you're never too old to learn something new...

Today is my birthday. The big 3 3.

My matchy matchy birthday :) haha!

So how will I celebrate you ask?

Today I am learning to sew. Thanks to my MIL who is taking on the task!

We will see if I have what it takes :)

"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma." ~Eartha Kitt

I pray I have many many many more years of learning before I earn my diploma...

happy days are here to stay...

We are still in the throws of the holiday here in Nashrock. We are onto the second wave

and looking forward to the third over the weekend...

and maybe by next week I will have a moments peace to process all the wonderful blessings

that these christmas days have brought. In the meantime...

...to quote my sister in Law, Jess, "that look is why we do christmas!!!" I totally agree!

Candle Light Service Beauty

Well now that we have done it 2 yrs in a row it is an official family tradition :)

Here is a peek at a picture from last year and here's a link to the blog I posted. Oh I love good memories!

2009

2010

This year's recap of the night is a little different...my how things change in a year!

I wasn't even sure we would be able to attend seeing as how Judah wouldn't take a nap...but

I decided I would go and if I ended up in the lobby then so be it. Good thing I had that attitude

cause guess where we ended up? lol oh well, it was still wonderful. Brandy is here with us so

she was helping me a ton which was great, Lance is off flying again this year.

We started out in the service, Judah really loved the music and the lights. I held him while we sang carols and he kept looking at me, looking at my mouth, looking at the stage with the musicians and you could see him figuring out that I was singing along. Not sure what he thought of it, but it was cute to see his mind working.

When he sees pretty lights he calls them "Wow!" because every time we see them that is what I say, so he thinks that is what they are called. ha! So he kept saying "Wow! Wow! Wow!" through the whole service. It was cute when the music was playing and kind of loud when it was quiet.

They had a kids story that was read (Judah is still a little to young to head to the front of the church with all the other kids...especially since he hadn't taken a nap...) and it had pictures they projected onto the overhead screens...it was the nativity story and there was a picture of baby Jesus they kept showing and Judah would say at the top of his lungs "babeeeeee!!!!!" Which was pretty sweet.

Judah also liked playing with the candles, pulling them out of the paper hand protectors and putting them back in, over and over and over. Who knew so much fun was to be had :) But after about 10 minutes it lost its mesmerizing qualities and he started fussing at me and trying to escape.

So needless to say we ended up in the lobby at that point. And since it was decorated so lovely, I grabbed my camera as well as the kid :)

Part of the service they talked about how as much as we want to change circumstances/people/hard things that happen that are different than we plan/desire we sometimes need to just "let it be" and take from it what you can to learn and grow and be a better person...to see how God will use it in your life. And then the band played the song "let it be" by the Beatles. And a friend of ours painted this painting and it was out in the lobby...so I got a chance to snap a pic of it.

Judah was really liking the candles...

I snuck back in during the candle lighting and "Silent Night" singing. It was lovely as usual and felt like christmas. Judah was hollering to go back and get more candles out of the candle box so we left pretty quick so as to not ruin the moment for the masses. ha!

When we got home we reenacted the candle lighting so I could have my yearly photo.

Also part of the tradition now!

I love this picture because not only does it show our nativity set and sweet baby Jesus, but you can see the christmas tree glowing in the mirrors reflection.

When we got home from church Judah ran into the house and up to the christmas tree and said "Hi Santa!!!" over and over. It was so sweet. He doesn't even know Santa brings gifts yet, but he knows Santa looks happy and fun and he still talks about sitting on Santa's "wap" which is darling.

To me, this holiday is multi faceted and I love every aspect. From Santa to Jesus to Family to

Gifts to Giving. It is all woven together into an amazing celebration of hope and joy.

Holly and Jolly!

From me to you pinky lu!

Let your heart be light!

It's Christmas Eve Day!!!

