The Weber Family News

What I Want to Remember from Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

1. I had all 4 of my grandparents under one roof for Christmas Eve.
2. On Christmas Morning the big girls were more excited about the gifts they were giving than the gifts they were getting, and insisted that Tony and I open our gifts first.
3. Allison's excitement over each item in her stocking and as she took out each one she had to come show us.
4. The candlelight singing of Silent Night at the Christmas Eve service, especially to watch my growing up Megan holding her candle next to her great grandma and grandpa.
5. A quiet moment in the middle of Christmas Day with Allison napping, Tony reading the book I got him for his birthday, and the big girls playing with their gifts and each other. (While mommy blogs before I crack open my new Karen Kingsbury book from Santa.)
6. The excited look on M & E's faces as they came to the landing on the stairs to ask if it was ok to come down on Christmas morning (in their matching nightgowns).
7. Grammy showing up with a box full of gifts even though she said she wasn't shopping this year. She just couldn't help herself on December 23rd.
8. Holding my baby niece during the Christmas Eve service during her first Christmas.
9. Watching my uncle play "This is the way the ladies ride" with my girls, just like he did with me many, many years ago.
10. Seeing Tony's cunningness to get the gift he wanted in the family gift exchange game.
11. Giving up the gift I wanted so that I could get the gift Emily wanted in the family gift exchange game.
12. Trying to hide the PG-13 name of the perfume Tony got me so that the girls couldn't read it and ask about it. (I'll give you a hint. It's from Estee Lauder.)
13. That M & E truly appreciated the gifts of their quilts from Amma and understood the work that a gift like that entailed. They loved them so much, that even in their sleepy state after driving home that night, it was the gift that they both asked for once we got home because they wanted to sleep with them.
14. That I spent Christmas Day wearing a necklace that Emily made me from her bead kit and ornament earrings that Megan bought with her own money from the Girl Scout Bazaar, and even chose my Christmas Day outfit around my new jewelry.
15. Uncle Tom and Aunt Laura's homemade spaghetti and meatballs on Christmas Day using Grandma K's recipe.
16. Allison's excitment as we looked at Christmas lights on our drive home at the end of the night.
17. Megan playing "Joy to the World" on the piano as we all sang along.

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

2011-12-10T07:06:00.001-07:00

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One Year Ago: Our Referral Day

2011-05-06T06:24:00.004-07:00

One year ago we fell in love with a picture in our e-mail. And now she is home and a perfect part of our family.

You can relive the whirlwind of those days with us here:
http://weberadoptionstory.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

More Easter

2011-04-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

More Easter celebrations! On Saturday we had lunch and Easter baskets and an egg hunt with Tony and Ryan's mom and grandma. It was a beautiful Arizona spring day (which our family from the Midwest appreciated and soaked up the sun).

Egg Dying

2011-04-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

I saw a friend post that her kids weren't interested in dying eggs this year, and it made my heart sad to think of my babies growing up, so I want to capture and treasure each moment that we have while they are still young.

We were especially blessed this year to have Tony's brother and his family here with us for Easter, so we went all out with our egg dying. We had 6 kids and 4 adults and 4 dozen eggs. And we had a great time.

The Hunt

2011-04-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

Our time at Amma and Papa's also included an egg hunt. Don't you just love the bright metallic eggs? Allison was totally into it even before she found out there was chocolate inside each one.

What a wonderful time. Thanks Amma and Papa! And we already have way too much candy for three little girls and a mommy and daddy who are trying to eat healthier. And we haven't even gotten to Easter Sunday yet.

Easter Celebrations

2011-04-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

Next weekend we will be celebrating Easter with Tony's family, so we had our celebration with my family on Palm Sunday at my parents house. What blessings! In less than a year my parents doubled their grandkids (all girls!) with Allison and my niece Cheyenne.

Easter Cuties

2011-04-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

I love being a mom of girls. Especially when it comes to special occasions like Easter and Easter dresses. We will be spending next weekend with Tony's family who is coming to visit from out of town (yay!), so we celebrated Easter with my family today. But first, we stopped for a mini photo shoot in their Easter dresses. (Because that's what happens when your mom is a photographer. You'll thank me when you're older--I hope.)

Allison has really turned a corner, and walks about half the time on her own free will. I think having a big fluffy dress encouraged that today (it made crawling more difficult) but she is well on her way, and she is so proud of herself when she walks and will take as much praise and attention as she can get.

6 Months

2011-04-17T09:19:00.001-07:00

Today marks 6 months since Allison came home. It's been 6 months of transition and adjusting. Struggles and joy. Tears and laughter. But it's been wonderful and we adore our sweet baby girl. On one hand I can hardly believe that it's already been 6 months, but at the same time it feels like we've always had her.
We love you to the moon and back sweet Allison.

CCM: circa 2011: day 15

2011-04-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

It might surprise you that I used to rock out to DC Talk in the day (but then again, maybe it won't).

But I think TobyMac is still fun. Fun music to blast with my homies (aka: my sweet girls).

CCM: circa 2011: day 14

2011-04-14T05:11:00.004-07:00

I love that there is Christian music that's for "fun", but also that I've been filling my days with true worship. Remember His greatness through the week, not just on Sunday morning.

CCM: circa 2011: day 13

2011-04-13T04:35:00.002-07:00

We ended our service at church on Sunday with the song, and it keeps playing in my mind. I am reminded that too often we settle that things are how they are and that's that. But it isn't what God wants, and it breaks His heart. What can you do to share His compassion to your world?

CCM: circa 2011: day 12

2011-04-12T03:58:00.003-07:00

Upbeat. Fun. Catchy. Plus a good message to be reminded of through the day. Kind of an updated "Father's Eyes" (which is one of my all time favorites).

Enjoy.

CCM: circa 2011: day 11

2011-04-11T03:37:00.002-07:00

What a crazy few weeks I've had. We headed to Disneyland for Spring Break as a surprise for the girls, then when we came back I was sick, then Emily's birthday, and on it goes. So I got out of the habit of posting songs, but I have still been listening to Christian music. And I'm going to try to pick back up sharing new songs that I'm hearing.

