this blog post, originally posted in 2008.  It is still true today!


Last night I was practicing with the trio for a song we're singing on Sunday. It's called JOY.

I don't know about you, but it is SO EASY to forget to be joyful this "joyful" time of year...

I've been crazy-busy at work. The economy makes my stomach hurt. We've all been sick. I haven't finished all my Christmas shopping. ALL of that can distract from our joy if we let it.

The thing is, circumstances don't HAVE to be "just so" in order to have joy. We don't have to have joy BECAUSE of our circumstances. We can have joy IN them.

I can have joy "just because." In my mind, it's a decision I can make.I CHOOSE JOY.

There are some things that give me joy no matter what is going on:

Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" That gives me joy... we're not alone in this!

There are other things (maybe not so spiritual) that give me joy (not a complete list... I always think of other things to add as soon as I push "Publish"):
Music... singing it, playing it, listening to it. Right now, I'm LOVING Christmas music... Mariah, Jessica Simpson, Amy Grant, Point of Grace, Avalon (whose song JOY we're singing!)Reading... it can be an escape if it's fiction, funny and/or motivating if it's non-fiction, and completely inspired by God if it's the Bible! :) 
Family... there's a special kind of joy I feel when I spend time with my family. My kids and hubby are joy-provoking. And the rest of my family... well, all I can say is that I'm thrilled that I'll get to spend so much time with them in the next few weeks!Friends... joy, joy, joy!!! There are some I see all the time, some I only see every couple years, and a lot in between... and I count them ALL joy! You should have seen how "joyful" I was with Cara and Ginger last night while we were practicing... I was doing my "joyful"cheerleading jumps while they were doing their solos... (I was NOT a cheerleader, in case you were wondering! Nor do I have one ounce of coordination! But I was immature joyful!)
Photography... it's an old love that's been renewed in the past few years, thanks to my hubby's NEW love for it. Sometimes we tussle over the camera! There's something about documenting EVERYTHING that helps to remind me what's REALLY important in my life...

What are your thoughts? Are they joyful?

I will joy in the God of my salvation. --Hab. iii. 18.

Mysterious Mysterio

So, hehe.  Remember a few months ago, when it was October?  Do ya?  And it was, um, Halloween?  Yeah, I barely do, too.

But funny thing... I was just downloading photos from my camera today to get it ready for the kids' Christmas program tonight, and guess what I found?

HALLOWEEN PHOTOS!

Well, of Bub anyway.  Did I mention that Sis decided she was too old to dress up this year?  Oh, the sadness!  (From me, not from her!)  Although, when she heard me tell someone else she was finished dressing up, she informed me that she just wasn't dressing up for THIS year... and it wasn't so much that she was too old as she didn't like what I was going to have her dress up as.  Ah well.

But my GOOD child (just kidding...) (REALLY!) did want to dress up.  As a character I'm not familiar with.  And he LOVES!

His name is Rey Mysterio, and he's a wrestler with the WWE.  THIS is what he look like.

Image from Lightinthebox.com

This is EXACTLY how I hoped my son would dress for Halloween... as a masked, shirtless dude with tattoos all over him.

So, guess what he dressed up instead?

Haha!  I TRICKED you!  He really did dress up as Rey Mysterio.

Except his mean mom wouldn't let him go in the cold temperature with no shirt on (say, WHAT?).

So, Don, Sis and I created Bub's costume... on Halloween Day.  Bub wanted to wear green pants (which I guess Mr. Mysterio sometimes wears), so the only pair I could find were in the Women's department at the Walmarts.  So I bought those, and pinned them up in the waist.  Then I did the fancy lettering down both legs of the pants, just as Bub requested.

We bought a long-sleeved white t-shirt that we drew "tattoos" all over to try to replicate Mr. M's tattoos. And then Bub wore his mask that he got at the State Fair a few years ago (yes, he's loved Mr. M that long!).

Here are the finished results.  Please don't be frightened of his intimidating tattoos.  He really IS a softy on the inside.

Happy Halloween, y'all!  And a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Cookie Baking Extravaganza Weekend

Cookie lovers, beware!  The Brown Family is attempting a cookie baking EXTRAVAGANZA weekend!  I believe I've mentioned on here that I'm not a baker... or even a cook, really... or a good housekeeper...  hmmm, I don't really like where this is going.  :)

But two years ago, we had our first family cookie baking time.  And it was fun.  At least for a while.  Then last year, I'm not sure what happened (perhaps LIFE?), but we didn't have our "fun."

This year, we're stretching it out for a full weekend.  Really, it's for our sanity, more than anything else.  So that way, if we get snippy and/or tired and/or bored, we can take a break, and get back to it later.  You know, instead of leaving some partially done cookies in the freezer for TWO YEARS.  *ahem*

So, here's what's on our agenda this weekend.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (so far, I'm planning on these, but if anyone has any tried/true recipes for this, I'm all ears!).
Sugar cut-out cookies (totally gonna cheat on these... already bought the store-made dough)
Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
Homemade Oreos
Cake poppers
Chocolate peppermint bark cookies

Pretty ambitious, huh?  I'll document our successes and failures and let you know!

Wish us luck!