Grab Bag Christmas: 2 of 3 Christmas 2009!

I think the pics say it all, but we laughed our heads off this year. 16 years ago my grandmother, Mamanette, brought grab bags filled with JUNK to Christmas for us all. We re-enacted that this Christmas by giving out grab bags. Some of it when straight to the trash, some of it was re-gifted, and some of it was actually useful to someone. Both times we have done grab bags we have laughed ourselves to tears. I highly recommend the concept. The kids even had fun playing with all the junk in the floor.

We also had some toddler X games before dinner---see Noah climbing the rope!

Jeb's favorite toy this year is his remote control truck--thanks Uncle J! See pic.

Cay enjoyed wearing Bobo's hat around the house...great pics of that!

I was surprised by my hubby with a nice digital photo frame. I have already enjoyed it so much.

Jeb loves his new bike and Cay may not can talk well but he is learning to drive like a champ!

Cay enjoyed hanging out with Leah and her cell phone on Christmas Day! The boys had fun with their digital piggy banks! AND miracle of all miracles there was little to NO fighting among the 6 boys this Christmas...what a blessing! We also enjoyed little grinning Meg (see pic) and all her beautiful dresses, tights and boots! The gals got style!

Jonas has enjoyed putting a 2nd story loft over some of his shop for storage. He says that since he only has a small basket allowance in the house for his junk he was left no choice but to build up!

We have played soccer, enjoyed the animals, built play-doh burgers (see pic), eaten a ton of "Hersheys!!" as Cay says, and truly enjoyed home!

Highlands Day

J and I decided at the last minute to hit the mountains. We loaded and loaded (I don't know how folks with tons of kids have room for all the coats, hats, gloves, changes of clothes, etc., to leave for ONE DAY in the winter.)...food, picnic stuff, and more winter clothes! So, we were off early the next morning after I got my cappuccino. We were embarking on some new territory in NC and lots of dirt roads were involved. Jonas worries me on the dirt roads he uses, but we did not get lost after all and there were lots of great campsites that we found for our lunch picnic. We got 2 miles out of the kids and were following the river most of the time...it was gorgeous! No one fell in and no one slipped on any ice bridges and most of all no one fell off any of the sheer cliffs...we were thankful. We took my nephew (a city slicker) and he did great and commented that he "had not had this much fun in years." I laughed. Then, we found lots of icicles for the kids to enjoy at 2 waterfalls. We then found a fun hill for the kids to slide down and throw snowballs. Both boys came home with nice bruised faces since the snow balls here are much like ROCKS! The next great surprise was that all the sidewalks to one of the waterfalls were iced over. This made for great "ice skating" as the boys called it...they skated down the sidewalks clinging to some fencing for a while. What great free entertainment. Jonas and I even did it; It really was fun. I was glad that I brought a Rubbermaid container of junk so that we could use the top to sled. I was thrilled that they were so thrilled over the snow. They both said they wanted to live there. Everyone fell asleep on the way home and J and I thought the whole day turned out much better than we could have ever imagined. I love when expectations are exceeded.

Letting Go...

I'm letting go--I just LOVE that song by Francesca Battistelli...made me think about what I can let go of...

This past month or so I have let go of a few more things in life and never looked back...

I have never made beds and I don't think we ever will--unless folks are coming over for a tour or something?? I have a real peace about that!

I am done worrying about how Jeb changes clothes 4 times a day and never sticks all the clothes back in the drawers...it doesn't REALLY matter. Done with fixing that...

I am DONE with cleaning our glass doors more than quarterly or so...what is the point? They like looking out them at Daddy and dogs and such AND they must touch them and rub their faces in the glass, right? What a freeing feeling...

The other pics are of random moments in life and Meggie in a camo hat ...poor gal...cousin to 4 boys sister to two. I had so much fun keeping her one day last month. She is simply delightful.

Hark! Tis so Sweet!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing!
On the way to school this week Jeb said, “Mama, can I ask you something?” When he says this I know he has been thinking about things a while. He said, “What in the world does it mean when it says Hark the Herald Angels sing?” Great question! I had not thought about that imagery for a long time! The angels were doing what we should all be doing everyday—saying He is here! He is here! He is here!

A Song I'm singing...a prayer I'm praying...trusting more in 2009 and 2010 as well!

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
o Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

The words in bold are really moving on their own BUT to know, though, that this wife wrote these words after losing her husband who was trying to save a drowning child when he drowned himself, totally leaves me speechless. I have been hoping to trust God more in 2009 and I think that will continue to be my 2010 resolution.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

What a promise to know that he will show us what path to take!

The pic of Caleb in his long johns...oh boy he is learning from Big Brother how to "fight the animals" ...he is fighting our bison herd in the pic.

O Come Let Us Adore Him

After I took Jeb to school the other morning, I walked past our Little People Nativity on the Kids' table and this is what I saw--(see pic). I guess he has the right idea about the season. Oh, to be childlike about Christmas again!

You know your kids school is practicing TOO much for the program when your kid's brain randomly fires lines...while pottying, while driving in the car, while playing...then today when I was reading with him before his quiet time...He says,I say...Then, Constance says,...Then, Cameron says...Then, Riley says...Then, B says ...and he recited each person's lines...I asked him if he was part of that song and he says...No, I just know what everybody is supposed to say. Too funny...they have overdone it I think when Jeb could be an understudy for every actor in the play!

Cay loved Santa this year, which surprised me. The Santa at the school where J works was so good looking and so sweet that he almost fell asleep against his velvety jacket! He sat there for a while and gave him high five's and talked with him. Too cute! Jeb would not have ANYTHING to do with Santa his 2 year old year.

I am not doing Christmas cards this year...too many papers to grade and just too much stress. That was one thing I was going to simplify about this year and I did it. So, if you are reading this--Merry Christmas from the Crooks family!

Happy 5th Birthday to Jeb!

Jeb had quite a Bday week! First of all, our Bday trip we had planned had to be postponed since he had a 103 temp (See pic of snugglin with Dad and watching "the funny show" AFV). He had lots of cousin fun (see the full Jeep). He rode his motorcycle quite a bit. AND, he has been letting Cay drive him in the Jeep--too funny. He coaches him the whole time. He had a great trip to eat dinner at McD's in Greenville, played on the playground with friends and family, and went to see the lights/animals at Hollywild. He loves it there. I don't think God could have designed a more Jeb-friendly environment. There are animals of every sort. Then, we also had an extra couple treats. Daddy took his BDay off work and shot an 8pt. buck that morning. Nothing could have excited the birthday boy more. Then, we had Bday party at Jeb's school. Daddy and Cay had a fun time meeting his teacher and friends. He loved them being there. Next, he went with Daddy to the cattle sale to pick out 4 new cows to join our herd. Who knows, these could be the ones that pay for his college education...well, the first year anyway. Then, we also got to go to Chick-Fil-A with Nana Mac and Papa D and Kiki and Jacob. His grandparents also decked out "Cowboy James" (as he calls himself when in his full regalia) with some new John Deere Boots from Nana Mac and Papa D and a real cowboy hat from Nana and Bobo. He thinks he is hot stuff. To top it all off, we decorated our tree and put up our Christmas village. Jeb has had a blast and has been sleeping well to say the least! We gave him a wild animal trivia game since he is quite a gamer (well, board/card gamer that is) and a new pump action rifle (fake fake fake of course) and a monster truck crash up game. He is begging to stay home and just "play in the playroom." I can't believe he is FIVE. He has been bringing us joy, laughter and ACTION for 5 full years! I love every minute of being with him...