Not just a few days off!

As my girls get older and I see the days of their departure and starting their own families approaching in the distance, I am more mindful of how we spend our time together.  When they were all little, I just wanted to make it through the day without having to pull out the carpet cleaner and actually having had a shower that day before dinner!

As they aged into children who could entertain themselves and even clean up after themselves (see above), I relished the time to actually do something other than get in the shower.  Sadly, I developed the bad habit of being side by side doing our own thing.  This year I really want to spend our vacation time doing things with the girls.  Things I normally say, "Well, maybe tomorrow." or "Too messy!" 

I had the inspired idea, that on the last day of school, we would make a list of things we all want to do together.  We actually started talking about it Wednesday so we could be thinking of things.  We didn't list activities such as watch movies or play computer because we already do so much of that.  We have been thinking about things we don't normally do that would be fun and mostly free!  

As Hannah was decorating the list for us, I realized how much this idea means to the girls.  Hannah said, "Mom, this will be so much fun doing things with you every day.  I am really looking forward to it."  This from a girl who spends nearly every day here at the house with me and most of the hours actually in my presence. How could this seem to be so special to her?  Because I am choosing to spend my free time doing things with her, not just beside her!  So even though it seems that it would just be enough to let the kids do their own thing for the next few weeks, they really want to do things with us instead.  

What a blessing!  This is certainly not typical for kids today or at least that is the way the family is portrayed in most movies and sitcoms.  Is it really just that our kids are strange?  Or is it that our kids have been raised to know that God put them in our family for a reason? We believe that God wants families to be happy and to spend time together learning, growing, and having fun, not rolling their eyes and whining about having to be together.  We are also planning to do things that will be a blessing to others during this time off.  Families can serve together too!  

So how does your family spend time off?  Do you have suggestions for activities for us?  I plan to post pictures of the daily activity.  It will be fun to have a record for reminiscing! 
Day 1  Tonight we are off to see the Christmas parade with friends! :)   

Coming up in the near future:  Baking sugar cookies, Mock snowball fight with socks behind our "snow forts", partner scrabble, and making Christmas cards to give out with cookies to the neighbors. 

With All My Heart~

Hannah's 12th Birthday

On the girls' birthdays we try to do everything (within reason) that the person would like to do.  First of all, Hannah wanted to have the day off from school.  No problem since I have a lot of pull with her teacher and principal! LOL 

We started the morning with getting up late and having biscuits and gravy with hot chocolate for breakfast. (missed getting a picture)  Then Hannah requested family worship this morning.  We sang two of her favorite hymns before reading scripture and praying.  Now that is a great way to start a birthday!  As I recall, there was a lot of praying going on the day she was born! :)



Sarah and Hannah will be sharing their birthday party, as usual, and they wanted to make and decorate their own cake.  So Wednesday night they made the cake and this morning they decorated it.



Hannah cracking the eggs.

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Sarah greasing the pan.





Hannah, Sarah, and Mary getting the candy ready.

Icing is on!



Best Friends!  I always tease that they are as close as I will get to having twins.  I am so thankful that all my girls love each other, but these two are definitely close in many ways.   It is hard to see, but they have m&m's around the edges and those are candycane hershey kisses and sprinkles on top.

  



Here is Hannah with the traditional Happy Birthday banner hung across her door.  She also rummaged through the birthday box and found one last balloon. 

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After lunch, we went to Granddad and Grandmom Short's house for the birthday party! 

We have celebrated most of their birthdays with their cousin, Ariana.  She always makes special cards and finds the perfect gift! 

Ariana knew Hannah would love this island-themed calendar!

I have a feeling Sarah will be painting this pretty rose suncatcher tomorrow in her free time!

Two happy birthday girls!

They were so please with many thoughtful gifts and some birthday money as well.  I know Hannah is saving up for her own camera.  Sarah is still exploring her options. :)

The rest of the day was spent playing the Wii and enjoying time spent with family.  The adults of course played Mexican train! ;) Here is a picture of all of us squeezed into the kitchen!  It was actually nice and cozy.  :)

With All My Heart~