Little Bear

As the weather turns cooler, my thoughts turn to ways to stay warm.  I’ve had this pink knit fabric in my stash for a while now and just never knew what to do with it.  Then I ran across a pattern for a hat with bear ears.  It was a perfect match =)

Super easy to make and super cute as well.

 

Unfortunately this one was just a bit too small for my Girly- girl.   But that hasn’t stopped her for wanting to wear it everywhere lol!

Happy Thanksgiving

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Next week is Thanksgiving.  It's a great time to pause and reflect on our history of this wonderful day we call Thanksgiving.  

So let's take a journey back in time and recollect why Thanksgiving came into being in the first place. Why do we have Thanksgiving?

The Pilgrims left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. Their destination? The New World. Although filled with uncertainty and peril, it offered both civil and religious liberty.

Pilgrims Arrive in New World

For over two months, the 102 passengers braved the harsh elements of a vast storm-tossed sea. Finally, with firm purpose and a reliance on Divine Providence, the cry of "Land!" was heard.

Arriving in Massachusetts in late November, the Pilgrims sought a suitable landing place. On December 11, just before disembarking at Plymouth Rock, they signed the "Mayflower Compact" - America's first document of civil government and the first to introduce self-government

After a prayer service, the Pilgrims began building hasty shelters.

Pilgrim's Shelter

Just image yourself, arriving in a new land with no provisions; many sick and starving among you, and yet thankful to God to be here, having escaped the religious persecution of the church in England which wouldn't allow them to worship in the manner that they pleased.  During the first winter, half the pilgrims died because of the harsh elements and lack of food. 

Because of their gratefulness, God provided a good harvest that summer and they came into fall with provisions for the winter. 

Being grateful to God, the Pilgrims then declared a three-day feast, starting on December 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. It was America's first Thanksgiving Festival.

Pilgrim Edward Winslow described the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving in these words:

"Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling (bird hunting) so that we might, after special manner, rejoice together after we gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as... served the company almost a week... Many of the Indians [came] amongst us and... their greatest King, Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted; and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought... And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us,  yet BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD WE ARE... FAR FROM WANT."

But it was actually President Abraham Lincoln who permanently established the fourth Thursday in November as a national holiday.  It should be noted that President Lincoln was so shaken by the Battle at Gettysburg when he saw the graves there and having suffered the loss of his own son, that he committed his life to Christ, therefore forever placing his life in the hands of almighty God.

It is important for us as Americans to remember the same faith that brought our founders and forefathers forward throughout the generations that caused them to pause once a year in a day of prayerful thanks to God almighty. 

It is the same faith that causes us to pause next week to remember the God who provides our nation with it's bountiful harvests each year and will continue to bless us as we remember Him next week.

So we pause today and we prayerfully ask that God will Bless You and Your Family next week at Thanksgiving as we pause to give thanks to Him who provides for all of us all year long.....

I received this in an email from the owners of the Fort Worth Running Company.  I thought it was worth sharing and remembering.

Little Froggy

See the little froggy Swimming in the pool
The water’s great- It’s nice and cool
When she gets all cleaned up Out she’ll hop
Squeaky clean From bottom to top.
See the little froggy On the lily pad
Trying to catch flies She’s getting sad.
When she catches one, She’ll gobble it up
Back in the water She’ll go Ker plop!

 

 

Many months ago, I downloaded this pattern for a frog.  And now I can’t find the link to where I found it =(  If anyone knows, please let me know so I can properly credit the designer.

Little Froggy is about 7.5 inches long and is filled with barley to give her that bean bag feel. 

Birthday Madness

This last weekend we were invited over to one of Sarge’s co- worker’s house for a birthday party.  Lots of yummy food and even a clown for the kids. 

A princess and a saber- toothed tiger.

And of course balloons.

The clown even put on a magic show and turned a balloon into a rabbit.  Girly- girl is convinced she really turned the balloon into a rabbit and Junior thought it was really cool to see the door in the back of the cage open when she popped the balloon.