This is one that's really popular, and sometimes when it gets popular it gets played too much and gets old. But the message is great, and I have to share it just in case you haven't heard it yet.

More Walking

2011-04-09T18:54:00.001-07:00

Allison walking is kinda a big deal around here. Our entire family gets involved at cheerleaders. We all become paparazzi. And food is her major motivator (specifically apple cinnamon toddler cookies).

We had more steps tonight than ever. She is well on her way. Way to go Allison!

Allison's First Steps

2011-04-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

Sweet Alli is taking her sweet little time to become a walker. Knowing her personalily, it's a mix of not having the confidence to let go, and knowing that crawling (or having someone carry you) is faster, so why walk? But food is her motivation, so with crackers in hand, I was able to document some of her first steps.

I know before long she will be running, and I'll be trying to keep up, but for now, this was a big celebration for our family.

March 31st Girls

2011-03-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

It is so special to me that 6 years ago, Emily was born on my grandma's birthday. My grandma is an amazing example of a Godly woman, wife, mom (of 6!), grandma, great grandma, and friend. When I feel overwhelmed with 3 kiddos, I remember that she had twice as many, and raised them all so well (I love my family!).
My grandma and Emily have such a special bond, and I love to capture it each year for their birthday photo shoot.

So happy 6th birthday Emily, and happy 80th birthday Grandma! I love you both so much!

My grandparents

Birthday Morning

2011-03-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are a big deal around here. It's a way to set aside a day to celebrate someone we love! We start the night before by hanging streamers in the doorway, then Tony heads out to Krispy Kreme right when it opens to get donuts, and today was especially special becuase this is the first time Emily celebrates her birthday at school. So she has a new shirt so everyone knows, and I'll be taking cupcakes at the end of the day. Love you so much Em!

Happy 6th Birthday Emily Grace

2011-03-30T20:54:00.002-07:00

Happy 6th Birthday Emily Grace,

I just tucked you into bed on your last night of being 5. I love that we just sat together and talked about the year you've had. It's been a big one. Kindergarten has been a big change for you. You love your friends, and you adore your teachers, but you really are still a momma's girl. Maybe it's because I just wasn't ready to send you off, you are growing up too fast. But you are excelling at school and I love to hear you read to me. It amazes me how we worked and worked, and then it just clicked. And all of a sudden you are reading everything in sight. I love how you care for people.

You have such a sweet heart. You are amazing at sharing and generosity. I hope you never lose that trait. You are always making cards and gifts for your family, teachers, and friends.

You have grown into your role as a big sister. I know that Allison keeps me busy, but you are always eager to help. You adore her, and she loves you. And I love to see you grow with Megan. You two are best friends, and that warms my heart.

I love you to the moon and back 100,000,000 times.

Love,
Mommy

My Birthday

2011-03-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'm turning 6 years old. So today is my last day of being 5. Here are 5 things that were great about being 5.

I started Kindergarten. I love Kindergarten because school is fun. The work we do in Kindergarten is fun.
I went to Disneyland. My favorite thing about Disneyland is riding Dumbo in the rain with mommy. My other favorite ride is Soarin' Through California. I was also big enough to ride Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Matterhorn now that I am 5.
I learned how to read when I was 5. Reading is fun because sometimes you pretend you are in the book. Another fun thing about reading is that some books have your name in it.
I am learning how to play the piano now that I am 5. You can make up your own songs, and that's fun.
I got my Tag books when I was 5. Tag is fun because you get to choose different stories and your pen reads it to you.

Five was great, but now I'm ready to be 6!

-Emily

CCM: circa 2011: day 10

2011-03-25T06:38:00.001-07:00

Thanks to my friend, Leslie, this is a great song to really focus on the season on Lent and preparation for the celebration of Easter.

CCM: circa 2011: day 9

2011-03-24T23:03:00.002-07:00

Last week I featured a song by JJ Heller, and promised I had another favorite up my sleeve. Well, here it is. Enjoy.

CCM: circa 2011: day 8

2011-03-23T06:27:00.004-07:00

I loved Third Day back in the day, and am glad to see that they are still making great music.

CCM: circa 2011: day 7

2011-03-22T07:08:00.005-07:00

Such a sweet song, and reminds me how what I've seen and where I've been can't be forgotten once I'm back home and living my "comfortable" suburban life. My experiences need to leave me changed...for the better.

CCM: circa 2011: day 6

2011-03-21T07:44:00.010-07:00

Wow! So today I made the jump over to Air1 from the KLove genre (I'm sure if it made me feel older or younger, but part of this journey is to find fun music for the girls). I was perusing through the top 20 list and saw The City Harmonic. In my bulletin on Sunday, I saw that they were promoting an upcoming concert, but that's about all I knew. So I listened to the sample on Air1.com, and liked it. Then I went to their website and watched the video. Wow! Then I researched info about the upcoming concert. It's at our church! (I guess I need to pay more attention in church). I'm going to buy some of their songs on iTunes, and if the big girls like them, I think we have a date. Let me know if you'd like to join us.

CCM: circa 2011: day 5

2011-03-18T07:28:00.008-07:00

Jesus Saves! Now those are the lyrics that I want running through my head and heart as I go about my day. And even more than that, that's what I'd love to hear my girls break into song singing each day. The lyrics are simple, easy to remember, and yet the cornerstone of my life.

CCM: circa 2011: day 4

2011-03-17T11:12:00.009-07:00

Recently in my girls' Bible Study we were talking about self-image, and although I know that 99.9% of women are unhappy with the way we look, it broke my heart to hear it out of the mouths of some of my dearest friends. I had heard this song before, but had to search it out. I usually like to only share the "official video", but that was just concert footage, and the words are key, so read the lyrics as you listen to this song.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T05:45:00.002-07:00

Love,
The Weber Family

CCM: circa 2011: day 3

2011-03-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

How did I not know about JJ Heller? She was mentioned by more than one friend on earlier posts, and now I love her. Her songs are fresh and pure and simple. I love this song (and I have another one up my sleeve for another day) so grab a cup of coffee or tea (don't you just feel like you should be sitting in a small coffee shop while listening to her), and enjoy this gem.

