girls' trip 2012

Last Thursday, my friend Lindsey and I flew to Texas to have a Jesus/Quiet/Girls' Weekend with our friend Jen. You know, the One Who Moved To Texas.

Lindsey and I made enemies of two crochety ladies on the plane who were mad at us for TALKING ON A MIDDAY FLIGHT (long story), Jonah really struggled the first two days with me being gone, Matt and Jonah got sick, Jonah threw up all his meals for two days, and every time we talked, he was crying. BUT after that, things got much better.

(Also, in the above photo, Jonah was upset with me because I didn't get the nose of the plane in the shot. I am a horrible mother.)

We stayed in an amazing lake house in Granbury, Texas and had a great time. It was the perfect combination of sleeping in, hanging around the house, devotionals, personal quiet time, and getting to go out and do things.

(I don't love this photo of me. The sun was completely in my eyes, but anyway, you get the idea. There was water.)

On Thursday, we went by Jen's house and got to hang out with her sweet boys for a bit.

They are cute. :) Then we went to get something to eat, had pedicures and headed out to the lake.

On Friday, after some quiet time, we headed into downtown Granbury. There are a lot of cute shops, and we ate at a restaurant called Babe's. Oh. My. Word. There are six or seven meats on the menu, and then the sides are shared among the table, things like creamed corn, mashed potatoes, green beans etc, and refillable. We ate a ton, and it was glorious. After dinner, we went to the Granbury Theatre and saw a play called "I Do! I Do!" There were maybe 30 people in there and we were the youngest by far, but it was super fun and a really sweet play.

On Saturday, we got to go to the Delgado's house and spend some time with Anton and the other Delgado cuties.

I have some amazingly adorable pictures of Anton on my real camera (these are all phone photos), so I'll have more of his cuteness later. It was such a sweet time. I love that kid like he's my own. What a story. God is so good.

After that, Vanessa got to come with us (HOORAY!), and we headed over to the Fort Worth Stock Yards. We missed the cattle drive and the rodeo was sold out, but we got to do some shopping for our Littles and had another good meal. It was quite the culture shock, but so so fun.

I have felt so refreshed since I've been back. It was so good to have some sweet time with Jesus and my girls. And so much unexpected time with Vanessa was just super-great icing on the cake. I DON'T EVEN THINK I GOT ONE PHOTO OF US.

I'm so thankful to Matt and his parents for holding down the fort here so I could go. I know it wasn't easy, especially with Matt and Jonah being sick, but I think Matt would say it was worth it. I do feel like a new woman... hopefully a better wife and mommy. I love my family so much, but time away for refreshment every once in a while does the body, mind, and soul a lot of good. And it was so great to really get to miss my kids and to REALLY miss Matt... not in a "When is your father going to be home???" sort of way, but in a "Hey, I really miss my best friend" sort of way. He's a keeper. :)

our advent calendar

Last year, Kristy, over at Waiting for Happy, wrote this post about her awesome advent calendar. I thought it was a great idea. Hmmm, a Christmas season focusing on others and Jesus rather than ourselves and materialism. What a concept. I loved her calendar and loved reading her December posts about how God was working through their advent activities. He was certainly faithful to show up and I thought, nay, vowed, that this year, since Jonah is old enough to start getting it, I would do something similar.

Thus, I commissioned my friend Jen to "help" me create an advent calendar. Our conversation went something along the lines of, "Hey crafty, ever-so-talented, knows-how-to-sew, beautiful Jen, wouldn't it be AWESOME if "we" made advent calendars for our boys by next December?" She was all like, "Yes! Love the idea." But I know she knew that she would be doing all the work and I would be a slackpot full of big ideas and no help. But I also think she liked that I called her beautiful.

I'd also like to say that IF SHE HADN'T UP AND MOVED TO TEXAS (stupid Texas), I would have totally helped her, but we all know that's probably not true. Seriously, I had to add the dowel bar and ribbon and about had a coronary.

And without further ado, I'd like to present to you, the beautiful, magnificent, awesome Advent Calendar, that Beautiful Jen made for our family.

I know, right? 

Instead of trinkets or candy, each pocket holds an act of family togetherness or service to others. One a day for 25 days. We worked on the ideas together, but Jen then went back and added a verse to go with each activity. She's an overachiever like that. Did I mention she's beautiful?

For example(s):

I'll put our master list down below in case you are looking for some ideas for things you can do this season to serve others. Whether it's a calendar or something else you choose to do, I pray we can all focus on Christ and what He taught and represented and not get so caught up in the "gimmes". And remember, God will always be faithful to show up. Always.


