I love my dog!

Every December in Cincinnati they have an annual Reindog parade, it is such fun!
If you want to see what it's like, check it out:


We picked up Mickey's outfit today...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
I think he likes it : )

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE this time of year. I love looking at the Christmas tree glowing in our living room at night. I love shopping for presents for loved ones, and wrapping them. I love walking to the mailbox and getting Christmas cards. I love driving around with the family at night in search of pretty houses all decorated with lights (we did this last night). I love all of the wonderful things that the Cincinnati area has to offer this time of year.
This morning I went with the kids and my mom to the Shriner's Hospital Gingerbread House Display Contest, it was wonderful. Here are some pictures of our favorites:
They had a Gingerbread house in the Culinary Arts Competition area that was the "UP" House, loved it!


This was a pretty one:



This one was of Findlay Market, the attention to detail was amazing. It was in the professional category.

There were sooooo many houses, they blew me away. If this blogger photo upload was any quicker I would upload them all, but I digress.........

We had such a great time looking at all of the houses and voting for our favorites. Then we got back into the car and headed over to another Cincinnati treasure, Krohn Conservatory. The pointsettas were just beautiful!
The kids and I in front of the pretty flowers:


Mom and the kids in front of the pointsetta tree:


The live nativity scene they have outside wasn't open today,they said it will be on the 11th so we'll have to return.

So much more things to look forward to and displays to see. On our list are the downtown displays, Holiday in Lights drive through at Sharon Woods, Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo, the Reindog parade (gotta look for an outfit for Mickey for this one), seeing a Nutcracker performance and a live Christmas Carol performance at the Aronoff center, and a new one to try: Neiderman farm. Another tradition of ours is sitting around the Christmas tree and sipping on hot chocolate with the kids while we tell Christmas stories. You can't forget all of the holiday baking and decorating to come too, just LOVE this time of year. I hope you are enjoying it with your families too!
-Lesley

Answering Life's Difficult Questions

Tonight Lauren and I went to a local pottery store to create a special gift for someone who will remain nameless in fear they may read the blog. On our way there Lauren talked my ear off in typical Lauren fashion (no radio is required when you are in the car alone with Lauren). As we drove around she started talking about how much she missed preschool. When I asked her why she missed it she of course mentioned her teacher and then she said "I also miss talking about Jesus at school, why can't we talk about Jesus in Kindergarten". Wow, that question blew me away....... I started talking about the difference between public and private school to my inquiring 6 year old (most of which I thought would go over her head) and explained to her that is why we go to church on Sunday, so she can learn about and talk about Jesus because they don't do that in a public school. She did not seem satisfied by my answer, and more questions kept arising.
I didn't want to tell her yet in her young mind that not all people are believers, seems a difficult subject to broach with your 6 year old when she still believes in Santa Claus and what a huge bottle of worms that will open up when she questions that, will she automatically question her belief in Jesus as well?
These are the subjects I wish I had a parenting manual for. Anyone want to write one?

It costs HOW much!?!

This year, my school district switched from traditional medical insurance to a Health Savings Account. We have a 4000 dollar deductable we have to meet (the district threw in 2000 towards that deductable). Up until the deductible is met we pay for EVERYTHING at cost. After the deductible is met you pay for nothing.
This is an interest bearing account and it is YOUR money, so what you don't spend rolls into the next year, etc. I was hoping I wouldn't meet our deductible this year so some money would roll into the account next year since the district isn't putting as much in towards the deductable next year. Well....... now I'm thinking that isn't going to happen. I've gone to the doctor a few times, kids a few times, and each appointment has averaged around $125. Well, today I took Luke to the eye doctor and it was $375!!! WOW!!! I didn't anticipate that. Tim has prescriptions to fill next month and I've been calling around and it's averaging around $375 for ONE months supply. It's funny in this country how when we have health insurance we just blindly hand over the card and don't have a clue what the medical professionals and medication companies are charging us........ well, my eyes have been opened and I don't like what I see.

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and as I sit here my head is spinning with all I am thankful for this year........... isn't that a WONDERFUL feeling.
I am most thankful for my relationship with my Lord and savior and my salvation and his undying GRACE. I know that it is because of him that I so thankful and blessed.

I am thankful for my wonderful marriage of 11 years. Being married to my best friend is an awesome feeling. I am thankful for his constant support and love, for always making me laugh even when I want to cry, his devotion to me and our children, and for just being the outstanding man that he is- LOVE my husband!


I am thankful for my two outstanding children.

