Behind the Scenes at the Nutcracker Dress Rehersal (day 1)

I have quite a few cute behind the scene shots - but they are mostly of Doug and Deja's kids....so here are a few that include Nolan...I'll send the other shots to Deja and she can post them on her blog. ::snort::

Mom, I swear he isn't a card shark! Nolan tries to teach the boys Egyptian Rat.

Ultimate Party Boys - Erik and Nolan Chillin on the stage

Hmmmm....it seems we'll follow our friends anywhere...first an above ground pool and now the Nutcracker. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

Today -

The note said, "Go to Eggemeyers and buy fudge."

So we did.

While we were down town Zander asked if we could go to the "book bank". Translation - the Library. Next year I add, "Go to the library" and "write Christmas letter" to the activity list. ::snort::

Mike led the kids on another hunt tonight...Nolan and I were at Nutcracker...I'm glad they took photos....

Clue - "open sesame"








On top of the garage door opener. ::snort::


Oh good, the Christmas Puzzle - I know one of our activities is to put this together. LOL










©2008 D.R.G.

NEED ADDRESSES

My dear friends know that I've had my computer crash twice in the past two years...and I've lost my ONLY address book both times. I'm a slow learner - I still don't have a paper address book yet...but I'm making it now.

If you have not sent me your address in the past 6 months - I need it. I'll be harvesting addresses from those who send us Christmas cards...but for the first time in FIVE years, I have a card we made ready to mail out. Well - not ready - nothing is addressed. ::snort:: I may yet, write a letter....but the cards are here..... so please send me your addresses....if you know our personal email address, use it. If not, the address in the side bar will work.

I'm really serious about this...family, friends....I need your addresses. BTW, if you've wondered why you all of a sudden quit getting EMAILS from us, it would be because we lost email addresses too and I've had to rebuild as YOU email ME. LOL

©2008 D.R.G.

Y'all Rock!

I have the best friends, family, and blog readers. Not only do you care about helping me not make a fool of myself, but you graciously tell me PRIVATELY that I may be slipping.

What am I talking about? My "Fourth Sunday in Advent" post yesterday. I DID explain that I'm of "Low Protestant" background and then I posted a 4th Sunday post. ::snort:: ::hiccup:: I LOVE that so many emailed me privately to let me know of my "mistake".

I did make a mistake but it was NOT the one that appeared. I needed to publish that article so that I could link it in the sidebar.....this is part of a devotional booklet that Mike wrote and a chapel passed out years ago. I thought for those who are new to Advent, it would provide an easy starting point. So I meant to back date the article and link it.....it's now back-dated.

AND for some reason that "Second Sunday" link does not take you to Mike's writing but to a glimpse of one of our Second Sundays.....so I'll be adding that and BACKDATING it too - maybe today - so that any who want a weekly devotional with daily readings can easily have them. BTW, this works well for older children or adults...edit on the fly to bring it down to an understanding level for young children.

I love y'all!

©2008 D.R.G.

Day 2 - Advent Activity & Gift....

In a perfect world gifts and activities would be blogged about on the very day that they occurred. You KNOW my blog is not a "perfect" world. ::snort::

Tuesday's Activity

Can you read that?"Make Snowflakes & decorate the windows."

Tuesday's Hunt and Gift

True Confession: Mike came home from work ill yesterday and went right to bed where he stayed until this a.m. Jamin hid the gift for yesterday this a.m. and so we looked for Tuesday's gift on Wednesday.

I've got the clue - but I can't read it...


Big brothers are so handy...Hint: "wind bag under canned air."


In the dishwasher?


No, Jared, your gift is not a cheesecake!


Jared knew immediately - the fridge in the garage got Arielle moving in the right direction!


We appreciate all the time Mike and Jamin put into creating clues and now hiding gifts. Jamin even took time to blow up balloons for all.

