Reflections at Yet Another Year's End

Happy New Year's Eve!

I stand poised between 2008 and 2009...and it's always a time of reflection for me.

I was just reviewing last year's post and was amazed at how much I forgot the events of last year. What's even more amazing is how much happened in that year. We are so blessed and chronicling a year through the photos we took reminds us of this fact.

We've done lots of changing and growing this year -- both personally and as a family. It's been fun and exciting to see how God is working in our lives.

January:

We found out that we were expecting another family member -- much to our surprise -- after 5 years of hoping and praying...and finally deciding to enjoy our family of 4... Emily started her third year of 4-H, and our beloved show 24 was cancelled due to the writer's strike.

February:

Edward turned 7, and we headed to New York City for his birthday adventure, stopping at Build-a-Bear and FAO Schwarz. It was a fun and tiring day! Our homeschool learning group started up for the second semester. Earl Grey (and his brother Clementine) celebrated his 2nd birthday party-style.

March:

We celebrated Easter and ate green eggs and ham on St. Patrick's Day. Edward got glasses, and Emily had her PSSA exams.

April:

Edward started his first Spring soccer season. Emily celebrated being "10-and-a-1/2" on the 15th.

May:

Mother's Day was especially poignant with lots of fun trips afterwards to Motherhood Maternity for some more up-to-date maternity clothing. Emily finished 5th grade, and Edward finished 1st grade. Edward, formerly our "shy guy," volunteered to introduce a Woody Guthrie song at the end-of-year program of our homeschool learning group. Stuart and I celebrated 12 years of marriage. We had a second ultrasound and hoped to find out what gender the baby was...but God kept it a secret from us.

June:

Emily had a wonderful recital with a beautiful costume. We headed to Rehoboth Beach for a day trip with my sister. We had a fun Father's Day and gave Stuart a charcoal grill which brought out his "inner chef." Emily started "en pointe" with a week-long clinic.

July:

Finally facing the inevitable -- that our little 11-year-old station wagon wouldn't fit three kids -- we bought a used minivan and used it to travel to Long Island to see our friend, Sue, marry her wonderful hubby, Sonny. We stayed for the weekend at a huge house along the shore and had a mini vacation. Stuart and I spent a day in New York City to visit with another dear friend, and we enjoyed a very soggy 4th of July. We also headed to Hershey Park for Stuart's company picnic. I had fun watching since most of the rides said no "preggos." *wink*

August:

Since we couldn't vacation in Nags Head, N.C., because of the impending birth, we celebrated the end of summer by hosting "Camp Woohoohaha" -- our madeup family "day camp." We had a blast and even rounded out the day by making s'mores and singing "camp" songs. "My dad is a lav'tory cleaner..." We started school a week early to be sure we'd have things going well before the baby's arrival. Emily started 6th grade, and Edward began 2nd grade.

September:

Ethan Samuel Foote arrived on the 14th, three days after his father's birthday....all 9 lbs. 7 oz., 22 inches of him. He came after dance class, homeschool learning group, and soccer started...so perfect timing, really. *grin* Edward's second season playing soccer was on a team with orange shirts called the "Orange Crush."

October:

Emily turned 11, and we did our birthday adventure to the Philadelphia Zoo and a Build-a-Bear store in King of Prussia Mall. We also went to Philly for cheesesteaks. Practices started for the Nutcracker. Emily got a part as a cannon guard/soldier. The kids trick-or-treated as Star Wars characters again, and Ethan spent his first Halloween as a pumpkin.

November:

Ethan enjoyed his first Thanksgiving. Edward wrapped up his soccer season. Emily continued to practice as a soldier. My sisters and I took my mom out for her birthday to a chocolate cafe. Mmmm!

December:

We wrapped up the year with Sinterklaas Day, a 4-H Christmas party, Breakfast with Santa, the Nutcracker, a cookie bake-off, Christmas dinner at my parents', Boxing Day dinner at our house -- including Sue and Sonny staying overnight as our first-ever houseguests -- Pagoda Day in the fog, New Year's Eve playing games, and New Year's Day eating pork and sauerkraut.

A busy but blessed year that ended with a new 3-month-old family member...something we would never have imagined this time last year.

God's blessings to you for a joyous 2009!

Quotable Quips

You never know what expressions and sayings are lost on kids until you ask them to fill in the blank or finish a quotation.

We were playing a game with the kids, and Emily got the question, "Finish the following: 'If it ain't broke...'"

She smiled, shrugged, and said, "It'll be okay."

She'd obviously never heard the original. *grin-giggle*

A (Very) Merry Movie

What an awesome trip this must have been!

This video fills me with joy/hope in knowing that there is happiness in our world...despite the negative news media trying to convince us otherwise.

The song "Shiny, Happy People" played in my brain after watching this.