***Whoo hoo! I was just learning more about JJ Heller on her website and found this:

4/15/11 GOLD CANYON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Gold Canyon, AZ
7:30 p.m.
Tickets - A love offering will be taken.

Location:
6640 S. Kings Ranch Rd
Gold Canyon, AZ 85118

For more info, call 480.982.3776
www.goldcanyonumc.org

Who wants to go with us?

CCM: circa 2011: day 2

2011-03-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I'll add a new song everyday, but I figure I should at least start out strong.

To expand my 2011 repertoire I decided I would go to the Christian page on iTunes and check out the song that was #1 on the list. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was "This is the Stuff" by Francesca Battistelli. My friend, Jamie, shared this song on Facebook a few weeks ago, and I loved it and added it to my iPod. It's fun, catchy, and does what my entire lent journey is supposed to do, point my mind toward God (even in episodes of lost keys).

So take a listen (turn up your speakers and dance with your kids). Then comment on the blog (not on Facebook), what is a recent, everyday thing that God used to teach you something. I just might gift someone this song on iTunes.

02.09.2011

2011-03-15T01:17:00.001-07:00

CCM: circa 2011

2011-03-14T21:52:00.002-07:00

I grew up on the "old school" Contemporary Christian Music. I think I know every word to every Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, or DC Talk song. With quite a bit of Geoff Moore and the Distance, Rich Mullins, and even a little Bryan Duncan thrown into the mix. Yes, I even subscribed to CCM Magazine to keep up on all the breaking news out of Nashville.

Then I started dating Tony, and was converted to country. Next came kids, and Veggie Tales filled my SUV CD player and Hannah Montana later filled my iPod. But my iPod also changed my life because I can hear any song I like and buy it. Then I decide if it going on "Sara's Playlist" or the "Driving with Kids" playlist. So now I have a very eclectic mix of music.

Occasionally I will listen to K-Love in the car, but not enough to have a real handle on the 2011 Christian music world.

So for Lent I have decided to focus my mind and heart on music that draws me to think about and worship my God, and part of that means finding what that looks like in 2011. What is out there? What do I like? What do the girls like? It doesn't mean that a little Hannah Montana or Green Day or Tayor Swift will never blast my truck speakers ever again, but for the next 30 something days (I started a little late) I am going to use the music in my home and truck to draw me to worship to prepare my heart for Easter.

I'm learning all over again about a genre of music I used to know inside and out. I found the Contempory Christian station on our cable, I've set a a new Pandora station based on JJ Heller, and I'll be window shopping (and maybe a little buying) on iTunes. I am also going to try to share some of the gems with you. So check back and see if you find a song that resonates with you. And, leave a comment, and I might just gift a new song or two to you through iTunes. :)

But, my first selection of what to share just has to be homage to my sweet Amy (we go waaaay back), though I did choose to share my favorite from more recent years than "El Shaddi" and "Mountain Top" (and don't forget "Grape Grape Joy").

So my prayer for the next 30some days is that I will worship through the music, but also through the ups and downs of "normal, everyday" life.

Lent: Part 2

2011-03-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was trying to decide if I was going to observe Lent, and if so, what it would look like for me. (Here)

Yesterday at church, they talked about using the season of Lent to prepare our hearts for Easter, and in that, to set our hearts on worship. One of the ideas I had been mulling around, and actually observing without making a full commitment, is to only listen to Christian music for a season. Music is powerful, and when lyrics get stuck in your head, too often they aren't lyrics that honor God, and even worse, lyrics that dishonor Him. Also, by filling my life with Christian music, I will also be filling my family's mind with the same heart of worship. This really will make an impact with my sweet Emily, who has an incredible memory for music and lyrics.

My next step is to find out what's even out there. I've been in iPod mode for a few years now. If I hear a good song, I buy just that song and we listen to my iPod everywhere we go. So I have not been listening or keeping up with the "new" Christian artists (really anything in the past 10 years). What are your recommendations to prepare my heart and mind with worship, and even a little song to groove with and sing along in the car. Specifically, who will appeal to my 5 and 7 year olds?

Lastly, our church is focusing on worship during Lent with a daily message that can be found at www.TheGroveAZ.org/Lent

Alli's Car

2011-03-11T12:33:00.001-07:00

Allison loves to play outside, and her favorite toy is her Little Tykes car. She'll climb in and out, and scoot around (usually driving in reverse) and the best is when someone (especially her sisters) push her around the yard. It's hard to believe that someday she will trade her Little Tykes car for a real one, so I just try to savor the moments.
Love you Alli!

100th Day of School

2011-03-11T12:19:00.002-07:00

For the 100th day of school, Emily had to make a project with 100 things. She loves Legos, so we made the number 100 with 100 Legos. Also, there are 10 colors, with 10 Legos of each color. I love Kindergarten.

Basketball: The Stars

2011-03-10T14:25:00.001-07:00

Basketball: Megan

2011-03-10T14:21:00.001-07:00

While Emily was a good sport and tolerated basketball and the commitment she made, Megan loved basketball! Some of those boys were a little aggressive, but Meg got right in there blocking and dribbling and guarding. She even started taking her basketball to school to practice at recess and is already talking about next season. Way to go Meg!

Basketball: E Grace

2011-03-10T09:17:00.002-07:00

We just finished up our first season of basketball. I love that the girls are active and love to try new sports. I also love the league, Upward, that was put on by our church. Each week the kids have a Bible point and verse, the games are all started with prayer, and there is a devotion at halftime. Also, after each game the kids are rewarded with a colored star that represents various skills/traits including offense, defense, effort, and Christ-likeness.
I was so proud of my sweet Emily. She got the most Christ-likeness starts through the season. I'm proud that she encourages her teammates, is kind, and had a good attitude. She also made her first basket of the year during the last game. What an accomplishment. I'm proud of you Emily, even if basketball wasn't your favorite sport, you tried your best.

