All Is Bright, book review

I don't know about you, but as the holiday season approaches, I tend to start getting reflective.  About life, tradition, and yes... the reason for the season. I love doing special projects or readings with my kids to remind us all that it's NOT about the hustle and bustle, the gadgets or even the food, Christmastime is a holiday celebrated because of the birth of our Saviour, who came to save us all. It is often difficult, in these days of preparation, to be still, to be quiet, to reflect on what is true.  So anything I find that will help us do just that, I'm willing to try!  Enter All Is Bright: A devotional journey to color your way through Christmas. Yes, a coloring book AND devotional in one!

All is Bright combines the beauty of the season, the story of the birth of Christ and gorgeously detailed coloring pages.  Adult coloring is huge right now, and this book is perfect for those enthusiasts who relieve stress and tension through their fine-tipped markers and want to continue that through out the holiday season.  It contains 31 devotional passages (December 1-31), each laid out beside a beautiful illustration beckoning to be filled in: nativity scenes, candles, welcoming front doors, musical instruments, angels and so much more.  What I really appreciate about this book is that it also contains some coloring pages in the back that are less detailed for younger children.  My kids always want to color with me and sometimes my books are too difficult for them to justice to... but All Is Bright solves that problem!  It also includes some pages of Conversation Starters to take the devotions even further with your family.

This book will make a great gift for the coloring fanatic in your life, or a wonderful way to lead up to Christmas and the New Year with your family as a unit to truly focus on the reason for the season.

All Is Bright is written by Nancy Guthrie, illustrated by Lizzie Preston.  I was provided a complimentary copy of this book for review by Tyndale House Publishers.

Christmas, New Years, Gone Already!

I can hardly believe we are sitting on this side of 2015 already.  I know once we hit Preston's birthday, time just rushes past... and yep, happened again.  We celebrated Preston's birthday, then mine, Christmas and New Years all in a whirlwind!

Michael was off for a week and a half so it was really nice having him home and all to ourselves for that long.  We put together two of the Thomas Kinkade Disney Puzzles, checked out the Whistle Stop Christmas display in Cleburne (and had some yummy BBQ there), watched our own little home town parade of lights, enjoyed time with my parents on Christmas Eve, had a lazy, quite Christmas Day, celebrated New Year's Eve by popping balloons every hour from 6-midnight, watched lots of movies, read books, slept a lot, and who knows what else.  It was wonderful!

My guys decorating the tree.

Ready to start our first puzzle!  Those faces!

Christmas Eve.  Can we open presents yet?

I am so proud of my boys.  This year, instead of asking for big gifts from Santa, they only wanted little things in their stockings and we spent time giving to others instead.  We took yummy treats to our neighbors, and Preston donated his brand new Razor Scotter to a local boy who wasn't getting much of a Christmas.  They were so kind and not at all upset about not getting a big Christmas morning surprise!  Love their little hearts!!!

Happy 9th Birthday, Preston!

NINE YEAR OLD PRESTON!

8 years old!

SEVEN YEARS OLD!

Six Years Old!

Five years old!

Four Years Old!

Three Years Old!

Two years old!

One year old!

One day old!

Halloween 2014

We had a pretty easy-going Halloween this year, as I just was not in the mood for much.  I was being a bit of a humbug, and the boys couldn't decide on what they wanted to be.  We purchased a Bilbo Baggins Hobbit costume last year on clearance for Preston to wear this year, only it was STILL too big for him.  And Callen kept saying he wanted to be "a Wolf again, no.. Mario, no... a wolf," etc.

A few hours before our little town's Trick Or Treat Around the Square began, the boys finally decided.  Preston would be Clark Kent - not Superman, mind you.  And Callen would be Fireman Small (one of our favorite books!).  Easy enough!  We had all the stuff to put Preston's costume together, and Callen wore an old costume from when Preston was 3 years old, haha.  And they ended up looking great!

Clark Kent

Fireman Small

Posers.

In front of the firetruck!

Even Daddy got in on the dressing up while working on the yard!