Enjoy! (And be sure to pause/stop my sidebar music playlist.)

Sunday Sweeties

The kids in their "Sunday Best."
They "scrub up nice," don't they? *wink*

Pagoda Day 2008

Happy Pagoda Day!

Every year for the past four -- maybe five? -- years, we've celebrated an our-family-only-made-up-holiday the kids called "Pagoda Day." (<-- Click that link and this --> link to learn more about the "history" of it.)

Celebrating it is simple. We drive up to the Pagoda in the early evening after dinner and get a family photo in front of the famous Reading monument while singing the sweet and simple song "Pagoda Day, Pagoda Day"....

Well, that's the usual plan. This year our celebration was a bit different.

Being fans, but not necessarily followers, of the Pagoda, we had no idea that it was "turned off" earlier in the season so that new LED lights could be installed... Nor did we expect it to be shrouded in fog on our fun holiday night.

We'll need to return for a real Pagoda Day family picture, but below are a few shots I took to commemorate (and capture) this year's special day. And at least we made some memories...isn't that what's it's all about?

We nearly didn't find the Pagoda through the thick fog.
See the one light peeking through?


A photo of part of our family...


Usually our smiley guy, Ethan was NOT impressed with
his first "Pagoda-Day-in-the-Fog."

Hopefully his opinion will change upon our return?


The "view" of Reading from atop Mt. Penn

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Merry Christmas!

Have yourself a

MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS!

From our house to yours, may your Christmas be a warm-and-cozy-full-of-family-and-fun kind of day!

Holy Night

O Holy Night!
The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees!
Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Holiday Happiness!

From this:

To this:

What a difference a year makes! A very merry Christmas Eve to all...and to all a good night! (We're still hopeful! *wink-grin*)

Tuesday Tidings of Joy!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Here We Come A-Caroling!

On Adverbs and Sisters

While doing a Mad-lib together after dinner one night recently, we asked our 7-year-old for an adverb.

He was dutifully trying to remember what words fit into that part of speech, and we explained that it's usually an adjective with "ly" on the end.

He laughed and said, "Then Emily is an adverb!"

Chuckling along with him, we explained -- with a wink -- that "Emi" wasn't an adjective.

To which he replied, "Sure it is. Something just has to be sweet like her!"

Emily beamed at her brother. A very "Emi" moment.

Friday Funnies

A Friday "funny" compliments of the "bud boy":

Q: What do you get when you combine a cold puppy with a rabbit?

Highlight the text to see the answer...
A: A "chilly dog" with a bun

Thoughts and Thursdays....

Maybe it's hormones...or maybe it's sleep deprivation...or maybe it's the economy...or a combination of all of above? But I just cannot seem to get into the Christmas spirit this year.

I know. I know. I say it every year, but each year seems a bit harder.

I always tell myself to start getting ready for it in October -- write our annual newsletter, finish Christmas shopping, dust off the holidays CDs and DVDs. But it's fully Autumn then and my mind is still on the beginning of school and pumpkins and colored leaves and Halloween and birthdays. There's no time to think about Christmas yet.

But still I've been thinking about it -- and praying about it -- and hoping it will come at some point. After all, our kids enjoy this time of year. They need to have that "Christmasy feeling" and see it as "the most wonderful time of the year," right? I certainly don't want to spoil it for them. Besides this is the time of year when "memories are made"...

Perhaps that's part of the problem.

We put so much pressure on this time of the year. So much of our hopes and dreams go into this one day that it begins to lose it's meaning. It's one day. The rest of the year of days are just as important.

And that's it. We know EVERYday is about making memories. Everyday is a one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated kind of moment. In a day and age where we can rewind a video tape or push a button to go back a chapter, we forget that life isn't like that. We need to make the memories and warm-fuzzy moments now...not in the future when we have time or feel like it. What if God doesn't give us that time?

I've been reflecting on the fact that many families spend so much time watching movies and shows about other families having fun and cozy times together. They feel a certain warmth in watching them bond. Why not turn off the TV and do it themselves?

Looking back over this past year especially, I realize that's what it's about: Making memories together as a family of four before we became a family of five. (Did we succeed completely? Only time will tell when the kids are grown and returning to visit and the talk turns to "remember when?" stories will we know for sure.)

So back to my quandary: How to gain the Christmas spirit in time for the holiday while picking out the perfect Christmas gifts without breaking our bank account and bringing more stuff into our house and lives..........

According to all the e-mails I keep receiving "there's still time to get that perfect last-minute gift."

Hmm....

Wait a minute!! I've got all the time I need...all year, in fact.

That's what our kids want the most from us: OUR time -- memory-making time as a family. It's free and it's fun...and it's what Christmas is all about.

