First Day of School

He's only 4!! That's what Tyson and I kept telling each other over the summer as we tried to decide what to do about school for Sawyer this year. He is difficult to place because he does not turn 5 until December but his is ready for kindergarten now. We did Preschool at home last year he already knew most of the information so it was just a refresher. Lately he has been begging me to teach him to read. He has all his favorite books memorized and at night he will ask Ty and I to teach him new books. 

I spent a lot of time praying about what to do. I did not feel peace about sending him off to public school. Even sending him to a private or Christian school does not fit our budget right now. Beyond all that I just wasn't ready to send him off. I was home schooled and I never had a set feeling either way about how I would school my own children. Honestly I though I would have another year to figure it all out....After much prayer and talking it through we decided to home school this year. I did a lot of research and decided I needed a full curriculum to follow. I ended up deciding on the Abeka K-5 program. I am really excited about it! My mom laughed when I called her and said "this is legit school!" It's going to be a lot of work but I am excited for Sawyer! He is ready for this and I am thrilled to see all he is going to absorb in this next year!

Quotes from our first day:
Me "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Sawyer "Yoshi"
Me "Well you can't become a cartoon. What job do you want to do?"
Sawyer "I want to be a builder of lots of things!"

Sawyer after school "Hey mom, I can learn anything!"

Christmas Day Advent

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 Our Family Pic 2012

I didn't take that many pictures on Christmas Day but we had a wonderful time hanging out and being with family. I love my family!

Luke 2:21-35

His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),[b] 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”[c]

Simeon Sees God’s Salvation

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;

30 

For my eyes have seen Your salvation

31 

Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32 

A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And Joseph and His mother[d] marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

ADVENT DAY TWENTY FOUR Christmas Eve

Advent Day 24: Reading the Real Christmas Story with Grammy.

Opening one gift on Christmas Eve.

 The boys gift was matching jammies. 

 Grammy also decided she wanted to let them open a "fun" gift

 HESS Helicopter! All 3 boys loved them

After the kids went to bed I was able to do my favorite part. Finish wrapping and setting out the gifts and of course the stockings!!

Matthew 2:1-2

New King James Version (NKJV)

Wise Men from the East

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

ADVENT DAY TWENTY THREE

Advent Day 23: Annual visit to see santa

Each year we go with everyone who is around to visit Santa in MacArthur mall. It's become one of my favorite traditions. We've had kelly's nieces my cousin and this year Kel's nanna. It's fun to all squeeze in! 

I havent' really made a big deal about Santa to Sawyer. The last year we went he was actually scared of him. This year I told him to be brave and tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas. He was so incredibly cute I couldn't believe he actually sat on Santa's lap. After Santa we went and let the kids play in the playground. Sawyer came running over to me and exclaimed in a panic "Oh no mom I forgot to tell Santa what I wanted for Christmas!!"I told him I had it covered and I let Santa know for him. He looked at me grinned and said "pheww that was close. Good thinking mom!" haha

 twins waiting in line to see Santa

 Love my family!

 Ari and his Great Nanna

 All the boys love playing in the fake snow

Luke 2:1-20

New King James Version (NKJV)

Christ Born of Mary

2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,[a] who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”[c]

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

ADVENT DAY TWENTY TWO PERCY'S BIRthDAY PARTY

Advent Day 22: Celebrating Percy's 3rd birthday

Percy's birthday is not until January but with us being home for the holiday Kelly decided to celebrate early. I was in charge of the food and cupcakes. I am really happy with how the cupcakes turned out. The mini pizzas were super cute but once the cooked all the ingredients melted and you could not tell it had once been an angry bird.  Not gonna lie I was a little ticket off that I spent an hour making those mini pizza's look like red birds and no one even got to see it! At least I took a before picture!haha

 The cupcake display turned out exactly how I envisioned it. :-) And Percy LOVED it. We actually had to take it down and hide the cupcakes because Percy would play with his friends at the party. He just wanted to sit and look at the Angry Birds. haha I was a very happy aunt!

 The party hats were cute because Percy was set on it. He said the day before the party. We need party hats! He was really into it!

 Get the PIGGIES!!

 Decorating Angry Bird bean bags!

The party was a huge success! Percy had a blast and I was thrilled I got to be there to celebrate the little man who made me an aunt! :-)

Matthew 1:18-25

New King James Version (NKJV)

Christ Born of Mary

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.[a] And he called His name Jesus.