I am truly thankful for their health and well being and their individual personalities that make me smile and proud to be their mother on a daily basis. They are AMAZING children and make my job as their mom an easy one.


I am thankful for my parents.

I was blessed by having two incredible parents growing up and they now have turned into friends and there isn't anything better than that. I talk to my mom almost every single day and I am thankful for that friendship and her support and for dad's listening ear and advice whenever I need it. More than that, I am thankful for the examples they gave to me of parenting, marriage and struggles that were life lessons for me that have molded me into the person that I am today.

I am thankful for my brother and his wife (my sister n' law) and the baby that they will have here in the next month or so.

I am already an aunt to many nieces and nephews on Tim's side whom I love dearly, but am SO incredibly excited to meet my first blood nephew for the very first time. I hope a lot of babysitting is in my near future, I desperately need a baby fix!

I am thankful for my extended family. Tim is one of seven children and that is a lot of family, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters in law and parents n' law, or as my mother n' law puts it "Mother n' Love, not law". They are wonderful to me and have always excepted me into their family as one of their own and for that I am truly thankful. (there are so MANY of them, I chose one picture of Tim's mom with Lauren to represent the whole crew below):



I am thankful for all of the friends that I have, the old and the very new. It is funny how with time friends change because your interests change and how some stay true and how you cherish those relationships. We have made very new friendships this past year and it has been wonderful watching those develop and I am truly thankful for what they have already become and how much they will grow in years to come.

I am thankful for the wonderful children that the Lord has blessed me to work with on a daily basis. I am not going to lie, being a special education teacher is a STRUGGLE on a daily basis and takes a every single bit of my time and energy at work every day but I LOVE those children with all of my heart. I know the Lord blessed me with a gift and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for my staff that works with me every day - they are not paid much and they are the most dedicated bunch of women I know and I love them for that and am truly thankful for their hard work daily!

I am thankful for our home, shelter, Christmas presents that are purchased and ready to be given downstairs, our family pets who bring me joy (and headaches at time) I do love them so! Thankful for our cars to drive, money in our bank account and job security.
I am extremely thankful the various trips we have been able to take this past year and have planned to take in the upcoming year.
Disney:

Gatlinburg:

Kiawah Island:

Grand Haven Michigan:



Disney for Halloween:



It boggles my mind every time I think about it.

So yes, I have a LOT to be thankful for in 2009. Thank you for being a part of our lives. I pray that you have a wonderful, magical, memorable Thanksgiving this year and that you take time to remember everything you are thankful for!

MIA

Wow, I have been MIA for a while, life has been speedily passing me by lately. A lot has occured since I last posted.
We enjoyed Lauren's cheerleading season, and Luke and Lauren's soccer seasons, those have quickly wrapped up and now Lauren has started girl scouts (which she is THRILLED about) and Luke is starting Upwards basketball.
Minnie has adjusted to her new home nicely:

We just got back from a FANTASTIC trip to Disney World where we were able to enjoy Disney in the cooler temperatures of October and experience new things. Tim and I LOVED Food and Wine Festival for the first time:


And as a family we enjoyed Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party, that was WONDERFUL!

We then came back to the reality of school and work and life, but are enjoying the unseasonably warmer temperatures this year, lots of time outside and sunshine which has been nice for this time of year.
Tim and I have become more active in our new church in the Children's ministry so that has been wonderful.
The kids are both having great years in school and learning a lot, they have a great school with excellent teachers and for that I am truly thankful.
Lauren celebrated her 6th birthday:

I can't believe how fast they are growing. I still cherish every single hug from them and remind myself daily how lucky I am to be their mom. I know the days too soon will be gone where Lauren says "mommy, wanna play with me!?" or Luke begs me to snuggle with him (which now happens daily with both of them). I just feel so blessed to be their mom.
So, life is marching on in our household and we are excited for the upcoming holiday season, so much to look forward too, trying to get the most out of each and every day.

My husbands incredible creativity

My son Luke is OBSESSED with all things Mario Brothers right now. It is fun for my husband to watch because it reminds him of himself growing up with his video game obsessions. I LOVE HOW CREATIVE MY HUSBAND IS.
He told Luke that they would create a Mario Brothers Board game together, and that is exactly what he did. I came home from work today to this:


He even created the two Main characters (Mario and Luigi) so he and Luke could play:


They are playing the game as I type this and it is so cute to hear them talking over the rules of play and to watch the game come to life. These are the days that I'm sure Luke will look back on his childhood and remember......... what fun!