God sent His Son to be with a man and woman, to be a family. What's more Christmasy than that?

Christmas CD - $18
Christmas goodies - $10
Christmas stocking stuffers: $15
Spending time with our kiddos making warm-and-fuzzy memories and sharing fun time all year -- priceless

Think about it.

Excuse me while I run off to wrap gifts, bake some cookies, and tickle some kiddos. I think the "spirit" hit! *wink*

Wordless (mostly) Wednesday

Our newest "scholar" and his beautiful "tutor."

Three Months Old!!

Does it seem possible that our little "Leechie" could possibly be a quarter of a year old already?

If you had asked me this time last year whether or not we would ever have another baby I would have laughed very hard. We'd wanted another child and expected another child...but somewhere around 5 years ago. *wink*

God thought otherwise...and we are so glad!

Sweet Sunday

We went to see a Christmas musical/play at my parents' church today. My mom was singing in the choir, and we love supporting her talents!

It's funny how you can hear the Christmas story over and over again without much feeling. I don't mean to say that it isn't special -- because it is -- but sometimes you can get too close to something and you forget the power it actually has.

The play revolved around a shepherd family who were awaiting the coming Messiah. Like all Jewish families before them, they didn't know when or where He'd arrive...but they waited in hope, remembering God's promise and the prophecies of long ago.

The woman who wrote the play (who coincidentally attends that church) did an excellent job of setting up the historical background for the story. I hadn't really considered that Israel was under the rule of Rome at the time -- that they were basically slaves and hoped the coming Messiah would save them from the bondage of this "silent night" -- the metaphor being that without our Messiah we live in the bondage of sin in a silent night, too.

When the shepherd family found out that the Messiah had arrived in a stable, they immediately went and worshipped him. The scene was fantastic. Not majestic or glitzy or loud. Just quiet and peaceful and loving. Like people meeting someone's newborn baby for the first time, they admired and cooed and beamed...only this baby was so much more special...God's promise fulfilled.

It was hard for me not to be moved by this scene as I sat there rocking our little guy in my arms. I kept looking at him and imagining all that Mary and Joseph must have felt. Joseph would have felt the burden of responsibility when he couldn't find a more "fitting" place for Mary's baby -- God's Son -- to be born, in a town where he didn't know anyone. He was protective of her, wishing away her pain. Mary may have felt great fear at first -- at the idea of having a baby. But she was faithful and trusting and knew that God had chosen her...out of all the girls in Israel, she was chosen to bear His Son. Awesome, huh?

The tears flowed freely -- it hasn't been so long since we welcomed our little boy bundle of joy -- and I enjoyed anew the power of the Christmas story. The silence of the "night" was broken with angelic choirs praising God and His Son. Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! The Messiah has come to the world which had waited so long; the very Messiah who came to save you and me from our sins.

Are you still living in a "silent night?" I know I'm not. And I'm so thankful for that Holy Christmas night of long ago...and the reminder in that Christmas play today. Enjoy a very sweet Sunday!

* * *

And, ironically, Ethan had on a shirt that said: "Silent Night -- I don't think so." It has a completely new meaning to me.

Saturday Sweethearts

Who could resist these two cuties? Certainly not their photobug mommy!

Santa Baby

Brings new meaning to the song, huh?

Two Guys, a Girl, and a Little White Bear

I'm afraid my Monday musings will be a bit more sporadic at the moment.

The holidays and busyness of trying to keep my household from imploding going insane disintegrating...er, um, just keep my household going has gotten the best of me. So I may not be able to keep up with my daily posts like I usually do...

...and this makes me very sad.

I began blogging nearly three years ago to get myself writing again. It was my once-a-day forced dose of "getting back myself," and I loved it. I had a bit of "me" back...and it felt great!

Now, with an infant in tow again, I am unable to keep up with it all and need to regroup to figure out our new normal.

But I'll be back in full-swing before too long.

Until then, enjoy:

Two guys (in matching brothers' shirts)...

A girl (accepting her 3rd-year award/present at 4-H)...

And a little white bear. (Ethan, 12 weeks old)

Saturday Sweethearts

Who can resist these two? Everyone loves Daddy's silly faces!!

Friday Funnies

In honor of Sinterklaas today and Christmas in a few weeks, I give you -- for the first time ever -- the Writer's Block "Official Christmas Bargain Shopping Guide."

Be aware that these are actual items...with actual photos taken on a cellphone...by an ever-alert actual blogger....

Okay. Okay. I know. Get on with it.

1. I know that "baby gender colors" don't matter so much in other countries... But here in the good ol' U.S. of A we colorize our babies and all of their accessories accordingly. (Blue is for boys...pink is for girls. Dumb rule, I know, but how do you fight tradition?)

