Happy New Year's Eve!!!!!!

I might have a flare for the dramatic but I promise that all the events I am about to tell you are true to the best of my knowledge.

I thought you all might appreciate this little anecdotal story.

Sam & I had the most excitingly wonderful year that was full of much joy....including having him come from New Zealand, living in Los Angeles, moving to Florida, getting married in June, moving back to California for a short month before
moving back to New Zealand in late October. What a year!

While it was full of so much joy, all the transition & some personal situations left me bordering depression. I had been in that spot once before when I first moved to Los Angeles 5 years ago. I knew how to get through it so much better this time. Allowing myself to be okay not being okay, growing through the hardships & most importantly not losing hope I knew to be very important. I found last time that hope can be easily lost with me in times like this, but that one small thing I could do is to look forward to something each day & laugh a lot when you can.

5 years ago The Ellen Show became my "thing I looked forward to each day." I laughed. That's very important when you need to remember to hope. This time was no different except no DVR or TiVo :) I still knew that making sure I laughed every day would be important for me & my new husband. I didn't feel guilty at all when I stopped my day at 3 every day....even when I knew my Mother in law wondered what the heck I was doing. :)

As the Holidays approached I couldn't help but get excited for "O" Magazine that Ellen continually talked about on her show, since she had finally made it to the cover!! I looked once or twice in stores here, but it only had the November issues. Like I mentioned a few blogs back on Christmas Eve I opened a present from Sam and to my surprise was an "IOU" for one "O" Magazine. Evidently, Sam had gone to a magazine specialty shop to find the magazine for one of my Christmas gifts. The lady told him that they receive the "O" Magazine a month later behind the current issue. She told him she hoped it would come early and to check back. Well today (New Year's Eve) we finally were able to go and get my long awaited "O" Magazine!!! The lady even recognized my husband because he had gone in so many times. She even told us that she only received 8 magazines and typically only receives 4! And this time 6 of the 8 were already bought only leaving 2 on the shelves!! Funnier yet was that I actually stop and wondered..."Did Ellen really achieve her goal in making this issue of "O" the most successful selling one ever? It seems to me that these issues would not have been counted yet???" Makes you think, huh?

I had to laugh a little at the fact that New Zealand receives "O" Magazines so much later than America, for one very funny reason. Each day after The Ellen Show is over the broadcasting network airs this tiny little box with a very disturbing message...."Any promotions and contests are not available to those living in NZ." I always tease, with a smile, that this is the most "depressing" part of the show. Between the tardiness of the "O" Magazine to New Zealand and the sad little message at the end of each show, Ellen has still brightened my day. I laugh each day while watching Ellen no matter what I feel like that day. And sometimes to just have a fun thing to look forward to each day was enough to keep my going. Sounds funny, but little things really do matter!

Happy New Year to you and your families!!! I hope you thoroughly enjoyed my little story of HOPE!

P.S.
Thanks Ellen for brightening people's day...even at the bottom of the world!!!

Our First Christmas

Sitting by the pool, BBQ'ing, presents, more sitting by the pool, eating chocolate and hanging out with family = Our first Kiwi Christmas.

It was such a different & surreal experience. I decided since I can't get most of my photo's up right now I would do a top 10 list of why I loved our first Christmas....

10. Being in a swimsuit all day
9. Celebrating it with my loving husband
8. Getting fun presents from my in laws that made me feel known
7. Getting to skype with my family in Holland and in CA....priceless seeing my Grandma, Nana, and Aunt Velma using skype...my aunt Denise was of course the cutest!
6. Being in my swimsuit ALL day
5. Being perplexed about the fact that Kiwi's don't overeat...I have to say I was quite confused, yet it did feel good to not wake up sick the day after Xmas from all the junk you ate.
4. Seeing the present James got me....He hand picked out special Xmas desserts that his little friend's mom makes and sells.
3. Being in my swim suit ALL DAY
2. Having a "traditional English trifle" minus the ground beef sauteed with peas and onions....hehehe. That is for the Friends enthusiast out there. But we really did have a trifle for dessert...again a little perplexed to not be deciding what dessert I won't have to make room for all the desserts I want...only one dessert...different, not weird just different.
1. Getting the most amazing perfectly picked out gifts from my husband!!!!


