Christmas Tree Adventures!

My sister and myself put up my Christmas tree today. It was so much fun. This is the first year Eli is trying to understand what is going on. He loved the Christmas lights. He kept touching them very easily just to make sure it would not burn him. Luke is more than thrilled that we finally can put up the tree. He has asked for about a month now. Now Luke's question is when is Christmas day so he can open gifts. Typical 4 year old. Luke had his first day of school today and did really well. He is learning how to say the "c" sound finally. I am so proud of both of my boys. Tis the season!

Messy House and Overcoming Mild OCD :-)

I say I have OCD but I am being silly. I just like things in order and organized but I have no problem in the world letting my kids have fun and make a mess because when the house is messy they have played hard and not been under my feet all day. I am loving how the older Eli gets the more and more the boys play together and creatively make-believe. They will make up things to play all of the time. Eli found so much interest today in Luke's little "Thomas the Train" play-set and that was hours of fun for him. Luke played in his tent and pretended to be Andy from "Toy Story!" I am glad that I have a husband who at the end of the day will help me and the boys tidy up the house before bed most nights. Jeremy is completely understanding of the fact that a messy house represents a boys day of fun. I am loving the life. (Amanda Hill, see my house does get messy!!!!!!!! :-)

Messy Eating!

I know I have a 4 1/2 year old son who eats well now but I still have not perfected how to train my 20 month old how to eat with a spoon. I am having a hard time remembering when Luke perfected the spoon technique but Eli has still not arrived there yet. He is having fun learning though at my expense. I am such a neat freak that letting him learn on his own kills me but I know it is necessary in order for him to learn how to feed himself. Jeremy is the same way about a mess and we both would rather feed him so that we don't have to worry about the mess but we know that is not helping him. I think I will start letting him feed himself a bowl of cereal every morning so he can learn how to work a spoon. I still can't resist that messy smile. Got to love a happy boy.

Halloween Fun

The boys throughly enjoyed their Halloween adventures. After nap we took them to a local church for a Trunk or Treat where I heard several times how cute my two little cowboys were. We then proceeded to go to some friends house and trick or treat. My mom and sister accompanied us on the journey home where we trick or treated in our neighborhood and passed out candy until 9:00 pm that evening. We have a huge bowl of candy to show for our fun adventurous night. Luke and Eli are enjoying looking through the candy bowl on a daily basis to pick out a piece of candy they would like to eat.

I was never allowed to Trick or Treat as a child. We did attend some church's Hallelujah Harvest where you would go and dress up in a Bible character and play games and get candy. When Luke was born Jeremy and I both said that we would not make it a big deal either way. If the boys wanted to do it we would go with them and let them trick or treat. If they ever did not want to we would not push the issue. I believe certain things are only an issue if you make them an issue. I am not so religious in my thinking any more and I have let some of my insecurities go. God is so good to show me the joy of life even in the small things.