Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

Lexi Kate loves to help me in the kitchen and she loves to help me decorate and get things together for parties, she especially loves to help me bake. She is also very perceptive at this age, and understands a great deal about Jesus and what actually happened at Christmas. So, I decided to start a new tradition this year to further instill what all the celebration is about this time of year. Today, we made a Happy Birthday Jesus cake. My "plan" was to use the original story of the candy cane to talk about the cake we were making. So, we did a strawberry cake to represent Jesus and the blood He would eventually shed to cover our sins. Lexi Kate was okay with that choice, but was especially excited because strawberry is her favorite cake. I tried to get her to focus on the story, but I must remember she is only 4 and we are just planting seeds here.... We used white icing to represent the purity of Jesus, the plainness of his birth and lifestyle. My intention was to keep the icing plain white, simple. Then, just write "Happy Birthday Jesus" in green. I wanted to use green to symbolize new growth and hope we have in Jesus. Lexi Kate talks alot about being ready for spring to see the fresh green leaves and pretty things growing, so I thought she would get this. Lexi Kate was good with that. However, she was not good with the plain white icing being it. She insisted we add sprinkles to the cake. I went back over why we used plain white. But, she kept insisting that Jesus was the greatest person ever, and He certainly deserved sprinkles on His cake. And, she wanted to make His cake super special all by herself. So, I let go of my need to control the situation, and decorate the cake myself and handed her the jar of Christmas Sprinkles. She was so proud of herself. She was so proud, she insisted I set the cake on the floor and let her take the picture herself.

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank you for giving us the greatest gift we will ever receive. We hope you enjoyed the worship we put forth in making your cake. I know we will enjoy the cake. And, Lexi Kate says you may get a little sick in her heart because she plans on filling you up with that cake she puts in her tummy. (Again, remember she is 4- but she is precious!)

Day 1 = Success!

After everyone constantly telling us we should sell our stuff or do this for a living- we have taken the plunge! Lanesia and I have created Our Swanky Designs and our now customizing products to sell. Making a living may be a stretch, but at least we are making money. So, be on the lookout for more information.

Today was our "first official day" and we made 2 sales. Woo Hoo! We will be customizing a facebook and blog page, so keep your eyes open- and tell your friends.



You can see more of our creations on facebook.

Two's company, three's a crowd

After today, I have decided this statement must have been first stated by a mother of 3 children. I kept my 5 year old niece today. So, that made 3 kids that wanted to play. Guess what happened- someone was always left out, and that someone was always pitching a fit. It wasn't the same one all day, but no matter what was going on someone didn't have a partner.

So, my advice for mom's of 2 children considering having another- make sure you have twins. Life is much easier when everyone has a playmate. On second thought, if you already have 2 kids- maybe you should call it a day. Four kids is alot of racket, and poop to clean up. I have friends that can attest to that.

Surely, Mary Didn't Know

"Mary Did You Know"
[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?
Mary did you know..
The blind will see.The deaf will hear.The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.The dumb will speak. The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

One of my favorite Holiday songs is "Mary Did You Know". I think I first fell in love with that song when one of my best friends sang it at a Christmas program in high school. I have always thought about the words, and whether or not Mary knew anything related to her baby boy at all. For example, how many times in your life have you known God was calling you to do something, and you followed through with the action, but you really didn't understand what all was involved and how it would turn out in 10 years....

Well, now that I am a mother, and more specifically a mother of a baby boy born at Christmas. I have to believe Mary didn't know. I think we would all like to claim that we would have faith like Mary, surrender to the virgin birth process, and raise a son surrending him to Ministry, and maybe be willing for him to save our sons and daughters. But, here is where I have to aruge Mary didn't have a clue. Becuase, as a mother I am here to tell you there is no way a woman agrees to carry, deliver, and raise a child only to watch him be crucified to save us from our sins. If God was to tell me that in order to save ME, You, your sons, your daugthers from going to Hell; I would have to watch my Sam die on a cross. Guess what- we are all aboard the Hell express. I am not kidding, not even remotely trying to be funny. I would not have bothered getting pregnant and delivering that precious child, and raising him for even 15 minutes if I knew I had to watch him die, especially hanging on a cross.

I hate to say that, but I am human. And, Mary was human too. The minute Jesus, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, was delivered from her uterus she became an earthly mother. And, you haven't seen fight until a momma has to protect her baby boy- even if he is 33 years old. Let me just tell you, starving momma bear watching someone trying to capture her cub hasn't got anything on me if you come near my Sam, my baby boy, with a cross. As much as his daddy would love for him to be a Marine, I am going to be just like Jeff's mom and fight like hell. I don't want to risk him dying in battle, even to protect our country. Mother's, even Mary, couldn't knowingly do that.

