My New Favorite Gas Station

We found this Exxon, which I normally boycott (along with BP and Citgo), on the corner of Girvin and Atlantic here in Jax.  We go to this intersection every week for Gymnastics and I now make it a point to purchase gas here when I can.  I feel a deep desire to support local Christian businesses when I can.  We have to stand together and this is one way I can do that.  In this day and age of "political correctness," it's nice to see someone make a bold statement that years ago would have been the norm.

Christmas Came Early

Initially we weren't going to spend Christmas day with my family.  We were going to travel north after Christmas.  We are big into giving our kids traditions that don't change even though our address often does.  One of those traditions is having Christmas day at our house.  Sissy still believes in Santa and we realize that it's not going to be much longer that we have the opportunity to track Santa via NORAD, leave milk and cookies, reindeer food, etc.  The factor that tipped the scales into spending Dec. 25th in NC vs. in Jax was that we are in an apt. and without all our decorations and without a tree.  The last time we lived in an apt in SLC, we flew back to PA to spend Christmas with both our families.  We flew out Christmas day though so the kids still got presents delivered on Christmas day and we still held tight to our traditions.

This is Jingle.  He's our Elf on the Shelf that visits us every December.  This year he arrived after we returned from Thanksgiving at Kiawah.  He's a scout elf who reports back to Santa every night.  He informs Santa of the kids' behavior.  Some elves are mischievous, but ours is pretty good - want him to be a good role model of appropriate behavior for our kiddos.

One morning we found him reading Twas The Night Before Christmas

Another morning he left us a grocery list of all his favorite things along with a joke that said "What's the best thing to give your parents for Christmas?  A list of everything you want!"

In the movie "Elf," Buddy is told by Santa that when he visits NYC, if he sees gum on the street, that it isn't free candy.  Every time we watch that part, it grosses us out!  Guess Jingle thought that part was funny!

One morning we found Jingle in a bowl of GF Frosted Flakes with a note that said "What do snowmen eat for breakfast?  Frosted Flakes!"

The kids wrote Santa a letter and sent it to the North Pole via our Elf, Jingle.  Jingle took the letter back with him and Santa granted our children's wish of bringing their presents early so that he didn't have to make a stop in NC.  My brother and his wife don't celebrate Christmas and we didn't want to have Santa deliver presents to our kids and not to their children.  Santa granted our children's wish and delivered their presents on Saturday, December 21st.  They woke up to the surprise that he was able to make arrangements to arrive a few days early.  

Both kids were thrilled that they both received all the things they had on their lists for Santa.  Kendall requested a stuffed Marie from the Aristocats, a barn for her AGD horse, a camper for her AGD jeep and dolls, a Nerf bow w/ darts, and the Lego Chima Croc Swamp Hideout.  Riley received a couple big Lego sets and some different Nerf dart guns.  Both kids also got some new Disney pins they had wanted as well as a few other smaller items like a Hidden Mickey book for a scavenger hunt through WDW, new AGD doll clothes, etc. 

Both kids were very thankful for their gifts from Santa and made sure mom and dad knew that the real meaning of Christmas isn't about getting gifts but about receiving God's greatest gift.  I am so blessed that our children understand this at such a young age.  During prayers Sissy will often thank God for sending his son to die for our sins.  We choose to celebrate Christmas as way for us to remember that by Christ being born all those years ago, He was fulfilling God's promise of sending a savior who was foreshadowed in the Old Testament.  Without Jesus, we know that we could never spend eternity with God.  Jesus took on the sins of the world for us...can you imagine?

This year we bought a new movie from our favorite Buck Denver series "What's in the Bible."  This year they had a new one called "Why Do We Call It Christmas?"  It does a fabulous job explaining all of our Christmas traditions and how they came to be.  It shows that some may have begun from pagan traditions but all focus the attention back on Jesus.  It's a fabulous must see.  It taught me a thing or two - like why we decorate a pine tree in our house every December!

This year had a much different feel to it by celebrating early - it kinda lost it's wow factor - It was a bit anti-climatic.  We continued to do our 25 day scripture devotion count down to Christmas each night before bed, but after the gifts had arrived, it just didn't have the same effect.  Next year and the years ahead, we plan to spend in our home with our children - providing them the stability that traditions bring.  Our kids have fewer traditions than I did growing up because we keep moving them around all the time, but some things just need to always be the same so that no matter where we are, no matter who is with us, we are grounded as a family.    

Beach House Update - Pool

Right before we left for my parents house for Christmas, the pool was dug and concrete poured!  I didn't get to see it, but Andy did.  When we arrived back in Jax the first thing we did was head straight over to the house to see the pool.

Here it is so far:

The far wall will be in stone with a waterfall where the board is sticking out of it.  The deep end is 6 feet and there are benches around the two long sides of the pool plus the corner.

There will be a light so we can swim at night!  The light can change colors!  How cool!  The benches along the garage wall will give us a great view of the porch and tv that will be mounted there so we can watch football while enjoying a beverage from the pool!

These are the steps to exit the pool at the shallow end.  It's about 3 1/2 feet deep here.

We are soooo excited to have a pool!  We're hoping this is a place where our children's friends want to come to hang out so we can keep better tabs on our kids as they grow older.  If they are at our house, we have a better idea of what's going on in their lives and who their influences are outside of our family.

