Archive for December 2009

Most bedtime routines are a bit harried...quick and to the point...take a shower, put on jammies, devotions and to bed we go! All this at a rushing pace so Mommy will then have her "down time" of peace and quiet. But last night, I enjoyed every aspect of readying the kids for bed. Listening to their stories of the day, answering a bazillion mind boggling questions (where does the water go when it goes down the toilet? do you have to take lessons to learn to drive?) and tucking them in for the night.

As I was about to leave Amy's room...I heard her little voice asking me to come snuggle with her. In her words, "Daddy's not here so I don't want you to get lonely - you can snuggle with me, Mom!"

So, she scooted over and I joined her - all the while intending to stay for just a few minutes! Very sweetly, she nestled in real close, put her hands on my cheeks and leaned into my face. I was expecting, "I love you, Mom" or at the least "You're the best, Mom" But this is what I got...

"Mom, your breath stinks...did you brush your teeth tonight?"

And there you have it folks! Celia Jimenez spends quality time with her daughter...only to find bad breath interfering! Ha ha! The moment was sweet while it lasted! Thanks Ames...for keeping me humble! :-)

For Christmas this year we decided to make Jesus a birthday cake. Yes...great in theory very difficult to execute. The cake itself was a breeze...but the questions it brought up were a little tricky.

Amy: So today is Jesus' REAL birthday?

Tyler: How old is He?

Amy: I thought He was eeeeternal? (my little theologian)

Tyler: Does He celebrate His birthday?

And of course, Grampie had to chime into the discussion and add

Grampie: How many candles are you going to put on the cake?

Thanks for that one! :-)

So after much deep discussion (Jason never dismisses these questions but always returns them with long theological talks! which I'm sure the children retain all of!) we made our cake.

But - remember, this cake was for Jesus! Nothing but the best for Him!! Jason spent an HOUR decorating this cake (NOT an exaggeration!) He became a professional cake decorator!

*Disclaimer from Jason: I did not have the proper tools - had to work with what I was given*

The cake was so beautiful I didn't even want to eat it - but...I did...eventually!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Thank you for coming down to this world and rescuing us from our filth and redeeming us with Your blood! We celebrate YOU! We love YOU!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

Holy Night...

All is calm...

All is BRIGHT...

What does this...

plus this...

plus this...

plus this...

Total?

One HUGE New Years resolution to spend all my time on this...

Seriously...you are missing out because you did not see this sweatshirt in real life! Picture if you will, the mantle on this sweater is actually protruding from Grant's chest and the stockings are dangling from the mantle! Priceless!!! He really took this contest seriously!!! :-)Surprisingly, Grant only came in second place!

We had over one hundred high school students show up for the Christmas party...but I would say only about two dozen of them actually sported ugly sweaters!!! Oh well!

But the ugly sweater contest paled in comparison to the talent show. Our students definitely brought their best to show off! We had several dancers, a country western singer, two grass-roots bands, a rare performance with an ocarina...(yes, that is spelled correctly!) and of course...we had the Jonas brothers!!! I laughed so hard I had tears coming down - these students took their performances very seriously - and rightly so, they had big shoes to fill from last year's talent show! But I can honestly say that I think they superseded our expectations! We have some amazing students in our youth group and it was so good to see them truly take pride in their youth group and just kick back and have a great time with each other!!

The "Jonas Bros"

Its no wonder they are so crazy...look at their youth pastor!!!

Okay...so most of the time I'm lamenting my serious lack of wardrobe selection! Living in the high society south...I definitely feel at a loss sometimes when it comes to fashion. But tonight will be stress free - at least when it comes to syle! The high school kids are having their Christmas party tonight and hosting their first ever Ugly Sweater contest!!!!

Jason and I scoured Charlotte for just the right sweater. Jason's attempts landed him with two very NICE sweaters that are now a part of his everyday attire. My attempts were more fruitful in the "ugly" department. As soon as I walked into the store my eyes gravitated towards the most hideous creation ever. Now, it was hung in the men's department...so I assumed it was a man's sweater. I picked it out for Jason and was off to find one that I could wear. I managed to find one more that would pass the test.

But of course, Jason is competitive...and even in the ugly sweater field...his has to be the ugliest! So I spent some time a few nights ago embellishing his sweater with a few Christmas decorations and some jingle bells to top it off. As I'm sewing I realize...it was a woman's sweater all along! Oh well...he didn't care...just rip out the shoulder pads and off we go!

Jason sporting his "ugly" look...

My "ugly" sweater...

I am a judge for tonight's contest...so hopefully I'll have plenty more pics of ugly sweaters to post tomorrow!!!

This will be our fourth Christmas in Charlotte. Prior to that we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day scurrying around back and forth between all of our different family members. (Jason has enough family to keep us busy for the whole MONTH of December :-) With not having family here, we have tried hard to make traditions that we can celebrate each year with just us! Thankfully, I didn't have to get too creative...I just stole them from my childhood!!! (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

Advent Calendar

My mom made this calendar for us when we were kids. Each day has a different object that relates to Jesus' ministry somehow. Then we read the passage of Scripture that it correlates to. This year my mom gathered all the supplies needed to stock the calendar and printed out all the little cards that go in each pocket! (If left up to me...I probably would NOT have been organized enough to have it ready by December 1st). The kids love going to to the calendar each night to see what they might pull out!!

Advent Wreath

Technically, this is not a wreath...but I did place the candles in somewhat of a circle. For each week in December there is a candle lit...the candles are Hope, Promise, Light, Love and the final candle lit on Christmas Day - Christ. We have the same book my parents used when I was a kid. As Jason is reading the devotional...I can almost imagine my dad reading and all of us kids sitting around watching the candles burn!

Advent Candle

This is our newest tradition! Our sweet friends, the Vails, lovingly passed on their advent candle to us this year. The candle is marked for the 25 days of Christmas. Each night we light the candle and watch as it gets closer and closer to Christmas day!

We are definitely counting down the days until Christmas...and in so doing...we are celebrating who Christ was and is today!!! Merry merry CHRISTmas!!

Just for fun...

Mommy and Ty-Ty

Mommy and Precious

Mommy and Chub-a-luv

Yummy gingerbread houses...

Dear Mom,

I started my baking yesterday...my Christmas baking...but you weren't here!!! I made pepper-nuts and of course I thought of you! I wish you were right here beside me making me laugh, telling me stories, helping me clean, or just cheering me on! And then afterwards...I'd want to go to Pizza Hut!!!

I want you to be here...