"Happy Birthday, Jesus!" Party

On Saturday, we had a "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" party to celebrate Christmas. The girls invited a dozen of their friends and they did a craft, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, blew out the candles on His birthday cake, ate the cake and played & played. Every single child we invited came, which I thought was pretty wonderful considering it is such a busy time of year. I also received some excellent ideas from the other moms for next year - like bringing a gift for a needy child or writing down what Jesus means to them and hang it on the Christmas tree. Let me know if you have any good ideas! Because I'm thinking this just might need to become an annual event... :)

Tonight's conversation...

Allie: Mommy, you're so pretty!
Me: Thank you!
Allie: And you're so nice!
Me: Thank you, Allie!
Morgan: Mommy, you're so gorgeous! You're the prettiest woman I know.
Me: Wow - thank you, Morgan!
Allie: I think you're gorgeous, too, Mommy - the gorgeous-est (don't you love that word?!)! And the nicest. You're never going to get mad at us again.
Morgan: Never say never!!

I just had to share that - talk about a conversation bringing a smile to my face!!

A Christmas Invitation

My sister sent me this and I just had to share it...

http://www.frontiernet.net/~jimdandy/specials/xmas.htm

I pray that you all have a very Merry Christmas & a 2008 that is filled to the brim with God's blessings.

Diapers

I think for everyone that has small children, they are anxiously looking forward to the day that they no longer have to change poopy, stinky, messy diapers! And, for me, today was one of those days. Sometimes I think Alexis must poop more than any other child in Texas! However, I have an admission to make: I am actually dreading the day that I no longer have to change diapers! Now that Alexis is two years old, I am very aware of the fact that she will be potty training soon (she's already willingly sat on her potty chair - although she didn't "go"). And when that happens, I officially no longer have a baby - and that makes me sad...

Mary Kay Update

For those interested in Mary Kay:

• My next order date is Wednesday, December 19th. If there's anything you'd like to purchase, please let me know by Wed. morning.
• The free gift with $40 or more purchase is a stylish Lip Clutch that can hold an Age-Fighting Lip Primer, Lip Liner, Lip Gloss & Lipstick. There's even room for your money and credit cards!
• Visit my website for beauty tips & a free virtual makeover! You can also shop on it 24/7. www.marykay.com/jenniferblom

We now have Mineral Powder Foundation!! And it's getting rave reviews! If you're interested, I can send you an email about it - or you can check it out on my website beginning Dec. 15th.

And, finally, our lipsticks are changing a bit! The Mary Kay Creme Lipsticks now have new packaging, are fragrance-free & have a touch of vanilla flavor. Plus, we have 10 new, gorgeous shades! I can also email you more info. on the lipsticks or you can visit my website on the 15th to get the scoop.

1st Corinthians 13 - Christmas Version

This little ditty was in my MOPS newsletter & thought I'd share it with you...

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

Author Unknown

Being a kid again...

One of the most fun things about having children is that we parents get to relive our childhoods a little bit. I swing on the swings, slide down the slides, climb around the huge inflatables at Pump it Up (check out http://www.pumpitupparty.com/AboutUs.htm if you're not sure what I'm talking about) & yesterday, I went to the roller skating rink!! What fun!

Morgan had a birthday party at the roller skating rink & I was planning on picking her up when the party was over and taking advantage of some child-free shopping time. However, Morgan has never roller skated before and as I was watching her struggle, decided I couldn't leave her. So, I ran to Payless Shoe Source to buy some socks, raced back & rented some roller skates. After trying to skate on the rink, we were a little bit frustrated, so I suggested that Morgan try skating on the carpet since it isn't as slippery. Before you know it, she's flying around the carpet and bravely attempting the rink. I was so proud of her! She had such huge strides of improvement!! And, not wanting to smother her, I asked her if she wanted to try it on her own, which she did. So that meant I got to zip around the rink a few times myself (skating to Michael Jackson's "Thriller") - just like the good ol' days. We also got to do the Hokey Pokey, the Chicken Dance & the Limbo (which I opted out of, but Morgan did it!!).

Growing up, my skating buddy was Susie and we skated ALL the time - mostly around the dairies, but we also went to skating rinks fairly often, too. And you know what's interesting? The second I walked into the skating rink yesterday & took a sniff, I was brought back to all of those years ago. I couldn't believe that the skating rink smelled the same as I remembered!! I must have looked pretty funny skating - after all, I am a 34-year-old mother of three - but I have to tell you, I can't wait to take Allie & Alexis!!!

The Nutcracker Ballet

On Thursday night, Morgan & I were invited to attend the Nutcracker Ballet with her best friend & mom. What a special night! It was so fun to get all dressed up! First we went out for dinner, which was delicious, then we went to downtown for the performance. The dancing, costumes, music & scenery were just fantastic!! The ballet began at 7:30 (typical bedtime for Morgan) & by 9:30, the girls had their heads on our laps. So, with no end to the ballet in sight, we moms decided we'd better take our girls home as they had school the next morning. Morgan fell asleep on the way home and I carried her to bed & took off her shoes - she slept in her pretty dress. Overall, a beautiful night...