Missing Winter

Our kids are so lucky to have experienced life in different parts of the country.  They've had winters filled with snow, summers at the beach to get relief from the heat and humidity, hiking in beautiful mountains, kayaking down the old SusQ River, etc.  After 4 winters in SLC, they were missing the snow this year.  Christmas had a completely different feel this year without our tree and decorations so I found a few ways for them to feel "normal."

I copied this idea from my friend Vanessa.  She made these for her kids and shared the pic.  I did the same for my kids and the LOVED it!  

Ra's buddy is spending Christmas in Yellowstone.  They invited us to come along but we had to decline because my brother was coming to my parents house - otherwise we'd have gone in a heartbeat!  They boys were playing Wii Ski before vacation.  Ra cracked me up with his commentary.  He left his buddy in the dust and said "Meet me at the lift!"  Glad somethings haven't changed!

We spent a day at the beach before leaving for my parents house.  Sis and I decided to make a Florida snowman.  It was 80 degrees the Saturday before Christmas so spending it at the beach made sense!

A few other people came over and snapped pics of our snowman after we finished making it.  Next time we're bringing sunglasses for him!  

Gotta make the most out of where we are living, especially since we never know how long we'll be there.  Hoping Jax is our long term home....

A Nice Surprise

Living in an apt means you can get mail from the former tenants, especially if they didn't remember to forward their mail!  There is a guy named John who must have lived here at some point because we get a lot of his stuff.  Last week a flower delivery was made to our house - it was addressed to this same John guy.  The sender actually sent two of the same thing to John at our address.  The included card congratulated him on his graduation (I assume from college). We've lived here for 9 months now.  Guess John doesn't really care for the guy who sent them to him since he never bothered to let his friend know that he MOVED!

Sissy decided to claim the beautiful flowers for herself and kept them in her room so she could see them at night and in the morning.  She reminded me a little of Zuzu from It's A Wonderful Life because she was concerned for the flowers health when a petal or two dropped!  

No wonder she wanted them in her room, huh?  They were beautiful!

Teaching Manners

Every Friday night, we head to our favorite restaurant at The Beaches Town Center.  The other week, Sissy decided to bring her AGD named Merliah with us to dinner.  We snagged a chair from the table next to us for her doll to sit in during dinner.  We've been working on manners lately - things like using your napkin and keeping it in your lap, no elbows on the table, etc.  

Guess some of it is rubbing off because Sis was teaching her doll some manners, like using your napkin instead of your sleeves and keeping it 

on your lap!

Cousins Visit The Mouse's House

My brother wanted to let the cousins experience Disney World together while they were in town.  The kids had a lot of fun together for the two days we spent there.  Riley really appreciated my brother taking the time to ride a few favorite rides with just him.  We have visited Disney A LOT this year so far - 7 days so far, but it never seems to lose it's excitement for my kids.  We try to do something different we haven't done before whenever we go.  The latest hit has been pin trading.  My kids go nuts trying to collect certain pins from cast members.  We gave my niece a lanyard and some pins so she could participate with Ra and Sis as well.  

Ready to head out to the monorail from the parking lot

My brother taking the two girls on the Dumbo ride

Riley was a trooper - you can see by his expression here that he wasn't thrilled to be surrounded by all things girly!

My kids never seem to tire of the carousel

Last ride of the night - me and Ra on Thunder Mt Railroad in the last car

I have never seen the castle decorated for Christmas before.  Our kids are usually wiped out before the lights come on and we don't typically go so close to Christmas.

The kids showing off their gifts from their Aunt and Uncle

We found Mickey and Minnie at Animal Kingdom on the second day at WDW

 Mickey loved Ra's shirt.  He's starting to get too old for pictures with characters, but he's a good sport!

The three oldest cousins together with Mickey and Minne

Kendall thought it was the most fun holding our newest family member!  She adored her baby cousin who was the best behaved out of our entire clan!  She was so content all weekend.

Family Visits Jax!

My brother and his family flew into town this month.  The cousins haven't seen each other since their family flew through SLC and we met them at the airport and took them out to dinner during their long layover.  My kids had school for the 3 days they were in Jax, but the first day they arrived I met them at their hotel and took my oldest niece with me to pick up the kids from school.  

 Here they are - reunited again!

We took the kids to see Christmas lights and they all wore their jammies I got for them for Christmas.

Our little one couldn't make it home before falling asleep

Sissy had a gingerbread house party at school.  I was able to take my niece with me to participate with Kendall.  Mrs. Hatman read the children the story about the Gingerbread Man and taught them the lesson about why teasing isn't a good thing to do to each other.  She really pushed the idea of treating others with kindness and compassion.  

During the gingy party, Mrs. Dill (K's friend's mom) brought her spanish class by to sing us some Christmas carols in Spanish.

One student was absent so my niece got to decorate the extra house instead of just helping Kendall with her house.

 So proud of her completed project!

After making their houses, the kids went outside for snack and K begged for her cousin to stay for snack and recess.

Taking turns on the swings

 K's sweet friend Ava wanted to play with Kendall and her cousin.  

Kendall thought it was awesome that her cousin got to come to school and see where she spends all her time and meet some of her sweet little girlfriends.