I saw this on another blog and thought it was the sweetest rendition of the Christmas story I've ever seen:)

5th Annual Christmas Cookie Decorating Party...

Last night we headed to Washington to participate in our annual Christmas cookie decorating party at my cousin Chas's house - it is so cute to see how much the kids grow from year to year...

2007 2008

2010

Max had a really great time with all the kids (he is used to playing by himself)...and the mama's had an awesome time getting caught up and just laughing about silly things:) Thanks Mom, Chas, & Steph! We ended the night with yummy Fat Boy's pizza and took home a tin full of cookies with oodles of sprinkles on them:) Here are some photos of our fun night -

Somehow I missed getting an individual photo of Nick and Katie - sorry guys:(

Of course we had to get the only 2 boys to do some posing in front of the tree - they are pretty sweet if I do say so myself:) Merry Christmas!

Christmas cheer...

Talk about some Christmas cheer - these two boys are full of it:) This is Max and one of his best buddies, Lincoln.

The annual Christmas party at my Grandma's for the Farley side of the family was yesterday - so nice to be with family and catch up with what is going on in everyone's lives. Before we left, Papa was teasing Max about Santa being at the party (every year someone dresses up as Santa and pays a visit to the party) and Max just looked at him like he was crazy. He said "PAPA - it's just Nick dressed up as Santa!" He has it all figured out - and he just looked at Papa like he was the craziest person alive:) I love that little boy - too smart for his own good.

Max with my cousin Jessica, who found out on Friday that she is having a little baby girl - we couldn't be more excited:) She will be a wonderful mama!!

Tonight we are getting our first significant snow - I'm lovin' sitting in our cozy home, looking out the big picture windows at the huge snowflakes and watching our Christmas tree lights reflecting off the glass. All presents are bought and wrapped, sitting under the tree. Merry Christmas, everyone:)!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's only the 4th day of December, but our month has started out so peacefully. I've just been taking time to enjoy the birth month of our King, my new hubby, and my amazing little son.

Today we had our first real snow of the season, so Max thought he needed to go out on the porch and write his name - so sweet!Earlier in the week, Uncle Clay invited us over to make some "Auntie Ann" pretzels from a make-it-at-home kit. Max thinks Uncle Clay hung the moon - and jumps at any chance to hang out with him. He wants to wear what his uncle wears, fix his hair like his uncle, and even wants to be a teacher one day like his Uncle Clay.Tonight we are snuggled up in our favorite chair, admiring our Christmas tree and watching Scooby Doo...it doesn't get any better than this:)

Max's 1st Thanksgiving Program

Max goes to preschool at our church, Odon Christian Church - he absolutely LOVES it and is excited to go each Tuesday and Thursday! Last Sunday he had his first program with his preschool class, and I videotaped a lot of it. Here is my little ham, reciting some Bible verses. I was so incredibly proud of him, he knew all the words to the verses and songs, and all the motions:) He was not nervous at all, and had his famous grin on his face the whole time!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone:)!! We all have so much to be thankful for!

Day of shopping...

Friday after school we headed to Edinburg, In. with Gabe's mom, dad, and little brother to do some Christmas shopping at the outlet malls they have there. When you have two little boys in a hotel - what is the first thing they want to do? SWIM!! So we let them splash around in the pool for awhile, Gabe brought us Arbys for supper, and then it was time to settle down for bed.

Must-do List for a Hotel Stay:

#1: Jump on the beds, and from bed-to-bed!!

#2: Eat chocolate in bed...

#3: Wake up at 5:45 a.m. because you are just soooo excited...

there is no sleeping in for me, EVER:(

The next day we TRIED to go shopping - but the boys had different ideas. They decided to whine, cry, beg, fight, - do I even need to go on? Anyway, I did end up getting some shopping done and I'm now about 1/2 way done with Christmas shopping. The boys wanted to buy these:

but we made an executive decision that the world was just not ready for these two boys and their silly hats!

Best purchase of the day? Cracker Barrel Buttermilk Pancake Mix - which I put to good use tonight for our yummy supper:) Hope everyone has an AMAZING Thanksgiving week!