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred,

and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a

child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Are you going to a candle light service? Will you sing "Silent Night" and hold your loved ones a little tighter? Is there a reverence for christmas and it's magic and all that it means in your heart? Do you remember when you believed in Santa with childlike wonder? Do you whisper the name of Jesus and feel grateful? Do you look at little babies and wonder what Mary thought as she cradled her son in her arms? There is so much about christmas that is rich and deep and wonderful. I hope you get a chance to drink deep and to breathe it in. I pray that you are better because of this day. This wonderful Christmas Eve day.

I'll wash my hair with snow...

This makes me (roll my eyes) laugh, and makes me kind of happy all at the same time...I would enjoy an actual white christmas. Just so long as it doesn't stop Lance from making it home christmas night...

Event: Special Weather Statement
Alert: ...POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR FIRST MEASURABLE SNOWFALL ON CHRISTMAS IN 17 YEARS...

A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES AND INTO
THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TONIGHT BEFORE HEADING INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN
STATES THIS WEEKEND INCLUDING MIDDLE TENNESSEE.
MOISTURE WILL BE DRAWN NORTH AHEAD OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AS
COLDER AIR SINKS SOUTHWARD. A MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND RAIN IS
EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH SNOW CONTINUING INTO SUNDAY. AT THIS
TIME...AN ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH UP TO TWO INCHES OVER
MOST PARTS OF THE MID STATE AND BETWEEN THREE...AND AS MUCH AS
FIVE INCHES IN SOME LOCATIONS ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE
CUMBERLAND PLATEAU...BY LATE SUNDAY. SOME UNCERTAINTY STILL REMAINS
IN THE EVENTUAL TRACK OF THE STORM SYSTEM AND SNOW AMOUNTS.
PEOPLE PLANNING TRAVEL ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS DAY...MAY
WANT TO CONSIDER TRAVELING EARLIER...PERHAPS TONIGHT OR FRIDAY AS
IT APPEARS THE WINTRY PRECIPITATION COULD BEGIN IN MIDDLE
TENNESSEE AS EARLY AS LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON...AS ROAD CONDITIONS
WILL LIKELY DETERIORATE QUICKLY ONCE THE SNOW BEGINS.
THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY NINE CHRISTMASES WITH MEASURABLE AMOUNTS OF SNOW SINCE SNOWFALL RECORD KEEPING BEGAN IN NASHVILLE BACK IN THE WINTER OF 1884 AND 1885. THE LAST TIME MEASURABLE SNOW FELL ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN NASHVILLE WAS IN 1993 WHEN THREE TENTHS OF AN
INCH WAS MEASURED. TRACE AMOUNTS OF SNOW FELL ON CHRISTMAS IN
2002. STATISTICALLY THERE IS ONLY A 7 PERCENT CHANCE OF MEASURABLE
SNOW ON ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS. THE MOST SNOW EVER TO FALL ON
CHRISTMAS IN NASHVILLE IS 2.7 INCHES IN 1969.

Sing it with me now:

Snow
It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow
Snow
I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow

Snow
I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow
Snow
Oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow

Where it's snowing
All winter through
That's where I want to be
Snowball throwing
That's what I'll do
How I'm longing to ski
Through the snow-oh-oh-oh-oh

Those glist'ning houses that seem to be built of snow
Snow
Oh, to see a mountain covered with a quilt of snow

What is Christmas with no snow
No white Christmas with no snow
Snow

I'll soon be there with snow
I'll wash my hair with snow
And with a spade of snow
I'll build a man that's made of snow
I'd love to stay up with you but I recommend a little shuteye
Go to sleep
And dream
Of snow

"just trust me"

Ha! So the other night....funny story.

I was sleeping peacefully, it was about 4 am, when all of a sudden....WOOOSH!!! my covers were torn off of me and I was woken up suddenly. I turn over and ask Lance what is going on and forgot I still had my earplugs in...he answered but I didn't hear...I quickly pulled them out, looked at the clock to see what time it was and asked again "what is going on?!" to which my husband replied "Just trust me!". Well. As much as I wanted to "just trust" him...he has been known to carry on conversations while asleep...haha...so I asked yet one more time "what is going on...are you awake?" lol. Well, turns out he ripped the feather comforter and feathers were coming out of it rather quickly into our room. In order to keep the feathers from taking over and all getting out of the comforter, Lance pulled it off of the bed, thus waking me up.