(Inside was a gift certificate for a pedicure--which I had wanted so bad! And and IOU of O Magazine with Ellen on the cover...apparently NZ gets O Magazine after the rest of the world...oh to be the tiny island at the bottom of the world...)



(Sam picked these flowers for me on our walk and Rosie got me this vase...so cute that they gave me a gift together...they decided it would be a tradition. I had wanted a vase so bad and didn't even think to ask for it...Rosie knows me well)

Christmas Eve Sam and I went for a walk and spent the evening just hanging out and being together enjoying our first Christmas. We opened presents together....it was a fun tradition to start and the next morning when James was freaking out at 7:30am (because he had been up since 4:30am waiting for everyone to get up) I realized it was a very GOOD idea to do our presents on Christmas Eve...Sam is not so much the morning person, so a late night present opening was perfect!

I definitely missed my family and the traditions we have, but loved the moment. I am so thankful for what I have and have loved enjoying all the tiny moments that make up our first year together. Like I said, I missed some things but thats normal and it didn't outweigh or overshadow all that I enjoyed that was new. My first warm Christmas was full of firsts, overwhelming, delightfully wonderful and full of memories that I love and know that I will love thinking back on...

I hope your Christmas was WONDERFUL!!!

Christmas Eve Surprises

I LOVE Christmas! There is so much fun in the newness of life here in NZ. But nothing quite prepared me for my Christmas Eve surprise this morning.

I woke up far too early...insomnia will be a post coming soon, but for now indulge yourself in my Christmas visitor story.

I was up at 4 and went out to the bathroom and heard a little squirming and slurping in the pool. I couldn't quite figure out what it was and quite frankly didn't really want to find out. I scurried off back to bed and tried to get back to sleep. We had to be at a MRI for Sam very early (finally he is going to get his knee fixed...) so I went and had a shower at 6:00. To my "surprise" I saw what I had heard earlier that morning....



What is that you ask? A HEDGE HOG!!!



I had never seen a hedge hog before and I went in and woke Sam up telling him that there was a "rat" or something in the pool...I had, of course, first taken a picture so while he was sleepy and barely able to see I was still able to show him what it was. His first response actually surprised me...I told you, Christmas Eve Surprises :) First he laughed and said it's not a rat, but a hedge hog. I had only seen a hedge hog in Pixar films before this morning. Then Sam said, "Is he alive?" It was...It was swimming around. He shot out of bed. I am not joking! Which again surprised me. Sam didn't even know there was a 6 on the clock I don't think :) Then he proceeded to rescue this hedge hog because it had been swimming for hours. He got it out and then placed it on the rocks to catch its breath.



And back to bed he went, as well :)

Christmas Eve has been relaxing for us after our early morning. I felt so accomplished that at 10am when we were heading home we had gone to an appointment (where in the waiting room I caught up on my USA news...well the celebrity gossip), went for breakfast at a cafe, went Christmas shopping for one last present for his Nana, then went to the grocery store for snacks to survive through the weekend. :)

There aren't many traditions for Christmas Eve for Sam's family or really for most people in NZ, so we are going to spend our first Christmas together getting fish and chips and hanging out at the beach for a bit, then opening our presents from each other. Tomorrow we are ALL excited to have our presents opened. I have been teasing James for a week now that all we got him was socks and underwear :) But in reality we can't wait for him to open our gifts. I think all of us have almost buckled and said, "just open them now!" We have made it though...no more candy in our advent calendars and only one more sleep!!!

Enjoy your Christmas Eve!!!!

Gingerbread Men in Bathing Suits....

Well I won't disappoint you....coming later down the page there might just be a gingerbread man in a swimsuit....but I can say this with great assurance...I have NEVER baked ginerbread men while being in a swimsuit in my entire life!!! We know this is a year of firsts for me and here is yet another one.



Our good friends Sally and Andy have two kids that we adore and it works out great that James and Rosie love hanging out with them too!! It is summer break for kids now here in NZ, so we went and picked up Mackenzie and Georgia for the day. We decided that making gingerbread men sounds like a great plan. None of them had ever done it before and it was SO fun seeing their creativity come out as they decorated their cookies. Everyone helped with the baking...







