Molly Kate and Haven are destined to be BEST FRIENDS!  They just don’t stand a chance!  People get them mixed up all the time!  MK is a little over 2 months older, but their dark hair and light eyes fool people!  Here are some pictures of the 2 of them from the past few months! 

Here is to a lifetime of memories and, of course, accessories!!! 

Such another wonderful and fun day! 

The kids and I left this morning for Buckhead!  My sweet Mama and G’ma were providing lunch for Dad’s office today for Christmas, so the kids and I went to help!  HaHa – We sure aren’t a lot of fun, but by george we all looked cute!  hehe!

I wish I had a picture.  Us ladies wore matching Mrs. Claus aprons and the kiddos wore some of their matching Christmas clothes!  PRECIOUS!

It was great to see faces, new and old at Dad’s office!  He works with the best folks. 

After we got lunch all cleaned up, we set out for my dearest friend Heidi’s condo that is about a block or 2 from Daddy’s office.  Her and her hubby have been in just a few weeks and have really made it a home! 

Then – we finally went to ride the Pink Pig!  It was a fun thing -that I hope becomes a tradition!  Here are a few pictures –

Charlie and Heidi waiting in line

Browsing through all the Pink Goodies!  Thanks GG for the adorable ornaments for the kiddos!  A perfect keepsake!

Charlie and Heidi rode the first go round and had so much fun that Mama bought us a ticket to ride too!  MK couldn’t ride – so Heidi kept her for round 2!

Our precious crew!  What a great outing!  Even if we did spend 75% of our time wandering (aka LOST) in Lenox Mall!  You can tell we aint use to such NICE places -hehe!

Then we dropped Heidi Girl off at her Condo and started to head home about 5pm!  She lives across the street from the Atlanta Fish Market and well – hunger got the best of us and we finished our great day off with some incredible seafood!

Here is Charlie when we got here checking out the crabs and lobsters.  When we went to order, Mom told Charlie he was having chicken fingers (which is a serious joke if you know my lil man!).  He looked at her and said, “I told you I wanted LOBSTER!” and he was serious!  How will we ever afford to feed this child. His favorite foods are shrimp, tilapia, crab legs, and now LOBSTER!  However, we shared the Red Snapper and it was fabulous.  Charlie said if he couldn’t have lobster, he would have salmon (it is a good thing he can’t tell FISH apart!)

Can you tell MK enjoyed herself at dinner??  Forget toys, when you have precious shoes and toes are even better than that!!!

And – I wish I had pictures of all of us at dinner!   Dad and his coworker (whom we all Love and consider family) Scott joined us and made it the perfect evening!  Scott had the scallops (which are my FAVE, not Charlie’s though) and he shared one with me -  HHHHMMMMM – Heaven!

And in true MK fashion – she had to walk –

Thanks GG for loving on her!

The only downside is I miss my hubby, but he is home painting away!  Can’t wait to have a new bathroom and bedroom.  I’ll share pictures when the projects are all done!

Here are a few snapshots of our home at Christmas!  This year, I didn’t do a lot of decorating, too much living to do!  I usually replace every item with something festive, but I wanted to keep it simple! So – enjoy –

December 14

Scripture:  1 Kings 18: 17-24, 36-39

Reading:  The people of Israel had forgotten to worship God. Instead, they were worshiping a false god named Baal. God sent his prophet Elijah to remind the people about the true God. But the people didn’t want to listen to Elijah. So Elijah offered to show the people God’s power. He prepared a sacrifice, and the prophets of Baal prepared a sacrifice. The prophets of Baal prayed that their god would send fire to burn the sacrifice, but of course the false god did nothing. But when Elijah prayed, God sent fire.

The Israelites had forgotten God, until God showed them a miracle. God still does miracles today, but we need to remember God even if we don’t see miracles. Our God is a great God; we need to praise God at all times.

Talk About:  What are some things you can do to praise God?

Prayer:  We praise you, powerful God, for all that you have done for us.

Written by Christina Van Eyl. Illustrations by Helen Phillips except for the lion which was drawn by Jeff Brown.

 http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?&pid=1628&srcid=1602

Ornaments by our group:

You can tell by the pictures we had a GREAT day and that we are taking at advantage of all the festive events!  This morning I helped with Birthday Party for Jesus at the church!  As soon as it was over the kids and I met up with Chad at Hills & Dale.  They were having their Free Christmas Activities.  There was storytelling, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, sing a longs, and LOTS of photo opportunities! 

