Tacky Christmas Party

Our annual Christmas party has become more anticipated than I ever thought it would. When December rolls around, people start asking about it. I think it's because it is one of the few times a year that we all get together without the 100 kids we have between us. This year, it probably had something to do with the tacky sweater theme (which seems to be all the rage). We have fun friends who got into it and came up with some pretty hideous outfits. Enjoy the tacky party music we played as you get a load of this:

Sara admitted it was hard for her to wear something this ugly- she always looks pulled together. That's her on the left, Kelly in the middle, and Kimmy on the right.

Apparently this is David's every-day sweater but we laughed anyway.

Kathy decided not to go tacky- but she held baby Kate a lot so I forgave her.

Josh and I are dressed 30 years older than our time. I tried to give myself big hair, but my hair just doesn't do anything. The clip-on flower was big enough to overcome my limp hair though.

Joel, Josh and Josh. I just love Joel's expressions and that big belt buckle. Josh's sweater(in the middle) made me laugh more than anyone else's.

John wore a tacky musical tie, a gift from his son.

Joel and Kimmy- she won the prize for tackiest girl. She looks like Olivia Newton John in those leg-warmers.

Pastor Steve won the gift for tackiest guy with the giant poinsettia and Santa peeking out. He picked out the Naughty shirt for Aleyne.

Maddy called her sweater "The Swamp Thing"- it was hairy. We liked Carl's bow-tie- nice touch.

Aw, so cute. Wearing sweaters that match.





We played several games, including a books of the Bible search and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. We had yummy food and lots of fun laughing with friends. What will next year's theme be?

Last Daybook of the Year

For today…. December 28th, 2009



Outside my window… Snow is melting because it's "warm" outside. But Josh tells me there are bitterly cold days ahead.



I am thinking… of putting on some makeup


I am thankful for… a great Christmas and that there are about 360 more days till the next one!


I am wearing… old jeans and a pink sweater I want to get rid of


I am going… to try to do some scrapbooking while Kate naps this week


I am reading… Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka- one of my favorite and most useful parenting books. It's for the child who is "more"- so far, I have 2 of those!



I am hoping… to clean up my hard drive this week


On my mind… situations needing prayer- I think that is usually what is on my mind


From the learning rooms… Only one planned day of school this week to get up to my goal of 80 days by months end. I did 6 weeks of lesson planning yesterday and need to gather up all our resources for those this week.



Remembering that… they grow up fast even if it doesn't seem so right now



From the kitchen… Beef Stew and biscuits tonight, with a jam tasting. Josh got me four Stonewall Kitchen jams for Christmas. I'm anxious to try Cranberry Horseradish.



Around the house… Remnants of Christmas morning


Listening to... silence- it's very nice!


A few plans for this week... hopefully a trip to the Big City to find a tacky sweater for Josh and myself - our annual Christmas party is Friday night and I suggested that our guests wear something gaudy and terrible!



One of my favorite things… Target's after-Christmas clearance!


From my photo journal…


Miss Kate celebrating her first Christmas with a little rice cereal!



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Go Team!

I think Kate brought the Pats good luck today!

Christmas Highlights

Christmas at the Mathews isn't celebrated just one day a year- it seems like the whole month of December is full of excitement. I don't want to belabor every detail of the past week, but I do want to share some pictures and special thoughts...

We celebrate Christmas with the Mathews family the weekend before Christmas. We gather with Josh's sister's family at Grammy and Grampy's house, spend the night, and wake up to Christmas morning. This year we went to a half-hour long light show Friday night that the kids really enjoyed. Here are four of the grandkids sitting in front of the tree Christmas morning, itching to open gifts! Isabelle had gotten poked in the eye, so it looks like she's crying :(

I had always hoped and prayed for close, loving relationships between my children and their grandparents...

and the Lord has answered that prayer. More memories were made with them this Christmas.

At the Mathews Christmas, Grampy got a laptop and is now online! We are so excited about this! Somehow, it is a gift to us. We get to show off their grandkids to them more often :)

Mom started a new tradition this year- she put one of my gifts in this Christmas Story tin and it's to be saved and regifted to another family member next Christmas. The Christmas Story was always one of our favorite movies as a family- we still have many family jokes revolving around the movie- Bumpuses!

We shared Christmas with my brother and his family at my parents home on the night of the 23rd. Uncle Jason loves babies!

It's become a tradition to spend Christmas Eve with our friends the Susens. This year, our friends the Robinsons were also there. We just love spending time with great friends who are also like family...

Sara made a 5.2 pound cake (yes, the guys weighed it) as a birthday cake to Jesus. She had to use her hands to spread the frosting because it was so thick. We got a quite a laugh out of this. It's just little things like this that we cherish...

The kids were sitting quietly but eagerly, waiting to open gifts from each other. Again, I'm reminded of an answered prayer as we spend Christmas with friends. I always wanted this for me and my kiddos.

Caleb got his first real Bible for Christmas, something he had asked for. Josh read the story of Jesus birth from it Christmas morning.

