Bow Lady

Ever heard of the bag lady? This is my friend, Deja, the bow lady of the Nutcracker. LOL

And son, Elisha.....

And I'm so cool to take these photos and post them before I get home. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

Sneaking Away to the Book Bank!

Shhh....don't tell Mike. He thinks I'm still at rehearsal. I snuck away after Act 1 and will go back in time to see the end.....I've been assured I'll be back in plenty of time. I know - I felt a bit guilty leaving, but I noticed that many parents seem to come and go. AND I didn't watch every baseball, basketball or football practice come to think of it.

This has been A DAY! I was up to my elbows in chocolate (because that is how I bake or paint) when the computer alarm went off. I thought, "hmmm must be 30 minutes until I need to have Jared at House of Faith."

NO - it meant I should be at the base in a meeting. I was late - but made it. Then started the Thursday shuttling from spot to spot. I'm so glad this is ONE day of my week and not every day of my week. ::snort:: Piano lessons went well for Arielle and OK for Nolan. We made it by a speciality store to buy supplies to make a treat for the tea - now we only need more time. I picked up Jared at House of Faith and had time to go through the drive-thru and get Nolan to practice. Now, I relax.

Today's directive was...

Our mission


Stacia is ALWAYS a huge help!

Not the prettiest, but the kids assure me they taste good! LOL We DID have fun making them.

I don't know if did a hunt and/or opened a little gift tonight. I'll have to post, if they did, when I get home.

YES, Bre, you will be here for 6 or so of our activities and gifts...we are so far ahead of you. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

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.