Archives for November 2012

November 30, 2012 By 11 Comments

Christmas Ramblings

Christmas is in full swing at the Kelley house.  Our tree is up.  Our stockings are hung.  Our Christmas books are out.  Advent envelopes are ready.  And I am a mad present buying fool.  Packages have started arriving…I heart the FedEx and UPS dudes. I’m checking things off my list left and right.  It’s good times I tell you…good times.

Harper had ornament day yesterday at school and it was too fun.  They made all sorts of ornaments and started decorating their classroom tree with them.  I love Harper’s teacher.  I could easily bring her home with us and keep her for forever.  Not stalkerish sounding at all.  Harper would like that.  God bless good teachers.

Our tree goes up seriously the day after Thanksgiving.  Josh Kelley is a Christmas tree lover and he is usually itching around Halloween to put it up.  I do my best to keep him at bay until after Thanksgiving.  This year it went up a week before Thanksgiving.

I need another stocking hanger.  I bought ours over several years from Hobby Lobby and now I need just one more, but Hobby Lobby doesn’t have them anymore.  Can anyone help a sister out?  Josh’s poor stocking is just hanging out on our stool below all of our nicely hung stockings.

We do believe in Santa.  We don’t do the “he sees you when you’re sleeping” Santa, but only because I find it a bit creepers.  We leave cookies and milk out and also do the reindeer food in the yard.  The wee Kelleys know that Christmas is about Jesus, not all about Santa.  But I like the wonder and imagination in it…just like their wonder and imagination with Princesses and Star Wars and Superheros.  Why has this become a matter of the heart and up for serious spiritual debate over the years?  Can’t we all just be cool with whatever works for your family…different strokes, for different folks.  One of my nieces told Harper Santa wasn’t real and I just told her the truth, “Well then Santa isn’t real to her.”  When she asks if Santa is real, I simply ask back, “What do you think?”  I want her to be true to herself and not to worry about what other kiddos say and do and think.  So yep, we dig Santa, but we dig the Savior of the world more.

We do three presents per kiddo and then some small treats in their stockings.  This is just our choice because Jesus received three gifts and it works best for our budget with 4 wee Kelleys.  I’ve seen on Pinterest the 4 gifts…1 want, 1 need, 1 wear and 1 read.  I thought that was pretty neat, but I just like giving the fun wants.  Ha.  And some parents go all out with presents and some do none…kudos to you too.  Virtual high 5s all around.

We like our Kindness Advent to further help us keep the main focus on what Christmas is all about.  I also saw this pin on Pinterest about doing Advent with The Jesus Storybook Bible.  It is hands down my most favorite little kid Bible.  I tear up sometimes reading it to them.  You must check it out.  I’m going to do this with the kids this year too.

I’ve always wanted a tree skirt, but those things are pretty darn expensive.  This year Land of Nod has a super cute one that I loved, but again, way too pricey.  What’s a crafty girl to do…make my own.  So 2 yards of natural burlap, some felt snowflakes and fabric pens later and voila…my own tree skirt that cost me just a few bucks.

I love all the Elf On The Shelf ideas I am seeing all over Pinterest.  We don’t have an elf, but I think all the ideas are way funny and cute and I bet my kids would love it.  I’m thinking I may just buy a cheap little creeper elf from Etsy and let him serve as our Elf On The Shelf.  My niece Campbell loves the whole elf thing too.  I have consistently bought her additional old creepy elves to add to her magical collection.  #auntoftheyearaward

And lastly what are your favorite Christmas movies?  Right now our favorites are Elf and Arthur Christmas.  My Uncle Tom got Arthur on Netflix for the kids while we were in Florida.  My Aunt Linda and I cried like babies.  It is such a funny and sweet movie.  I’m going to get it for the kids eventually.  Uncle Tom sent us home with a copy of Elf.  The wee Kelleys belly laugh at several parts.  Mainly the burping part and when he asks the rabid raccoon if he needs a hug….the boys enjoy acting that one out.  It’s quite hilariously funny.

So what are your Christmas traditions?  Any favorites?  I like that Christmas can look so different depending on the family.  Different is good…if we were all the same, the world would be quite boring.

Happy Friday!

Oh and I almost forgot.  Tomorrow is the first day of our Kindness Advent.  I changed things around with our deeds this year a bit, but decided to keep our first kind deed the same as last year…a little tradition within a tradition, if you will.  Have a great weekend.

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November 29, 2012 By 10 Comments

Rad Things

A free baby.  Amon got cleared to venture out into public for the first time since…well, since almost 4 months ago.  In fact he’s only been in 2 store since coming home, so Monday was a big deal.  We hit up Target asap.

Christmas books.  They’re out and they are awesomely festive.

Lovely fabric.

