Jesse Tree

Finally! After one year of saying that I really needed to do this for next Christmas, it is done!



It only took a few hours, snatched over weeks in 10 minute increments, and a new box of Crayola colored pencils. (I tried to use Mad's colored pencils, but she didn't have a gray, and for $5.99 at my favorite red store I had a choice of 3 grays. I'm still not sure if I'm going to share with my daughter.) Madeline gathered the branches out of our yard and I found this red vase in our stash. I took the ornaments to be laminated at our local Kinko's (excuse me, Fed Ex Office, when did that happen???) and it cost about $10 for all of them. I love that I only have to store an envelope full of ornaments from year to year.






For those of you who haven't heard of a Jesse Tree before, it is a way to celebrate Advent with your children. There are symbols, Scripture readings, and a short devotion for each day. What was most appealing to me is that there is no standard way of displaying it. Because I'm so type A, when I see the cutest, most creative, and visually appealing "craft", I frustrate myself in failed attempts or no attempts at all. In all of my online searching for Jesse tree texts and ideas, I never really saw an example, just suggestions of how to do it. Somehow it took the pressure off.





I actually found the coloring to be very calming and therapeutic. It's not perfect and it's not meant to be. It's purely a way to engage in the season daily. We started yesterday and I have already found myself more in tune to the coming of Christ.

Now, if I can just get the courage to pull out those red & green storage boxes.....

Still funny after only 2 years

Madeline has really come into her own these past few months. While she has found her sister adorable, she has found new ways to test me as a mother. Those of you with multiple children will not need me to elaborate. But, I thought I'd share a few of the funnies that she has said to keep me from losing my mind:

1) The week after we brought Sara home, Maddie found a way to soothe tears in the car. We assumed it was her trying to assuage Sara's cries, but after a few times we figured out she was trying to keep herself together while being subjected to a wailing infant just a few inches away. She sang a song called 3 Little Birds, this version sung by Elizabeth Mitchell (go to the Little Bird menu, and select listen - adorable accompaniment by a 3 year old)

Woke up this morning
Smiled at the rising sun
Three little birds
by my doorstep
singin' a sweet song
a melody pure and true
singin'
this is my message to you

Singin'
Don't worry about a thing
'cause
Every little thing's gonna be alright

Sara is almost 2 months old and Madeline still sings this from time to time. The louder Sara cries, the more Madeline hangs on to the chorus.

2) Apparently, when calming an infant I say "I know" over and over. So, now; so does Mad. Sometimes she follows with "Whatsa matter?"

3) The other day, Madeline captured a ladybug in the house. Our usual process is then to let it go outdoors. To which she said "It's too cold outside!" and proceeded to shake as if chilled.

4) Driving home from preschool today, she said, "Oh, no no no! It's gone!" Her lunch.

Knoxville's Veterans Day Parade

I don't know what made me want to go to the parade this year. Maybe it was the great weather for November, maybe it was just something to take Madeline too, or just a chance to get out of the house for a few hours.


















I used to work downtown (pre-children) and I don't remember a turn out this good in years. Maybe it's because a lot of us have been reflecting on how blessed we really are.

Apparently, one of the veteran's benefits is a really good deal on a Corvette.

This week another East Tennessee soldier came home to rest after sacrificing his life for seven comrades to live. He was only 24 and had a seven month old baby at home. This baby will never know him the way that his wife, family, and friends were fortunate enough to experience and now remember.

I hope this parade becomes an annual event for our family. Because it is important to remember and honor those that make all these pictures possible. Thanks be to God for you all.

Halloween

...on the cheap.....

Maddness as a ballerina and Sara as a ghost.

Costume for Mad:

- black long sleeve top (already in closet, purchased for $1 on clearance)

- leotard purchased by her Nana and perfect for dress up

- tights (hand me downs)

- tutu ( a creation from her first birthday, yea elastic, b/c it still fit)

- bag ( construction paper and hooray for the Internet)

- sparkly red shoes ( picked up on sale at Target and perfect for wearing during the winter doldrums)

Costume for Sara:

- ghost hat hand me down

- white onesie and white pants, handed down from her big sister

Madeline had the most fun handing out candy to people who came by. She echoed anything that we said to the trick or treaters, and I got tickled as she said "Hi guys!" and plopped candy into their bags. One middle school boy got his feelings crushed as he approached in a werewolf costume complete with crouching limp and she said "ooooh, a dog! cute!"