Max is 5 today!!!!!

Today is Max's 5th birthday - here is a photo I snapped this morning at breakfast:

I'm tellin' ya people, this kid has spunk! I love this little man so very much and can't believe it's been 5 years since I was in the hospital having him. He really makes my life worth living...such a sweet and gentle heart, with a HUGE imagination and so very playful! He loves to tease others (in a funny way) and listens to everything around him (and later repeats everything he hears). He's funny and sassy, with a smile that melts me everytime. Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

This past weekend we had a Lego themed birthday party for Max - which was a huge success! There were so many people packed in my house, lots of yummy food, and happiness all around:) We collected books that Max is going to donate to a local hospital for the children's floor (we will be doing that next Monday). Max also received some gifts and I think everyone had a great time! Here are some pictures from that night:

We feel so very blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who love Max so deeply! I was telling him how blessed he is because all of the people at his party love him so much and he said "I know, Mom, and we even got Cody to come:)" I thought this was so adorable - because Cody is my cousin and a very busy guy with working all the time and having his own band that travels. Max thought it was awesome that Cody even came!

As I was cleaning up on Sunday night, Max took all his money out of the cards and all his presents out of the bags - so I have no idea who got him what. If you were at the party - you probably won't be receiving a thank you card for the gift you brought because I'm totoally lost - but know that we truly appreciate each and every one of you and love you all so much!

Today Max is at preschool at the Odon Christian Church. This morning I told him we could go to the store and pick out a treat to take to school with him. His choices? Capri-Suns and Star Wars fruit snacks. I'm sure all the kids will enjoy that:) Happy 5th Birthday, Maxwell Carter Toy!

Enjoying Fall...

Max has been busy enjoying this Fall weather and hanging out with friends and family! He will turn 5 in a few short weeks, and everyday I'm shocked at how big he is getting! His drawings are looking more like "real" drawings instead of scribbles...and is singing songs that he learns at Pre-school...and uses words like "motivation," "urgent," and "assertive."

As I type this, he is on a golfcart ride with his Papa Delbert. Here is a little insight into what he's been up to:

We are busy planning Max's 5th birthday party! Thank you for covering our family in prayers - we are doing really well and can feel all those prayers:) Love you all!

Actor's Studio Questions

I love these questions (from inside the Actor's Studio on Bravo) and thought it would be fun to answer them on my blog. I got this idea from another blogger and just love it:) I hope you decide to do it too so that we can all learn more about each other:)

What is your favorite word? honey

What is your least favorite word? stupid (I'm constantly telling the kids at school not to say that word because " I really don't like that word!")

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? reading other blogs, and constructing my own posts for my blog...seeing inside other people's lives and how my life is alike or different

What turns you off? stinky smells and people who are rude

What sound or noise do you love? my son's belly laugh - that laugh when you know he is geniunely happy

What sound or noise do you hate? a fork scraping somebody's teeth when they are eating

What is your favorite thing to say when you get mad? "are you serious???"

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? photographer

What profession would you not like to do? nurse...I would die if someone puked on me or I saw blood!

If Heaven exists (I believe that it does), what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "My Child! I've been waiting for you!"

Ok, that was fun - now on to a VERY serious matter...Max is going on his very first fieldtrip tomorrow. On a bus. To an alpacha farm. My little man. I'm in shock! I'll update you on how that goes:)

Here we go again...

not sure if I'll ever learn...

but I continuly make plans for my own life. Trusting in those plans, organizing my life around those plans, getting my hopes up and leaving no room for failure...

and I leave God out of the equation.

My Creator, my Savior...how can I even begin to make my own plans?

Why would I try to make plans for my life when He has a GREATER plan than I could ever (in a million years) come up with on my own.



You would have thought I would have caught on the first couple of times...

...but here I am. Disappointed and heartbroken. Why?

Because MY PLAN is not HIS PLAN. And until those two things line up, I will continue to be disappointed. Pray for me and my family - and for my total and complete surrender to God's plan.