We all had a great time!  (I know it is hard to tell from the pictures of Charlie, but he really had a great time! — He is just a pistol about smiling these days!)  Molly Kate and her BFF Haven did awesome with Santa!  So sweet!

December 13

Scripture:  Isaiah 9: 2-7

Reading:  Many, many years before Jesus was born, people called prophets would bring God’s message to the people of Israel. The prophets reminded the people of what God wanted them to do. God wanted them to be good and kind to others. The prophets told the people to worship only the one true God.

The prophets also reminded people that God had promised a savior. The prophets also gave the people hope that no matter how bad things might be here on earth, God had not forgotten them. God was going to send a child who would grow to be the world’s savior.

Talk About:  Have you ever forgotten a promise?

Prayer:  Thank you for making promises to us.

Written by Christina Van Eyl. Illustrations by Helen Phillips except for the lion which was drawn by Jeff Brown.

 http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?&pid=1628&srcid=1602

Ornaments by our group:

I can’t believe Molly Kate is 6 months old today!  Time is flying by!  She is growing and  changing everyday right before our eyes!

Here are some fun facts, Molly Kate:

• Weighs about 14 – 14 1/2 lbs
• Wears size 1-2 Pampers Swaddlers
• Loves HER BROTHER!  It blows my mind!  She just lights up when she sees him!
• Has started taking a Pacifier!  It is just the greatest thing!
• Loves to talk (Can’t imagine where she got that from)
• Has rocked my sleeping!  She is up at least 2 times every night and most nights its more like 5!  Bless her heart!  She just can’t seem to get well enough to sleep thru the night!  Hoping that now that her cough is gone, she’ll do better!  (It is already a good start)
• Still takes great naps in her bed (most days) and is a great cat napper when we are out on the road!
• Loves to watch Praise Baby (we all do!)
• She has loved the Christmas Tree.  It is fabulous that she is not mobile!!!
• Can roll over, but doesn’t do it a lot!  She usually just fusses for me to hold her! (rotten, I know!)
• When laying on her back, always holds her head up off the ground!  Pilates???  I don’t think it will be much longer until she is sitting!  (But I’m not rushing!)
• Still hasn’t tried food yet and turns her nose up at the bottle!  STILL!!
• Loves to be held!  She doesn’t care who holds her, but they must be standing!!!  (have I mentioned she is rotten??)
• Still no teeth, but I bet it won’t be long!
• Still on Prevacid and Zantac!

And the part you have all been waiting on –

I better not blink over these next few months or she’ll be ONE!!!

Sittin’ Pretty with Santa that is!

December 12

Scripture:  2 Samuel 5: 1-5

Reading:  Although David was chosen by God to be king when he was a boy, he didn’t become king until he was thirty years old. David was a good king because God guided him and because David listened to God. David served as king for forty years.

Being a king is an important job. Kings must be wise and strong; they must do what is good for the people of their land. Sometimes they must fight wars, but whenever possible they need to try to keep peace. Kings protect their people like shepherds protect their sheep.

David had been a shepherd, and then he became a king. God trusted him to take care of the people of Israel.

Talk About:  Whom is God trusting you to take care of?

Prayer:  Watch over us and protect us, Holy God.

Written by Christina Van Eyl. Illustrations by Helen Phillips except for the lion which was drawn by Jeff Brown.

 http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?&pid=1628&srcid=1602

Ornaments by our group:

December 11

Scripture:  1 Samuel 16:1-13

Reading:  God has a plan for you. Even when we are young, God sees into our hearts and knows what kind of people we are and what kind of people we will be.

Most of the grown-ups who saw David thought he was just a kid who tended the sheep, but while David was still a child God chose him to be a king. God’s servant Samuel poured oil on David’s head and anointed him as the future king of Israel.

God has a plan for each of us. Not many of us will be rulers, but each of us can serve God in important ways. It’s important to listen for God’s call and to find ways to honor God in our lives.

Talk About:  How can you honor God in your life?

Prayer:  God of wisdom, guide us to serve you.

  Written by Christina Van Eyl. Illustrations by Helen Phillips except for the lion which was drawn by Jeff Brown.

http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?&pid=1628&srcid=1602

Ornaments done by our group: