It's Christmas Day

Once again Christmas has come and gone. Over the past few years I have gotten increasingly sick of the materialistic nature of Christmas. Really to the point of dreading the holiday with the kids--it really filtered down to their attitudes. But this year we decided to make life simpler, and Christmas less about the stuff we get and more about spending time together. It went very well.
We made lots of homemade gifts and kept the budget lower. We also gave less to the kids--one gift from us, one from whichever sibling drew their name, and one from Santa, with a stocking of snacks and one simple "gift". The kids were happy, and didn't miss a thing. And we enjoyed it more. They really enjoyed spending time with their families and seeing snow. It has been low stress. I almost think their favorite thing was building a part of the lego advent calendar each day! And now it is over, things are put away, and I am ready to deconstruct the holiday theme and get back to a simple daily life.
Hope you had a great holiday with those you love, sharing with people around you! But remeber, every day is a gift from the Lord, and His Son is just as special every day as He is on Christmas--but most especially on Sundays when we remember His death for our sins. May we live every season of our lives for Him alone. God bless!

It's Hunting Season!!!!

Well, Clay has been off since December 11th and he and the boys have gone hunting several days. I had fun making the boys' safety vests and hats. They went rifle hunting but mostly bow hunting. No deer yet, but they are having a blast with their dad! Here are some pictures as they get ready to leave.....

Nutcracker Revisited and other stuff

This year, Jacob and Emily decided to take Musical Theater class at Timbrel school of dance. It culminated in their class doing the family Christmas scene to open the Nutcracker ballet at the Municipal Auditorium. It was fabulous! Beautiful! We were so proud of them both! Jacob is above in a blue shirt and dark pants swordfighting. They can't wait until classes start in January and Elizabeth plans to join next fall!

In this scene, Emily is front and center in the dress that is black velvet with red taffeta skirt. Her hair was all curled and gorgeous. Can't wait until we get the dvd! Amy Smith is doing them and that means they will be super!

Here is Jacob before the suspenders and bow tie, waiting for dress rehearsal to begin.

Here is Emily in the girls' dressing room waiting for dress rehearsal.

Another shot of Jacob and the other boys doing the sword play--he has red suspenders.

And here is Chloe, Katy and Emily "acting" after they received their gift.

In other news, Emily is loving her sewing machine. I am getting pretty good so I am thinking of trying to sell some handmade items on etsy. We will see how that goes! Time is precious to me and I don't plan to give much of it away, but still, this seems like a fun venture.

This week we have been cooking for Christmas Eve. We made lemon bars, pound cake with berries, ulitmate oatmeal cookies with frosting, and veggie trays. Tomorrow we have brunch with Clay's family at his parents' house, and then go to my brother's house for evening. I am a bit relieved not to have to come home and clean for company! Not that I haven't loved doing that in years past, but a rotation would be nice (and it is nice!).

These kids are growing up on me and I hate it!!!! I protest! Why can't they stay young??? But I have to say that even though I no longer have little bitty ones (and I miss that terribly!) I have loved each stage of their growth, though some days are much harder than others. They are becoming people I am proud to say we raised. And raising wholesome, godly children with a pure heart and mind is NOT easy in this world. It takes so much planning and deliberate choice in our lifestyle. But well worth it. I just hope the mistakes we make with them don't forever leave them messed up in any way. God gets the glory for the way they are turning out!

Giving

I think we should give all year, and not just at "Christmastime". For a Christian, every day should be Christ-mastime. But if the season brings out the giver in people, I can't complain! So even though we give all year, we are keeping it up during the holidays. How? Well, we give what we can-we sing at nursing homes/retirement centers, serve and clean at the meal we (deacon families) host for the Primetimers at church, take our carts to the cart return, share a smile or encouraging word, give to the Women in Need shelter, give to the neighbors who help us out all year, visit people, help people pay for things they don't have the money to cover, share our kids' talents in the Nutcracker this year, share recipes, share fabric, share ideas for gift giving, make homemade gifts, and tons of other stuff. But really we do these things all year.
Anyway, we have had fun sharing in the making of family memories and making gifts by hand. We pray for many and work to build the faith of Christianity in our kids. Hope you have a nice Christmas and focus on the giving and not the getting.

