December 4,5,6 and 7

Okay, so I haven't been as consistent as I had hoped but it has been a very busy week. We have still been doing our kindness advent so I'll catch you up. On the 4th, I sent three packages to three very special families. Two families I've never even met in person but they held such an important role in getting Little J home. They prayed for us, sent encouraging notes, and were just there for us when we needed them and still are with just one email or text. The other family we spent such a short time with but formed a bond nonetheless. Adoption is cool like that. It brings people together that would have never met otherwise and allows them to become friends quickly due to the fact that you're on the same journey moving toward the same goal. All four of us have brought our kiddos home in the last few months and I know that if they are anything like us, they haven't been out and about much. So I thought a family movie night was in order. We packed up a child's Christmas movie, popcorn and movie candy for a night of family fun and then two made their way to Missouri and one is going to California. :) 

On December 5, we paid for the person behind us at the drive-thru. We had lots of ice that day and I thought we were going to have to cancel this day's act but we were able to make it. December 6th our act was to buy a gift card at the store and give it to the person behind us. We decided it would be nice to put that toward someones tank of gas. So we bought a gift card and Princess danced around trying to stay warm as we waited on the next customer to show up. It ended up being a mom with her daughter and after Princess gave her the card, she insisted on coming over to meet and thank us. Princess was so proud. Today we did have to pull the plug on our kindness act. We were scheduled to open doors for shoppers but since it never even made it above 19 degrees, I decided that we could do a 2 for 1 tomorrow and not give my kids pneumonia. 

Rudy is still making a daily appearance. :)

He helped Daddy shave one morning...

He was naughty one night...

And last night he went for a high flying adventure. 

The kids are still enjoying looking for him every morning and they even have Little J saying, "UUdy!" They are anxious for me and their daddy to quit thinking of hiding spots so they can get their turn at hiding him. I know I've said it before, but we don't do the traditional elf on the shelf. The kids know we are the hiders and whoever finds it first, gets to hide it next. But there's so many new places in this house, I'm just not ready to give up my turns yet. ;)

So that's what we've been up to this week! I'll try and do better at keeping up to date. 

Day 3...Cookies, Ear Infections and Lights

Today's act was to treat the pediatrician and his nurses. They have been so nice and patient with us and all of our questions and concerns about Little J. He was scheduled to get shots today but he has been one kind of grumpy gus so I called and switched his appointment to see the doctor instead of just the nurse. And, we have yet another ear infection. This makes three since he's been home. Poor little guy just can't catch a break. So we baked off some cookies and took them with us. Easy but appreciated. But of course, I didn't get a picture so you'll just have to trust me. 

I did get a picture of Rudy. He must have been hungry last night because we found him snooping around in the kitchen. He fell into our injera bread basket from Ethiopia and got stuck! Crazy elf! ;)

We're still searching for a fun holiday event here to replace some of the fun stuff we did in our home town. We tried one of the most talked about events tonight but it was disappointing and anti-climatic. One good thing is that I got to hang out with a couple from our small group and be with their sweet kids. It also meant that I wasn't left to deal with Princess and Little J all by myself among a sea of people in a place I've never been before. God works out those little details just perfectly for us doesn't He? Now I'm off to bed and crossing my fingers that the antibiotics we started Little J on help him sleep tonight! 

Day Two!

Two days in a row...whoo-hoo!! :) Today our kindness act was to gather canned goods and deliver them to the food bank. Little J and I ran to the store this morning to pick out what we would donate and when we delivered it, the bigs took them up to the receiving dock all by themselves. They thought it was so cool that the man was so appreciative. I love that Little Man decided to sport his Santa hat during delivery. Good times. 

Rudy decided a train ride was in order this morning. Little J has discovered our little friend and likes chewing on his feet.

And we are about done with inside and outside decorations. My rule has always been that if it takes more than one day to put up, there's too much and you need to scale back. However, being that this year finds us in a new house, it's taken some time to find just the right spot for everything and between the weather and injuries, outside decor took a little longer than we hoped. But the good news is that I just need one more quick trip to the store for two red bows and we are DONE! Hubby got my favorite decoration up tonight and I think it looks fantastic! 

I just completed some online shopping and only have my kiddos and parents left to buy for and that is a GOOD feeling. We are scaling back with the gifts this year and putting more of our money toward non-profit charities. Christian Relief Fund being the biggest. :) This will also give me more time to do the things I really like doing with my kids but tend to put on the back burner or not do at all. They have two weeks worth of lesson plans left and I've put them in charge of going however fast they want. If they want to do it all this week and get an extra week off, wonderful. 

More time for fun. :) 

If At First You Don't Succeed....

We're trying again! Last year we wanted to try the random acts of kindness advent and only completed about 14 of the 25 days. We ended up moving back into our house right before Christmas from the fire and didn't finish it. So, this year we're trying again and I've tried to be very purposeful and intentional about planning which days we do what acts so we might be more successful. I've even included extended family members for those days we will be out of town. So they are planned out and hung up on the school room wall for easy remembering. 

Day One...have the kids write thank-you notes to our wonderful children's ministry team at church and add a coffee shop gift card in each one. They work really hard and having just started the church in January, I know it's been a challenge for all of them and they are doing a very good job.

And, let's not forget about Rudy! He's made his way with the move and is ready for some new shenanigans in the new house. He placed himself right where the kids would find him early in the morning...in the fridge. :) Silly elf will do anything to get their attention.

Here's hoping we can fulfill the traditions we started last year AND that I can remember to document it all! :)