Star Wars pens and slap bracelets.  The perfect Huddy and Sol stocking stuffers.

A Face Timing baby.

Happy mail wrapped in snowflakes.

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This dude.  He’s doing so amazing and is even off his blood thinner shots.  He’s way too good for a jugular blood clot.  Boom.

Our first school lunch with Harper.  Not being home bound is pretty stellar.

My “Boys Only” days.

Bedtime story reading.

And being dead last in the car rider line.  Not the dead last part, but I was happy I made it.  The Joanns line was crazy…like a hot mess of a craft store line.

That wraps it up.  Now I have to get a mess of little boys ready for the day and head off to help with Harper’s Ornament Day at school.  I think it’s going to be a pretty rad day.

Happy Thursday!

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November 28, 2012 By 27 Comments

Kindness Advent

I’ve always had the best of intentions to do advent and until last year it never happened…at all.  But last year was different.  And it was good.  After seeing this pin on Pinterest about Random Acts of Kindness, I knew this would be a new Kelley tradition and we would do it fully and we would do it well.  It made my heart happy and I felt like it set the focus for our family in a season that is full to the brim of hustle and bustle.  So began our kindness advent.  We made a list and set out to do one act of kindness everyday in December leading up to Christmas.

Here’s how we did ours from last year…pulled from THIS POST)…ignore the not-so-great-pictures, I was working with a broken camera:)

**I don’t have a lot of room in our house, so I needed an advent that would not take up much space.  I decided on envelopes and today Harper and I made our official advent envelopes.  Here were our supplies:

Glue sticks, small clips, small paper bags (Hobby Lobby), number stickers, plain paper and patterned paper.

First we covered the front of bags with some patterned paper.

Then we cut out some small circles and added number stickers and then glued the circles to the front of the bags.  Josh and I had brainstormed earlier this week, so I re-wrote our ideas on individual pieces of paper.  I had to modify the original ideas because of the 3 small Kelleys.  Let’s face it…we would be a disaster trying to load someones groceries into their car…they may even pay us to leave them alone 🙂

Harper stuffed the envelopes.

Then I hung up our ribbon and attached the envelopes with the small clips.  Easy cheesy.

So that was last year.  This year I wanted to do a little something different because I want to leave up our thankful leaves until Christmas cards start rolling in.

So I bought these cheap little wire hanger things on Pick Your Plum and just clipped all my envelopes to them instead.  Super easy.

Sidenote:  If you do Pick Your Plum deals, go in with a friend and save on shipping.  Courtney and I are notorious Pick Your Plum groupies and it saves us money.  Insert fist bump here.

Here’s a list of lots of different options for your own Kindness Advent.

*Cupcakes to bank  *Leave encouraging notes or gift cards on cars  *Volunteer your time

*Buy someone’s breakfast/lunch/dinner  *Send flowers or giveaway flowers

*Doughnuts to school  *Take balloons and/or treats to hospital

*Pump someone’s gas  *Go caroling  *Carepacks for homeless  *Feed parking meters

*Leave a big tip  *Anonymous chalk art or door hangers  *Food gift cards for homeless

*Give gift card to shopper or leave in shopping carts  *Gift cards for single parent

*Birthday/Christmas bag drop *Make & leave bookmarks at library or bookstore

*Hide $1 bills at Dollar Tree  *Over pay for Contributor newspaper

*Sticky notes on public bathroom mirror  *Treat for Salvation Army bell ringer

*Donations to Crisis Pregnancy Center  *Tip drive-thru worker

*Muffins to pediatricians office  *Hold the door for shoppers  *Decorate someone’s porch or mailbox

*Leave change at laundromat  *Return shopping carts from parking lot

*Tape change to vending machine or bubble gum machines

*Pay strangers over due fees at library  *Gift wrap presents for free

*Treats for library workers  *Help a family for Christmas  *Do free yard work for someone

*Bag of groceries with recipes to a family  *Pass out candy canes  *Paint rocks and leave for others to find

*Popcorn, candy & movie rental bucket to a family *Babysit for couple/single parent

*Handmade cards to nursing home  *Pay for someone’s Santa picture

*Giveaway balloons/stickers/books to kids shopping w/parents

*Treat for mailman, post office workers, trash collector and/or police & fire station

*School supply donations to a classroom  *Bring up neighbors trash can

*Gift or flowers for custodian at school  *Give genuine compliments

*Card for loved one  *Pay for car behind you in drive thru line

*Mail handwritten letters of encouragement  *Pick up trash

*Coffee for people waiting for bus or outdoor workers  *Donate blood

*Treat for bus driver  *Donate non perishables to food pantry

*Gift card for all night gas station/store worker  *Share Sonic happy hour

*Leave surprises at playground (Coins, small toys, filled Easter eggs)  *Read to a classroom

Like last year, I will be documenting each day of our acts of kindness.  I cannot wait.  The kids are getting excited.  This year took a little more planning since Harper is in school and I wanted her to still be able to participate, but I think we took care of everything and planned well.  I hope you will join us.  It’s going to be fun.  Tis’ the season for kindness…you know you want to do it too.

