Old Fashioned Christmas

Sarah's school had their Christmas program last week.  It was called An Old Fashioned Christmas.  Each preschool class got to sing a song then all the classes sung a couple songs together. 

Our girls wore some cute Christmas dresses!

We arrived early, but the sanctuary was already filled up, so sat up in the balcony.  My Mom and Dad however, walked right into the sanctuary, right up front, and sat down in the two remaining seats, in the front row, together...

Sarah's class wore crowns that they each had made and sang "We Three Kings".  Then all-together they sang "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".  (Sarah has on the red dress on the left side, standing next to a boy with tan/khaki colored pants.)

It was a good program and Sarah's class did a great job singing out so that they could be heard!

Santa happened to be visiting the school that night, so Sarah and Phoebe sat on his lap and Sarah told him what they both wanted.... "I want a hula-hoop, chocolate kisses, and bathtub crayons.  My little sister would like a book and some candy."  Then she asked me several times... "Was that the REAL Santa?"

"We wish you a Merry Christmas.  We wish you a Merry Christmas. 

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

"Free Gift"

Sarah has been practicing with other children at our church all Fall for their musical production, "Free Gift". They had dress rehearsal yesterday....

Sarah and a few of the other little girls had a special part to sing all by themselves...

"At Christmas time we get so busy that we often lose the meaning of it all;

Jesus came to earth to save us and it's hard to understand why we don't answer "yes" to His call."

This morning was the performance... They all did great!

James 1:17 Every good action and every perfect gift is from God.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 The person who loves wealth will not be satisfied when he gets it.

Matthew 6:33-34 The thing you should want most is God's kingdom... so don't worry about tomorrow.

Matthew 24:35 The whole world will be destroyed, but the words I have said will never be destroyed.

Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive.

James 1:5 If any of you needs wisdom you should ask God for it.

Romans 6:23 When someone sins, he earns what sin pays - death.  But, God gives us a "Free Gift"
- life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"Free Gift, Free Gift, Jesus paid the price for us on Calvary; Won't you let Him in your heart this Christmas and I know you'll see, what a wondrous Christmas this will truly be,

Thank you, Jesus for your gift of life to me."

Muppets and Leaves

While we were at home over the Thanksgiving weekend Sarah and I got to go to the Muppets movie with Lindsee and Eric Paul.  I thought it was hilarious!  There were many times I was laughing out loud.  EP, Lindsee and I all remember watching the Muppet Show when we were little.... "It's time to start the music.  It's time to light the lights..."

We also helped rake the leaves in Dad and Mom's yard.  They have lots of leaves.  They have always had lots of leaves.  They will always have LOTS of LEAVES.  I remember while growing up and still living at home we would always be counted on to help rake the leaves in the fall.  I would dread that Saturday and sometimes Sunday.  The only fun thing about raking and picking up all those leaves was getting to jump on and fall on the bag... squashing the leaves over and over. 

Now I do not mind this every year chore.  So, we got out the rakes and the large mattress bags (we rake the leaves into these huge mattress bags, load the bags in the truck and empty them out at the dump.  This is way easier than filling 156 large black trash bags.  Dad saves the mattress bags and we reuse them every year.) and we started filling them up.  It took all afternoon but we got the front yard done and most of the back.  They have a lot of leaves.

Lindsee got out her old high school letter jacket to rake leaves in.  Go EHS Spartans.
Sarah liked jumping onto the bags just like I use to do!

It was great to see and spend time with Lindsee and EP.  We are happy you could come have some fun with us in Kansas.

Sarah "Hula~Hooper" Hendrickson

A couple weeks ago Sarah learned how to Hula Hoop!  And, she is good at it.  She wants whoever may be around to count how many times the hoop goes around.  For awhile her record was 57 times around.... then she shattered her record of 57 by keeping the hoop going around 107 times!!!

   

Here she is, just this week, showing off her amazing hula skills.  Go Sarah, Go Sarah, Go Sarah!

Ornaments and Memories

Our tree has been up for about two weeks now.... I love decorating early!  December always seems so short and I want to enjoy the decorations, the music, the yummy food, and the spirit of the season for as long as I can each year.

Sarah and Phoebe were excited to help put our tree up.  Each time I mentioned it Phoebe would scream and squeal in excitement, and Sarah would smile and get super excited.  Eric and I put the lights and garland on then the girls got to help us put all the ornaments on.... It is so much fun to get the ornaments out each year and remember the story, person, place, and memory that goes along with each one.

Growing up, my parents got my siblings and I a new ornament each year that went along with something we were into, a place we had visited, or something that was special to us....  I am doing the same for my girls.  Sarah's ornament for this year is the Hershey's bar.  She LOVES chocolate.  Phoebe's ornament is the Elmo.  She likes Elmo, and had a Sesame Street and Elmo birthday party last month.

Here are two of my favorite ornaments that I have gotten within the last ten years... Coca-Cola and the Breyer Horse Stirrup ornament.  Breyer has a new Stirrup ornament each year.  This one happens to be the 2001 ornament.

I like to get Eric ornaments too.  He has several hunting, fishing, and construction ornaments on our tree.

Both of our girls have Pooh Bear ornaments from their first Christmas.  I have several Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ornaments.  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is my all time favorite kid's Christmas movie.  I looked forward to watching it every year as a kid growing up.  I like watching it with my girls now.

Of course we have Kansas State University ornaments on our tree. Go Wildcats!

This fun personalized ornament was made for us by my cousin's wife.  It has a special meaning because 2009 was our first Christmas together, in our new home, as a family with both of our girls. 

Another type of ornament and Christmas decoration that I like is anything with NOEL on it.  Noel is my middle name and one of my favorite Christmas songs is The First Noel. 

The first Noel the angel did say,

was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay:

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

Born is the King of Israel.