I was pretty cold the rest of the night. And amused too. Ha! Way to eventful of a night for this tired lady.

What is the most random middle of the night thing that has happened to you? One thing I am learning, with a kid and a husband, there is never a dull moment around here! Not even at 4 am.

Holly Jolly!

Have a holly jolly christmas

And when you walk down the street

Say hello to friends you know

and everyone you meet

We had a friend stop by to say hello last night. Oh Joy!

Judah is a charmer and I think he may have stolen Christy's heart :)

We are blessed to call her a friend, and not just cause she brings us fun presents...

She visited our favorite neighborhood toy/book store, Fairytales, and got Judah some

darling gifts for his Wonder Factory. Of course we ventured up the stairs and spent a little

time there, I wasn't kidding when I said if you want to stop by and play in our

wonder factory you can! Christy can attest to my honesty!

oh, and to say he liked his gifts would be an understatement!

Honey child is obsessed with every item on this puzzle...I think miss Christy did good!

She also got him an adorable book called "Giraffes can't dance", it is so cute!

They were both all smiles. It was cute. Ironically, I met Christy last year

ON christmas when she came over to visit my sister who was living with us at the time.

Two years of Christy Christmas! Lucky Lockhart's!

Christmas Decorating Extravaganza!

It has taken me AGES to get in the mood to decorate for christmas. I kept saying "I'll decorate tonight" or "I'll decorate tomorrow" for like...well...since Thanksgiving...so a long time.

But finally, yesterday morning, I woke up and said "Today is the day!" And before I got out of my jammies, before I even ate breakfast...I pulled out all the lights and decorations and went to town...

Judah loved the tree and decorations, he stood in front of the tree and said "cheeeeeeeeeese!"

until I took his picture. He instinctually knew it was a photo op :) That's my boy!

(notice his bandaid leg...poor kiddo had to get shots this week...)

I was happy that Judah was so gentle with the tree and the ornaments. So I took the opportunity to dress Judah in some adorable christmas jammies and we spent the rest of the day adding ornaments and moving them around on the tree (Judah did the moving them around part...not so much me...ha!)

Santa's lil helper diaper butt...oh mywordIcouldjusteathimupadorable!

Can you tell he was enjoying himself?!

Judah loves to be a helper...I am happy to have his help. It makes things so much more fun!

Look at how seriously he takes tree decorating...I think he is part elf :)

He was doing such a good job taking his little fingers and pulling the loop apart so he could

actually hang the ornaments off the ends of the branches...

I was impressed with his small motor skills. I know, only a mommy would say something like

that "adorable fine motor skillz...my baby!"

He even got around to the back of the tree...intense tree decorating 101.

back to the bin to investigate and find more ornaments to put on the tree!

Next up was our little christmas forest. Judah turned around and did his "cheeeeeeese!"

for me again...and later when he saw this picture of himself he started laughing and said

"cheese!" cause he officially likes his cheese smile. haha. I like it too.

Here he is kissing a snow man :)

Here are all the ornaments he put on the tree...they were all in the same spot of course.

We need to replace the lights in this snowman, it is cute and about the same size as Judah.

I think they will get along just fine! A play mate for Judah!

Later that night we came home from errands to a dark house with beautifully lit christmas trees. Oh we love them! I decorated a second tree while Judah was napping. The one in the background has the 12 days of christmas balls on it. I adore that little tree.

And what's not to love about a fiberglass optic Angel?! hello!

Today we finally got around to decorating our Christmas Forest. It doesn't have lights but it is

filled with all sorts of glittery stars and baubles and some of our favorite airplane ornaments.

Judah's adorable curls from the top :)

Isn't it delightful!

We certainly enjoyed our Christmas Decorating Extravaganza!

