It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! Better late than never...

{To preface, I actually wrote this blog back on Dec. 6!...just haven't had time to upload the pictures, but I figure I need to get it up before Christmas! Better late than never....haha}

First cold day here in December...took a walk in the park up to the tower!

Liam's first Christmas "play"! He's the 5th one from the right =)

Walkin back to class after a great performance!

Making Christmas cookies! {tonight! - they were YUMMY!}

 We have some exciting things going on around here lately, preparing for Christmas, birthdays, Christmas parties and family coming in town.  I thought I'd share some of our Christmas decorations, since I've taken to the less-is-more approach for decking our "much-smaller-than-last-years" space!  I've just had to be a bit more creative so that it doesn't look cluttered, but still festive (I hope!)  And, since we won't be having to many holiday guests at our place this year, someone needs to see my creativity, right?? Haha

We pulled out the larger tree from our porch tree set to use as our actual Christmas tree, for one, I was all about not having to decorate a 7 footer this year.  I just added a few of our regular ornaments on it, and I think it turned out simple, yet Christmasy still =)

I also have a nice area on our bar counter that has made for a nice spot to put seasonal decorations.  I did a gathering of pumpkins and squash here for fall, and decided to display my white feather tree while also using it to hold Christmas cards.  It is probably one of my most favorite things about Christmas.  And the JOY sign is a re-mix from last year and fit perfectly on our kitchen cabinets!

Also in our kitchen, is a project I finally completed (held over from last year!) for an advent-like calendar.  I used mini gift bags and put numbers on them for each day in December.  Inside each bag, I have a small piece of candy and a bible verse.  Some of the bags also have either a small toy, cookie cutter for making cookies day or a family questionnaire as a fun activity to do that day.  This has been really fun for Liam - and helps him to know when Christmas is, because, well he is in the QUESTION stage right now =) ("When the bags are all gone, is it Christmas??"....Ah, yes!)  Plus, it also gets us in the bible each day, which is the best part if you ask me (I'm considering doing a 365 day bag project just for this sole purpose for myself! Ha!).  Each morning we open the bag.  I made a budget of $10 to spend on "treats" for the bags, as I didn't want it to turn into a gift-a-day type of thing.  When Liam gets older, I would like to incorporate some giving activities for us to do.

And my most favorite Christmas printable from this shop is on display on our end table.   I just love the message and it being central to our home, daily visible for all to see.

I am still loving our new space (I guess not too new anymore!).  Although I do really, really miss our old house at times, I know God had better things for us here.  We have been truly blessed by letting him guide our decision on our home.  Home really is where your heart is...if you'll let it be =)

** There is a chance of a white Christmas here in Texas this year!!  This only happens once in a blue moon, so I am praying it happens this year - I can't wait for Liam to get a chance to play in it!**

12.6.12 - Our Thanksgiving

Ok, ok I know I am REALLY behind on blogging...I thought I'd better post our Thanksgiving holiday before Christmas time arrives!!

We went down to San Antonio to see Dustin's family for Thanksgiving and like always, we had a wonderful time, eating a ton and spending lots of family time together!  Scrapbook post - pictures of our family! 

Great Grandkids

Great grandkids, with the great grandma!

Grandkids!

Our little family

Liam with his Papa Johnson and Big Ma

3 generations of Johnsons

Liam and his Papa

Playing some baseball...

He actually made some hits!

Playing some songs for us!

Momma and Liam

That smile cracks me up!

Dustin, Big Ma and Liam

Other great grandma, Nanny S and us

Nanny S and the boys

Thankful

For some reason it is getting harder for me to make an effort to post on here consistently!  I think sometimes I really just don't know what to say or talk about...it's strange when our life is resembling a normalcy that we have never known before...traveling, exploring, swim lessons...normal family stuff...in stark contrast to even a year ago, with feeding struggles and a pending heart cath.  But I realized if I don't know what to say, I can ALWAYS give thanks....so that's what I write about today ;)

On the way home from my parents tonight, Liam was asking me to pray for him...this has become a favorite thing for him, and he has been asking me to pray...a LOT!  And of course, I jump at the opportunity to speak about God and Jesus with him, but I LOVE to pray with him.  I feel it's important to show him that Jesus and God are an everyday thing...and an anytime thing.  I want him to be so comfortable with prayer, God and his faith that he never doubts.  I am so thankful the Lord give me these opportunities to spend with him....and for simply giving me him.  His sweet voice, silly sweetness, spunky little self....I cherish him and always will. 