Lent

2011-03-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

I did not grow up in a home or a church that participated in Lent, and I've never given it much thought. But this year I am in the middle of a study (http://www.madetocrave.org/) that is about denying yourself, developing self-control, and most of all relying on and craving God.

So Lent starts tomorrow, and I'm wondering what there is to giving up something for 40 days, and I want to ask my blog friends some questions:

1. Do you observe Lent?
2. Why?
3. What are you giving up this year and why?
4. Do you feel that it allows you to draw closer to God over the 40 days, or it is more of a tradition?

Alli's Party

2011-03-07T20:34:00.001-07:00

Taking part in the family blessing service at our church was a huge event for me. It was our chance to thank God for His blessing of Allison to our family. So if you know me, that means that we have to have a party! We are thankful for our family and friends who came over for a beautiful afternoon to celebrate with us.

I Prayed for This Child

2011-02-24T20:04:00.002-07:00

I think that adoption takes a different kind of faith than pregnancy. Pregnancy is a wonderful miracle, but you have your child with you through the journey. With adoption, your child is apart from you for the entire process, and in our case, on the other side of the world. It brought prayers and tears like nothing else in my life ever has. Thankfully, my God really has the "Whole World in His Hands" and even when we didn't yet know Allison and when we had to leave her for those 8 long weeks, she was in His care.

So it was with great joy that we were able to stand before our church to thank Him for our wonderful blessing and to pledge to raise her in a loving Christian home.

PS-The title of this post comes from 1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him." It's the verse that we have on Allison's bedroom wall. You can see pictures here.

Glasses

2011-02-23T09:26:00.001-07:00

It was bound to happen. With Tony and me as their parents, the girls were bound to have bad eyesight. Unfortunatly we didn't realize it would be this early and both at once. I was at the eye doctor for my annual visit (only because my contact perscription was expired and I was out of contacts) and found that the girls were on our insurance. I thought that I would bring them in for a free check up, just to hear that everything was fine. But that isn't the news we got. A few hundred dollars later, they both have glasses.

But at least they're cute.

Snow Day

2011-02-20T22:20:00.001-07:00

In early January we had a huge snow storm go through northern Arizona. So we did what every other Phoenician does, and headed up north to play in the snow. Four hours of driving for 40 minutes of snow play (E was the first one to get frozen out this time). The snow was fresh and deep. Allison wasn't too sure what to make of it, but she loved eating it. I know those of you who have snow months on end must think I'm crazy, but I absolutely love snow, and hope that at one point in my life I'll be able to trade our 120+ summers for a few snow days and a crackling fire in the fireplace.

Seven Sweet "Sisters"

2011-02-20T16:14:00.001-07:00

I am still wondering what our home would look like if we added another, or more, girl to our family. But this might be just a glimpse. One of my very best friends has 4 girls (the oldest is in kindergarten). We try to play together at least once a week (they've been really sick lately and I miss them so much!). But our 7 girls play so well together, just like they were all sisters. And that my be why I love their mom so much. With so many girls, we totally relate to each other.

At Christmas "Santa" found these adorable PJs at Gymboree on SALE, so I had to let Erin know. After Christmas we got together for pizza, a movie, and of course, hot cocoa (the PJs say "official hot cocoa taster".

I love you girls, and I am so glad you are in our lives.

Just a February Afternoon

2011-02-10T09:32:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Tony had Emily at basketball practice, so Megan, Allison, and I enjoyed the beautiful afternoon in the backyard.

Smurfs

2011-02-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

We went many years without cable as a way to balance our budget, but with a baby in the house again, and knowing that I'd be home bound for a few months while we adjusted, we added cable back in.
One thing I love is watching Megan and Emily discover the shows that I grew up on (the ones that I got up at 6:00 am on Saturday morning for). Some of our favorites are Jetsons, Flintstones, and Smurfs. Tonight it's Smurfs, and Emily is so excited because it's her favorite, and she just told us with a big smile, "I just love watching Smurfs...too much."

Well Emily, "I just love watching you...too much."

New Years Eve

2011-02-04T11:42:00.001-07:00

Oh, I've fallen so far behind again! We had a wonderful New Years Eve celebration at out house. Just our "little" family, and my parents and grandparents. We spendt most of the evening playing games and midnight came quickly (except for Emily and Allison who didn't quite make it to midnight).

So, it's a little belated, but Happy New Year everyone!

Seeing God in Everything: Including PBS

2011-02-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

My "friend" (in a Proverbs 31/blogstalker sort of way), Renee Swope, just posted this Facebook status:

Watching Curious George and finalizing materials for upcoming women's events. Hopefully I won't accidentally quote the"man with the yellow hat" in any of my handouts or small group questions.

Which made me think, that even a curious monkey and a man with a yellow hat can teach us something about God. In Curious George I am reminded that God is patient with us, loves us, and forgives us, even when we try to do things our own way and mess everything up. And time and time again He rescues us and will end our teachable moment with a hug.

So, all my mommas of preschoolers friends, what is a God lesson that you can learn from PBS, Nick Jr., or Playhouse Disney?

Leave a comment and let's put all of this stored up knowledge about Dora, Handy Manny, and Sid the Science Kid to good use. (There might even be a prize.)

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-01-29T10:54:00.004-07:00

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Allison's Quad

2011-01-18T21:13:00.001-07:00

The big girls' big gifts were easy this year, but I was stuck on what to get Allison. That is, until I found this quad. Megan had one when she was Allison's age and loved it. It didn't take Alli long to figure it out and away she went. With her paparazzi/fan club right behind her.

Christmas Day at Grammy's

2011-01-18T20:55:00.001-07:00

Cousins

2011-01-18T20:51:00.001-07:00

I think there is a part of me that wants a big family so that I'll have an even bigger family in the future. Christmas at Tony's mom's house is great because the girls have tons of cousins (though they weren't all there this year and we love and miss those that weren't). Our girls had a great time playing all day and didn't even think about the gifts they had gotten because they just played.