December is here

decorating the tree--a weekend after Thanksgiving tradition!

Kids getting all the decorations out...

Our new advent calendar! Build some lego every day to make a winter lego city! How cool is that!

Homemade Christmas this year--here is the first round of project supplies! FUN!

The first (and maybe only) light snow for the year! The kids thought it was like magic.

Being silly!

The lego set!

The tree--all finished!

New Stuff...

Our new couch! The other one was literally coming apart and sinking! So we decided that for our gift to each other this year we would do things for our home. Unfortunately we went a bit too far! We not only bought a couch, but a recliner, a sewing machine, a new shelf, pillows, bathroom paint, two new storage baskets for the living room, and some cologne and shirts for Clay. Time to start saving again!

Just me.

Camping

We went camping at Cooper Lake the weekend before Thanksgiving and stayed in a limited use cabin. It was fabulous! We had a blast! (I so love this more than tent camping!!)

Fun Fall Days

A couple of weeks ago we visited Grandpa and Grandma's house for the afternoon to learn about horses (part of a unit on horses we did for school). The kids got to lead the horse, clean hooves, saddle up and ride in the pasture. They had a lot of fun learning about horses--even for city kids!! Above is Elizabeth riding.

Here is Emily up close.

And here is Jordan having fun.

And Jacob who sadly wasn't feeling very well that day.

And here is Kimberly--one very excited 3 year old.

Jordan helped hold Jesse while the others brushed him.

Gotta get him all clean.

And in other news here is Emily and Jordan (if you can find him under all the leaves) enjoying the bounty of oak leaves in the front yard.

And I threw this in because as a family joke we call home The Scoggins Cafe. This started years ago when the kids noticed lots of families going to restaurants after Sunday services. We rarely went because let's face it--we just can't afford to spend close to $50 on one meal every week! So when the kids asked where we were eating we would always say, "The Scoggins Cafe--best food in town!" I guess Emily decided we needed a sign. Many times the kids have even created menus based off the menu calendar I hang on the fridge. But we love eating at home and cooking together so we don't figure we are missing out on anything!

Halloween 2009

I am not a big fan of Halloween due to its roots and the creepiness that is displayed...but on the other hand, I like the neat (not scary/creepy) costumes and the candy and the fun family time we have, so this year was really fun. My mom brought over a bunch of pumpkins and the kids spent the morming carving them. Then they cleaned up for the 2 families that were coming over and then got all dressed up as cowgirls, a knight, an angel and Luke Skywalker. Our friends came and we all roamed the neighborhood for about 45 minutes, then we moms took the smallest ones and stayed at the house drinking flavored coffee, and handing out candy to kids. We all visited for a good long while after the fun was over. That is the best part...just hanging out with friends and their kids.

Life Lately

Kimberly taking a nap on daddy's lap.

Elizabeth playing with Jordan.

Jordan and Elizabeth being hams.

Jacob hanging out with the dog.

Jordan running during his gymnastics class.

Elizabeth waiting for instructions at gymnastics class.

Jacob's new pet rat, Popcorn.

Jacob at musical theater class.

Emily at musical theater class.

Family reunion photos from Cooper Lake.....

And punpkin carving on halloween. I will have to post photos of that later. We are waiting for friends to arrive and then we will be going around the neighborhood to collect treats.

It has been a cooler than average autumn and there have been a lot of happenings. I had a personally super-stressful August that ultimately turned out for the best, but was very painful, and in many ways is still a very raw experience. But it has grown me in many ways and been an eye opening blessing to what life should be about and when to shake the dust off and move forward. Then we began school and Friday school and gymnastics and theater class, and life has been full force, but wonderful. We have met some great people and settles into a good routine. Best of all I have seen fruit of spirituality in my children. The Lord has been very good to us. Today we got out the old dvd's of the kids first years and was reminded of the preciousness of each moment and that kind words/actions are never wasted---and to always make time for those you love! Also kinda made me long for a new child in our life if the Lord sees fit to bless us that way. Growth and change are inevitable, but I am so thankful that God is holding my hand through it all! He is growing me in ways I never see coming, Praise Him!

Hope your family is blessed through all life hands you!