Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

I had no idea.

Sure, let’s have a gingerbread house building contest, Tot! No prob! Little did I know.

The gathering of supplies was the first step. Then, I had to figure out how to make them so I could empower Daddy and Tot with what was next. The graham crackers became my nemesis.

You see, these are great foundations for the house, but you have to get them in certain squares and triangles to have them fit just right. THEN..yes, you need to get them glued together. To make the “glue” icing , you need powdered sugar, meringue powder and water. OH, this was a big fail as it was so runny, but it did stick. I’m glad I found out I needed to build these early because they would need to dry before we decorated.

So I got to work. My little houses basically became tented A-frames vs a real house. But…alas. I broke down after my glue fail and bought some vanilla frosting for them to use for decorations. I also bought a bunch of candies for the decorations. Tot would sneak a few bites, I knew it!

I got us all set up!

Frosting? Check. In a piping bag? Check. Plates? Check. Paper towels? Check. candies? Check. Extra candy? Check. Christmas music? Check. My brain? Oh, that was fried a while ago getting this thing set up.

We are ready!!!

It wasn’t hard to get Tot to start. She was salivating.

Ok this is really fun!

The finished product.

Look how fun her house is! Daddy’s is so architectuaully aesthetic.

and mine…

Now for the winner!!??

Tot’s won because we all agreed we’d rather live in her house; it was the most sugary sweet and delightful. (in the front)

Next year I will know what NOT to do. WE will enjoy our little houses through the Christmas season.

Last year it was canceled due to COVID, so this year would not disappoint. Tatum would be in the beginning of the show as Donner, and OH is she cute!
First, there was SO much work that went into this production. They start in the summer, and they put their ALL into it. It’s a huge outreach for SBC as so many get the meaning of Christmas through this show. Every year, it sells out! This was probably the best one yet.

This year, they had a little elf, Stillwell, do the emceeing.

How cute! He was so funny and truly lightened up the beginning.

They opened the show with singing and dancing,

and many screens of different Christmas scenes.

Tatum would be coming out soon! Here are many different moments; SHE WARMED THE HEARTS of every one!

After her cute performance, onto some amazing singing from FROZEN.

The meaning of Christmas was weaved through the show leading up to the BIRTH of our Savior.

This song was about those who feel loss at Christmas. You are never alone when you have HIM!

Later, EMMANUEL! Spectacular.

We are leading into the procession. Goats involved!

And OH….the baby.

EVERYTHING changed the minute our Savior was born. Hope arises.

This lovely girl sang Oh Holy Night (one of my favs)

She reminds me of what Tot might look like in a few years.

Her voice is angelic.

Rustin gave the message; truly heart-felt. We prayed for Austin to truly HEAR it. Overcoming; especially when you hit rock bottom. Jesus is waiting to pick you up. COME AS YOU ARE> He loves you and wants to rescue you from your bondage to sin.

We all need it. Ethan sang more at the end.

Magnificent, AWESOME, Glorious. The show made so many cry with joy and hopefully with reuniting back to HIM.

Austin, I love you. We continue to pray for you to COME HOME to HIM.

Now with Daddy! He loves you so much!

Tatum only had one more show after this group pic. TEN shows! WOW!
So proud of you sweet girl.

She is ready for a bigger part next year. I told her she had to start somewhere! She’ll never forget being a reindeer as her first part. She was the best one too!

Family in front of the tree. AAAHHH family. My happy place.

What a wonderful time of year. Thank you SBC. Thank you family. I love you!

I love this time of year with all the lights, festive attitudes, and gratitudes.

First, as you know, Tatum is in Winter Wonder this year. She is so busy going to practices, but it sure is paying off! Whenever we greet at church, they recognize her and tell her how lovely she is. We get more out of greeting than they get, I think! I love loving on people Sunday mornings!
One of the couples who we see weekly wanted to give Tatum a gift. Now this was not just any gift! She made this when she was a little girl due to her love of horses. Tina and Tommy were so kind to give it to Tot.

WOW!!!!

She brought it home and we had to find a place to put it.

She made this wonderful THANK YOU

So this made us rearrange her bedroom. AND, this made me want to get her a desk. In the meantime, we repurposed this table and moved her other dollhouse into the art room. Now she has her own little space. She stocked her desk full of supplies and reading material.

She is growing up! Desks make you feel so mature. And studious!

Meanwhile, in the front yard, Doug is decorating! He allowed me to get this Nativity scene, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Look at it lit up!
I love the mini palm tree….and the lighting.

Look at the whole house lit up! What a delight, literally.

THE JOY!
We also had a little surprise for TOT this year. HER VERY OWN CHRISTMAS TREE to decorate and build memories from.

Each year we’ll buy her an ornament so she’ll have wonderful memories.

Let’s put the first two on.

Merry Christmas, my little angel.

It’s going to be a Jesus-focused, lit up brightly Christmas.

Stay tuned for more to come.

Cancelled last year, this year was much anticipated! Tatum was part of an “ensemble” so it was even more exciting this time.

Daddy and Tot posed in front of our fountain.

She wanted to take a picture of daddy on her watch.

Wait for it….

Now the mommy..

And my HHH

WE match!
Ok so we got to school on time, but first we had din din at Chik-Fil-A. Not usually do we eat out, so it was a treat.

When we got to school, all of Tot’s friends crowded around for a smile.

They look so festive.

We had to hunt for a seat, but we had some luck on the side! I would sneak up and get pics when she would be on. Here is the program.

PEACE. This is the theme of the school this year. THE ONLY way to get peace is through a relationship with Christ (which is reconciliation with our FATHER!)

Tatum will be in the ensemble for Tell Me the Story!

She looks so poised and pretty!

Her buddy Sebastian had a solo here.

The evening was delightful! We ended with a hot fudge sundae bar at home.

I bought something new this year:
ADVENT BLOCKS. We wanted to count down to Jesus birth this year vs. countdown to “presents.” Let’s focus on the reason for the season.

Tatum celebrated with an updo too. Truly a puzzle.

Every morning we do the devotion and pray. We decided in December to use the Advent blocks to. make each day countdown and COUNT!

Here they are all lined up. I heard this Pastor named Clayton on Family Life Today. He created these, and I just had to get them!

We read day one which was about the BEGINNING with Adam and Eve and the fall. What was the picture today?

An apple!

God’s plan of redemption started the first day SIN was introduced. He wants to bring the dark into the light and make the wrongs right.

Speaking of apples, Coopy is the apple of our eye, so he gets an advent calendar too!

The first day is……wait for it….

A STAR is born!

and gone.

We can’t wait for the rest of December. He is coming!

We celebrated a day early because Doug usually has his men’s group on Tuesday. So Tot and I prepared a nice dinner for our love!

But first, the ever popular puppet show starring Scaredy Squirrel, Gerald and Piggie. AND NO WHITE FLUFFY THING this year! Scaredy Squirrel (now named “Bravey” teaches Piggie and Gerald about overcoming their fears!)

Tatum made him a placemat and cards, and I added some candles.

I also made him pork loin with maple mustard sauce, roasted brussel sprouts, and butternut squash. Salad and wine of course!

He seemed pretty surprised!

WE had nice conversation about our gratitude journals, and then, time for Tot’s presents. She spent time on her gift to him; A LEGO ROCKET pencil holder!

We love you so my dear HHH!!! XXOO