If the Shoe{box} Fits...

...{pack} it!



I can't say it enough...and I hope you can't hear enough, because I will say it again...I love my MOPS group and I am so thankful to be part of such a wonderful, supportive group of moms! Yesterday our MOPS group contributed to the awesome Operation Christmas Child project! I've always wanted to give to this amazing organization, and thanks to Aubrey and the other beautiful moms who lead our MOPS group, they helped organize MOPS Gives Back. We were able to pack twelve boxes full of toiletries, candy, toys, pencils, paper, socks, shirts...and so many fun items for twelve children to receive on Christmas! Not only will they enjoy opening their boxes full of surprises, but they will also receive the blessing of Jesus and the hope to know Him as their Saviour! It was an amazing feeling to be a part of this, and I only wish that we could be there to see those beautiful faces when the children open their boxes! I get overwhelmed knowing that our little boxes can make such a huge impact on their lives!




Not only did we pack boxes, each group also made a blanket to give to our local hospital's birthing center to cover the isolettes of newborn babies!




It was a great day of giving back, having fun, and leaving full of joy!

I love my MOPS group!

{Now go find out where you can drop off a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child in your area! Mimi does, and so does Pam! Be a blessing!}

Wordless Wednesday {Purr-fect Pair}

"Not Me!" Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and so many others have not been doing this week!

Halloween did not come and go already...which means it is not time to start thinking about the holidays ahead! Whew...can we stop time...or slow it down! No? So I do not move ahead then...thinking that it is not time to start thinking about those dreaded fun Christmas card pictures! Because the sun was shining and it was beautiful outside the other day...I did not bribe Emily with Play-doh time if she would let me take a few snapshots! She loves getting all dressed up and standing in the weeds for pictures...and does not protest it at all!






{Here's a peek of some with Alex too I probably won't use...but I took so many and only a few are worthy!}




Emily is not so excited to be Student of the Week this week at school! She has not been talking about it all weekend...I don't think that is so cute and so fun for her! {I do not wish they could stay in Kindergarten forever!} Speaking of school...I have not had to think outside of the box once again...


Emily's class is not having a Drive-in Movie day in which all the students have to create a car to sit in. This is not my best work {true!} but Emily was in charge of this one! It was not all her idea to cover it all in paper so she could color it with roses making it a delivery car for Emily's Rose Shop! She will not have a wonderful time 'driving' up to the snack bar and buying treats as she watches the movie! {I so do not want to go! But there is not a box big enough for me, I'm sure!}



{She did not sit in it all weekend with her pillows, stuffed animals and blankets and watch tv!}

And...because Emily is so stylish and never leaves the house with nothing but her Sunday best on...she certainly was not wearing this ensemble to go to her ice-skating lesson...a sparkly orange pumpkin shirt {after Halloween} polka dot pants, and winter Princess boots {in 70-degree temps}!


What parent would let their child go out looking like that anyway? Not me, that's for sure!

Happy, happy Monday!

"You're Gonna Miss This...Moment" Seeing is Believing

Time to join Pam and share the moments we're going to miss one day...because life is so short! Sometimes it's hard to find those moments among our busy schedules, but that's what I love about participating in this...it makes me stop and think about it and appreciate them so much more!

Alex and Emily got their school pictures back this week...and Alex has changed so much in one year! I know it's happening before my very own eyes, but to see last year's school picture and this year's side by side just proved it! His face has gone from a little round Charlie Brown face to a much thinner one with a longer jaw line! What happened? Emily has not changed as much...she is such a little petite thing, but I really miss her curls! I don't want to believe that they are growing up so fast...but seeing their pictures shows me that this must be true...{sigh} They are growing this very second, and I can't make it stop!

Alex and Emily made their Christmas lists this week, and although they circled everything in the toy catalog, Alex narrowed his list down to 13 and Emily cut out a few and glued them on her paper. One thing she would love to have is a new bunk bed from Pottery Barn Kids to put in our family room so she can have sleepovers! Well...at least they already know that Santa does not bring them everything on their list! I will miss the day when they stop believing in Santa and making their Christmas lists. I love what they come up with and feel their joy when they believe in Santa's sleigh visiting our house and surprising them with goodies! I hope that they will believe for a long, long time!


{I'll also miss when the Tooth Fairy stops visiting our house...just look at that smile!}

What will you miss? Don't forget to stop by Pam's and share your special moment with us...you may already be missing it this instant...it happens just that fast!

"Poodles, Poodle Skirts and Unicorns..."

"...oh my!"

I couldn't resist these super cute costumes half-off at Target! Emily will love playing dress up with them and will have some fun choices for Halloween next year!










{I couldn't resist playing along too! You know I'm still a kid at heart...if only I felt and looked as such! I'm positive Emily will not at all be embarrassed by this some day!}

Wordless Wednesday {An Apple a Day...Keeps the Doctor Tooth Away!}

{okay...the apple didn't actually work...Daddy had to pull it, again! But Alex tried and tried! Goodbye tooth #four!}

I ♥ Faces - Week 43 "Balloons"

I ♥ Faces is a photography site focused on the art of capturing faces and their various emotions. Each week, people from across the world have the opportunity to enter their favorite face photos into two categories ~ kids and adults, and sometimes pets!

This week's theme at I ♥ Faces is balloons...and we all probably think of birthdays when we think of balloons! I actually did not have any good shots of my kids with balloons at their birthday parties! I decided on this picture of Emily on her 5th birthday. This year she had a magician perform...complete with Harry, the magically appearing rabbit...and balloon crowns for all the girls! I know it doesn't even show well in this photo, but that is what she is wearing on her newly-crowned-5-year-old head!


I just like it because I just ♥ her big brown eyes!

Go check out all the amazing entries over at I ♥ Faces and if you'd like to join us just click here! It's easy to enter, not so easy to win {so many great photos}! But lots of fun!