Nacho Cheese!

Ross got a great gift from his parents this year for Christmas - a BIG can of nacho cheese sauce! 

Every time we shop at Sam's Club, Ross always jokes about buying this big can of nacho cheese sauce. Last year for Christmas he actaully bought it and gave it to us as a family gift! I laughed so hard at this gift! But, the funnier thing might be that we actually finished it up in less than six months! I got him another can for his birthday so we could enjoy it some more. Unfortunately, we had to throw more than half of that can out due to our refrigerator being without power for a few days. I never replaced it because we couldn't find it anymore at Sam's.

Well, Ross' parents came through for us this Christmas and remembered the can we got last year and decided it was probably time for us to have another can for the new year ahead! 

It Smells Like Saturday!

On Christmas Eve morning Ross and I were both busy doing some last minute things to make sure everything was ready for later that day and evening. I was preparing food in the kitchen and he was graciously cleaning the girls' bathroom upstairs and the half bathroom downstairs. 

The girls had been playing in the living room and all of a sudden Molly walks in the kitchen and says "it smells like a Saturday in here." 

That was so funny to me! It was only a Friday, but it did smell like a Saturday because Saturday is the main day when I do all the cleaning and she was smelling the bathroom cleaner we use. It gave me a good chuckle! It also made me wonder what other things she has picked up on like that that are "norms" in our house for certain days. 

Christmas Mantle

Here's a picture of how I decorated my mantle this year. I just loved it and think it's the nicest I've had. The white shiplap going up the wall behind the mantle is new this year and I didn't know what that would look like with my decor. I think the shiplap made the decorations look even better and I was so happy with it! It's kind of plain and simple, yet so pretty! 

In Due Time

This past spring Ross applied to a job at City Utilities. He ended up getting the job and is very happy there now, but I remember something very well from that waiting time period when we didn't know if he would get a job offer or not. 

He interviewed for the job in late March, just when the trees were starting to sprout new life. One day while driving we were talking about the possibility of a new job and I remember feeling very anxious about it. I so badly wanted him to get this job and couldn't stand the waiting game. He, on the other time, seemed very calm and patient about it, as if he knew it would all work out okay. During that conversation I looked out the window and noticed the trees. They were just beginning to change and I was thinking how nice it would be if they would hurry and turn green to do away with the dull, blah, winter look they we wearing. The thought "in due time" crossed my mind. In due time the leaves would fully sprout and the trees would be in full bloom, looking nice and green for the spring and summer. I compared this to my conversation with Ross about his job...in due time he would hear back about his interview and be offered, or not be offered, a job. All in due time.  

It might not seem, big, but it was a subtle reminder to me from God to just be patient, that in due time, in the right time, things would happen and fall into place as they should. And you know, they did! The trees turned green and looked great. Ross was offered and accepted the job he applied for and he is loving it. So in due time things will happen as they should! 

We'll See.........

We'll see........I have noticed I say this phrase A LOT to the girls and kind of annoy myself when I do say it. I don't remember how I started noticing that I say these two little words, but I did and I wonder if the girls have picked up on this. 

I've realized, too, that I say it when I want to say no, but don't want to make them mad or sad or whatever at the time. I've heard a few others talk about this phrase and seen a few memes about it. Most of them say something along the lines of knowing that "we'll see" really means a big, fat no! 

I am so aware when I say this now and am trying really hard to not say it, but instead give a definite yes or no answer. But it is just so easy to say "we'll see!"  

Silver Dollar City At Christmas!

We went to Silver Dollar City a few weeks ago with Ross' parents and it was a great time! We took the girls out of school early on a Wednesday afternoon thinking this would be a great time to go to avoid crowds. We were right because it was perfect! The weather was great and there were no lines for the rides! It was fantastic! We like going to SDC, but are definitely not fans of going when it's so busy like it has been the last few Christmas seasons. 

We had fun riding rides, eating walking tacos, watching the tree lighting, watching the parade, and looking at all the pretty lights. It was a great day! 

Family Volunteering

We did a family volunteer project a few weeks ago. I signed us up to deliver holiday meals through the Victory Mission. The Victory Mission is a local charity that provides services to those in need. I used to deliver these food baskets myself about 20 years ago and have always thought about doing it as a family. 

I decided this year would be a good time to do it, so called in November and signed us up for a Saturday morning in December to deliver the meals. The girls weren't super thrilled about it, especially since we had to get up and get going on a Saturday morning when we usually just lounge around the house. 

We were given 5 meals to deliver, with each meal consisting of a turkey and a bag of groceries to help provide a traditional holiday meal. It took us about 45 minutes to deliver everything and thankfully someone was home at each house that we went to. 

We explained to the girls several times why we were doing this and that not everyone lives the way we do. They said yes, they understood.....I know I can't expect them to think about this and understand it in the way Ross and I as adults do, but I do hope we sewed some seeds that will get them thinking more about others over the next year! 

We finished the morning off with donuts from one of their favorite places, so that was a hit with them! 

13 Years!

On December 8, Ross and I celebrated 13 years of dating! We spent that afternoon with the girls and Ross' parents at Silver Dollar City. Since we had "babysitters" with us, we were able to ride a few rollercoasters which we haven't done in quite a few years. It was a fun time together!

It was also fun to think back to that Monday night 13 years ago, sitting in the office at my house having "the talk" that would change our lives forever! 

Living Her Best Life

I found Molly like this last week one day after gymnastics. I had to take a picture when I saw her all set up in the living room. She has all she needs...a comfy chair, her iPad, and a snack. Living her best life!

Sweetie Pie And Star Elves!

Our elves, Sweetie Pie and Star, came back on December 1, just like they have the last few years. They are such sweet elves who really like getting into mischief! So far they've gotten out our candy box and eaten lots of Kit-Kats, taken my old iPhone (which Lucy lovingly refers to as her phone) and played games on it, and eaten more food after seeing all the food I had set out overnight ready for the girls' lunches the next day. 

Last Saturday night they parked themselves on my writing desk in the living room. The girls like to play in there when we're home, so I'm sure they decided to go in the living room so they could watch them. Well, someone had to get into the writing desk that day which didn't turn out too well for the elves, as you can see from the picture below! 

I'm excited to see what else they will do this Christmas season! 

Church Christmas Photo Shoot

We started going to a new church earlier this year. We weren't looking to change, but it just worked out as a good fit for us. Ross had been at our old church, Christ Community Church, for maybe 20 years, and I have been going there for 13 - ever since we started dating. 

Our new church, Life.Church is quite a bit different from CCC! It's a satellite campus, one of 39 I believe, and although they don't like to call themselves a "megachurch" one could argue that's what it is! It's very close to our house and has been there for maybe three years. I've always wondered what it's like and one day this summer we decided to try it out. Ross and I both really liked it, as did the girls, so we just decided to give it a try and start going there. We can't say it's our "forever church home" but for now it is a very good fit for us.

I even started volunteering there once a week on Thursday mornings. I help set up the coffee and tea bar area, and make sure all the communication cards are placed on the seats in the sanctuary. (Which, side note...I call it the sanctuary but am very much aware of how I/m dating myself with that, as they refer to it as the auditorium. ;) ) 

They certainly went all out decorating the lobby for Christmas! They have two very pretty photo booth areas set up and I made sure to take advantage of it last Sunday! 

I could do without some of the "image" type tings that come along with a big church like this, but overall I really like it. I love the worship and I love the preaching. We are hoping to get involved with a life group in the new year. I really look forward to that and getting to know more families there. The girls really like the Sunday school and look forward to going each week!