I was actually feeling a bit proud of myself at this point...I have worked really hard to not be so stressed out over Christmas but to enjoy it. I read this great article last week that challenged women not to take the fun and family time out of Christmas by being so crazy about a clean house, the perfect presents, the best tree, the food, etc... The author reminded the readers that the point of Christmas no matter what your beliefs may be is to celebrate relationship and family and take time to enjoy moments together. I was even more convicted this year as I start my new family. I don't want to make my husband miserable because I want to start a new tradition. The author also gently reminded readers that a tradition that is stressful and a burden defeats the purpose of a tradition. I took that to heart this year and have really tried to enjoy each moment. Remembering that Christmas is about the gift of Jesus and the reason we get to have all these fun traditions is more important to me than all the stuff and traditions...at least I am trying to live that out.

Well, just about the time I was patting myself on the back in my head about letting my mother in law's kitchen be a disaster (she was at work, but man it stresses me out....), and letting the kids actually have fun and do all the baking and rolling of the dough and cookie cutting....I realized one little thing I should have been at least a little bit stressed about: I didn't take the cookies out of the oven!!!!!



The boys thought it was rather funny that I burned some of the cookies...



Seriously?!?!?! I was so frustrated at myself. Sam was working in the other room and when I found him to tell him what I did all he could do was laugh and then gently remind me that we still made a memory and that is what this was all about. I love my husband and love how hard he has worked to learn who I am and what is truly important to me.

We also decided that the cookies were salvageable...and the reality is they were more to decorate than to eat. We made some super thick and those ones ended up being perfect, too. So as they cooled we took a quick swim break...




It really is summer here...that is at least what they keep telling me. But the kids were SO cold after swimming that we decided to have a hot chocolate to warm up before the decorating began!!!



Georgia and Rosie made the frosting...because of course if you haven't noticed we did it ALL from scratch! We even made the frosting...which they call icing here and which the girls laughed at me each time I said frosting today :) I did have a laugh to myself when I realized how much work the icing was when it is usually $1 in the states to buy a whole can of it....oh American convenience how I miss thee....



Now the fun begins...



















And like I said earlier...gingerbread man in a swimsuit....hehehehe. Isn't my sister in law so creative? I love watching Rosie create...and I had to laugh because of course in NZ why would you not think to put a two piece on your gingerbread man...er, gingerbread girl :)



Before you think there was virtually no drama in the day aside from a partial burning of the gingerbread men, let me stop you right there. We of course had a bit of drama to add to the fun and memory making of the day. The kids were cleaning up outside before we were going to take them home and all of a sudden I heard CRASH...uh oh I thought. It was then followed up by AGHHHH! I was already on my way out the door because I could see that Georgia had dropped a jar by Mack's foot and thought he was probably just being a bit dramatic, and I get that :) But to my surprise Sam was quick behind me and we saw blood and then I saw Sam swooping up Mack in his arms and the crying stopped. Sam took him in the bathroom while we cleaned up outside. Then Sam came out and whispered to me..."It's quite a deep cut, hon...."



Yikes!! He was such a trooper though. So tough and I love to watch how Sam is so calm in crisis and seems to help people just stop crying without saying a word...reason number 912 that God gave him to me :) In the end, Sam wrapped it up and we called Sally and in perfect Mom of a crazy boy fashion, she said, "ah he will be okay and when I get there if it's still bleeding we will swing by the hospital and get it stitched." I love my friend Sally, she is similar to Sam in that nothing is dramatic for her...God does give me good friends doesn't He? :) He is all good and survived the cut and might even have a cool scar from it...which Sam told him and which made Mack smile really big!

We hope you have a great Christmas week!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Star Wars

I realized I haven't blogged the whole week...some of that is due to lack of time on the computer. And some of it is due to just being in a slump. It's weird to be feeling so many things at once. I love being here and love the life that we are creating, but there are days when I am just so out of sorts and a bit undone. This week I faced a lot of sadness. It was hard for me to get out of bed some days and for the first time in a long time I wanted to just sit when asked if I wanted to go anywhere....

It's a weird feeling to not be motivated to do much. I think between all the constant change and the hard relational stuff we faced last week, my emotions just shut down a bit. I want to "snap out of it" but it just doesn't seem to be snapping as quick as I want it too. I have felt like this two other times in life, but the major differences are....one, I am married and no longer have the ability to fully hide, and two, I live within feet of my in laws. For the record, I LOVE living here, but there was a day when staying in bed all day just sounded good, but I couldn't bear the thought of knowing my mother in law was watching from a distance seeing the curtains never be opened. That day my husband took such good care of me, though....we in fact did keep the curtains closed all day and just took a break from life. That consisted of watching Friends episodes all day, talking, surviving on the snacks in our house and just being together in the chaos. It was kind of nice to "take a day off life."

