Christmas Decor

This year's Christmas decorations.

I decided to put the Christmas tree in our dinning room this year. One reason is to have it  out of the way as we will need more room for baby things in our living room and another is because the train will go better on the tile than the carpet. 

 Nash is super excited about the train. We had it last year but getting it out this year you would think it was brand new and his favorite "toy" at the moment.

 I ordered new stockings since our family is complete now and we now have matching stockings with our names on them and matching stocking holders.

Our tree has some new stuff on it this year as well. The red ribbon, the star, and the things sticking out of it. It turned out really pretty.

Griffin Ready

So this week I had a week off for Thanksgiving break and my goal was to get everything ready for baby Griffin and have my Christmas stuff ready so I don't have to worry with it after he is born. I've done pretty good on my goal so far. I've bought a few last minute things that me and Griffin need, washed everything, put things up, cleaned out my car, and got the car seat in the car. I am for sure Griffin ready as far as I think I have everything that I need. 

So I thought it was time to post Griffin's nursery pics for those who haven't seen it.

As you know, I kept everything from Nash so the furniture and gear are the same. However, I changed the theme. I couldn't find bedding that I really liked in the store so I had a girl I know make it. I found some fabric that I liked and we went from there.  I thought it turned out real cute.

As far as the Christmas goal, got to finish decorating, all presents are bought, waiting for a few of them to come in, the ones I have are wrapped, and I got to get Chris' stocking stuffers. Hoping by the time Griffin gets here that all will be done. It gives me piece of mind to get as much done as I can so I will have less to worry with afterwards.
The plan is still a scheduled c-section December 5th unless he comes early. I hope we can stick to the plan this time but as I know from past experience, you never know.

Thanksgiving Program

 Today was Nash's Thanksgiving program at school. It later dawned on me that this will be his last Thanksgiving program with Mother's Day Out. This year they just go up to the three year olds so that  means next year he will either be at Abundant Life 4K or somewhere else. We haven't really decided yet.

They sang three songs "I'm a little turkey fat and round...", "Mr. Turkey, Mr. Turkey, run away, run away, If you don't be careful, you will be a mouthful on Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Day", and "If you're thankful and you know it...". It was very cute and bittersweet for this mommy.

 Then we had a Thanksgiving lunch that was very good. Nash seemed to enjoyed it and liked playing with his friends

Coloring while waiting on the food. I think he was a bit sleepy.

A funny part that I want to remember from this day was while we were eating they played a slide show of different pics from the year and he really enjoyed it. There is this one girl in this class who he says is "mean". We have heard about her for awhile. Well, while we were watching the slideshow, he saw her picture and said "hey mommy!.There's the mean girl." I'm glad there weren't many people sitting right around us. Nash is funny like that and says stuff like that all the time. It reminds me so much of his dad. Chris always says goofy stuff like that. I remember when we were dating and we were looking through some of his old stuff and there was a folder thing that had stuff he wrote when he was like six. In it he talked about a girl that was mean to him at a field trip and he said he hoped she got stung by a bee. When I read it I laughed so hard because I could see him saying the same thing now and now I have a little mini Chris who says stuff like that at 3 yrs old. So, there will be plenty more embarrassing moments in the future I'm sure.

Either way, he keeps me laughing (both of them) and I am very thankful for my boys! (Chris, Nash, and baby Griffin). Wouldn't trade them for anything.

attitude of gratitude

So, most of you who know me know I have certain qualms about Christmas and gift giving. Not that I think gift giving is wrong but I don't think there should be an obligation to give just because at this family's gathering we get for these people (that we see maybe once a year who most of the time don't really need any gifts) because that's just what we do. Also the amount of gift giving in general has really gotten out of control in my opinion which only gets people away from the true meaning of Christmas. I'm all about giving to the less fortunate but after we meet all our obligations to give for us there is not much money left over to give to others which is sad to me and I am really at a loss about what to do about it.
This brings me to my point. At church last week our preacher talks about thanksgiving. Every year he does this for a few weeks and emphases the importance of it. He brought up the illustration of how kids get a huge stack of presents at family get togethers and rip through the packages without even knowing who they came from and then wonder if they got any more. While he was saying all that I was totally on board because I couldn't agree more and hate that. Then he  got me with comparing it to what we do with God. God blesses us in so many ways and we rip through all the blessings he gives us without thanking him and half the time even recognizing that they are blessings from God not something we have done or something we are entitled to and then we have the nerve to ask God for more or complain because we want something He hasn't given us yet. 
I don't know about you but it hit home to me. It's not that I am not  thankful and grateful person because I think I am and feel that way in my heart however I don't think I praise God for what he has done and is doing in my life like I need to however I am really quick to ask him to do things for me or others that I know that are going through something. He challenge was for us to praise more than or as much as we pray. Something I need to work on doing.
I see all the posts on Facebook where people post each day something they are thankful for. I have done it some in the past but some times it annoys me (doesn't take much these days) but now I am thinking at least they are taking time out of their day to voice something that they are thankful for rather gripe about what's going wrong in their lives. This is something I want to work on. Not just at Thanksgiving but year around to have an attitude to gratitude and to voice my thankfulness to God and others as much if not more than I voice my discontentment or need/want of things.