Josh bought this print, Blueprint forSuccess (Dependence on the Holy Spirit), either 10 years ago on our honeymoon or 7 years ago when we went to Fort Lauderdale. It's been so long, neither of us can remember. But I finally got it framed and matted for him! He said it was his favorite gift, so that made it even more special.

We got a snowmobile for the family for Christmas (it's not brand new as you can tell). Isabelle climbed right on and got the first ride around the yard. She'll follow Daddy anywhere.

We were excited to have Josh's parents come to us on Christmas morning and have dinner at my parent's house. Caleb put Grampy to work almost as soon as he had opened his Bionicles and he patiently put them together- now that's love!

Of course, it was Kate's first Christmas and there were many arms to hold her and snuggle her all day. Another blessing.

Caleb asked if he could take our picture. Baby Kate is hiding under the nursing cover (fabulous invention by the way! Thank you Anna!) I love any day that Josh is home with us.

I think the highlight of my Christmas day was seeing my children contentedly playing with their gifts, even before the last present was open. It was a relaxed day and there was no hurry to get it all done quickly.

Christmas always comes and goes so quickly. Thankfully, the reason why we celebrate Christmas doesn't come and go at all!

Daybook for December 21st- Twas a Few Days Before Christmas!

For today…. December 21st

Outside my window… There's still snow! Looking good for Christmas!

I am thinking… there's a lot I'd like to get done before Christmas and I'm so glad I'm home to be able to at least attempt to get it done!

I am thankful for… wisdom from the Lord, especially with raising kiddos

I am wearing... pjs, old ones- new ones for Christmas?????

I am going… grocery shopping for Christmas goodies

I am reading… the book of Luke. I abandoned the One Year Bible last week because I really missed being in the gospels, especially at this time of year. I prayed that the Lord would make it fresh and he has!

I am hoping… that everyone we love has an amazing Christmas which equals : knowing how much the Lord loves and cares for them.

On my mind… raising my kids to know and love the Lord. I confess I thought it would be easy :)

From the learning rooms… Wrapping up a few loose ends from our unit on celebrations. Handwriting will be in the form of thank-you letters to those who gave the kids presents this past weekend at the Mathews family Christmas. Lots of Christmas storybooks!

Remembering that… the only way to gain your life is to lose it for the sake of Christ

Pondering these words…. Luke 2:38 says of Anna that she talked to everyone about Jesus... would that it be true of me too...

From the kitchen… another batch of fudge to bring to church Christmas Eve, sugar cookies for the kids to decorate and bring to the neighbors.

Listening to... the Big Daddy Weave Christmas CD- we really like the banjo!

Around the house… Christmas gifts to put away

A few plans for this week... Wednesday we will be celebrating Christmas with my brother and his family, Thursday with the Susens and Robinsons before the Christmas Eve service, and Friday is the big day! My parents will come for breakfast and then we'll go to their house for Christmas dinner.

One of my favorite things… Secret Santa

From my photo journal…

Josh fell asleep on the couch yesterday afternoon and Isabelle crawled up on him and fell asleep too. Priceless!

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Homeschoolers Christmas Party

What kid doesn't look forward to his class Christmas party every year? I know I always did when I was in school! Yesterday, our homeschool group celebrated with a party of their own.

We have been blessed to be able to meet at a local community center this year. There is a lunch program for senior citizens that meets here and the first thing the kids did was decorate the Christmas tree for them.

All of the kids were excited about a special "store" set up for them to shop at. They each received three pennies to shop with- items ranged between 1 and 3 cents apiece. They bought for their friends and family and had so much fun! Two of the older girls ran the store and moms were not allowed in. Purchases were gift wrapped and labeled. Each kid wore an excited smile when they came out of the store, bearing their treasures. So cute! I'm sure the dad who ends up with the Stetson cologne or musical Santa tie will be very excited :)

Of course we had food...

And a cookie swap....

And crafts for each age group too (which I didn't get pictures of. Imagine, with 30 kids running around, no pictures of the crafts!)

A few of the beautiful little girls we know. These kids are so cute when they get together with their friends!

Missing: One Tooth!

I decided not to use an overused title of a Christmas song for this post- because it wouldn't really be accurate anyway. Caleb isn't missing 2 front teeth and he really didn't want to lose this one at all. He pretty much freaked out when he discovered it was loose- I rejoiced! At last, at 6 and a half, he had a loose tooth! He kept asking me to pray to Jesus that it wouldn't fall out. I did pray, that he wouldn't be nervous or scared- and he kept telling me I was praying the wrong thing! It came out quickly and without pain, as I had prayed it would. After the appropriate amount of freaking out on his part, then the promise of celebrating with McDonalds, he is now proud to own a tiny baby tooth and keeps it in the bag with his two molars we had extracted last summer. He wants to show everyone, so beware.

I couldn't resist a cute upload of Kate- all bright and pink and full of love. She is starting to laugh now and it is so infectious! Daddy knows how to tickle her just right to get the giggles out!