Christmas Morning

2011-01-17T13:49:00.002-07:00

Last year we were (not so) patiently waiting to know who our daughter would be, and it was a surreal morning to have all three of my girls together on Christmas morning. We are blessed beyond measure!

I also just love Emily and how excited she gets over everything, even a new pack of Play-Doh!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

2011-01-17T12:16:00.001-07:00

After coming home late Christmas Eve from my parents', there were a few last minute details to finish. Gifts were ready and Santa had filled their stockings ready for my favorite part of Christmas, our "quiet" Christmas morning with our 5 family.

Christmas Eve

2011-01-17T10:58:00.001-07:00

Oh I've fallen so far behind! These are a few of my favorite moments from Christmas Eve at my parents' house. Each of my big girls have had an "Anywhere" chair and have loved them to pieces, so that was Allison's big gift from my mom and dad. We're looking forward to her growing up cuddled in her chair for many family movie nights and read-a-thons.
Emily has been waiting for two years to get her Kit American Girl doll (ever since Megan got Molly). She was so excited and loves her. And Megan is my mini-me and loves to take pictures. This year she got a "real" camera and can't wait to add to her blog.

Pre-Christmas Eve

2011-01-06T10:46:00.001-07:00

My grandparents spent Christmas in Michigan this year, so we had a pre-Christmas Eve with my extended family. Emily was very excited to get the Kit books from American Girl. Allison loved it all!

Cookie Decorating Party

2011-01-06T07:37:00.001-07:00

Each year my friend, Erika, hosts a Christmas cookie decorating party. The girls love it because they can go for quantity of decorations over quality (I'm a little more conservative about decorating on our family cookie day). Allison had a great time because her smiles are irresistible and I know that many little treats were given to her from her sisters and our friends.

Church and Children's Choir

2011-01-03T20:31:00.001-07:00

My Sweet Girls

2011-01-03T09:21:00.001-07:00

For bonding reasons, we aren't putting Allison in childcare for a while, which has made going to church quite difficult with an active 16 month old. But our church allows the kids to sing in service on the Sunday before Christmas and it's one of my favorite Sundays of the year. So we got all dressed up and headed out.

And More Classroom Parties

2010-12-30T07:55:00.001-07:00

The day after the gingerbread houses, the girls had their regular "winter holiday" parties that Allison and I headed back up to the school for. We love their school, their teachers, and their friends.

Megan's School Gingerbread House

2010-12-29T16:24:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite parts about being a stay at home mom is that I'm able to attend all the fun things at school. Megan's class made gingerbread houses a few days before break began, and they were much more successful than our attempt at home.

My Sweet Allison

2010-12-23T06:42:00.001-07:00

This is just a quick snapshot of an evening at our home. You make my heart melt sweet girl, and I am so blessed to have you as my daughter. I love you so much!

Gingerbread Houses

2010-12-22T22:28:00.001-07:00

Each year we love to build and decorate gingerbread houses with the girls. We were at Michael's and saw what I thought was the perfect kit. It was for a village with 5 houses. One for each of us. Perfect, right? Once we got home and pulled out the supplies, each house was beyond tiny. And because of their size, they could support weight of the candy. Plus, in fear of making the "glue" frosting too runny, it was way too thick, and impossible to squeeze out.

But, we had fun, and ate the houses right after we made them. (We only made two houses. One for Megan and one for Emily. The other gingerbread pieces got frosted and eaten without assembly.)

My 2010 Facebook Statuses

2010-12-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

I just saw my cousin use an application on Facebook that makes a word cloud out of you statuses from 2010. The bigger the font of the word, the more it was used. I think it sums up my year pretty well.

It's Not Christmas at the Webers'....

2010-12-20T14:01:00.001-07:00

...until my favorite ornaments are hung....

...my Willow Tree Nativity is in place...

...and my morning coffee is in my Christmas Starbucks mug.

What are some of your "must do" traditions at your home?

O Christmas Tree: Part 2

2010-12-20T07:07:00.001-07:00

When I was at the girls' school last week, I was talking to a mom who told me their family was planning on putting up their tree that weekend (December 17th). Not us! It doesn't feel like Christmas until the tree is up, so our tree always goes up Thanksgiving weekend. I love the memories that the ornaments bring. After 10 years and 3 kids, we're growing quite a collection.

Our tree took a lot of tweaking and shaping to make it work this year. It always looks much smaller out in the forest, and it bigger than I probably wanted, but it's grown on me through the week. We also had so many extra boughs that I was able to create this swag for our front door and the girls created paper ornaments for it.

O Christmas Tree

2010-12-17T09:24:00.001-07:00

On the day after Thanksgiving we headed up north near Woods Canyon Lake to find and cut down our Christmas tree. It's something we did often when I was little, and we've done it a few times since we've been married.

It was a perfect day with snow on the ground, but it was sunny and warm enough that after trekking around the forest we didn't even need our jackets.

Allison wasn't too sure about the snow, but she did like eating it (Sonic ice is one of her favorite foods-just like her momma).

Easy Breezy Lemon Squeezy

2010-12-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

I know that you are busy, and you might not get to check our blog as often as you'd like. We have great things going on in the Weber home, but you do too. :)

In our house we have a phrase, "Easy Breezy Lemon Squeezy" when something is so stinkin' easy and now it is Easy Breezy Lemon Squeezy for you to keep up with our family. Just sign up below or to the right and our posts will be e-mailed to you when I update our blog.

So, thanks for stopping by. And thanks for being a reader and a friend.

Christmas PJs

2010-12-12T18:42:00.001-07:00

Each year the Christmas Elf brings new PJs for the girls on Christmas Eve. This year he decided to change that tradition a bit, and bring the PJs on Thanksgiving night to kick off the Christmas season, and so the girls can wear them all month long as we do our advent each night and other activities.

Yay for Tonight

2010-12-10T14:41:00.002-07:00

Tonight is one of those nights that saves a momma's sanity. My parents are watching the girls (all three!) and Tony and I are going to go out to dinner and finish (is that wishful thinking?) our Christmas shopping. Although we love Allison to pieces, it's been a bit stressful making the move to three kiddos (plus we've had a number other stresses creep up on our family recently), and tonight is a much needed date night.