It's not so much that this frame is pretty in pink...but that the "little prince" is a wee bit, well, girly? Nothing says "You're my little prince!" like a pink photo frame with a prince who looks like he's wearing, um, a big pink bow instead of, er, a pink (?) crown.


2. And just so the girls don't feel left out, there's a matching blue princess photo frame.


3. Continuing in this exquisite photo frame line, we have a frame that holds 2.75 photos. The 0.75 photo can be of someone you don't like quite as much as the others. (Note: This is why my hubby tells my kids to always remember the units...)


4. This little ornament needs no real explanation. Just a question: Why? Because all sheep hatch out of spotted eggs, right?


5. After reading the packaging on this little trinket, I have to say I was bitterly disappointed that it didn't come with that awesomely cool ornament. And in searching the shelves around the store, I couldn't find it "sold separately." Shucks.


6. Thank goodness for "truth in advertising." I was very relieved to read that this meal contained artificial beef. Mmmm! That really whet my appetite to buy a caseload of it. What a bargain -- and treat -- to give to all the relatives, as well.


7. And, last but not least, we have the box of "Dad Christmas cards." Notice that the box says it contains 16 cards of all the SAME design...enough for all 16 "Beary Best Dads" in your life?


Happy Christmas shopping, everyone! *wink-grin*

He's Definitely a Foote...or Two

Snappy dresser "Baby Bud," Ethan, had a well-visit today. And he's 15 lbs. 14 oz. and 26 1/4 inches long.

He's all Foote...or maybe that should read "just over two feet(e)." *wink-grin*

Wordless Wednesday

"Ya Want Fries with That?"

During a recent visit to McDonald's we felt mirth despair for the upcoming generation...

We arrived during Ethan's "dinnertime," too, and thus needed something hot to take the chill off his bottle of formula. For some reason, this particular McDonald's had discontinued hot tea so they didn't have any hot water available when I asked.

Unsure of what to do after a trip to the ladies' room turned up nothing but tepid water, I asked Stuart to see if they had something -- anything -- hot for us to use.

Stuart decided to order a small coffee in a really tall cup. He explained why and how he needed it...

...to which the clerk asked, "Do you want regular or decaf?"

(Hmm.... I'm not sure it mattered in the warming-up-a-bottle scheme of things.)

Confused, Stuart said it didn't matter, that he was only using it to warm a bottle...

...to which the clerk asked, "Do you want sugar and cream with that?"

Sigh.

Well, at least she smiled...even if she was completely clueless.

Musing on Monday in the Merry Month of...December

Ethan's first "lovey," a little nutbrown hare. No bias here...*wink*
Happy Cyber Monday to you! And Happy First Monday in December!

Wow-o-wow! Is it possible? The final month of 2008? Are you Christmas shopping yet?

Our littlest Foote turned 11 weeks old yesterday...and "celebrated" by getting his first fever. *Sigh* Poor little guy. He's mostly himself, and he's still eating fairly well, so I guess it's just "one of those things." But let me tell you I'm not a fan of fevers and mysterious viruses... Motherhood is hard enough without adding in the stress of not knowing what to do for a sick child.

Anyways...

Thanksgiving was different this year. We went to my middle sister's home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and ate with 13 of us (14 if you count Ethan, but he wasn't eating any turkey this year). Usually we head to my aunt and uncle's house and eat with the 5,000, I mean, about 25, but they went to Kentucky to spend the holiday with my cousin and her family. Times...they are a-changin'. A few in the family had colds so that put a slight damper on the festivities, but we had fun nonetheless. How can it not be fun with all that food? We even got to make mini snack sandwiches later. Mmmm!

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting-- Oops. *grin* And with it the Santa Breakfast, 4-H Christmas Party, Sinterklaas, the Nutcracker, Boxing Day, and Pagoda Day. December should be a busy month, huh?

We enjoyed the 24-Redemption movie...immensely, enormously, ecstatically. With a spread of chips, french fries, wings, and homemade bread, we were set for the 2-hour event. It was nice to see Jack Bauer back in action. At one point in the movie, you could hear the collective "Jack is back!" from all the fans around the world. "Awesome" is what I say! (My word of the week.) Now we eagerly await January 11th and Season 7...though I did see the first 15 minutes on the 24-Redemption DVD. Let's just say my appetite is "well-whetted." *grin*

In honor of the myriads gazillions infinitude amount of photos I have collected digitally over the past 11 years...I started a photo blog called: "The Life in a Day." Click here to visit it, and don't forget to bookmark it. I won't be adding to it all the time, but I promise to add pictures when I can.

Since I am being called upon by my mounds of laundry...I'll end here and muse some more another day. Enjoy this the first day of December...

Remember: Only 24 more days until Christmas!!!

Saturday Sweethearts

"He ain't heavy...he's my brother."