Master List:

1. Set out the family nativity scene and read the beginning of the Christmas story from Luke.
2. Make a snack together and have a family Christmas movie night.
3. Make and deliver a baked good for someone who isn't around their family for the holidays
4. Make dinner for a neighbor. Knock on their door and surprise them!
5. Every member of the family find three things (toys, clothes, etc.) in good condition to give away
6. Have a Skype date (with friends who may or may not have UP AND MOVED TO TEXAS).
7. Visit a nursing home, maybe take cookies and sing carols
8. Make handmade cards for your neighbors or loved ones you’ve lost contact with or shut-ins. Pray for them as you're making the card.
9. Have breakfast for dinner. By candlelight?
10. Put on a play of the Christmas story for Daddy and/or family and friends.
11. Invite someone over for dinner and/or hot chocolate and dessert.
12. Make a family traditional dessert and call the person you got the recipe from. 
13. Drive around to look at lights and pray for your city.
14. Write a letter of encouragement/draw a picture for someone who may be having a particularly hard time this holiday season.
15. Babysit for a single mom or a couple who really needs a night out.
16. Discuss and start a family giving box. (http://www.familieswithpurpose.com/givingboxsuggestions.html)
17. Pick up trash/clean up as a family at a local park or in your neighborhood.
18. Make a donation (and take it in person!) to the Ronald McDonald house. Love on some hurting parents while you’re there.
19. Fill a bag or backpack with basic hygiene goods and a few snacks and give it to a homeless person in your community.
20. Go through your books and collect some to give to a reading program for needy children.
21. Give some money (even if only $10) to someone in need. A neighbor, homeless person, or just a friend in need. Or pay for someone’s meal anonymously.
22. Do a random act of kindness for someone you don’t know.
23. Have a birthday party for Jesus.
24. Send your used shoes to Reuse-A-Shoe. (http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/get-involved)
25. Make scripture bookmarks. Hand them out at your local supermarket or book store as people come out. Or put on car windshields.
26. Tell the story of St. Nicholas (or watch the Veggie Tales movie!)
27. Recognize your church staff in a small, tangible way.
28. Make crescent rolls for dinner. On a small sheet of paper, have each person write something they are thankful for about their family. Put it in the crescent roll before you bake it. Share with each other before you eat
29. Leave a gift or sweet note in your mailbox for your mail carrier.
30. Post something you no longer need/use on Craig’s List or Ebay. Let your child pick a charity they want, and donate the money.
31. Write scripture or inspirational thoughts/quotes on post it notes. Randomly leave them places around your community where they will be found/on windshields of parked cars.
32. Vow for one day to only say positive things. No negativity allowed. 
33. At the beginning of the month, start and post a “grateful” list. Everyone in the family can add to it all month long.
34. Help an older person carry/load their groceries. 
35. Call a friend and ask them one thing you could do to help them out today.
36. Donate your extra coats/blankets to a homeless shelter.
37. Do a fun craft project together.
38. Make some chicken soup and take to a friend, church member, or neighbor who is sick.
39. Send flowers to your local NICU with a note thanking the nurses and doctors for all they do. (Or go tell them in person.)
40. Find a way to cheer up someone who is hurting, even if it’s only a phone call.
41. Have a Daddy-Son date or a Mommy-Son date, whichever is needed most at the time.
42. Fulfill a wish on wishuponahero.com

Now you'll have to excuse me. I must go listen to Christmas music and decorate. The calendar deems it so. :) (And also, I'm going to make some chili because I just got a craving.)

girls' weekend, part one

I'm sorry I have been slack in posting lately. I have been trying to go to bed earlier in order to get up earlier and spend some time with Jesus. Otherwise, it doesn't happen. I've also just kind of been lazy and unmotivated in the evenings for the last few weeks. Not exactly sure what the deal is but hoping I snap out of it soon.

This past weekend I went on a Girls' Trip to the mountains of Virginia. I don't have much time to write about it now, but I thought I would share some of my favorite photos (I took a ton). I cannot tell you how blessed I am to have such great girlfriends, a loving husband who will take care of Jonah all weekend so I can go, a Mom who will come over and help with dressing change, and on and on and on. It was a respite trip for my soul. And Jen, you know, the one who moved to Texas, flew up here to be with us. We haven't seen her in ten months. I miss her so much I ache. She is so beautiful. I love my girls!

cutie in a cloth diaper

Jonah has no need for crawling these days. That was so 2010.

