Three and a half

 

Like most Americans I spent the weekend thinking and praying for Newtown, CT.  My heart is completely broken over this tragedy and I cannot even begin to imagine what these families are going through.  Friday I just watched the news and cried and cried.  I pray God will heal the brokenhearted and give strength to the weary.  God is our ever present hope in our time of need.

I feel like there has been so much sadness lately.  I realize more than ever the preciousness of life.  I've been hugging and kissing these two boys like crazy but I just love them so much.  

On Saturday Ryan turned three and a half! What in the world?  When did he get so big?  I cannot believe he will be turning four before I know it.  

He is doing so much and growing up into the sweetest little boy.  The age three has been so much better than two.  Two was rough.  I love three.  I love how interactive he is and how we can have a real conversation.  We still have tantrums but they are much fewer.  Ryan loves school and loves to pray for his teachers every night.  He talks constantly about his teachers and his friends at school.  

It's crazy I was so worried about his speech and now he talks non stop.  I LOVE to listen to him sing and talk in the car.  He says the funniest things.  The other day Colton was fussing in the car and I said "Colton please stop fussing" and Ryan said "mommy, don't yell at him, he's just tired".  I need to keep a running memo on my phone of the hilarious things he says.  

Ryan has such a sweet spirit about him and is really sweet.  He definitely takes being a big brother seriously.  He loves to tell me if Colton is doing something he shouldn't but he can be so sweet with him and loves to help him when he's struggling with something.  

I love these boys so much.  I am so blessed to be there momma and stay home everyday with them. 

Christmas Tour of the Deepe Home

 

Welcome to the Deepe House!  

Today I'm joining Kelly's 2012 Christmas Tour of Homes!  

I love these apothecary jars.  So fun filled with these glittery balls.

I always decorate our staircase with lighted garland and red bows.  

I found this glass bowl at Target this year and thought it would serve as a perfect centerpiece on the coffee table with some ornaments.  The ornaments are shatter proof just in case some little hands decide to take a closer look.  Would you believe that Colton only touched them the first day I put them out.  Good listener .  I repeatedly told him "no, don't touch".  Surprised he listened so well.

Our Christmas Tree 2012.  I love all of our ornaments and all of them have a special meaning.  It's a little sparse on the bottom but I was worried Colton would touch them and pull them off the tree. Thankfully he's doesn't bother it at all and is really good!

 I love our stockings.  I made each of them, except for Colton's.  I've been working on Colton's stocking and it's just not going to get done this year.  This was Colton's stocking from last year.  

One of my new favorite Christmas decor this year is this fun Santa plate.  I found it at Hobby Lobby - one of my favorite stores.  

 My sofa table in our family room.  Ryan loves to play with the nativity and line all the figures up.  I love this Merry Christmas Y'all plate.  

I love the idea that Kelly at Kelly's Korner has of putting a Christmas tree in the breakfast room and hanging Christmas cards on it.  One of my favorite things about Christmas is going to the mailbox every day and getting Christmas cards from my beautiful friends and family.  This year I'm hanging them on our pantry door in the kitchen.  Maybe next year I will get a second tree to make my Christmas card tree. 

Hope you enjoyed this tour of the Deepe house this beautiful Christmas holiday!  Hope you get back and visit!

Christmas Program

  

Today was a special day! Ryan had his very first Christmas program at preschool.  Oh it was delightful and oh so precious.  I love that Matt said it was so cute it makes it worth having kids just to see that.  The kids were all decked out in their holiday pretties.   

The whole preschool participated from the 3's class to the 5's.  These teachers did amazing.  I break a sweat just thinking about trying to take family pictures.  I can't imagine trying to coordinate all these 3-5 year olds on a stage.  They did awesome and sang their little hearts out. 

The theme was Happy Birthday Jesus.  My heart about burst watching Ryan on stage sing about baby Jesus.  He was surprisingly very well behaved on stage.  He kept waving to me and Matt in the audience.  