That makes this story/song even more precious. Because, as much as NO MOTHER IN THE WORLD could watch thier baby boy be crucified; Mary did it. She may not have known what it all meant when that angel first told her that she was going to have a baby boy, but she delivered. She gave up her son for us, each one of us. If there is ever a time to believe in Christ, Christmas is that time. We get all wrapped up in buying the perfect present, wrapping it perfectly, and having the perfect meal. We don't deserve a bit of that.... we were given the only gift we will ever need thousands of years ago.

Mary, you didn't know. But, I do know. What you did was amazingly remarkable. I have no idea how you brought yourself to watch your son be crucified. I have to believe that God gave you a supernatural peace about what was taking place; but, I still don't think I could have done it. Thank you for that gift! Thank you Jesus for being that gift, that ensures I need nothing more in my life. And, thank you for my children, that helps me understand even better what an amazing gift we have.

Choo-Choo Sam is turning 2!

Because in my infinite wisdom and serious planning, we had a baby the day after Christmas. Great, convenient idea, right? Well, let's just say I wouldn't reccommend trying it on purpose. But, we are very thankful for our most precious day after Christmas present ever.

But, for convenience sake, we decided to celebrate his birthday a little early this year. We had Sam's 2nd Birthday party at Peek A Boo Playtown in Cool Springs on Saturday, December 4. It is a fun little place for the kids to play, but if you are planning a birthday party there, I highly recommend you paying the extra money to rent both rooms and have a totally private party. Sam loved playing with all his friends, the only problem was gettting the kids to stop playing and come have cake and pizza.

Sam loved all of his presents. His favorites have seemed to be the remote control car and tricycle.

A few things I learned today

1)If your 23 month old sleeps 2 hours later than normal, it is definately too good to be true.

2)If you have a baby sitter coming & a day packed full of things that must get done, above 23 month old will probably be sick.

3)If your 23 month old starts puking at breakfast, it totally changes your entire plan for the day.

4)It only seems like a good idea to hang Christmas lights by yourself with a 23 month old & 4 year old running around outside.

5)I am not very good at hanging outside Christmas lights. I am even worse when doing it with 2 small children helping me.

6)There is no good way to hang Christmas lights on a 7 foot holly bush.

7)It may look a little red neck for my neighborhood, but the ridicule of the neighbors is worth the excitement from my kids when they saw the tree house decorated with garland and lights. Don't get too worried- plain green garland and white lights.

8)Customer service is an industry of the past. I ordered Sam's bedding- it came in without the pillow sham. They sent me a new pillowsham- that doesn't match. But, they want me to pay to ship back the pillow sham that matches their discontinued bedding....

9)My laundry does not fold itself, depsite me doing my best nose wiggle and wishing all morning.

10)My husband thinks I am a super hero wife when I just take the time to give him a kiss & fix his lunch in the middle of running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I should probably stop and pay attention to him a little more often.

11) Sometimes it is worth getting a runny nose- the kids & I had a blast running & playing outside, then having a picnic on the back porch. Probably a little cold & windy, but I bet they will live.

Daddy knows the Po-Po

For those of you are my friend on facebook, you probably saw my post this morning. But, for a little more detail on the story.

We were eating dinner at CiCi's pizza last night, and Jeff at random decided to take LK to the 7:00 movie to see Tangled/Rapunzel. I was a little unsure with this being right before bed, but I decided to live a little and let them go. Well, all 50ish people in CiCi's pizza knew within 30 seconds that she was going to the movie. I love her enthusiasm. So, Jeff dropped Sam and me off at home and they went to the movie.

I enjoyed a quiet night at home and put the little man to bed early. I was in bed stuffing Christmas cards in their envelopes when I heard them come home. LK immediately came running into the room to tell me she had so much fun. When I asked her to tell me about the movie, she said, "Well, first let me tell you what happened after the movie.... We were almost home and Daddy had too much gas in his foot. We saw some blue lights and they made us get stuck on the side of the road. The officer came up to our window and gave daddy a yellow piece of paper. But, Daddy didn't get a ticket because Daddy knows the Po-Po." I couldn't help but bust out laughing! Praying that daddy really didn't get a ticket, because I have much better uses for that $150. LK eventually told me about the movie, but she was more excited to tell me about daddy getting in trouble.

Turns out, a fairy tale type movie isn't a good idea before bedtime. LK wasn't really scared, she just kept waking up asking questions about it. She is SOOOO stinking smart. Concepts that other kids wouldn't even catch on to, she totally processes and wants to get to the very bottom of it. I don't know if I should be thankful or terrified....