Another Christmas Program!

 All of the kiddos lined up to sing... 
 They sang Rudolph, Frosty, Jingle Bells, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

 All but one, that is. 

Spencer decided he didn't want to sing.  He wanted to sit with me, but he settled for my scarf instead.

This girl was born to perform!

 "Jingle bellling" all the way.

Even though he wouldn't sing, Spencer still got a Rudolph nose and managed a small smile.

Christmas with the Caricos ~2012~

We had lots of fun with Grammy and Grandpa Carico tonight.  Pizza, Tangled, and Spiderman make for a great night of fun!!!

My Sweethearts ~2012~

Besties

 Spencer, age 3

Olivia, age 6

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

 

 

 

 

 

Baking Day

We spent a lot of time baking cookies and fudge today. The kids favorite part was baking, frosting, and decorating this snow man sugar cookie.

Our Winter Wonderland Tap Dancer

Olivia's dance recital was today.  She is ready for dance to be over, but boy, oh boy, does she love to perform!

The teachers actually asked the kids to wear make-up.  I wasn't crazy about the idea, but I went ahead and helped her with blush and some eye make-up.

 She did awesome!!!

 It was so much fun to watch!

Unfortunately she doesn't want to dance this spring.  I think I've been living vicariously through her (and I can't dance at all) so it's a bit of a bummer for me, but I'm dealing with it. 

Kindergarten Winter Program 2012

Olivia's Winter Program was on December 6th.  She was absolutely thrilled to be performing.  I think she invited every adult she saw at BSF that Thursday.  Her good buddy and teacher, Mrs Bull, even came.  Unfortunately my picture card was out of space when I wanted to capture their picture, and I didn't want to be totally annoying while I fixed the problem, so I gave up quickly. The kindergarten and first grades performed.  It only lasted about 20 minutes, but her happiness lasted all day long!



Happy Birthday Grandpa Tucker!

Grandma Tootie came to shop and Grandpa Tucker came to celebrate his 60th Birthday, with pumpkin pie, of course!  It was a fun weekend!  

Our Advent Celebration

We are trying to start new traditions for the Advent season.  At first I wanted to do something new and different every single day.  Unfortunately I was a burnt out blogger after doing just 25 days of thankfulness, and I'm also just not overly creative with these things.  Nonetheless, Olivia had fun painting her very own Precious Moments Nativity this year.  It's very colorful, I must say!  More importantly, she had a great time.

Day 25: Thankful for Christmas Decorating

We decorated our house for Christmas these past few days.  I am now thankful for the fun times we had doing it, and the finished work!

Day 24: Thankful for my Home

I am not always thankful to live so far away from Boise.  However, I love coming home and seeing hundreds and hundreds of geese in the field next to us.   I am so grateful to have a roof over my head and heat in these cold months.

Day 23: Thankful for Reading to my Kids

I am thankful for the opportunity to read with Olivia and to Spencer.  We are supposed to read 20 minutes every night.  Sometimes it seems like a chore, but overall, I know it's a blessing.

Day 22: Thankful for Thanksgiving

I am thankful for a day off work to rest and give thanks to God.

Day 21: Thankful for Special Friends and Little Things

Olivia and Spencer are thankful for fun times playing with their buddy Brinley.  I am thankful for my visit with her mom.  It's so nice to have special friends that you can go without seeing for a long time, and then pick right up where you left off. 

I am thankful that I figured out how to get more storage space on my blog so I could continue to post pictures without a monthly fee. I am thankful for the awesome deal I got on two Christmas presents. I am thankful for a clean house (as clean as it gets). I am thankful for dishwashers and washing machines. In about an hour, hopefully I will be thankful that my checkbook is balanced.

Day 20: Thankful for Kids Getting Along

Today I am thankful for times the kids play together well.  Tonight was one of those nights.  This picture was taken earlier this month, but it was another great day when they enjoyed each other.  They can be one another's best friend or worst enemy.

 

Spencer was thankful for his Pilgrim's Feast at Miss Sara's. 

Olivia was thankful she got to got to Sam and Grace's house before school and  ride the bus to school with them.  I am thankful for that, too, because I got to work on time.