This afternoon as I was going through the pictures I was laughing out loud looking at what the kids were doing around Ryan.  Some just stood there and didn't mute a single note.  Some were picking their nose, of course.  They were hilarious!

Look at my little star!  Love, love, love him!!!

The last few days have been stressful!!!  With Ryan being sick over the weekend and having two cookie orders this week I have just felt crazy and so busy.  Ryan got sick yesterday when he got up from his nap.  I was in tears thinking about him missing his first Christmas program.  Thankfully it didn't last all night and he felt good this morning.   

Tonight Matt came home from work not feeling well and thought he might have the stomach bug.  Oh yuck!  I'm praying the sickies leave our house and that we can enjoy this beautiful Christmas season.  

Introducing Billy

 

Today was the first day I've taken pictures of the boys since last wednesday.  Ryan had some form of the stomach bug on Saturday so we had a pretty low key weekend.  He never was throwing up but had an awful upset tummy all day Saturday and even some on Sunday.  Thankfully he seems to be feeling much better today. 

Friday night we went to see some family that live in Williamsburg.  We loved getting to see Uncle Steve, Aunt Teresa, Isaac and Stacey, Brenda and James, and our dear friend Gail.  It was a long overdue visit and we enjoyed seeing everyone.  

Saturday morning I went to the Ladies Christmas Lunch at our church.  I was so excited my MIL Kris, her mom Nicki and my SIL Erin came too.  Our speaker was Kelly Minter and she was fabulous.  She gave such a great and touching message.  I didn't get a picture of our table but Kris and Erin both did.  I will post as soon as I get them.

 We decided to introduce Ryan to Elf on the Shelf this year.  I feel like this is the first year that he can really understand Christmas.  He loves to read the nativity story and hear about baby Jesus' birth.  And he loves pointing out Santa Claus.  

Ryan decided to name our elf Billy.  Many days we call him "Silly Billy" because he does some pretty crazy things around the house from driving Ryan's dump truck to playing cards with Mickey Mouse to watching it snow outside the window.  Ryan loves hunting for him every morning.  This morning he found him sitting on the cookbooks fishing.  

It's been so fun seeing Christmas through a child's eyes.  Ryan is enthralled with all the lights, decorations and magic of it all.  What a treasure to have little ones this time of year. 

Christmas Party

 

Last night we had our annual Mops leadership team Christmas party.  Our mentor mom Marti hosted us at her beautiful home.  We had the most delicious meal.  A few friends weren't able to make it because of illness but we had a wonderful time with everyone.  Above is Laura, Heather, Jayne, Marti and Nelda.

Emily and Lisa

Claudette and Monica.  Claudette brought her sweet sweet seven week old baby Chase.  He is the cutest and sweetest thing.  He is so chill and laid back.  And we couldn't believe Marti's husband Dave came home while we were eating dinner and offered to hold little Chase while we ate.  Chase fell asleep on his shoulder and he ended up holding him basically the rest of the night.  What a great husband.  

We did a gift exchange and it was so fun.  Laura was super excited about her cheese and wine.  She says she lives off them so it was perfect for Laura.  I "stole" a cute wristlet that I just adored.

Emily, Lisa, me and Laura

 I love these ladies so much and they each mean so much to me in my life.  They are seriously my lifeline.  They are an amazing group of women I am so proud to call them friends.

And just for the grandparents - my sweet little dumplings.  They are so sweet and cute.  We've had a busy week and they have been mostly good ;)  

Peanut Butter Blossoms

 One of my favorite treats to make around the holidays are Peanut Butter Blossoms.  I love to make these, put them in cute Christmas tins and deliver them to friends.  They are so easy and totally addicting!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

by Hershey's 

Ingredients:

48 Hershey's Kisses

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

additional granulated sugar

Directions:  Heat oven to 375 degrees. 

Remove wrappers from chocolates.  Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.  Add egg, milk, vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie;  cookie will crack around edges.  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.  Cool completely.  Makes about 4 dozen cookies!

Santa's Favorite

 

The shirt says it all!  LOVE him!!!