Sleep is sometimes still hard, but one thing we have done to help me ease into sleep without too much thought has been to watch all 6 Star Wars before bed. It is quite fun to watch it with Sam and I find myself looking forward to it all day long. We take a few days to watch each one, I seem to fall asleep quite fast still when a movie is on. :) In the midst of all the change, emotion, transition and relational conflict there are just times that one has to be practical....looking forward to a movie each night helps. I can't tell you why but it does. And it has led Sam and I to some really good talks about good versus evil and mentors and trusting people. I found myself liking Star Wars so much more this time. There is something so real to life about it for me. Good and bad exists in all of us. While I have walked through forgiveness and getting myself choosing to love and not judge or condemn through this last two months, I can't say I haven't fought thoughts that I am not so proud of...but in the end it really is what you do with them that ultimately matters.

While I know that "the force" isn't real, for me I found so much I could relate to in Star Wars the last two weeks. I also pulled out a book that I read every year at Christmas, and one of the only things I kept when I sold all my other Christmas thing.

I couldn't sleep this morning around 4:30, so I picked up this book and re read it. I laughed quietly to myself as Sam slept soundly next to me at the parallels that were in Star Wars and the Christmas story told by Max Lucado. There really was something to this fight for good and evil. One thing I have continually done this week is try to keep a perspective that is on God. In times past that was a "nice phrase" I definitely believed, but never clung to as I do now. I am finding in all that has transpired in that last few months of our lives, when my perspective slips even for a moment I can downward spiral. So to read a book about God's love and grace and to be reminded about the power of good and love in a simple (albeit amazing) movie like Star Wars has been gentle reminders from the Lord for me.

His grace and peace have actually overwhelmed me this week as I have seen His reminders all over the place....in movies, in books, in my loving husband, in emails, in texts, in my in laws, phone calls from old friends here in NZ, and in a sweet friend who sent me Psalm after Psalm after Psalm she typed out for me. I cried as I read it, not only because it seem to be speaking directly to me, but also because like I said early I haven't really "wanted" to do much in this season. To pick up my Bible at times was very hard, but instead of condemning me or judging me I feel like God got his words of grace, love and mercy to me in many different ways this week.

I told a friend this week, "I wish I wasn't in this spot right now, but I am." And I guess that's okay for right now. Choice is a powerful thing and God has lavished us with the ability to choose so much....to choose Him, to choose His love, to choose our thoughts, to choose our reactions, to choose even our emotions....but the beauty of God....when we feel like we desperately want to choose a good attitude and heavenly perspective but feel like we just can't choose one more moment He swoops in with grace and mercy and supplies us with just enough grace to get through that day.

So in the end, my heart is full...full of so much this season, but mostly full of thanks for what I am being so poignantly reminded God has given me...grace, forgiveness, mercy....and unconditional love.

I Miss Kits

I was once again reminded how I love the convenience and ease of things in America...aka Target. James and Rosie have never made ginger bread houses....I thought this would be a great year to start! But that meant making everything from scratch. To the average Kiwi there is no other way than "from scratch." To the average American, "from scratch" means getting the cake box mix or buying the kit at target. If you are in the kitchen making it, it counts as "from scratch."

Rosie and I made the dough and she came up with the "house plan."









James had a friend over, so they organized all the candy....and man there was a lot! A little side story for you: As I was getting some of the candy out of one of the bulk bins at the store, the lever got stuck! It was the kind that you lift the lever and the candy slowly pours out....but in my case it kept pouring and pouring and pouring. I yelled for Rosie to help me and James and Rosie and I just laughed as we tried to make the candy stop. The whole wall of bulk candy began to tip over, but just in time Rosie was able to get the lever back up! Of course it was hard candy that was SO heavy, but we just took some out and put it in another bag all ready for the next person making ginger bread houses.



It was quite a mission and we learned a lot for next year...but for this year it was just a fun memory to make with James and Rosie. To add to everything else we ran out of icing (that we also made from scratch!) so we had to get very creative.