I am also so grateful and blessed to have a wonderfully strong, Godly husband by my side...I don't tell him enough how thankful I am that he chose me as his wife, to be with forever.  I love our movie nights on the couch, his attention to my every need (and want!) and the way he works hard, honors his family and watches over us.  He models Christ so well, I am thankful Liam has a father of such high character. 

And last but not least, our family and friends (yes, bloggy friends too!)...Gosh, we have the BEST extended family and friends. EVER.  We all model God's grace, forgiveness, love, compassion, gentleness, patience....the multitude of Colossians 3:12-17 to eachother in such a wonderful way.  To be surrounded by them is an honor.  Each time we get together, we draw closer to one another, encourage, love, support, celebrate.  It is true joy.  You all know who you are ;)  For all of you, I, WE are blessed and thankful.

So tonight, I am pure and simply thankful...for every place, person and purpose God has placed in my life.   I pray everyone has a safe and blessed Thanksgiving week!

11.11.12 - Halloween and Florida!

Can't believe it's almost been a month since my last post!   First, I'll catch up on all the halloween happenings and then for some more fun times of our recent trip to Florida!

Liam went as Mario this year from Super Mario Bros - He absolutely LOVES the game, and daddy plays it with him all the time.  He actually decided on Mario from the beginning of October and stayed with his choice all month, which made for a stress-free costume choice!  I ended up making the "overalls" with pants and a woman's tank top from old navy, since I couldn't find any in the right color blue.  I think it turned out pretty well, plus he can re-wear the red shirt and pants, which was nice on our budget ;)

The apartments we live in throw an annual Halloween party, so daddy and Liam went to that while mommy was away on my annual Ladies Retreat with church.  The boys had fun while I was away and I came back recharged and refreshed!

The Saturday before Halloween was our annual Amazing Little Hearts Halloween party at the hospital.  It was so fun to see everyone, since we have been busy and not able to attend much with the group lately.  Liam got his face painted for the first time, and I think it turned out pretty well....Definitely completes the outfit!

We also went to a pumpkin patch that weekend, it was one we had never beent o before, and it was great!  They had tons of activities for kids, and the best part was they were all free!

Sliding down after finishing the hay maze!

Choo-choo!

Some of daddy and Liam's favorite characters!

Liam's favorite friend!

This was a bigger slide at the finish of the "big" hay maze!

Liam and I both traveled to Florida on Halloween day (daddy had to stay home to work) to visit my brother and his family.  It was an amazing trip, lots of time to hang out and for the boys to get to spend a lot of play time together!  We really miss them, so it was definitely a blessing to get to stay for a week. 

Our EARLY morning flight!  The sunrise was beautiful!

We arrived!  Liam with his cousins, Josh and Ryan, ready to go trick-or-treating!

Halloween night, we took the boys to the mall to trick-or-treat and get dinner.  They had a two-story carousel we rode that was really cool, although it went a little fast!  And of course, Liam wanted to ride on the second story.  I will say I am thankful we decided to do that before dinner, ha!

Carousel ride

Halloween jammies!

The boys, waiting for the ride on the train!

Group picture! 

Liam took his first trip to a real ocean beach, which was so much fun!  I wasn't sure if he would like the sand (texture things!!) or the water, but he loved both!  He was sitting in the water, letting the waves roll over him and loving every minute!  And what great weather too - I was surprised at how warm it was being November, even the water temperature was nice!

We also visited the Tampa Zoo, which had great exhibits of all the animals and a huge children's area.  I didn't get too many pictures, but all the animals were actually out and visible!  Even the monkeys were actually climbing and playing for us! 

Can you tell Liam has learned to say "cheese"? LOL

You could feed the giraffe!  It was cool to get this close!

We missed daddy a lot, but we still had such a great time! Hopefully daddy will get to come next time! 

With Thanksgiving around the corner, things have been busy around here!  Thanks for stopping in to see what we've been up to!  More to come soon!