Dinosaur Valley

Thanks to the Veterans'  Day holiday, Sarge had an extended weekend.  So we decided to take a mini- vacation to Dinosaur Valley…  aka Glen Rose, TX.  We were kind of surprised to see that the drive only took us about an hour.  Guess that means more trips that way are in our future =)

Once we got to Glen Rose, we stopped to get something to eat and then headed over to Big Rocks Park to let the kids climb around.

I was kind of surprised at how fearless the kids were running around and climbing on the rocks. 

Our next stop was the Creation Evidence Museum.  They’re in the middle of moving into a larger building, so not all the exhibits were set- up.  But, it was still really interesting to see how the same information (i.e. rocks with human footprints inside dinosaur tracks) can lead to two completely different conclusions (Creation vs. evolution).  And how a petrified tree in different rock layers (or ages as evolutionists like to claim) could actually have happened.  Because a tree isn’t going to rot away as it’s waiting for more layers of dirt and mud to form rocks around it ;)

We made it back to our hotel and after Sarge took a dip in the outdoor pool and the kids sat in the hot tub, we enjoyed some pizza and root beer as we settled in for the night.

The next morning we woke up to spotty rain showers.  We were hoping that the worst of the rain would hold off until after we had a chance to visit Dinosaur World.  The park boasts over 100 life- size dinosaur statues and a museum with fossils from eggs to full- size skeletons.

 

What the kids would look like if a dinosaur was trying to eat them.

     

It was really neat to see how the dinosaurs were hidden in the trees and grass.  You would come around a corner and not realize that you were that close to one.

 

The dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park” were actually a combination of this colorful fellow and velociraptors.

It started raining a bit while we were out on the trail, but the heavy rain held off until we were inside the museum.  Junior- junior is covering his ears because the rain on the roof was so loud =)

After wandering around the gift shop and waiting for the rain to let up, we headed home.

Advent Wreath

I know it’s a bit too early to start thinking about Christmas, but as I was going through my Christmas items, I realized I didn’t have an Advent wreath.  So, a trip to the craft store and lots of hot glue later, I now have an Advent wreath =)

And then I decided to try out some ornaments for my MOP’s group ornament project.

 

Not sure which one I like better.  Both of these were pre- packaged kits available at most craft stores.

Date Night

Limo ride, candlelight dinner, background piano music and professional photos.  The perfect date night.  All that was needed was the perfect dress. 

What could be more perfect than a gray sheath with kick pleats on the sides and embroidered pink and purple flowers?

What, you thought I was going on the date?  Nope, Girly- girl was the lucky one to have a date =)

The jumper is made of a light weight wool with flower embroidery on it.  There are two kick pleats on the side.  The dress is lined with a pink cotton to eliminate the “itchiness."  I overlapped the shoulder seams to give the appearance that the straps came apart.  There is a pink rose button sewn on each shoulder.

She was so excited.

And here she is with her date.

Three Things on Friday

Yes, I missed yesterday.  But I have a really good reason.  I had to wait until they got home to get pictures =)

1) Last night Sarge and Girly- girl went out on a date.  A local restaurant offered a daddy- daughter date night.  For the price of your meal (less than $12 for Sarge and Girly- girl) you were treated to a limo ride to and from the restaurant (from a near- by hotel), candlelight dinner service, background piano music and professional pictures.  I think it was a great deal.

 

 

 

But the best part of the night was when Sarge asked Girly- girl what her favorite part of the night was.  “Spending time with you, daddy.”

2)  Junior is now a purple belt.  He’s one of the highest ranking in his Little Dragon’s class.

 

3) There’s exciting things growing in our household.  Sometime in May, we will be welcoming home our fourth little bundle of joy.  The other three kids are excited, but they can’t agree on if they want another brother or a sister.  Good thing we’re leaving it as a surprise =)

Lil’ bean’s first picture.  We think he was waving at us.