We spent the rest of the evening watching Garfield, Charlie Brown, etc.  Didn't get a single trick or treater at our door this year, even though we were prepared!

Callen Turned FOUR...

I realize that I skipped a post about Callen's birthday back in March.  Oops!  Sorry, kiddo!

I asked him what kind of party he wanted, and he chose Jake & The Neverland Pirates.  Then I asked him who he wanted to invite to his party, and he said just his family... "like a family reunion."  Since Michael's parents were in town and staying with us, this made for a super easy birthday party! 

Got to open a present when he woke up!

Walked to the Donut Place for birthday donuts!

Jake cake and all his booty!

Arghh, matey!

A couple of scallywags!

Mmm, birthday pizza!

Christmas 2013 Recap

We had a nice Christmas holiday.  Jill and Steve arrived from Michigan a few days before Christmas.  The kids adored having their grandparents in the same house for a while, and promptly wore them out.  Michael was off the whole week, too, so that was great.  The weather was pretty nice for the most part, boys got to go to the park several times with Gpa Steve or Gma Jill.  We ate lots of yummy food.  Regina and Kevin were in town from Tennessee, so we got to meet Teagan.  What a sweetie!

On Christmas Eve, we attended Grace Fellowship and came home to Midlo with my parents for snacks and gifts.  The next morning, Santa had come and brought the boys goodies for their new, cool Superhero themed room.  Later, we exchanged gifts and had lunch with Jill, Steve and Daniel.  Mema was going to come, but she wasn't feeling up to it. 

Here is a smorgasbord of pictures from the holidays...

Yay, Gma and Gpa are here!

Our Jesus Story Book Advent Branch

Preston reading the last chapter of the Advent.

Some inside decor.  Love this built in shelf!

Michael not amused at V-Day stuff out on Dec 23rd.

Christmas Eve, ready for presents!

Oh, there you are, Perry.

Loved having Daddy home for a week!

Visiting with Teagan, Regina & Kevin!!

Christmas shopping was tiresome.

Merry Christmas 2013!

I pray that you and yours have a very merry and blessed Christmas!

While the true story here is that Callen was just being grumpy (about taking a picture with Santa), I like to imagine that he's just a bit miffed to find he had showed up to this gala and someone else was wearing the same outfit as him.  How embarrassing!

Don't be fooled, it's not snow.  It's ICE.  We had a crazy string of several days in a row where the entirety of Dallas-Fort Worth was iced in!

Our new house is a bit on the drafty side.  No worries, though... layers and Daddy snuggles will keep them warm!

Anyway, again... Merry Christmas from my family to yours!!!

Preston Turns EIGHT!

Preston's birthday completely snuck up on me this year.  We managed to pull off a party on the evening before his actual birthday and he had some sweet friends come.  He wanted a Nintendo-themed party, but it ended up being more Mario than anything, and barely at that.

I'm this many now!

My attempt at 1-Up Mushroom Cupcakes

Gma was opening a remote control car.

Kids playing in the boys' room.

Eight hasn't hit me nearly as hard as 7 did last year.  I think I haven't really had much time to think about it because of the move and all.  I dunno, I'm ok with it for now.  Lol. 

Easter 2013 Recap...

We took this past week off of school... our last break before we're done with the school year!  We got to hang out with home school friends at our group's Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic on Wednesday.

Let's do this!

Gathering up the eggs!

This was fun!

We also did some fun Easter crafts:

Oiled-Paper Sun Catchers

Egg Scripture Garland

Working on a Three Trees lapbook

Finished lapbook

On Saturday, we went to the Grand Prairie Farmer's Market Easter Event. The boys jumped, did a decorated egg craft and did a little "hunt."

Jump! Jump!

Creepy Easter Bunny.

And, of course, on Sunday we went to church.  But, not before Easter Baskets!  And afterwards we had dinner with my parents (and watched the first Rangers game of the season - too bad they lost).

Goodies from mom, dad, Grandmas, Grandpas & Uncle Daniel!

Happy faces!

New Easter/Spring clothes - they wanted to kind of match.