Day 19: Thankful for Family Visits

 I am so glad my parents and Grandma Lane came to Olivia's birthday. I wish we could celebrate every holiday together, but I am thankful for the short visit, too. 

I am also thankful for this super duper, extra special Grandma!

 

Today Spencer is thankful for TV and toys and Olivia is thankful for clothes. 

Day 18: Thankful for my Spencer-Doodle Boy

Spencer has been singing "Yankee Doodle" all day today.  I changed the words a bit and sang it back to him substituting "Spencer Doodle" for "Yankee Doodle".  He thinks that is pretty darn funny. 

 

So, anyway, we are driving home, using everyone's name for the song, and I hear him sing, "mind the music and the stairs, and call it Spencer-oni".  Richard asks why he sang stairs, and Spencer says, "you, know, Dad, cuz dat's da woods".  He still has a tiny bit of that little boy voice left and he leaves out his "r's".  Stairs and steps are the same thing in his sweet mind.  I just thought that was pretty cute, and it's what I'm thankful for today. 

Day 17: Thankful for 6 Incredible Years With Olivia

Happy 6th Birthday to My Pumpkin-Poo!  She was up at 6am to open her presents.  She went to dance, and then we partied at Nampa Bowl with grandparents and friends.  It was a wonderful day!

 

She got a Precious Moments Nativity scene to paint from us.

Looking so sweet in her new Dalmation outfit with her Disney Princess cake. 

This year she chose chocolate.

 

She bowled her first strike ever!

She was a very happy Birthday Girl!

 

 

My favorite "Olivia Smile".

 



This birthday was a bit tough for me.  I see her growing up so much.  It's so hard to believe that it's been six whole years ago since I held my little- less than six pound- baby girl in my arms.  She is beautiful on the inside and out, very caring, thoughtful, and sensitive.  She has a heart for Jesus and I am so proud of her.   



Day 16: Thankful for Bedtime

Tonight I am thankful for the opportunity to tuck my kids into bed every night. 

Day 15: Thankful for Dodger

Dodger was my birthday present the second year Richard and I were married.  I just can't imagine our house without him.  He is pretty special.  He is absolutely terrific with the kids, as you can see from the other night when Richard decided to torment the poor dog by putting a diaper on him.

Today Spencer is thankful for macaroni 'n' cheese.  Olivia is thankful that we can know the Lord.

Day 14: Thankful for My Children's Spiritual Growth

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.    These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Deut 6:5-7

 

 

 

I think one of the most incredible gifts we receive as parents is to teach our children about the Lord and watch them grow in their knowledge of Him. 

 

Olivia has been learning about Creation and Noah's ark in both Sunday School and Bible Study Fellowship.  I was amazed at the accuracy of the details of the story she dictated to her teacher!   Most people think Noah was only on the ark for 40 days, but, as Olivia points out, that is only the amount of time the rain poured down.  Love my girl!

 

Spencer has been seeing BSF hymns all the time!  The other day we were in the bank with a couple ladies from Olivia's school.  His singing "I will enter his gates with thanksgiving and praise" prompted a wonderful conversation, and hopefully one of the ladies will end up at church soon. 

 

I am thankful God has blessed me the opportunity to love these children and to do my very best to teach them about their Heavenly Father. 

 



Today Olivia is thankful for her friends and Spencer is thankful for Miss Sara. 

Day 13: Thankful for God's Children

Krishnaveni and Eliyah

 

Today I am thankful that I have the opportunity to help grow God's kingdom far away.  Krishnaveni lives in India in a Christian orphanage/school for girls.  "Olivia" has been sponsoring her for several years now.  Eliyah is about 2 weeks younger than Spencer, and "Spencer" started sponsoring him this year.  Listening to my kids pray for these two beautiful children, and praying for them myself, is a blessing.  I am so thankful that for $10-$40 God allows me to make a difference in their lives.   It is amazing how much you can care for someone you have never met when you start to pray for them!

 

Olivia is thankful for her teacher, Mrs Charleton.  I am thankful for her, too!

 

Spencer is thankful for his house.  I am thankful it, too!