Thanks Amma and Papa!

Do I Want My Children to be Happy?

2010-12-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Do I want my children to be happy?

I read a blog post this morning that made me think about that question. I struggle raising our girls in a society that too often overindulges. And unfortunately, it happens both inside and outside of the church. Our girls have much more than they need, but it is still hard to fight that "keeping up" mentality. We are striving to instill contentment and holiness just as this blogger momma does. And as we are making our Christmas lists this time of year, and they may not get everything that everyone else has, I'm thankful for the reminder that we have more than just happiness to live for.

You can read the original post at "It's Almost Naptime".

What I've Been Up To: Simple Smiles

2010-12-07T15:03:00.002-07:00

I love that I have taken my favorite hobby, photography, and turned it into a side business that I love. Each year gets a little busier, and my photography gets a little better, and it's great. These are some of my favorite photos of the 2010 Christmas season (it was hard to choose). What a blessing to work with such fun and great families.

You can see more by going to http://www.simplesmiles.net/ and then click on "Blog".

Freezer Meals

2010-12-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

A long time ago I tried Dream Dinners and really loved it. You prepare your meals before hand, freeze them, and then thaw and cook them when you need them. A great solution to that end of the day chaos. But Dream Dinners were expensive. Recently my friends, Heidi and Melissa, introduced me to the concept of freezer meal co-op, and even blessed us with a freezer full of prepared meals for when we brought Allison home (What Love Looks Like). In a co-op each woman takes one freezer meal and prepares it "x" times. Then once a month we all bring our meals and trade. Take 6 of one meal, and leave with 6 new and different meals. Brilliant!

And, when I see an amazing idea in action, I have to copy it. So tomorrow morning is my group's second meal exchange. Last month I made and froze 6 batches of my family's homemade chili. This month I'm making Chicken Enchilada Casserole, another family favorite.

But unfortunately I don't have a huge repertoire of meals that can be pre-prepped, frozen, and ready to cook at a later time. So I've been doing some research.

First, I found these two websites (my hope is that our group will get to the point of hosting our own recipe blog):

http://freezermealsforus.blogspot.com/

http://freezerfriendz.blogspot.com/

And secondly, I just found this book at the library. What I love is that it already multiplies the ingredients out for making multiples of the same dinner, either to trade, or stash away for another night.

So here's to our new freezer meal group, and many more nights of family dinners without 5:00 chaos.

Thanksgiving Day

2010-12-02T06:38:00.001-07:00

We had a great Thanksgiving day at my parents' house with my grandparents, brother, sister-in-law, aunt, uncle, and cousins. So much fun, especially with it being Allison's first Thanskgiving with us, that I couldn't limit it to just a few pictures from the day. I hope you enjoy the video of our celebration of all that we are Thankful for.

Megan's Thanksgiving Feast

2010-11-30T10:03:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday, Megan's class had a Thanksgiving feast in their classroom. Allison and I got to join her, and a few of Megan's classmates brought in their little siblings, so we let Emily come join in the fun as well. Alli was so popular with all the second grade girls, and Megan loved showing her off. She especially loved showing her friends how Alli knows how to sign "more" and they gave her lots of Thanksgiving treats.

My Little Reader

2010-11-29T19:48:00.002-07:00

Megan has always been an incredible reader, starting from when she taught herself to read at 3 (I'm not kidding). She has read all of the Chronicles of Narnia and tonight she finished the Little House series. At school they use Accelerated Reader to track the kids' independent reading, and when we were on the website tonight, we found this picture representation of all the books she has tested on since Kindergarten. Plus, it doesn't count what she reads over the summers, or what she re-reads (and I'm sure she's read her Molly series from American Girl at least 5 times each, and there are 6 books). I love having a daughter who loves to read--just like her momma.

Kindergarten Turkey Day

2010-11-28T13:38:00.001-07:00

Our school has a Thanksgiving performance each year for the kindergarten classes. Emily's been practicing her songs, and they are so cute. We started with time in her classroom where she showed what she was thankful for, and a snack (which Allison enjoyed). We spent time visiting with her table mates, and then off the the multi-purpose room to hear all the little turkeys sing.

Pilgrim Hats

2010-11-28T10:55:00.001-07:00

Each year we love to make these Pilgrim Hats from Family Fun. They are easy, but messy, but we have so much fun and it gets a little easier each year. Megan was very proud that she didn't need any help this year, and Emily didn't need much help. But we did them after Allison went to bed, so next year will add more adventure to the mix.

Photos by Ali

2010-11-24T10:36:00.002-07:00

I love when God puts amazing people in your life. Ali Boddy is one of those people. We were connected through mutual friends when she and her family started their Ethiopian adoption. She is also an amazing photographer, and has taken me under her wing as a mentor and is always loving and generous with her time and knowledge and has really pushed me to my next level as a photographer this year.

So I was ecstatic when she was willing and able to do our first family pictures with Allison. There are just a preview, and they are amazing. I'm heading over to her house this afternoon to get a CD with more.

Ali's website: http://www.photosbyali.com/

Piano Ear Training: Joy to the World and Silent Night

2010-11-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

Megan has an amazing natural talent for piano. Recently she was assigned to work on her "ear training", taking a song she knows, and figuring out how to play it by ear. I am so impressed with how well she is doing, plus, it is a way to get around Tony's "no Christmas before Thanksgiving rule".

Sunday Morning

2010-11-21T09:12:00.001-07:00

It's finally fall, and we have a beautiful day starting out this morning. I love that all three girls headed right out to play in the backyard together.

An Emotional Time

2010-11-18T21:24:00.001-07:00

At school, Megan was told to draw a picture of an emotional time in your life, and she chose Allison's Homecoming Day. It's just another reminder of how Allison's adoption not only changed her life, but has changed our whole family. And changed us for the better. I think Megan's picture shows our joy perfectly. Those smiles couldn't be any bigger.