All in all it was a fun day and a great memory. I am having such a good time with James and Rosie and living where we do. It has been such an odd season in so many ways and I spend most of my time at home with the family. It's been quite an unexpected place of rest and safety in this season. It is good to have them around all the time and have a place that I can find ways to express myself and my love for the Holidays. They are always so sweet about my latest "new idea" or "new tradition" and my mother in law always makes it so easy for me to make things happen. We are still working on our business and are forever thinking about what to do and how to do it, but things are moving along. Sam added new pictures on the site. If you haven't checked it out lately go see the new pictures that are up. There are even a few from the wedding....more to come once the couple sees them this weekend. www.samuelackland.com

Look Mom It's On The Tree

My cute parents sent us this "First Christmas Ornament" this week in our Christmas package. It made me smile to get a package and doubly smile when I saw this in there! Thanks guys! We love you!!!



P.S. Mom it was on the tree before I got your email telling me to put it on the tree :) It's front and center!

Running Partners

Running partners are such great things! Today all day long I told myself in my head I was not going running. I was tired, a bit drained and kind of had a head ache. I didn't feel bad, just couldn't be bothered going running. Well, first of all let's clarify running....I am barely jogging and going up to this one point at the quarry that in actual time takes 10+ minutes...

Nonetheless, we are running...see James goes with me every time I go. He either jogs with me or rides his bike up there. We even have a running plan. I didn't want to be too unrealistic about how far and fast I could run so I decided to make goals that were doable. So the first week, getting to the Quarry and back was a success. Now we are running to the Mosaic people...member those from a blog a few weeks ago when Sam and I were on the walk up the Quarry? That has been our last 2 week goal. The people and back. Next week begins week 3 of our training and we are setting our new goal on the "butterfly gardens." We will do that for two weeks and then pick another goal.

It's quite fun having a little brother to do stuff like that with. Sam's knee just can't do a run and especially uphill, but James has offered to go so much that now he is my running partner. So much so, that today when I wanted to not go I couldn't resist when he came and said, "Are we going on our run today?" I said yes quick before I talked myself out of it...really what is 10 or so minutes going to hurt. And we had made a 3 day a week plan....and today was the 3rd day. I love my little brother and love that we run together. Today he even said to me..."you are getting up this hill faster and faster I reckon." It made me smile in how pure and encouraging it was. He's a sweetheart...fully 10--always making sure to correct me when I am doing something wrong....even was "teaching me how to drive a stick" last week :)

I am thankful for what God has given me here. And while I transition and learn to live in this new world, new culture and deal with stress I think I have it pretty good. A little escape of playing bejeweled at times helps too...I had a friend email me and notice how much bejeweled I was playing and asked if I was really doing okay, that I needed brainless games. She was right in her assessment :) I love living here and love having things like bejeweled and a little brother to run with to get rid of stress :)

Milestones

Yesterday marked our 6 month anniversary. I never thought I would be one to celebrate something like that, but after the last 6 months it seems fitting to stop and celebrate all that we have been given and had the privilege of walking through together.

I was quite nervous about the evening meeting that I asked you all to pray for. Though, I knew God was there and would ultimately care for me in the process it was still a step of faith for me to trust him and the process. We had planned to go out to dinner after the meeting, which did a lot to help me....picturing eating chips and guacamole always helps the phsyche.

We went into this meeting smiling at each other and confident, unsure of what was ahead, but sure that we were together. The meeting was about an hour and full of so much. I walked in and out as transparent, honest and humble as I knew how to be. I can't say it was my most favorite thing I ever did, but the outcomes that we can see for me made it worth it. I am so thankful for my husband and how he stood with me and next to me as comments and perspectives were shared. I am thankful for friends who know me and thankful that we have a future that is ours to create. God has gifted us both and we know that He has things that He sees us doing and being. This has a been a hard two months and this meeting was a milestone of sorts for me. It ended a season that I am glad to see end. It opened up a new season that is full of hope and joy and exciting unknown. For all involved the meeting was a bit draining, but as best as we could we heard, respected and were able to leave in peace.

We are excited to see what the church we went to on Sunday has for us, and I was once again reminded that people are human and it's okay that I am not perfect and okay that others aren't perfect. I look forward to seeing how God uses this situation and feel thankful that He has spoke to me through this entire process.

