Preparation

With Advent upon us and Christmas quickly approaching, we are trying to slow down and remember the true meaning of Christmas and to use the season of Advent to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's birth. Our church is doing a sermon series called "Simply Christmas" as a way to encourage the congregation to turn our hearts toward Christ instead of allowing the season to pass in a flurry of gifts, parties, and general holiday craziness. One thing I hope to do to prepare my heart is to truly focus on the lyrics of Christmas songs. We've heard and sung these songs so often that it's easy to forget what the lyrics are truly saying. I was listening to "Mary, Did You Know?" this past weekend and was amazed once again that God became a baby, that Mary's baby was God incarnate.

Mary, Did you Know?

by Mark Lowry

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy

Would someday walk on water?

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know

That your baby boy Has come to

make you new?

This child that you've delivered

Will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will calm the storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy

Has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little baby

You've kissed the face of God.

The blind will see

The deaf will hear

The dead will live again

The lame will leap

The dumb will speak

The praises of the Lamb

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will one day rule the nations?

Did you know

That your baby boy

Is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding

Is the Great I Am

Tree Time!

Last year when we put up our tree, Brennan showed absolutely no interest in it. He only wanted to pull books off the bookshelf. This year was a much different story! He was so excited to help decorate and it was a lot of fun to watch his interest and involvement in family Christmas traditions develop. Next up on the list of fun Christmas things...make an Advent calendar, send out Christmas cards, and indulge in the yearly dose of "White Christmas" movie magic!

Brennan helped put up the first ornament on the tree--his "Baby's First Christmas"

The finished product

Leaf Fun

We spent some time playing in the many, many, many leaves that have fallen in our yard. Brennan really got into the fun!

He loved watching Daddy throw the leaves up in the air, but never quite managed to repeat it on his own.

Getting ready to dive right in!

This look captures all the joy that came with playing in the leaves!

The Cure?

For the last several years, I've thought it might be fun to make a gingerbread house. My parents graciously bought and sent one for us to do as a family project this year. Today was the day to put it all together. It was a lot more work then I was expecting! So I think I might be cured from wanting to do this every year!

The boys getting in on the fun

Work in progress

The finished project. Far from professional, but a decent first attempt.

Naomi's Guide to Prepping the Bird

Let's see ... turkey breast for $8 or entire 11 lb. turkey for about half that? Not a tough decision. There was a downside though: Naomi would have to clean and prepare the turkey. This is not something she's had the opportunity to do yet in her life, so a learning experience was in store. And by "learning experience" I mean "photo op". Here is Naomi's guide to prepping the bird. (Move over Rachael Ray).

Step 1: Remove giblets. (Be sure to only use thumb and pointer finger so as not to goop up other digits).
Step 2: Carefully inspect bird cavity for missing neck of bird.
(Discover that bird neck is crammed in other end of bird).
Step 3: Display still-frozen bird neck to camera and make grossed-out faces (not shown).
(Be grateful that bird head was not included).
Step 4: Give bird a bath.
Step 5: Dry bird off with paper towel pat-down.
(Shave, lotion, deodorant and after-shave not necessary).

Step 6: (Not shown). Give bird a lovely spice massage and rub down, then throw it in the oven for three hours.

Step 7: (This is where I come in). Eat bird.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Intensity

Brennan has really begun to show an interest in helping us as we cook or bake. His idea of helping tends to be emptying out the container of utensils and playing with them as we do the work. Today, I gave him some of the leftover dough from the apple pie crust and let him go to it. At first he didn't know what to do with it, but he eventually really got in to playing with the dough. He didn't want to stop playing with it once the pie was in the oven, so off to the kitchen table he went for some intense playtime with the dough!

A New Saturday Tradition?

One thing that I've always loved about Saturday mornings was having unlimited time to read. Since Brennan came along, it's a luxury that doesn't happen very often. But this morning, Brennan crawled up on the couch with several books and had a blast looking through them. Maybe he'll start his own Saturday morning reading tradition!

Joys of a Yard

We've enjoyed getting to spend some time outside before winter sets in. John has been diligently working to rake up all the leaves and pine needles that have littered the yard. Due to an incredibly wet October, the progress has been slow, but we've gotten some play time in around the piles (which Brennan likes to lay in, stand in, and "help" Daddy bag up). Today, he spent some time collecting sticks, pine cones, and leaves to add to the growing piles. After being pretty unsure of himself in the yard at first, he's really warmed up to the idea of having a big place to wander, explore, and play.

The Winning Recipe

A couple of people have asked for the apple pie recipe, so it here goes. It's actually just a recipe I found randomly off the internet!

Mix in a large mixing bowl:
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vinegar

Peel and slice 5 tart apples. Mix them with the spices. Add apples to your pie crust. Place about four chunks of butter on top of the apple filling, then top with your second crust. Cut strips of tinfoil and place them around the edge of the pie. Take the tinfoil off about 10 minutes before the pie is done. Bake at 400 degrees for 50-60 minutes.