Organization Bites Back

The other day I decided to organize my pictures within PhotoBucket so it would make it easier to find a photo.  Welllll.... I didn't even stop to think that it would change the link for the picture which is the reason you see the ugly picture saying "Sorry.  This person (knucklehead me) moved or deleted this picture."  Blah!  So now I must go back through and re-post the pictures.  However, there is a bright side.  Really?!?  I haven't updated all of the Advent Calendar and I've only been using pictures out of PhotoBucket for a short amount of time.  Therefore, it should only take me a short amount of time to re-post the pictures (if I can remember what the pictures were within the post) and then I'll be on to finishing up our Advent Calendar activities.  There is always something to do.  On to re-posting pictures!

Advent Calendar - Day #25 {Merry Christmas!}

We spent Christmas morning together as a family opening presents and eating our traditional breakfast of Stars.  We also called and said Merry Christmas to many family members before we headed to Chris' cousin's house for Christmas dinner.

We also completed our Advent Wreath by reading Isaiah 9:1-6.

For Elianna, it was the year of dress up stuff.  She got outfits and accessories and all kinds of fun stuff to play dress up with.  It's pretty much all she has played with since Christmas.  This Christmas I also decided to make most of the Christmas presents we gave to Elianna and Chris's nieces and nephews.  I sewed my very first project {since my traumatic experience in junior high school HomeEc Class} of baby doll diapers for Elianna's babies.  They turned out pretty cute!

Christmas is pretty much all about pictures so indulge!  {Note to self for next year:  Get a picture of Elianna with all her Christmas presents (just like your mom used to do when you were growing up).}

For some strange reason, Elianna likes to hang out in Chris' cousin's dog's (Toby) cage.

Advent Calendar - Day #24 {Snacky Meal & Christmas Eve Service}

Christmas Eve came up fast and due to different circumstances during the day, it ended up being crazy! Growing up, tradition in my house was a snacky meal on Christmas Eve. A snacky meal is defined as "little snacky foods that you eat for dinner." Very clearly defined. It is probably one of my all time favorite meals. There is not anything specific we have to eat, we just have to eat whatever is little snacky bites. Chris gladly accepted and embraced this childhood tradition from my family.

Before our busy day erupted, we had planned to go to Christmas Eve service at our "Sunday night church." Friends of our decided to join us for the service so we decided to make a collective snacky meal before we headed to church. Again chaos happened and we ended up rushing around and meeting at their house for dinner. I was glad since I hadn't had time to really straighten up for everyone to come over like originally planned. Whew!

Before we left for Jeremy & Beth's, we let Elianna open one present which was pajamas so she could wear them to church.

{I stole this picture off the pastor's Instagram account. What makes it worse is that we are not "friends" on Instagram. I stalked and then stole. From a pastor no less. As a pastor's wife. Oh goodness!}

All in all it was a hectic chaotic good refreshing Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas!

Advent Calendar - Day #23 {Advent Wreath - Luke 2:1-5 & Elf Gift #4}

Overstating things is common here on this blog, so it will come as no surprise that I am once again going to state the fact that "once again we did our Advent Wreath on Monday instead of Sunday." Ah yes! In our defense, Sundays are naturally busy with church, fellowshipping after church, getting home, eating lunch and then adding in our elf gift giving to 4 families who live no where near the other. 

For our last elf gift, we gave nacho chips and salsa with the tag "From your 'nacho' ordinary elves." We revealed ourselves to the 2 families who do not attend our church. The other two we leave to wonder who it was. We figure if we told them, we could not do it to anyone else in our church which would be no fun next year. When we went to Chris' old bosses house, we stayed and visited for a bit. It was quite humorous because we would be talking and then Jesus would randomly start laughing. Apparently, he would think about running after me the week before and start laughing. It is an event I won't yet forget!

Facebook status updates by the 2 families from our church (ironically, the other 2 families don't have FB accounts):

Week #1

To whoever just rang our doorbell and ran off and dropped off the loaf of 'dough,' thank you!!! What a sweet gift!


Week #2

Cracking up! We just got hit again! Fastest elves ever!!!! We were even upstairs looking out over the front yard! Cookies last week. Rootin' Tootin' root beer and beans tonight!

To the person (or people) who have left gifts on our front porch (2x): a. We so greatly appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness (and the coookies were amazing). b. How are you getting away so fast? I do not even hear the front door opening. c. If you could have seen my reaction (as well as Brewer's) to your knock tonight, I think you would have laughed hysterically. Well played!


Week #3

Secret Santa strikes again! Tonight, we received a bag of Twizzlers with the message, 'Twizz the Season to be Jolly!' J said he thinks it's the real Santa dropping them off and that we must have been REALLY good this year. :)

once again our house was hit by a secret santa. we feel very blessed and loved. we have a few ideas who is doing this but can't prove anything. regardless...we feel loved. who doesn’t love twizzlers.


Week #4

As soon as J heard the doorbell and the crazy loud, fast knock, he yells out 'Secret Santa Strikes Again!' :) We love our 'nacho' ordinary elves!!!

I was sitting on the couch while snuggling with Brewer and watching the Seahawks game with B and thinking of how good life is when I was, yet again, startled by a loud knock at the door (yes, I screached). We were hit again by our wonderful secret Santa with chips and salsa. Saw tail lights this time, but no luck on identifying the car. Again, well played Santa, well played.