Check up

2010-11-18T13:42:00.001-07:00

This morning Allison had her 15 month check up and is doing great. We are so thankful for that, and that we have a new doctor that we love.

One Month

2010-11-17T22:20:00.002-07:00

Today marked one month since Tony, Allison, and I returned home to join Megan and Emily to complete our 5 family. It's been a tiring and emotional month, but also full of such joy at having our sweet baby home. The one who we loved and prayed for before we even knew her.

I love you Allison!

Shutterfly: 50 free Christmas Cards

2010-11-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

I love shutterfly. I have used them for many photo projects, including their fabulous photo books when I realized that with more than one child I just couldn't keep up on my handmade scrapbooks any longer. I also love their cute card designs, and was very excited to find that they will give me 50 free Christmas cards for blogging about them. So, I here I am.

We have our dear friend, Ali Boddy, taking our family pictures next week because I am dying to get our Allison announcements/Christmas cards out to everyone!

To earn your own free cards, find out more here.

15 months

2010-11-14T20:38:00.001-07:00

Dear Allison,
Today you turned 15 months old, and in just 3 days we will mark one month home. I am so amazed at how well you have adjusted to us and we are so in love with you; mommy, daddy, and your big sisters. You babble like crazy and you love to be on the move. The big girls have taught you how to crawl up the stairs, but you still don't know how to come down, so that keeps me on my toes. You smile and laugh and giggle with us. You love to swing in the back yard. You love bath time. And yes, you continue to love to eat. I think we should buy stock in Cheerios.
On Friday we went up to Sedona so you could meet Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Meyers, and they were both just enamored with you (as is everyone we meet).
I can't imagine our lives without you!
Love,
Mommy

Veterans' Day

2010-11-11T20:22:00.002-07:00

Yesterday we were blessed to have my grandpa as our guest of honor at the girls' school's Veterans' Day celebration. Each year they put on such a wonderful assembly, and we look forward to it, especially as a chance to thank and honor my grandpa. He served as a tank commander in the Army, up until 1952. Thank you Grandpa for your service to our country. And thank you for being such a wonderful man. I love you.

Couponing

2010-11-09T14:27:00.002-07:00

Being a one income family isn't always easy, but a huge blessing to our budget has been CouponSense. I know there are lots of money saving programs out there, but this one in particular has allowed us to keep our grocery budget for a family of four (now five) to under $200 a month, with about an hour of work each week. And we've been doing this for about 3 years now.

But I do have to admit that I couldn't do it without Tony's help. He is wonderful at helping me sort coupons and prepare for my shopping trips, especially when there are really big and great deals. And now it looks like Allison will also be a great coupon helper.

*For more information on how you can save money on your grocery budget, you can give CouponSense a try, but make sure you ask for help! I can be a little overwhelming to start, but so worth it in the end. My personal referral code is 1702809

The video is a bit cheesy, but it will give you an idea of what CouponSense is all about.

Playtime

2010-11-09T10:59:00.001-07:00

Allison loves to play, and we love to play with her. We forget so quickly how fun the world is through the eyes of a 14 month old. Megan and Emily especially love to play with her and old toys gain new life in Alli's little hands.

The End of an Era

2010-11-07T21:59:00.003-07:00

Tonight was the end of an era as Hannah Montana ended on the Disney Channel. Although we weren't huge fans, we never went to a concert and we didn't have cable until a few months ago, we did have some of her songs on our iPod and often I would hear Megan and Emily singing and dancing in Meg's room, or we'd be rocking out about the "Best of Both Worlds" as we'd drive around town (I've even been known to play "Party in the USA" even if the girls aren't in the car).

These pictures were from Meg's 6th birthday party last year, and at Halloween, Megan wanted to look like Miley Cyrus when she was a cowgirl. Hannah Montana was the first pop star that Megan and Emily were introduced to and she is an icon that will mark my girls' early years the way Debbie Gibson and Saved by the Bell marked mine (though I think they were more my late elementary and Jr. High years).

Megan was sick today, so we cuddled and watched the Hannah Montana marathon, all the way to tonight's series finale. We haven't watched the show in a while, so it was just a nice calm way to spend the day. And I was still glad the way that they even ended by honoring her relationship with her dad and her friends, and putting others first (though not impressed that her brother was demoted to a cheesy filler character, especially because we hold our girls' relationships as sisters so highly). But it also reminds me about how impressionable our kids are, and how they are looking for someone to emulate, and we need to do our best at all times to be that example for them, and to also provide other good examples to back up what we are teaching.

Now I wish Miley well, and hope that she keeps her head on straight for this next chapter in her life. And for our family, anything "new" Miley is on hold until she proves that she is worthy of earning our girls' attention.

What Are You Thankful For?

2010-11-04T14:27:00.001-07:00

We have a family tradition of filling our entryway mirror each year with all the things that our friends and family are thankful for. We love to see them and talk about them each night (here is my post from November 2007 The Weber Family News: Thank You for being Thankful).

This year we are going to go "high tech" and ask that you tell us what you are thankful for by leaving a comment on this post. You can leave one post per family, or you can leave a separate comment for each member of your family. We will then print out leaves, write your comment on it, and hang it on our mirror. Honestly, I love receiving your leaves in the mail and seeing your handwriting and coloring, but I'm sure you understand that it just isn't going to work for me to send them out this year.

But, with that being said, if you still have an overwhelming urge to be crafty, we would love for you to make and mail us your leaves. Plus, getting something in the mail is a huge highlight for any 7 and 5 year old.

My Cowgirls

2010-11-04T10:18:00.005-07:00

This Halloween, due to schedule and budget, we had truly homemade costumes, and didn't have to buy a thing (except that I did pick up new boots for Megan, but those were $5 at Children's Place and she will wear them regularly). I do have to say that I have 3 stinkin' cute cowgirls, and were more authentic than many of the costumes that I could have bought for them.

Though Alli was ready for her photo, the hat and boots didn't last long into Trick or Treating, but that was fine because she just rode along in the stroller. But we didn't last as long Trick or Treating as past years, the girls had more fun passing out the candy at out house after we arrived back home.

