Strickland Place

Thanks to my dad, over the past few years, we've had the pleasure of knowing David Pepper and admiring his beautiful reindeer. Our first meeting was December 2009, when we were all present for the Capitol tree lighting downtown. Cole had just turned three and could really care less about the rare-seen animal :)

Pepper was then at The Streets one year for public viewing and picture taking and last year took part in the huge SNOW exhibit at Opryland. With such success and a large demand to see and pet these beautiful creatures, Pepper decided to open up his farm, Strickland Place, in Springfield for tours this December.

Kyle was the tour photographer on the weekends and immediately told us that we MUST make a trip and book our visit. My dad treated our entire family and we headed that way one Tuesday before Christmas. What a FUN evening! Not only did we meet, pet, and feed the reindeer (they love graham crackers!), but we learned so much about them. If we were homeschooling, I'd seriously consider it a field trip!

Meeting Snowflake and Comet

Picture time!

Daddy had class this evening - we missed him!

The antlers are just beautiful. Hard to believe she'll shed them this spring and they'll be just as grand by next winter!

Cade's first ride in the 'big boy' stroller :)

Visiting the herd out in the field.

To top that off, we toured a mid 1900's style mercantile. . . restored just as David's grandfather would've kept it over 60 years ago!

and filled to the brim antique toy store. . . LOVED every minute of it!

Next year, I highly encourage your family to visit - you won't be disappointed!

Christmas Card 2011

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Shepherd's Breakfast

Last weekend, Michael and I had the pleasure of attending Long Hollow's Shepherd's Breakfast - an event just for preschoolers ages 3-5. LOVE that our church places an importance on the young years and impresses our little ones with the Word in such wonderful ways.

Cole attended last year with my mom (Michael and I were in New York), so we were anxious to experience firsthand this special time with our precious boy.

The morning began with breakfast (catered by Chick-Fil-A . . . YUM!) and a rundown of the schedule. After eating, our group headed to craft time where we made a baby Jesus ornament (that currently adorns our Jesus tree).

We then ventured to gift wrapping where we made cards and decorated bags stuffed with items we brought for nearby nursing homes.

The morning ended with all the children and parents gathering in the chapel to sing songs (Happy Birthday Jesus is just precious!) and listen to the Christmas Story as told through the shepherd's eyes.

Thanks LH for helping to FOCUS our family this season and giving us a fun, meaningful Christmas memory to cherish!

Our Christmas ADVENTure

Along with most of the modern world, I've hopped aboard the Pinterest train and absolutely love it (in moderation of course). The ideas are endless and organizing and keeping all of my favorite kid activities, homeschool resources, decor ideas, and yummy recipes in one place is a huge plus for this busy wife and mama.

We've always talked about the coming and birth of Christ leading up to the season, but have never formally participated in advent. I wanted this year to be different and set out looking for ideas that might work for our family. Pinterest provided a wealth of info., but I ended up blending a few ideas and adding a little creativity of my own :)

Voila. . . our $5 advent banner.

(And can I just say that I love the addition they make to our current naked windows)

I began with small paper bags from Hobby Lobby, unused gift tags from last year, leftover scrapbook paper, mini clothespins, and thin white ribbon.

Cover each bag with paper

Glue on gift tag and write numbers 1-24

String ribbon across the window and hang with clothespins

LOVE it!

In each pocket is a daily activity - some of which are:

Watch a Christmas movie and eat popcorn

It just so happened to be The Polar Express 3D. . . oh yes. Super. Fun.

Drive around looking at lights in our pajamas

Write a letter to Jesus

Make treats for our neighbors and friends

Take our local Salvation army bell ringer a Starbucks hot chocolate

Camp out under the Christmas tree

Visit Santa's reindeer (lucky for us, a family friend owns reindeer and has opened up his farm for tours!)

Buy a new Christmas CD and listen to it

Make ornaments for family

Take treats (big container of homemade Christmas Chex Mix) to our assigned fire station

Make wrapping paper

Have a family game night

Buy something for a child in need (just picked our angel from Cole's MDO - a five year old kindergardener that LOVES art stuff. . . a boy after Cole's own heart!)

There are also Scriptures with our activities that we discuss each evening - basically following the Jesse tree principle. Next year I plan on keeping our fall blessing tree, spray painting the twigs, adding some ribbon, and making it our Jesse tree. We'll hang clip art ornaments (or if I'm feeling extremely crafty, I'll make some) for each day.

I love watching God's Word take root in Cole's young heart as well as awaken a new desire in both Michael and I. It's living, active, and always relevant. Thank you Lord for your Word, and for sending The Word as flesh to live among us. What an indescribable gift.

Feeling Festive

I cannot tell you how much I've loved every aspect of our Christmas decor - especially in a semi-sparce new home. The soft glow of tree lights and sweet scents of cinnamon have turned the cold to warm and added that special something that I've craved the past month.

A favorite family tradition is decorating the tree(s) together. Papa and Gigi joined us for a chili supper and we quickly got to decoratin'.

Reminiscing over each ornament as it's unwrapped never gets old. Watching Cole place them on the tree is even sweeter. . .

Excited for next Christmas when little man will join the fun (he was snoozing this year :))

The next day, we decorated our Jesus tree.

Filled from top to bottom with handmade ornaments by my grandmother, it's a treasure that I pray will stay in our family for many generations.

It's also where we placed the boys yearly 'Jesus' ornaments - each one declaring a name of our Savior.

Cole's ornament this year is "Bright and Morning Star"

Cade's first is the Nativity (which was also Cole's first). This specific ornament was crafted out of wood from the olive trees that surround Jerusalem. . . love.

Thank you Lord for the simple memories and blessings. . .

Buddy Returns

We love it when Buddy, our friendly household elf, comes to visit. He actually celebrated his own arrival this year with a note to the boys and snowball doughnuts straight from the North Pole for breakfast.

This year, he's created a little more mischief and has become quite the explorer. . . we say he's loving our new home too :)

He's toilet papered our tree

Played with Cade's toys (he must miss Santa's workshop)

Read about the birth of Jesus in Luke 2

and sampled some of our Christmas Chex mix

He also took a ride in our gingerbread train with Scooby Doo, but Mommy forgot to capture a picture :)

Who knows what that silly elf will do next!?