August Fields

christmas cheer.

merry christmas august field readers!  we’ve been busy decking the halls, celebrating, and preparing our hearts during this advent season.
it’s december and we still don’t have any snow.  this mild weather did give me plenty of time to put up our outdoor decorations.  and we actually put two whole strands of lights up outside!  i will admit, it is pretty at night, but really, the only way that will happen again is if we have mild weather.
so welcome……come on in! 
do you follow me on instagram??? (see sidebar for link) ————–>  i posted about by dumpster diving at lowes to turn out these front urns!  
i post almost daily on instagram so come join me 🙂
and my mom let me use some of her ginormous ornaments to give it some color.  
the sunroom received cheery and bright colors this year!  this is where we have Bible time in the mornings and the kids have their cute little tree up in here.
for a fun daily countdown to christmas i purchased the lego calendar for the first time.  i scored it on amazon earlier in the year when it was one of their daily lightning deals.
dubs got to open the first day.  its so fun! 🙂

for our advent calendar we’re doing the jesse tree for the third year.  usually as family devotions before bed.  the branches hold each day’s picture.

the music room is FILLED with christmas MUSIC this time of year and i LOVE it!  the three big kids are continuing on in lessons and let me tell you that the years of simple chords and single-note-plunking is soooooo worth it.

i’ve got gorgeous melodies and anthems filling our home.

 and finally…..the family room!  i’ve waited a whole year to put this sign up!!

its from tara at between you and me  and i LOVE it!  actually there are about 5 other ones i really love too.

shimmery tree trio.  i’ve always loved all things ‘sparkly’.  so these cute little trees from target (last year) fit the bill.

i’ll leave you with a few night time pictures.  i really like the house at night with all the trees lit up and yummy candles going.  its definitely a most wonderful time of the year!!

operation christmas child. time to fill a shoebox (or plastic container).

it’s that time of year again!  we get to fill up shoeboxes (well actually we use plastic containers now) and send them off through

the goal this year is to reach the 100 MILLIONTH box since 1993.

please check out our informative posts from last year on

NOVEMBER 12-19,  2012  
are the drop off dates.  so make sure you have your boxes filled by then.

this is a great time of year to really focus on others.  i like that this happens quite a bit before the “hustle and bustle” of the Christmas season.  the kids and i love to shop for all the fun items that will go into the containers!

here we are at target just today.  the sterelite containers are on sale for .92 each!

dancy found a package of combs that we can split up and pack into each box.

we also found these plastic, zip bags with a toothbrush and toothpaste inside.  they were by the travel size items.

we also picked up a multi pack of washcloths and deodorant from target…the rest we’ll head to the dollar store for.

for items like:  stickers, pad of paper, soap, small cars, balls, jump ropes, crayons etc.

i recommend using a plastic container so that the child who receives it can use the container for something useful (storage, transporting water etc.).

how does this work?  EASY!!

1.  Pack a Box

2.  Drop off your Box and a designated location.

they even have a pinterest board full of shoebox ideas.  for all you crafty mamas and kiddos.

have FUN with this.  show your children what JOY is to be had by giving to OTHERS!!

TWEETERS:  use the hashtag #OCC100M  to follow the excitement of reaching 100 million boxes.

christmas 2011.

christmas was wonderful!  we lacked any snow on the ground (which was unusual) yet loading and unloading the car and carrying stuff inside without worry of anyone slipping was sure nice. 🙂

i continued the tradition of matching pajamas for the kids this year.  they opened them on christmas eve.  the iron on letters are from hobby lobby, the tshirts were $3! at the hanna andersson outlet this past summer and the bottoms are from children’s place.

little dubs especially got a kick out of saying “i’m number 5!” 🙂

someone asked me about how to handle simplicity of gifts when it comes to extended family.  my answer to that is…..i let grandparents do what they want.  i figure when i’m a grandparent i’ll want to do it my way, and if they want to purchase gifts for my kids and watch the excitement i’m good with it.

its a blessing that all of our parents are still with us and the kids can add memories of christmas with them to their hearts.

this was THE cutest / craziest / best photo op moment of the day……  american girl bonanza!  my adorable nieces along with my girls, all expressed their delight and surprise carrying much emotion….

nana was toppled with hugs and ‘thank yous’…..

oh yes we did.  boone’s ‘want’ this year was a red ryder bb.  there have already been walks out to the woods and target shooting with daddy.  i’m pretty sure the two of them were shooting of the back deck the other day… 🙂

we went to our church christmas morning, and spent the weekend with our families.  
i always enjoy the unrushed days of conversation, visiting and making memories with our family.

cozy nights of christmastime

the gifts are starting to appear under the tree.  
anticipation of christmas is growing in this household!
we are continuing our tradition of 4 gifts per child plus stocking stuffers.  
1. want
2. need
3. wear
4. read
i hung the stockings on our front staircase this year.  i like it.  they have always always hung on our
mantle…but change is good.  and its an excuse to use some cute ribbon.
the kiddos are fully aware that daddy and mommy fill their stockings.  not santa.  and they love it!
they still get filled on christmas eve.  personally, i don’t understand the big dilemma of saying ‘no to santa’.  believe me, there is no lack of excitement in this household!
are those stockings not fabulous?!?  my neighbor (a single older lady) hand made each one for each of us last year.  she could use some extra income and i told her i could probably find some people who would order one for next year (wink wink).  if you’re interested email me.  i’m thinking $40.
she is so sweet and has no idea i’m putting this on here.  we’ll see.  it could bless her socks off.

outside we put two blue spruce trees from lowes out front and i strung 100 lights on each.

we’ll plant those trees in the spring.  perfect.

lowes also has swags of fresh greens in their garden area.  i just tie them up with floral wire under each light and add a red ribbon.  easy and classic.

so tonight was totally a grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner night.

everyone likes it. its easy and the sandwiches can go on paper plates.  an easy clean up is a bonus!

chunks of cheddar cheese melted on buttered bread?  a simple indulgence really.  and perfect for a cold, rainy night.

the grilled cheese must be paired with this soup though.  we’re a two box family.  
just pour it in a pot and warm….it is seasoned perfectly.  so good.  it has become a pantry staple.
since this post is full of random goodness i must add….today i stopped by the fabric store.  
i decided ‘sara, why don’t you make a little handmade present to give to each of the ladies of the family?’
two days.  i can totally do that.  right?  
it was a good excuse to go peruse the fabric store and pick up these lovelies.