Game On!

Big Girl is our verbal child.

We decided to teach her how to play Scrabble this past weekend.

We've probably created a monster, and we have no one to blame but ourselves.

But we had a great time, and have a fantastic memory from our Sunday afternoon game:

As we'd play, she'd ask, "Is there a word with [pick your letters]?"

"Big Girl, it is not good strategy to tell everyone which tiles are on your rack."

She was itching to play her Z and plopped down ADZE.

"Big Girl, that is not a word. Why are you wasting your turn?"

"Fine, I'll take off the E. There. ADZ."

[again, we tried to get her to rethink]

"No, I think that's a word. I've read it somewhere. You'll have to challenge me."

So, her daddy did just that and guess what?

Turns out that not only is ADZ a word, so is ADZE.

And she got the triple letter.

I guess reading the dictionary pays off!

Definition: "Having Children"

joy
noun

1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.
2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.
3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaity
4. a state of happiness or felicity.

{Guess who reads this for fun?}

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,

children a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

The Thankful Vine

I ran out of construction paper due to all the Little Hats' creations, so we didn't have enough to make a tree this year. That didn't stop us from being thankful, though!

my pig

Daddy

pumpkins

books

Mama

my bunny

school books

friends

art

water bottle

horses

gravity

food

Snuggly

fish

The Boy's party

toys

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1 (NIV)

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and

joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:7

Happy Thanksgiving!

MC Ball 2011

The Marine Corps Ball was on Saturday night,

and I got to attend on the arm of the most handsome officer there.

My mail order dress worked out for me (the smaller size- hallelujah!)- the cherries on top were that I did not have to purchase new unmentionables to fit the cut and it's machine washable.

Here's the whole dress and my cute friend Melissa

(we were handed roses when we walked in).

We had a five course dinner and dessert after the formal ceremony. The Marines always put together a great video (shown at every ball worldwide) and our ambassador here in Ukraine is so easy to listen to- a very down-to-earth guy. I always get tickled when the Marines solemnly wheel in the birthday cake. They cut it with a sword and the first piece goes to the guest of honor (ambassador), then the oldest Marine present is served his piece which he then passes on to the youngest Marine- who was born in 1989!! Oh my- talk about feeling old!!

Ships Ahoy, Mateys!

Our little pirate turned 6 on yesterday.

Due to an event we needed to attend last night,

we had the party today after church.

It Takes a Village...

or some really good friends at the very least

to make my Christmas card happen each year!

My super sweet, amazing and beautiful (and single) friend,

Karen, took these great photos of the little Hats.

She was going to do a family picture, but it stormed,

and the one nice day I can remember after that was the one

she said to bring the kids down so we could see what we could get.

I am so grateful to her for capturing some of my favorite expressions!

And then my BFF, Shutterfly.

How did people survive without this company

back in the day?!

I scoured several sites' Christmas card options, and while there are many lovely choices, I kept coming back to Shutterfly and the designs and prices (and coupon codes galore!) in addition to the tried and true service I've received in the past sold me. Through November 16, you can use coupon code CARD40 to receive 40% off your card order and if you use code SHIP30, you can receive free shipping for any orders over $30 (my total was halved!).

Without further ado, our 2011 card

{actually, the real ones have our real names}:

Classic Damask Frame Christmas

Browse our collection of Christmas card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

So go ahead and click over to Shutterfly and have a look around! You can display your finished project on your blog or personal website and receive a $10 gift certificate, too!

It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas

We have family devotions before the children go to bed each evening. Then they each get to pick a song to sing before prayers. Tonight, The Boy requested we sing a joyous rendition of that familiar carol, Hark! The Angel Harold Sings! That makes the cut for the book!

What is your favorite Christmas carol?

Venice- Part II

Our girls weekend looked like this:

Meandering through the labryinth of streets all day,
looking, shopping, eating.

Lunch was our biggest meal.

{The lasagna I had on Sunday changed my life forever.}

The gelato was amazing.

We bought supper and breakfast foods
to take back to the apartment we rented.

We all piled on the sofa and watched girl movies and stayed up late talking.

Repeat the next day.

Here are some of my favorite scenes:

Girls Trip to Venice- Part I

I have few words...it was a needed trip and we had a blast!

It doesn't hurt that our destination was so beautiful-

I never get tired of Venice!

Orphan Sunday Video

Please take a few minutes and watch this video my friend Karen made for our service at church yesterday (in fact, all those who speak go to our church). You may want a tissue handy.

Memo

As lovely as it was, I did not stay in Venice.

Life has been busy....