 

Day 12: Thankful for Freedom

Spencer is thankful for his family.  "We already talked about it at Miss Sara's at circle time and I'm thankful for my family."

 

Olivia is thankful for time she gets to spend with her family.

 

I am thankful for freedom and the veterans who have defended our country in the past and those that defend it today.  Freedom is not free!!!

Day 11: Thankful for Family Pictures

Today I am thankful for the family portraits that we had taken today. I refer to this picture day as "Mom's Day" because I choose the clothes from head to toe and I get to choose everyone's hairstyle, too. No "ifs, ands, or buts" about it. Here's a preview!

 

Day 10: Thankful for Friends

Today I am thankful for the friends God has brought into our lives.  We had a fun day celebrating other kids' birthdays, watching a movie (at the cool theater, not the cheap one), bowling, and playing until the kids couldn't play anymore.  We didn't even have time to talk about what they are thankful for tonight.   This is a picture I took about a week ago.  It shows lots of fun times with friends and whip cream. 

Day 9: Thankful for Work

I am thankful I have a job.  Even though it's not my favorite job, I try to remember God has me where I am at this time for a purpose, and I need to trust Him.  The hours are good, I am moving to Nampa soon, and I love my time off.

 

Spencer is thankful for his room and Olivia is thankful for coats (and we needed them to day because it was cold).

Day 8: Thankful for BSF

Today I am thankful for Bible Study Fellowship.  This year I am blessed to serve as a Children's Leader.  I am lucky to be part of such a wonderful Bible study, and I am learning more and more about God's perfect holiness.  The women I have met inspire me to be a better Christian.   

Olivia is thankful for photographs/pictures and Spencer is thankful for books.

Day 7: Thankful for Suffrage

Today Spencer is thankful for his Squinkies, once called Stinkies.

Olivia is thankful for her grandmas and grandpas.

I am thankful that I had the opportunity to vote yesterday.  It is a privilege that I owe to many courageous men and women. 

Day 6: Thankful for My Dad

 

He's just an extra special man.  We know him as Corvette Ed, The Big Kahuna, and most recently, Grandpa Tucker.  There's no one like him in the whole wide world, and boy do I love him!  He honorable, dependable, and incredibly loyal to those he loves.  He is probably more stubborn than I am, which has made for an interesting 34 years.  He is resourceful, fun, daring,and talented.  He can take a jet boat to places few people can go, and he rides his four-wheeler where no one should go.  He is My Dad, and I am so thankful God made me his daughter. 

Today Olivia is thankful for books and Spencer is thankful for Dolphie his dolphin.

Day 5: Thank you God for my Mom

She shares the position of my "best friend" with Richard.  She is always a phone call away, and I don't know what I would do without her advice.  She is ready to listen to the details of my life, from the silly little things to the most dramatic events (and to the little stuff I turn into major issues). She is full of wisdom, kindness, and compassion.  She is the most thoughtful, giving, and generous person I know. She is always ready to watch Olivia and Spencer, no matter where we go, or how long or short of time we need her (even though she is 5 hours away).  When I get "old", I want to be just like her.  She's Grama Tootie...  and I am so thankful she is my Mom!

Also of note, today Olivia is thankful for her dogs and Spencer is thankful for his nightstand.

Day 4: Sundays and Smiles

Today I am thankful for a day of rest.  I have the freedom to worship anywhere I choose.  I have the opportunity to take my children to church, and I usually I can worship with my husband.  Today I got to share God's word with the toddlers at our church.  What a privilege!  Later, our family enjoyed the afternoon doing puzzles, playing "mom and dad", and visiting with the neighbors.  So thankful for these Sunday smiles!

Today Olivia and Spencer are both thankful for family.

Day 3: Thankful for My Kids

 

I am so thankful for these two beautiful blessings.  I am thankful for the joy they have brought into my life.  Every day I learn more about unconditional love; for these two children I am eternally grateful.  I am thankful for the times they play well together.  I am thankful for their laughter, and even for their tears.  I am thankful for their hugs and kisses.  Most of all, I am thankful that I get to watch them grow in the knowledge and love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  

Today Olivia is thankful for our house and Spencer is thankful for food.