Happy Wednesday.

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November 27, 2012 By 7 Comments

Orange Picking

Several weeks ago Huddy started asking me about taking him apple picking.  I explained that this wasn’t the time to go apple picking and how we would have to wait until next fall to try and do so.  He has really been into fruits and plants and how they grow lately.  He actually asked for fake pumpkins for Christmas so he could pretend to grow them.  He’s such an interesting little guy.  While we were engrossed in our “picking fruit” conversation I told him about the time when I was a kid and I went orange picking with our family and Aunt Linda and Uncle Tom in Florida.  He was totally enamored by the story.

Just a few days later Aunt Linda called to talk about our up and coming Thanksgiving trip to Florida.  She was telling me about all the things she was planning for us including a trip to a friend’s house who had orange and grapefruit trees so we could pick some.  When I told Huddy his eyes lit up…he was just too excited.  He could not wait to go orange picking.

And it did not disappoint.  It was a bit cool, but everyone had the best time.

And the oranges were delicious.  We all peeled and ate some before we even left.  They were sweet and juicy and just perfect.

The kids loved it.  We loved it.  Josh said the smell in the trees was amazing.  The colors were beautiful.  It brought back truly great memories and I am so blessed to be able to have the same sweet memories with my own kiddos…all 4 of them.

And on a major side note…I posted this picture last night on my PPA Facebook page and on Instagram.  And by this morning I had several comments and emails with questions.  So tomorrow I will brief everyone on our kindness advent.  We did it last year and you can read the post HERE on how it all began.

Hope you have a great day.  Happy Tuesday.

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November 26, 2012 By 9 Comments

Just Beachy

So we’re back home from our little Thanksgiving beach trip and it was just delightful.  I foresee a possible new Kelley Thanksgiving tradition.  The beach was amazing and the wee Kelleys had a grand time.  I took so many pictures with my camera and my phone.  I was kind of Instagramming it up.  If you’re on Instagram come find me: pitterpatterart

I love how sandy Sol is in this pic.

I adored having my new camera for beach pictures too.  It is actually the exact one I broke…Canon Powershot G12…I may never buy another camera…ever.  It’s true love.

I know this picture doesn’t look like much, but it is sooooo Huddy and Sol.  Always together.  No matter what.  Just sitting in the middle of the sand…having a snack…luring in the birds.

We had tons of fun at the beach, but also with Nina and Baba.  It was beyond great to just be with and chat with both of them…to hear their stories and words of advice.  To hear Aunt Linda talk about Mom.  I loved it.  I soaked them up and made sure to ask plenty of questions.  This time I learned that my Uncle Tom used to be a big scuba diver…who knew?!?  Pretty rad if you ask me.

My Aunt Linda and Uncle Tom just spoil us.  We ate yummy food and watched movies and played and ate more yummy food.  We had homemade pumpkin muffins and banana bread almost every morning.  My kids ate an ungodly amount of muffins.  And super good lunches and dinners and desserts…it was divine.  My Aunt Linda is off the hook in the kitchen.

It was beyond wonderful for them to be with our kids too.  The wee Kelleys love their Nina and Baba.  And it was amazing Amon meeting them for the first time.  He got lots of good loven’.

We also got a fun visit from Ashley and Chris.  They were on their way back from Mississippi and stopped off at Aunt Linda and Uncle Tom’s for the night.  Chris got to meet Amon for the first time and we also did a little Black Friday shopping.  Josh and Chris both ended up with Airhog helicopters.

Josh Kelley Fun Fact #11:  Every Black Friday for far too many years now, Josh Kelley gets a new Airhog remote control helicopter.  #bigkid

We L.O.V.E.D getting to see Ashley and Chris.  I loved them seeing the kids…especially Amon.  I loved snapping a picture of them with Amon.  I saw them around this time last year and here’s the picture I snapped:

This years picture was far better…and has even more fantastic hair and cuteness.

I love that little cardboard sign.  It has done its share of traveling for sure and has such sweet memories attached to it.  It’s tucked away in a special box for Amon now.  I think I may do something with it one day, but for now it’s in a special place.  Last summer when we visited Aunt Linda and Uncle Tom we took their picture with his sign too.

It’s quite grand and amazing what a year can hold.  How much life can change in a matter of 12 little months.  These pictures are just priceless to me.  I am so truly, truly, truly thankful he is home.

