August Fields

christmas 2012.

first things first.  this little man is 4 months old already.  he just started picking things up with his hands, he laughs out loud, and has started talking in church.  not crying just talking….  i still have not cut his hair and have to answer to mr. daddy at least twice a week as to when this will happen.  but he knows that i just crave this baby stage and really is good with it.  its more of an ongoing joke/tease.  
here are little A’s past pictures:  1 month,  2 months,  3 months

christmas eve.  we spent the day at my parents house then came home that evening and the kids exchanged their gifts to each other.  the kids did this last year too, but honestly it was a long process as we had to go to different stores, talk through practical choices etc.

so this year i set up some guidelines.  actually just one.  the gift had to come from walgreens.  isn’t that funny??   but it worked!  it wasn’t out of my way, so if i was running errands i would take a couple kiddos with me.  and since there is a walgreens every 5 miles, we just picked one and stayed on course for the rest of the errands.

they used their own money and i guided the decisions.  they have a ball with it.

dancy had little dubs name.  she bought him a little dog that walks with an attached remote.  he. loves. it. he named it ‘doggy’.

i love this picture!  he jumped on his sister and hugged her so hard….we were just all so happy for him.  his happiness is contagious.

the kiddos also open one gift from us.  the traditional gift of pajamas.

they all rushed upstairs and put on their christmas jams.

then, the girls surprised me with a special gift they had made.  a coffee mug cozy (that deanie made all by herself) and an awesome table mat.  they cut and sewed all of this!  my mother in law guided and quilted it.  they also wrote me a special note.

that gets me every time.  i treasure their written notes of admiration, encouragement and love.  blessed.  i am so so so blessed.

christmas morning!!!!  dancy asked me repeatedly the night before, ‘what time are we getting up?’, ‘when can we go downstairs?’ etc. etc.

i really needed to be showered and ready first so we said 8:00am we can go down.  this was at 8:01am.

strained necks all around from smiling so hard!

so to disguise who’s gift was who’s this year i came up with something super fun for the kids!  i gave them each a character from narnia.  they didn’t know who they were though.

so presents started to appear under the tree for susan, peter, the professor, lucy, mr. tumnus and edmund.  they were not allowed to touch the presents so it was hilarious to listen to them trying to sort out the logic behind who was who.

they didn’t know before hand but i did not include little A in the gift exchange and instead included mr. daddy.

so this picture is the kids picking up a present that they thought was theirs.

this bundle of cuteness just soaked it all in.

and finally this is the fun that settled in as the sun came up.

you can see our christmas pasts here.  2011,  2010

merry christmas. you are loved.

From my family to yours.

what a wonderful year it has been.  so much to be thankful for.  so much to look forward to.

God continues to show Himself through good times and hard times.  i look back on this past year and honestly, if i didn’t have a relationship with Jesus and assurance that I am HIS, certain “bumps” in the road would have been waaay less manageable.

a few of the things in my life that i will choose to be thankful for and dwell on:

saving grace.  my hardworking husband.  growing family.  my children.  health.  parents and inlaws. the Bible.  sisters and sisters in law.  praise and worship music.  church and our smallgroup. air conditioning during my pregnancy.  laughter.  forgiveness.  date nights.  homeschooling.  hugs.

God’s love and the fact that He has never moved away from me…  when i feel unloved it is always me shutting Him out.  being stubborn.  thinking my way is better.  but it always leaves me feeling blah.  when i embrace prayer, worship, the word and HIM its like i went on an amazing run and feel energized and LOVED!!  (some will even say i’m more lovable!)  He never moves.  He is always there with His arms waiting to embrace me and my messiness, my repentance, and my sin.  That is the saving grace that I’m talking about!  I’m a better wife, mom, daughter, sister and friend when I believe I am loved.  and I am.  I am very very loved.  and so are you. God loves you dearly…will you love Him?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

december 2012 giveaway: mama’s artsy treasures

i am so excited to be hosting a giveaway!  

the artist is my cousin amy jo.  she is an amazingly talented mother of five! and i can personally say her work is as amazing and beautiful and she is. i have one of her robot prints in my boy’s bunk room and love it!

her etsy shop, Mama’s Artsy Treasures, is full of adorable, beautiful original artwork.  how cute are these??!!!

i love them alone but i also think that they would be an awesome addition to a gallery wall of pictures! believe me, they are so unique and cute, its hard to choose a favorite.

Amy Jo is giving away this beautiful birdie canvas to one of my readers!!!!
“my sweet birdies. i love fat little birdies. these are such happy works of mine that i loved creating.
these are special because of all the words i placed on here. it is art for a girl of any age. the words in it can remind you to do all the things that are on here. remember to love-to believe-to have fun-to be silly-to treasure. we are all a treasure.”

  
“The 8×10 print is made from my original mixed media canvas art piece. I start with a blank canvas then layer with old book paper, paint, stamps, patterned paper, rubons, and anything with texture to add fun techniques. I freehand cut all my designs and they are my original designs.”

my beautiful cousin and artist amy jo.  
 TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
***must first do #1***
1.  “Like” Mama’s Artsy Treasures   on Facebook and leave a comment here saying so.
then……
BONUS ENTRIES:
(leave a separate comment for each)
2.  Go visit Mama’s Artsy Treasures Etsy Shop.  Let us know here what you love!
3.  Follow AmyJo’s Blog (if you already follow just leave a comment here saying so)
4.  Follow me here at August Fields. (if you already follow just leave a comment here saying so)
This giveaway will end at midnight on December 13, 2012.  I will announce the winner on Friday, December 14, 2012.  Giveaway is open to US and Canada.
If you do not win the giveaway and would like to purchase something from AmyJo’s shop she is offering a 10% discount through the month of December with the code AUGUSTFIELDS.