How Far is it to Bethlehem?

This past Sunday night was a great night at Bethabra.  Ms. Carolyn, after working TIRELESSLY all semester with the children, led them in a fantastic musical this past Sunday evening.  I am amazed at the talent God has placed in our church and pray He will continue to bring MORE and MORE!!!  James played Jesus when the Wise Men came to visit - and Landon and I played Mary and Joseph.  We had NO speaking parts (well, Landon did speak at the end, but that was because he was the pastor, not "Joseph").  Here's James eating his pre-musical dinner of a pbj sandwich and cheetos.

Ms. Carolyn's sweet family was there that night - her daughter Kendra (below) and sweet McKenna (not sure if I'm spelling that right!!!!), and Caroline :)

Don't the kids look GREAT??

James did a great job on his part.  The funniest thing about him is how much he talked backstage.  I mean, it was a super strange environment for him to be taken outside with a dress on a weird gold belt in the cold around to the back of the baptistry where we entered in the dark and stood as quietly as possible until it was our turn to go on stage.  James kept yelling "Da da" "Da da" over and over.  I told him to whisper and since we read an Elmo book that talks about whispering he actually then whispered "Da da" a few times before he went back to yelling it.  The most interesting part was when the entire cast came back on stage at the end while Landon was giving a serious talk to the guests - James was yelling "ball" and "Bi" (for Britleigh - who was taking pictures for us :)...I let him get the ball, but once I thought he was going to throw it at Landon, who was speaking SERIOUSLY, I just had to exit the stage with him...

 It's hard for me to imagine how Mary must have felt being Jesus' mom - not knowing exactly how it would all play out, but knowing that Jesus was not here for her...to grow up and be a regular child...I would have been afraid, and honored, and maybe resentful that I was the one who had to sacrifice my child.  Christmas is such a special season.  We've been playing with our nativity and talking about da mama Mary, da da da Joseph, and da bay Jesus :) 

 Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The Santa Visit

Here's another thing that's certain.  I like being on the Sr. Adult Ministry committee.  Ha.  I love to take all the trips Sr. Adults get to take.  This is why I enjoy being part of this team.  So...our latest little trip was to Lake Lanier Lights last night.  It was FANTASTIC.  We started out the evening at ....where else... Cracker Barrel.  Yes :)  We then headed to the lights.  James did GREAT.  He was able to get out of his car seat and really enjoy them as we drove through.  Then...we made the final stop.  The Santa Stop.  We weren't sure how he would do, but we wanted to try it.  (I was about to type "ha" again, but then realized I'd already said it above once and thought it might seem like I had a problem...seriously).  James immediately wanted to get under the rope to see Santa.  He was yelling out Ca Caus Ca Caus.  We waited, and waited (not too long...but sort of seemed long with a 1.5 year old)...and finally saw Santa.  Here is the video the Thomason's made for us...and then some pictures of our fun night.  Thanks for letting us tag along, JOY group :) 

AND, make sure to notcie James' SWEET Gingy outfit.  Grammie and GatorPa bought this outfit for James on the day after Thanksgiving while we shopped.  (It was also the same store that James fell out of a chair and hit his head on the tv for kids to watch...).  ANYWAY, Gingy is super cute on his shirt...and the cuff of the pants have gingerbread men.  AND, his socks are striped red and white.  I cannot take it - so much cuteness.  I love it!

Story Time with Friends

One thing is certain.  God has placed some really neat families who are in the same life stage as we are at Bethabra.  I could not be more thankful for this.  This morning James and I met Kelli and Caroline and Jeanette and Finn at the bookstore for story time.  It was GREAT.  The last time we did a story time, I chased James around the entire time and it was pretty chaotic.  That's been maybe two months ago, and he was so different today!!  He actually sat on the bench most of the time during the story and watched - well, and it helped that they had toys and some stuffed animals the kids could play with :)  Here are James and Finn.

And look!  Finn, James, and Caroline!  So precious.

James coloring his Christmas tree picture after the story.  He also colored on everyone else's Christmas tree pictures in the building.

Some of our favorite people: Jeanette and Finn

James and Mommy - isn't his shirt sweet?  I got it off of Etsy - I love me some Etsy.  

And, some of our other favorite friends: Kelli and Caroline.  She is enjoying a crayon :)

We then ate in the food court together, rode the carousel, and headed home.  I needed to stop by Costco, but I just couldn't handle anymore stops, so I went on home.  For the first time today, in the bookstore right after story time, I thought I'd lost James.  He was playing in this toy basket they had in the corner, and I thought the bookshelf met the wall and there was no space to get through.  All of a sudden I looked back and he wasn't there anymore - there was a crack between the wall and the bookshelf that I didn't see and he had slipped through it - we are in an enormous Barnes and Nobles - one with an ESCALATOR if that helps you get an idea, and we were upstairs.  Yikes.  I said to Kelli, "Do you see James?" And I could see the same look of sudden panic on her face.  She said no, and we both started to look, but then she saw him come around from that space between the wall and the bookshelf - I think he was trying to play "boo".  Scared me to death.  I think that helped me see just how easy it would be to lose him.  Literally just one second - doesn't have to be a bad, neglectful mom thing, could be the best mom in the world it happens to because literally...one second...and he was gone.  Yikes.  Very thankful that he was just playing "boo" with me.  Though I didn't think it was possible, I will watch him even CLOSER.  Seriously.