Stacia has a unique technique. She holds it with one hand and wails on it with the other. ::snort::

Other Tuesday Tidbits

I announced to the Produce Co-op that 19 December will be my last day as coordinator. This is NEW for me to begin cutting back on activities before a move. I make it a practice to tenaciously refuse to acknowledge changing seasons until they are thrust upon me. I've taught Bible Study one night and drove out of state the next a.m. THIS time I realize that *maybe* some of Mike's "PCS pinging syndrome" is due to my refusal to admit I'm moving. ::snort:: We're both determined to keep each other accountable and make this a "friendlier" move. Seriously, through family discussions and prayers, I've realized that I need to start slowing down so that I can spend the next 6 - 9 months focusing on relationships, school, packing and Jamin's last few months with us ::gasp::.... this is the first activity I let go. It sort of hurt and sort of felt good at the same time. Hurt? Because it signifies in a big way to me that I AM going to be moving and I've come to love West TX (not as much as Alaska ::snort::). I also have not volunteered to do anything new....I'm making an effort.

I also ran (figuratively) to the theater...snapped this shot....

Party Boys (Nolan, Erik - Doug & Deja's son, Wade)

then zipped to PWOC and led Bible study and then back to the theater. I've been trying to figure out how to do early dinner (then he needs late dinner) when he gets home....and last night...like a shining star in the winter sky...BURGER KING drive-through loomed in our path. $2.98 - not bad when only ONE eats there. ::snort:: Frankly, he eats BEFORE rehearsal and is ready for another full meal after (at say 10:00 p.m.). Burger King is truly a shining star in my week. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

Monday Mania

This begins Nutcracker crunch week. Exciting days...and late nights.

I ended up needing to be 3 places at the same time. It all worked; thanks to Coach and Deja A. Mike told me it would be o.k. to break my 10 p.m. rule and get the photos posted. LOL

These three came with me to the Base lighting. Jamin was at work, Jared was at basketball and Nolan was at Nutcracker practice. This was our first Advent activity.


Santa came on a fire truck - it was really dark and you can barely see him. We met the new Catholic priest. In a couple of weeks he will take over as our new Wing Chaplain.


Vegging


Mike saved the first clue/gift until we were all home. I'd say it was about 9:30 p.m.


Nolan reads, "Whale of a tale" as the clue....





We're studying whales....could it be something with our school books?


I directed them to Moby Dick....


Hmmm...Zander got side tracked. It turns out we have THREE copies of Moby Dick. ::snort::

Fluffy but happy ::snort::

Jared finds the Ziploc with tonight's gifts - behind the 3rd copy of Moby Dick that we discovered. Tonight's gifts were erasers and sticky note pads.

I should comment that many of you may be confused as you read about our full Advent season. Don't I often write about "simplifying"? Yes! However....I greatly simplified my life so that I COULD make these sorts of memories with my children. Believe ME this is much simpler than our schedule used to be. I've come to the realization that I WILL be busy...but I'd rather be busy with my family than busy without my family.....and this week is the most insane week of the month....then we look forward to enjoying the season and cruising into the New Year. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

First Sunday in Advent

I'm really striving to make bed by 10:00 p.m. so this post began last night and I'll finish it now. LOL Family, friends...I sure hope you enjoy all these inane photos and they give you a sense of living the Season with us. LOL Of course, with my memory as it is, I have to blog to REMEMBER what we do. ::snort::

The day was FULL.

We attended chapel. We enjoyed lunch as a family.

We had our first devotional.

Zander graduated from topping the tree to LIGHTING the FIRST Advent candle.

Who says inductive study has to be boring? I didn't have copies printed yet for the children to mark so we simply did actions for various words and discussed the questions. This is the sign for Bethlehem - I don't know WHY....because I wanted to see the young men do it? (No time to lighten this photo).


They really did participate - but Jamin wasn't about to snap their photos. Payback ya' know?

Mike took Nolan to Nutcracker practice. Mike went to the gym.

Jamin and I went to the mall, Walmart and Sam's. "10 and 2 son, 10 and 2."

We completed two Advent projects (details below).

Zander wanted a "ticket" and so Mike set him to folding...he thought it was terribly hard. ::snort::

We forgot our first Sunday gift and pulled it out later. Mad libs....what fun.

Stacia pulled each little book from the bag and gave it to whoever she felt it would work for.

We ended the day creating a few mad lib stories. Mike read a chapter out of Great Brain for the younger boys. We've not decided if we want to do a Jotham book this year. It was a very full day to begin a very full season. Why can't I accomplish this much in a "normal" month?

©2008 D.R.G.