It took me a while to get in the spirt of christmas, but I am happy that my house now

looks ready for the holidays! Oh, and it smells good too...festive candles burning endlessly

keep the christmas aromas wafting through the house...oh I love it!

Have you decorated yet? Am I the last one to get the tree up and glowing?

Advent!

So in perusing a ton of lovely blogs, I have seen so many amazing advent ideas. From ladders with tin buckets hanging off of them, to mittens strung across a fireplace, to paper ring chain countdowns, to adorable paper clipped to felt trees with clothes pins...oh the creative ways to do advent are endless...and inspiring...but alas. I have a toddler who wouldn't know the difference and has no care for what an advent assignment would mean...so no cute notes saying "bake cookies" or "write santa a letter" or "visit the elderly" etc...instead...

Trusty Trader Joe's Chocolate windows! Our advent is simple and sweet.

Every day Judah enjoys the ritual of getting his little handful of chocolate. And it is adorable. I finally took some pics of it today...here's the play by play...it takes all of 30 seconds each day so the fact that I got 6 pictures out of the deal is pretty good :)

I'm pretty sure we have skipped a day or two...which works out just fine cause we aren't really celebrating christmas until a couple days after anyhow...so it works out in the end.

Thank you Trader Joe for selling these beauties for .99 cents :)

First Judah opens the door...

Revealing the Chocolate!

He puts his flat hand on the chocolate window and we turn the advent

calendar upside down until it drops out into his sweet little hand!

And then it vanishes...

And then Judah plays with the open doors.

I was kind of surprised that Judah gets the concept of this being only 1 time a day.

I leave it out on the counter in plain site and he doesn't try to get at it once we have

done advent. He calls it "hand" cause of putting his hand on the chocolate window :)

haha. It's adorable.

Some day I will do a more creative and crafty advent, but for now this is working out just fine!

What do you do for advent? Or what do you want to do...

Need a dessert idea?

Try my Mom's Apple Crisp Recipe...it won't disappoint! Head on over to Dishcraft and find the recipe!

for goodness sake...

oh boy. I have no words. haha. only my husband could get Santa to take a crazy-eye

photo..lol...don't worry santa, we'll have extra milk and cookies waiting for you...

you'd better watch out...

The Wonder Factory Additions...

I added a few little details since I first posted my blog about our Wonder Factory...

We found mirror alphabet letters, they trail across the

black board inspiring you to write and read!

We added little black bunnies across the back wall...they are frolicking! how fun!

Judah loves the bunnies :) and his trains...haha

I found these adorable bird mirrors, there are 4 of them in the

back of the shelves peeking out behind books and toys...

We are still spending gobs of time in our little magic room. Judah loves to read

and be read to which is something I am very happy to instill in him from as early as possible.

Let your heart be light!

Christmas lights equal magic. Plain and simple.

So here is a little taste of Nashville's magical lights...

Such a lovely tree. It was all blocked off with caution tape so this is as close as

I could really get. This tree is right down town and we drive by it often. So pretty!

Sometimes I love a blurry picture...it just feels mysterious...

Here is the Parthenon all lit with red and green for christmas. So festive!

Now this house knows how to do a light show!

We saw this tree from the highway and had to explore to find it.

Pure magic!

This house Judah didn't want to leave, he liked watching all of the moving elements...

it really was a creative display!

Bright lights, Big city!

We were right by John Rich's house/compound and it was all decorated but if you

got anywhere near it these obnoxious motion lights came on and ruined the effect...

so no pictures of his place.

I love when city streets are lined with lights in the trees...magical!

This tree is where the fountain is we love to visit in the summer time. And where we did

sparklers on the fourth of July. It's a really great spot to visit in the city no matter

what time of year...I really love the tree and its pretty lights.

crazy squiggly lights...

I just love these glowing light pictures...they make me happy.

And thanks to the lights in my life for enjoying a night out on the town! Judah got to stay up WAY past his bedtime and absolutely loved it. Lance was a trooper, he humors me. Now if I could only get the gumption to decorate my actual house for christmas...