I like this next picture because you can see the Aquaphor/Polysporin prints on the dresser. This is what everything in our house looks like, including our clothes. :)

Blurry, but too cute to resist. Having a child that walks and moves toward the camera very quickly has made photo taking much more challenging than I imagined.

We have a had a good day getting things done around the house. Well, laundry mainly. We had such a tower of dirty clothes balancing on top of the laundry bin that last night, I put my shirt on top and they ALL fell into a heap on the floor. I yelled "JENGA!" as they fell. I wish I was kidding. I ran some errands this afternoon, while Jonah and Daddy played outside and did laundry. Jonah hasn't felt great today. He's still throwing up the majority of his meals, and he was running a low-grade fever for part of the day. He definitely seemed like he felt worse today, so no church for us tomorrow. Bummed, but I know how I feel when there's a snotty kid in the nursery. I don't want to get the other kiddos sick. 

I ordered Jonah some more cloth diapers from my friend Jen (Serwa Chic), and they came today!

Her diapers are so adorable and she finds the cutest fabrics. These are her All-In-Ones, and she's modified them to be "EB Safe". She made several modifications for Jonah, the main one being that she loosened the elastic so it wouldn't be tight on his legs. She's such a good (and super talented!) friend. Texas, you are very lucky but should you decide you don't want her, feel free to send her back this way. Preferably with buckets of chocolate. And Cheetos. Thank you.

Aren't they so cute? 

My kid's gonna have the cutest patootie this side of the Mississippi. I love me a cute cloth diaper butt. (Oh, Jude, I miss you!)

(This post was interrupted by Jonah waking up, puking all over himself while lying down, and choking on lots of mucus. I've completely lost my train of thought. Things are okay, but prayers for Jonah would be appreciated. Poor thing.)

and the winner is...

And the winner of the Cloth Diaper Giveaway from SerwaChic is...

COMMENT NUMBER 236

From Random.org:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:236
Timestamp: 2009-11-18 20:24:22 UTC

That would be Amanda Sikes!

Please email me and let me know your address and those gift certificates will be on their way.

Yay! Hooray! Fun giveaway!

Thanks everyone. My first giveaway I deem a success. And you didn't leave me hangin', I don't feel like a loser, and all is right with the world.

Well, not really, but you get the idea. (Jonah is eating a little better today. I'll post an update later today hopefully.)

cloth diaper giveaway... for real this time

So this, my friends, is the GIVEAWAY.

My friend, Jen, is a working mom who has recently started her own cloth diapering business, SerwaChic. She worked and worked, toiled and slaved to come up with the perfect diaper for Jonah. After a couple attempts and some EB friendly suggestions from me, she did it! And here is his brand new stash (7 mediums, 10 larges with a few more on the way) of All In One diapers.


If you don't know much about cloth diapering, an All In One is just that. Everything you need in one diaper. It has a water proof material on the outside and an absorbent, soft material on the inside. And I love them. And they actually absorb, unlike our FuzziBunz that I ruined with Aquaphor. I'm using liners and Northern Essence diaper salve in his new ones, trying to keep them in good (absorbent) shape.

I probably love Jen's fitted diapers the most, but unfortunately, Jonah can't wear those because he can't handle the elastic of a diaper cover that you have to use with them.

But aren't they so adorable? (And really affordable to boot!)

So back to the giveaway.

This giveaway is good for four gift certificates.

There is one for a custom Fitted Diaper (a $9.00 value):

(She makes the waterproof covers to go with them too, although you would have to purchase one of those.)

One for a custom Two Size Snap All In One (size medium or large, an $18.75 value):


One for a custom All In One diaper (a $17.50 value):

And one for a custom Nursing Cover (a $19.50 value):

So leave a comment here (only one comment per person please), and I'll use the Random Picker Thingy to select a winner.

Jen does have some diapers and nursing covers in stock, but custom means you are welcome to look at all the materials she has available and choose your own. And if you EB peeps out there need some EB Friendly cloth diapers (or you've ruined the ones you have with Aquaphor like I did), Jen is IN THE KNOW. I'm loving mine. (Her website is serwachic.com)

And just to be in compliance with all I'm supposed to be in compliance with: I purchased Jonah's diapers from Jen, but these gift certificates I did not purchase. She is giving those away. And she didn't ask me to review her diapers, but they're great, and I wanted to share. So there you go. And something about Void Where Prohibited, FBI Warning, Copyright Reserved, No Purchase Necessary and so on and so forth.

So leave a comment. On this post. THIS is the giveaway. For real this time.

Let the games begin!

Comments will be closed Wednesday (11/18/09) at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Comments are now closed.