Christmas Festivities

Merry Christmas from The Coleman Family!

These our newest family pics we used in our Christmas cards. My sweet friend Lindsey is great photographer. Here's her blog. 

Our best Christmas present was my new niece Hannah!! Our sweet friend Ronda made me these dresses for the girls. I decided I am starting a tradition of giving my girls Christmas dresses each year. I told my husband it is much cheaper than trying again for a girl. And I made them their bows - so blessed to have nieces that I can dress up. It helps that they are soooo cute! Baby Hannah and my sister, Misty, are both doing great.

We had a Progressive Dinner with some of our great friends from our Community Group. We had "appetizers" at the Schulte's House. This is in quotes because Candice made enough for an entire meal. They were all delicious. Then back to our house for the actual meal, I love an excuse to set the table and pull out the china! Then on the Allen's for dessert (a cake from Shelby Lynn's - yum). We all have kids around the same age, so usually when we are together it's chaos. Tonight we had hours just to talk together and laugh much too hard.

Our "Community Group" rolled out for our annual White Elephant party. Although we all love the Lord, it gets a little out of control! Our original group started 7 years ago and has added members as the years have pasted and we have spilt into several community groups. Perhaps we all know each other a little too well. For the whole scoop check out my friend Lindsey's Blog.

Jack and I (while Will watched attentively) made a gingerbread house. It looked nothing like the box, but my sweet boy loved it. Although he didn't quite understand that we weren't supposed to eat the decorations.

Our family went to the Christmas Eve service at Fellowship in the their p.j.'s. I have been so excited to do this since before I had kids (but we are usually out of town.) It was a lovely experience - I love Christmas carols and worship. Then we went to my aunt and uncle's house for dinner, but we had to fit in our annual reading of The Night Before Christmas. Then home to lay out cookies for Santa, say good-bye to Thomas (our Elf on the Shelf) and off to bed!

"For unto us a child is born..."

My Christmas morning pictures didn't turn out very well but here are the boys by their stockings. Jack had a little accident in his Christmas P.J.'s so he chose Razorback P.J.'s to wear. Go Hogs!

One of his most favorite presents was a big boy bike and helmet. I can't believe he is so big! From my sweet family!

 

On Christmas we made a Happy Birthday Jesus cake. J.J. did this every year with his mother. I thought it was such a great tradition to honor the true meaning of the holiday. Jack and I have made one together since he was born!

Will at 10 Months

I can't believe my baby is 10 months old. The time has gone so fast (some days have felt slower than others.)

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

7 Months

8 Months

9 Months

Each month I take a picture of you laying next to the key. I did it with Jack too. Now I can watch you grow!

Will, you are such a sweet blessing. I know that you will be crawling any day now. You constantly get on your knees and rock. I am convinced it is because you want to follow your big brother around. You smile and laugh at everything he does. You have a smile on your face 95% of the time, always willing to give any stranger a big smile. What a charmer!

You hate your bottle (just like Jack did) and cry any time you see it. You love to eat other foods and are just starting on table food.

Praise the Lord that the past few months you have become a champ sleeper. Two longs naps a day and mostly sleeping through the night. As long as you have your plug (pacifier) you are a happy camper!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Christmas is far-and-away my favorite holiday. It's a time of year focused on my favorites things: our Saviour, my family, parties and crazy decorations.  The little girl inside of me that craves things that are over-the-top and sparkly comes out in a vengeance. Huge, glittery ornaments...and I start to lose my self-control. While I am a pretty frugal person in general, when September rolls around (yes, that is when the ornaments and ribbon at Hobby Lobby start going on sale) my husband has to reel me back in.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Much pleasure thou can'st give me!

I made our stocking the year I had Jack. I knew I wanted one more baby so I made an extra. Now Will has one, but if God plans on me having more babies I guess I will have to get my sewing machine back out.

The basketball hoop and toys in the background are so appropriate for my life now. I often stress out at the fact that my house is always over run with toys. I know that in a few years when my kids only want to play computers in their rooms I will ache for these messy days. This morning my 2 1/2 year old, Jack, and one his very best friends Laci got out every toy in our play room and packed them up in bags. They informed me that this was necessary because they were "pirates." Where do they come up with these things? Plus, they say it with such enthusiasm.