All Good Things...

2010-11-03T18:14:00.001-07:00

...must come to an end.

Tonight was the last night of meals being brought to us. We've had meals Monday-Thursday nights since we got home, and we are so incredibly grateful for each and every one. Afternoons are still crazy around here with homework and Allison's need to be held, so it has been so wonderful to not add the stress of meal planning and preparation on top of all that is going on.

I'm still not ready to full on face real life, and luckily we have some freezer meals left, and two take-out gift cards that I'm hording until we REALLY need to use them. ;)

So thank you, thank you, thank you to each friend who brought us a meal. It means more than you know.

Mid-Week Check In-#2

2010-11-03T10:26:00.001-07:00

Just like last week, here, I am trying to keep a record of what I'm learning about Allison since I got a 14 month late start on her life.

She loves her bottle. If I can't find a solution for what is bothering her, the bottle always works. (It's making me paradigm shift my parenting, as I wrote about here.)
She loves Island Rice at Kona Grill (thanks mom for our lunch date on Monday).
She loves shopping and just watches everything from her stroller (as long as we keep moving).
She loves her sisters. They make her smile like no one else can.
She is very unsure in a new situation, but once she warms up to you, you'll gets tons of babbling and smiles.
She won't settle on a schedule. One day it's two naps, the next day it's one.... And I am a mom who loves schedules and routine.
She can make one huge mess with a Biter Biscuit (my solution for her right now so I can blog--I'll be paying for it later with a mess to clean up).
She swallows her food whole. She just swallowed a huge chunk of the Biter Biscuit I mentioned in #7. She's fine.
She likes to pull the rubber bands out of her hair (and I'm trying so hard to keep her hair cute).
She goes though multiple outfits each day. Some because of poop, but most because of food (like the Biter Biscuit).

Freezer Meal Exchange

2010-11-02T22:37:00.002-07:00

I have a friend who is part of a freezer meal exchange group, and when she started to talk about how great it is and how much she loves it, I just had to give it a try. (In fact, her group is the wonderful group of women who made all these wonderful meals for us as we were preparing to bring Allison home, and they have been, and continue to be, such a blessing.)

So the idea behind a freezer meal exchange is that you make multiples of one meal (in our case we are exchanging between 7 women this month), freeze them, and then when you need dinner at 5:00 and all craziness is breaking loose in your home, you pull out a meal that is ready to go in the oven (or in this case, defrost and reheat because it's fully cooked). This month I made my homemade chili, and actually had to make it in two batches to make my six bags to freeze and we'll trade on Friday morning when the other girls come to my house.

I am so excited, and hope that it helps my sanity as well frees up our evenings for more family time. It also saves money when you can buy the supplies in bulk or use items that you were able to stock up on when they were on sale. And you know that I love saving time and money (and my sanity). :)

Pumpkin Carving

2010-11-02T14:05:00.002-07:00

I am a wise enough mom to know when I'm out numbered, and when the planning for our Halloween pumpkins came up, I knew that 2 parents (one who doubles as the paparazzi), 3 kids (one who wants to be held all the time), and 3 pumpkins was not going to work well. We already had plans to have dinner at my parents house on Saturday night, so we took our pumpkins with us and enlisted the help of my brother and my dad.

Team Meg: Megan and Papa did really well, and Megan was very involved in the planning, cleaning out the pumpkin, and supervising Papa's carving.

Team Emily: Emily drew her face on the pumpkin, scooped out a spoonful or two of the "guts" (But not without "ew" and "gross" and "do I have to?"). Uncle Steve did the rest.

Team Allison: Tony did everything, while Allison played with Amma and Aunt Alexis.

But in the end, we had 3 very cute, but simple, pumpkins.

Emily on Her Bike

2010-10-31T10:19:00.004-07:00

She's doing it! Emily is finally riding her bike all on her own (except she still has a bit of trouble starting, and turning). But get her started, and headed in a straight line, she's doing great!

Way to go Em!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-30T12:24:00.002-07:00

Yesterday we were spontaneous. If you know me well, you know that spontaneity isn't one of my character traits, but it worked out well for us.

We picked the big girls up from school and headed over to Sonic for Happy Hour (our Friday tradition). Then we decided that we would pick out our pumpkins for carving tonight at Grandma and Grandpas, which led to trying to find a pumpkin patch I had heard about, but never been to. Once we arrived we found that they have a little festival, and we decided to stay. We played on the playground, did the corn maze and a "Clue" style game within the maze, played carnival games, and Tony and the girls rode the barrel train.

Unfortunately, their pumpkins were overpriced, so we still don't have the pumpkins we need for tonight, but we're planning on hitting a grocery store on the way to my parents'

Nursery Rhyme Parade

2010-10-29T12:53:00.004-07:00

At our school the kids aren't allowed to wear their Halloween costumes, but the Kindergartners get to dress up to represent their favorite nursery rhyme, and then parade through the courtyard. Emily chose to be Little Miss Muffett. I think she was absolutely adorable.

She also memorized the rhyme and each kid will have a chance to recite their nursery rhyme in class today.

Hair

2010-10-28T15:42:00.003-07:00

Having an Ethiopian daughter, I have had a lot of concern over what to do with Allison's hair. It is a question I am asked often, and my theory was not to worry until she was home, and then I would figure it out. Well, it hasn't been that easy so far. She is squirmy, and doesn't like to sit to have her hair done. But we (Tony is surprisingly great at doing hair) need to keep trying to figure it out because I want her to know that she is absolutely beautiful and to not feel that she has a horrible disadvantage because she has a white momma.

Interestingly, Sesame Street just covered this topic as one of the puppeteers has a 5 year old Ethiopian adopted daughter and he also wanted to teach his daughter to embrace her beauty, and it has gotten a lot of positive publicity, especially in the Ethiopian adoptive community.

So Allison, know that no matter what, we know that you are absolutely beautiful. But also know that I have a lot to learn still to meet all your needs, and this is going to be a work in progress, but I'm not going to give up.