Awana Cubbie

Nolan loves going to Awana each week! We love being a part of it too... He learns a verse each week and gets a sticker in his book for saying it from memory. Every 2-3 weeks, he earns a patch for his vest and he just loves wearing it! I'm the secretary and have loved getting to know the little Cubbies.... after they say their verse to their "Listener", the listener signs their book and they come out to me to show me and I give them a sticker as well as keep track of their records. They then give me a high five, hug, or knuckles and they get a kick out of being so strong with me! They have so much fun learning about who Jesus is and what He's done for us. They also really love game time and story as well as music time. Mark leads one of the small groups and does the music of course!

Happy Birthday Nolan!

Wow, 5!! We had a very fun Superhero Training birthday party at our house. Nolan was Buzz Lightyear and we had facepainting as well as "training exercises" including an obstacle course Mark put together. Jonna Wilson did a great job with the facepainting! That was the highlight of the party I think. Good times!

Sickness, Snow, Calendars, and Theology

Well, we are all recovering from a typical "who gets sick this time?" trip to NJ. Despite illnesses for all, we did have a good time visiting with family and seeing lots of SNOW! Nolan had a blast playing for hours on end in the snow and even had a special day with Daddy and Pa Dude in the woods making a campfire and roasting venison. Then we came back to snow in Dallas - what?? Weird!

To Mom Storms: today I have started the process of making the photo calendars... the pictures are uploading to Snapfish as I type! It will still take me a *little* bit of time though but it's in the works!

Today Nolan asked me how Jesus died and how did He get Himself up to heaven. Hmmmm..... good questions for a four year old I'd say! Nolan relates so much of his everyday life to Jesus it really warms my heart to know that the Holy Spirit is already working inside his little soul. I pray all the time for the boys' salvation, their future, and their future wives even! Let it be so!

Coming up for air...

Nolan is finally better after what is turning out to be a viral thing causing fevers. Before that Mark had a nasty Strep infection (sandwiched in there was the Christmas concert!).... Before that was what turned out to be pneumonia for Caleb! He was not that sick so that was a real surprise but I'm so thankful that his doctor had the instinct to have him go for a chest x-ray on a Friday afternoon.

All I can say is wow. Praise the Lord for 1. Good medical care 2. Insurance (as thin as it may seem) 3. My mom who stayed with us last week and REALLY helped out during Mark working like a mad dog while sick as a dog and I was crazy enough to sing in the concert too! (It was fun though and a great, great music set as well). 4. Mark who is a hard worker and loves me even though I can get a little (don't laugh) stressed out.

Today was a day I could have really gotten things done but as usual I get stuck doing something silly like trying like mad to figure out the label thing in Word. I know, Emy, get with the 20th century... wait! It's the 21st century! That's my problem. I'm a century behind. Why was that so hard anyway? I can cut and paste with the rest of them (maybe not the best of them). Why were there a few cells not printing? Don't I sound official? I can't stand it when I can't figure something out. Well, tons of time later.... wa la. Not figured out per se (what does per se mean anyway?) but shifted around and deleted the virused cells and replaced with new ones that worked. I felt like a scientist in the most mommified way, mind you. With the baby schmutz on my jeans as my lab coat.

WHAT????? NINE DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS???? It's a good thing we don't do too many gifts around here.

Fevers, Milkshakes, and Theology

Day 2 of fevers for Sir Littles (Caleb... I know it's an oxymoron with him). He's acting sort of ok playing at times, eating of course, sleeping so-so, but coughing a fair amount with congestion and he's whiney. I'd be too with fevers like that and not feeling well. Poor little man. If he has a fever in the morning, I've been instructed to call back to Dr. Day.

I'm tired and in need of a bubble bath. Coming up!

Mark is in the full swing getting ready for the Christmas concert in addition to the Sunday morning worship sets.

Nolan had a great day at school. I let him have a milkshake afterward really because I've been holding off on the Peppermint Chocolate Chip from Chic-Fil-A long enough now and well I just NEEDED one. And it was go oo ood. Tonight when tucking Nolan into bed he asked me if Jesus sins (NO) and how was He made. I've been waiting for that one but have forgotten to look up the best way to answer it. I just told him He was the beginning (as in Alpha and Omega), so anyway, yeah. If anyone has any ideas let me know!

I'm an ornament man....

..... said Nolan as he was doing so well helping Daddy decorate the Christmas tree tonight! He's so wonderful. When I was telling him tonight how much I love him, he said, "and Daddy and Jesus. He loves us all even when we sin. And we have to ask Him to forgive us when we sin." Amen Nolan!

We started our Advent Wreath tradition last night. This first week of advent is hope. Last night with some scripture reading we also talked about our hope in Christ, our hopes for this week, this season, and the long-term. That was a fun exercise for us. Tonight we talked about blessings that each of us have. Nolan is most interested in the flame on the candle but we've had some good discussions! Wanting to keep Christ in Christmas more than anything else.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving here at the house with my parents and my aunt Linda from San Antonio. The food was delicious - thank you mom! Then the next day I launched into the Craziest Weekend Ever. I did the last minute shopping for my big inaugural Once a Month Cooking extravaganza. I did some of the prep of the foods (mistake number one - starting too late and not finishing that day).

On Saturday, the day I like to refer to as the Almost Last Day of Cooking Ever for me.... hmmmm..... slow going, time rapidly going by, and 12 hours in my back hurting pretty bad. I got 9 of the 15 recipes done (each with double packages). I used to like to cook until this day. Felt defeated.

Sunday was a new day and cleaned the kitchen before church. Great lunch out with the fam, quick cat nap back at home then finished the last 6 recipes (doubly packaged = 12 more meals) by 9:45. All my muscles ached including weird ones like my wrists. Why do we use our wrists so much when we cook? Anyhoo.... all said and done the freezer is full of homemade meals ready to heat and eat! Do I still like to cook again? I think so. Will I do this nonsense again? Most likely. With some adjustments to the schedule (like starting three days in advance, not one).

Dinner tonight was a snap. Heated up Chicken and Broccoli Rolls paired with fruit and a salad - yum! Yeasty rolls with curried yummy filling - much better than any hotpockets out there I'd say. I am crazy to do this... and I may remain crazy for a while.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Well, we celebrated on Saturday with my mom and dad and my Aunt Linda. We went to Babes Chicken Dinner House and it was DELICIOUS! Caleb ate and ate and ate and ate and ate.... we then came home for cupcakes and presents. We had the traditional Storms' cake of yellow with chocolate frosting. Mmmmm but I couldn't eat even one after Babes! Today was just a do a ton of laundry, bake pumpkin cheesecake, color turkey Thanksgiving placemats kind of day getting ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow! Caleb tried to take a couple of steps.... so close (I'm not readyyyyyy!!!!!)