Oh, and Happy Birthday to my daddy today!!!!

BORING Videos for Grandparents Only ;)

WARNING:  Do not watch these videos if you are not a grandparent.  They will cause sleepiness, annoyance, and just general boredom.  BUT, if you are a grandparent, pull up a chair, put this at FULL screen, and put your face right up here to watch - it is your DUTY.  :)  These videos are remarkable because James gives his sound for "choo choo", talks about a couple of the nativity people, and says "pretty". 

One Hilarious Joker

There are some random things  want to document about James...some funny stuff he is doing.  To begin with he started making a weird new face that is hilarious yesterday (um, sort of like the bottom teeth mad thing - if you know my family...) - it's like a sort of scared unsure face.  Really funny.  He mainly does it while he's watching the train go around - well, when he's not hiding behind the pillow on the couch while the train goes around.  It took me a couple of days and for Landon to tell me this, but I realized that James is making the choo choo sound - he makes it constantly and wants to play with the train, but he makes the sound with his mouth totally closed and it's like "cooo cooo"  but with his mouth shut.  Hilarious. 

So...times at the potty with James are very interesting.  This may be TMI for everyone.  If you can't handle it, just don't read any further.  I'm not talking about James going to the potty.  I'm talking about what James chooses to do while I go to the potty.  I had a friend yesterday who said she shut the door while she went to the bathroom and her little girl stayed outside the bathroom :)  I thought..."That is completely novel to me."  Seriously, I've never even thought of doing that - seriously.  Smart friend, huh?!  ANYWAY, back to my life though.  So, when I go in to go, one of the main things he does is I hold onto the toilet paper roll so he can't unroll it, but he pulls off little bits of toilet paper and wants to throw them in the toilet.  So, I've noticed, though, that particularly in this one bathroom, he loves to take the little pieces and instead of throwing them in the potty, he wants to stick them down in the vent.  Like this:

 I think this is crazy funny.  Weird.  Really funny.  Just wanted to remember it forever so I needed to write it down :)  He also loves to flush the potty and say the word potty over and over. 

I wanted to get a picture of his sweet jammies from Gymboree - he has two pairs for Christmas from there that I bought him - this one is "Gingy" and says "Smart Cookie".  So sweet!

James has become especially interested in the potholders and the pans in the drawer under the stove.  In our Christmas box was a small stocking Nanna and Grandaddy gave James last Christmas for his 1st Christmas.  I've had it put down in the bottom of the Christmas tree.  So...he saw it and thought it was a POTHOLDER.  HAHA.  He immediately put it on his hand and then went in and got this pan out of the drawer under the stove.  CRACKS me up. 

These things, along with him becoming a professional fit pitcher, are definitely keeping things interesting around here.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Reindeer or "Dee, Dee"

James and Mommy before church yesterday.  I love the lovely fire extinguisher in the background.  I wanted to show James' sweet reindeer outfit from Nanna and Grandaddy!!!! Yay, Nanna and Grandaddy - aren't we excited it actually fit for Christmas!!!???  It's PERFECT! 

We had a fantastic day at church yesterday.  Russ Crosson, President & CEO of the company I work for, Ronald Blue & Co., came to speak to us.  I have heard part of the talk he gave, but I could hear it 100 times and it still be so insightful.  He and his wife, Julie, have so much wisdom to offer.  I'm very thankful God has put these people in our path so we've had the opportunity to learn new things and live our life more wisely!

Landon and I have been struggling with a particular decision, and I think Russ really helped us yesterday.  He said it's important to ask yourself, "Will this free me up to invest social and spiritual capital in my family?"  For us, we needed to hear that.  He asked, "How many people will ever know what you have financially?"  It's important to make decisions that will impact the largest number of people for the Gospel of Christ that we can. Hard to remember this as we buy, buy, buy Christmas gifts for our friends and family right now.  Did you know it's 3 times as hard to get out of debt as it was to get in it??? Yikes. 

So...back to a new week.  Gotta finish up some Christmas stuff and maybe start wrapping - with no gifts under the tree, of course. 

Choo...Choo...Welcome Christmas!

Landon has wanted to buy a train to go around our Christmas tree for a long time.  Actually Landon told me one time he'd like to have a room with just a bunch of train tracks and trains and stuff that stays set up all the time....RIGHT.  Whenever we get that million thousand square foot house, we'll be sure to include a "train" room for Landon :)  ANYWAY, while looking at Black Friday ads, Lan found a train for $25 from Home Depot.  I thought it was a great deal, too, since right now with a small child in the house, it would be better to have something CHEAP and not a total crisis if it was broken.  So...the train came.  It was pretty exciting.  Here's James on the box:

Here they are getting it open.

All the cars.

And, playing with it!

James smiling for a picture.  It's hard for me to get a normal picture anymore - either there's no smile at all or a "cheese" smile like this :) 

So, here's the train update.  The first couple of days, James really respected the train.  He barely touched the cars and just looked at them.  But then, Landon showed him that he could put stuff in one of the cars, and then it was over.  The cars are now knocked over, off the track, everywhere.  The thing has a remote control, which James wants to play with, but when the train actually moves, he hides behind a pillow on the couch as still as can be.  He's not quite okay with it yet...but you can tell he wants to be.  I think the train is a big hit.  It has been fun to watch James and Landon have something to play with that BOTH of them love.  Love my sweet, sweet boys.