Thank you so much Aunt Linda and Uncle Tom.  We had the grandest time with you and loved every minute of it.  Thank you for putting up with our crazy crew.  We know we’re not the quietest or the cleanest of guests, but we do love big.  Thanks for loving us back.

Happy Monday.

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November 22, 2012 By 2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving

Last Thanksgiving was our second one waiting for our son.  We had just buried Mom the day before and I was feeling quite hopeless.  We had not seen his face…we had no clue who he was.  Time was just a tricky little thing and sadness and longing were deep and real.

And now…here we are.  Our family together…all 6 of us.  Amon is home and God is healing our hearts in more than one way.  We have much…so very much…to be thankful for.  Truly thankful for a God who restores and redeems and knits families together with such care and love and perfection.  Thankful for a God who loves us like no other.  Truly thankful for my sweet little family…and most definitely that Amon is home.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

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November 21, 2012 By 3 Comments

A Beachy Thanksgiving

You guys are too kind.  Thanks so much for all the sweet comments and emails.  I really and truly completely appreciate them.

So I really wanted this Thanksgiving to be a bit different.  I wanted something new and fun and memorable and I wanted us to be together as a family.  My sweet Aunt Linda & Uncle Tom asked us to join them in Florida and we said “Absolutely.”  They hadn’t met Amon yet, so I knew this was the perfect way to celebrate such an important Thanksgiving for our family.

We hit the road after school yesterday and Josh drove us on through the night.  He’s pretty great to us.

After a long night and a good sleep in this morning, everyone was up and happy and already diving into Nina and Baba’s company.  They are always too sweet to us.  So excited to be here with them.

And then we headed to the beach.  The glorious beach.

Who knew November was the best time to go to the beach.  It’s 70s and sunny.  The weather is amazing and I’m hoping to come home with a tan:)

My beachy wee Kelleys.

I got a bit tickled to catch Sol in this little act.

And now I’m sitting in my Uncle Tom’s dark movie room watching Brave and listening to lots of little wee Kelley laughs.  It’s been quite a good day.  A day of joy.  A day that was much needed.

Happy Wednesday.

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November 20, 2012 By 18 Comments

Stronger, Fiercer, Bolder

I’ve dreaded this day for an entire year now and here it is.  I’ve thought a million times over about how this day would play out and what it would feel like and look like.  She has missed an entire year of our lives.  We’ve experienced a years worth of life changing events without her.  It’s been an entire year since I hugged her neck and kissed her cheek and talked with her and held her hand…since I received that parental and motherly love and support and encouragement.  A full year.  And what a year it has been.  One hell of a year for sure.  A year I never could have predicted or planned.

My life was like a big puzzle.  But I had my picture of what the puzzle was supposed to look like and for the most part I had my puzzle put together pretty well.  Every now and then something or someone would bump the table and knock a piece or two loose, but it wouldn’t take me too long to put those pieces back where they belonged.  Then last November came along.  Life took my familiar puzzle and threw it away.  It brought out a brand new puzzle…one I had never seen and with no picture to guide me.  It dumped the pieces out on a table, mixed them all up and then threw them in the air.  Puzzle pieces landed everywhere and anywhere.

This past year I’ve been trying to find all the pieces and begin putting things back together.  It’s still not complete…I’m still not sure what the finished piece will even look like.  Grief is tricky like that.  I’m still spending time everyday…little by little…working on it and trying my best to fit things back together.  It’s for sure, this current life without Mom looks very different than the life with her.

And now this day is coming to an end.  I sit here in our dark car with the 5 people I love the most in this world.  We’re driving through the night for a special Thanksgiving.  Now that it’s done…this one year mark reached…even though it was a tough, hard, sad, mess of a year…the one thing I can say with sureness is that I am a changed person.  Changed for the good.  I am stronger, fiercer and bolder than ever before.  I did not want this year to be wasted.  I wanted it to count for something and for something big.  I wanted to learn and grow…I was okay with not being the same person anymore.  I wanted God to get the glory and for Mom to be proud.

I feel like I know more than ever that God wants us to LOVE…that is His gospel…to LOVE and love hard.  This year has been about God changing, molding and refining me and I’ve still got a long way to go.  It’s been a year really about Him and seeing Him for who He really is.  A God of mercy and love and faithfulness and comfort and peace and guidance.  A God who cares and entrusts and looks after.

I still miss my Mom like crazy.  And I still cry pretty regularly:)  My heart will never be the same, but I rest in the Almighty’s hands and know without a doubt that He is Lord of all and that one day I will see her again.  I am reminded that one year ago today, Mom heard very precious words, “Sandra Hall, well done my good and faithful servant.”  And that is something which makes my heart truly joyful and hope filled.

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