Bethlehem

Some of my friends are doing a Jesse Tree exchange this week.  In case you have never heard of one (I first heard of them last year), it is kind of like an advent calendar . . . except with ornaments.  Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, you read scriptures/devotion with your family and hang up an ornament that goes with it.  It tells the story from Genesis all the way up to Jesus' birth.  Some people make all their own ornaments (or buy them), but we are doing a swap.  We sign up to make/buy one of the ornaments . . . 28 of them.  We are getting together on Sunday to swap so that we all leave with a complete set.

I signed up for a candle/light and then was asked to do Bethlehem as well, so I'll come home with two sets of ornaments.  The candle/light was easy - I ended up buying little battery-operated tea lights and attached ribbon on them to hang.  Now Bethlehem . . . that took some thought.

I discovered that Tim and I make a great craft team.  I came up with the main idea, and then he took it to the next level :)  Made with cork coasters, construction paper, mod podge, and Tim's amazing art, here are some of our final creations!

Tim got a bit creative and made a creepy 3-horned tower . . . 

Here is his take on the stable . . . 

And his FINAL one - my favorite!

Caleb helped with painting on some mod podge.

So after seeing what an amazing team we make, you are probably now asking yourself how you too can get one of our masterpieces.  Well, we have decided that our retirement income will come from selling personalized city-scapes in Branson.  In 40 years, you will find us at one of the booths in Silver Dollar City.  See you there!

Thanksgiving Tree

I've been wanting to make a "thanksgiving tree" for the past couple of weeks but could not motivate myself to put it together.  This morning, we had  a MOPS meeting about traditions, and I was inspired so Joel and I worked on finishing our tree while the others were asleep.  We found a nice branch out back, cut out paper leaves, and I asked the boys what they were thankful for.  We usually do this each night at dinner anyways, so now I will just write them down and add them to our tree.  Some classics.....pens (Caleb), the whole wonderful world (Joel), God (Joel), Jesus (Joel), leaves (Caleb).....

While I was making lunch, Josiah worked on his "sewing" skills.  

Caleb worked on his letters and was very proud!

Boys' Room

This has been a several month process, but we have finally finished redecorating the boys' room.  We broke away from our neutral walls and painted them 2 shades of blue.  Added some bunk beds to accommodate Josiah who will be moving in after #4 arrives.  And thanks to Uncle Charlie, we acquired some authentic road signs from Houston....even the road sign for Space Center Blvd (where NASA is located)!