Mary the Destroyer

So Mary's new thing is to get into the kitchen cabinets. Copying the design layout of Jenny R...

What? Just looking for a little Tupperware for leftovers.

How about this pretty pink measuring cup? Anyone?

Well, while I'm in here...how about looking through ALL mom's recipes for some good eats?



Found one! It's a recipe for lemonade. (For real. That's the one she chose.)

And this nonsense happens about every other day. Some would say "put locks on your doors". Bah! This is free babysitting!

Merry Christmas from the Ourslers!

I love that at Christmas my kids actually focus more on Jesus than Santa. We have several nativity sets around the house and they love to look at them. Our favorite is an interactive set called "What God Wants for Christmas". Each night for the week leading up to Christmas, one boy opens a present and places a member of the nativity story into the manger scene. There is a book that we read each night that speaks of that night's character and their role in the Christmas story. At the end of each page it says, "What God wants for Christmas? It's to you a surprise. In box #7 it is disguised. But no peeking--be patient. For this you must wait. It's what you offer Him and it's really great." In box #7 is a little mirror so that the kids know that God wants them for Christmas. I love the tradition of opening this little box on Christmas Eve and remembering that the reason God sent His Son was to get me! I am His present. How awesome is that?

Tomorrow morning we'll release balloons to Jesus for His birthday. The boys love it.

Merry Christmas everyone. May God bless you and your family as you celebrate this time. May your kids know that God loves them so much that He sent Jesus to them on Christmas day.

End of an era

I thought I would be really sad about today, but, surprisingly I am not. I guess I am ready to start a new time for our family of "big kid" time. I know that Mary still has some catching up to do to the boys but I look forward to the next chapter of our family. I love having a baby in the house but I truly feel God has blessed our family with the exact right children at the exact right time. It's my dream family. And, the boys could not possibly love anyone more than they love little Mary.

So, it's the end of an era for the Ourslers but the beginning of a great new one as well. I am thankful for my wonderful husband and his willingness to do this today. He's a trooper. I have frozen peas waiting for him when he returns.