These sweet boys are very worth the mess! (Thank you Miss Ronda for our Christmas shirts.)

At our old house I put this tree in the kitchen. Now it only fits up stairs outside my kids room. It always makes me smile to think of our first house and the memories there.

I love this Nativity Scene. My sweet mother-in-law gives me a new piece each year. I love a tradition! Such a great way to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Crafting

As Christmas is quickly approaching I have been feeling a decorating itch that can only be solved with all things glittery and sparkly.  This year we had to make a new wreath to match Jack's big boy room; plus one for Will's nursery.

 Jack helped me with the letters for the centers. Jack has done many art projects at school with his amazing teachers but mom had yet to be so adventurous at home (we had only ever done crayons and playdough.) So I figured it was past time, so today we did paint, glue and glitter. Needless to say the shirt came off. He was so good and so excited!

First we painted the "J" red and the "W" orange. As with most things, Jack was very particular and careful. Mom helped a little bit. We listened to Christmas music while we worked. Jack now requests the "Reindeer Song" and "Making a List." It's nice that Jack enjoys my singing so much (we sing all the time,) he might be the only one. One day he will learn what good singing sounds like, but until then...

Next we painted on the glue and then sprinkled each letter with colored glitter. Will is always happy to feel like he is in on the action. He likes to spend most of his day carefully watching his big brother's every move.

I wired on the the ribbons and ornaments. Then used the same floral wire to attach their letters. Each wreath is now hanging on the boys' doors. I can almost feel Christmas in the air at the Coleman House!

Jack's Room

Will's Room

The Hunger Games

Oh young adult fiction, how I have missed you! I just finished The Hunger Games yesterday and loved it. Back when I was teaching 7th grade, pre-kids, I thought I was up to date on the latest book trends. I read and reread the Twilight books. Now I am so happy to find my way back. (Especially before the movie comes out.)

I couldn't put this book down. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise when I got sick this weekend. I pawned my children off on my sweet mother and aunt, then when to bed with my book.  It's about a bleak world in the future. A strong, female main character that must literally fight to stay alive, who I immediately fell in love with. There's of course a romance (perhaps like a Twilight romantic triangle.) It was such an easy read but it stirred up a lot of difficult questions inside of me. It really made me think long hard about those in our world that don't have enough to eat. Now that I have my own kids - I just can't wrap my brain around watching my kids suffer.

There was some violence, but Collins did a great job making it appropriate for young readers and those with weak stomachs.

Loved it!!! Can't wait to start #2.

Happy Halloween

What a great Halloween! Jack is at such a fun age and was so excited about dressing up with his friends for parties and trick-or-treating. And, well, Will is just always happy (except right now - he just starting crying as I am typing this.)

Jack is a soldier (just like his daddy.) He even wore J.J.'s dog tags and hat. I didn't want to buy boots for his costume so we "borrowed" J.J.'s socks and laced them up. I dyed his shirt and shoe laces in coffee, which worked really well.

Will (Sir William Wallace) is rocking out a kilt for his dad's favorite movie - Braveheart. Apparently Williams Wallace's mother's maiden name was also Crawford so we figured we all must be related. I made his costume and little sword. I velcroed it to his back but put it upside down. So glad he let me paint his face.

We had our annual Halloween party at my house. We all have so many kids that the party is just a big blur to me but the kids had so much fun. And the moms helped clean up everything up before they went home (another of the many reasons I love my friends!) Afterwards, I put my kids both down for naps and I crashed on the couch.

Halloween night we trick-or-treated in one of our friends' neighborhoods as a big group. Last year Jack didn't really understand and only got excited at the last house when they gave him raisins. This year he definitely knew all about the candy and yelled "trick-or-treating" as he ran up to every house.  And he finally let me paint his face so he would be in full camo attire. My boys were just too cute!

Sarah's House Season 4 Sneak Peek

I love Sarah's House. I can watch the episodes over and over. If you haven't watched her shows, set your DVR!  I love the way she walks you through the entire process and I love the end result. Season 4 hopefully will start soon but I found some sneak peak pictures. This may be my favorite season yet.