While I had to laugh a bit of the irony of having an intense meeting on our 6 month anniversary, I also smiled at all that has seemed to bring us closer together, create an even more solid foundation and full of hope and confidence in the marriage we are so privileged to be apart of.

Milestones are always different, but I don't want to miss the moment to stop and recognize the milestones that we have seen in our last 6 months and celebrate the good that came from last night. In the end I saw God, saw a husband who loves me, and saw the growth that God has done and is doing in me. All in all a very successful and joyful night.

Church

I was doing the old Sunday school song in the car this week..."Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the door and where are the people?" I was laughing as I told Sam there is so much to learn from that sweet little song. I can remember my Sunday school teacher stopping us the first time we sang it through saying to us...this isn't church when there are no people. Church is people, not a building but people that at times inhabit a building. Then we would sing the song through again...."Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the door....here are the people."

Sam and I went to a church we had heard about a few weeks ago. Because of a few different things that have gone on we were a little nervous and went anxious into this church setting. I almost told Sam right before we left, "let's just skip it this week and go next week." But my friend Sea Jay called right as I was getting ready contemplating telling Sam I didn't want to go. Funnily enough she distracted me enough to go :)

We had a great time, and felt welcomed and comfortable. For me it was one of those "why did I doubt you moment's God?" I knew that He has a spot for us, I knew that we have hearts for God and know that he will continue to use us a married couple. One of the guys that leads this church talked with us after and said so many things that spoke encouragement, hope and peace into who we were, what we were designed to do and just a feeling of comfort. God spoke through him and I almost burst into tears as he said a few things that he could have never known we needed to hear this week. I feel like for the first time ever in our married life we walked into a place and were seen for just us, Sam and Dana Ackland. Pure hearts, imperfect, trying to figure life out.

We head into a meeting tomorrow night to lay to rest some of the conflict/misunderstandings that we found ourselves in here in NZ before we even got here. I am confident that God will continue to show Himself, reveal His goodness, and keep His promises. My prayer is that we will leave reconciled relationally, respecting each other and releasing any debt or hurt that was on both sides. I am believing for closure and a good meeting. Pray with us as we walk into this and pray for my heart and perspective and that we would both trust....it is at 5:30pm Monday night (your time).

I will be sure to tell you the good things God does through this meeting. Thanks for walking with me and us on this journey to NZ and next to us while we walk some tough moments. I feel like I have faithfully taken 2 steps forward and 1 back through this journey....and some days I feel like I take 2 steps forward and 3 back :) But we are moving and beginning to see things that we never imagined. Thank you for being the small group of people that pray with us, journey with us, and cheer us on. I love being able to share and communicate, and love knowing that we are going into things like this week with others standing with us.

Thank you.

Christmas Tree Trimming

The clouds cleared, the sun came out and the Acklands were off to the Christmas tree farm....

First we get the saw...



Then Sam takes the saw...I don't know why he didn't think I could do it...maybe because I cut myself almost every time I use a knife :)



Then off for our walk in all the trees



It was so much fun wandering through all the trees for us. Sam and I both loved being a family and starting this new tradition together. The trees are a bit different to the trees we typically get in America...not bad, just different :) It took me a little bit of time to figure out what we wanted. I wanted a big bushy tree for our house, but there weren't a ton of those, and we were on a budget. Yet, these trees were so much less expensive than any trees in America....

Then Sam chopped our tree down! Such a fun memory!!!



And off we went, with our tree in the back of our tiny boy racer car...quite the site :)
Once the tree was home and Sam got it all set in the house, the trimming began!!!

James and Rosie decided to help us....when I say "us" at this point, I mean me. :) Sam was quite happy to let me be happy in Happy Christmas Mood, listening to Christmas music, making strings of popcorn and laughing with James and Rosie. Rosie helped me do the lights...



And James and Rosie both helped me string popcorn and put up the cookie cutters hung with ribbon, and the candy canes...









Here is a close up of the home made decorations we did....



Our First Christmas Tree



I did have to smile a bit when I went into the living room and saw my mother in law's Christmas tree....there really is something to be said about American's always having the biggest they could have....



Her's is SO cute, but so much smaller than ours....I just laughed and told Sam..."I guess we do always do things bigger as Americans." :)

What a FUN day and fun memory that we made for our first Christmas!

No Tree Yet, but LOTS of rain....

It has rained since we returned from Queenstown!! And the first day of summer here has come and went...yet the rain has not ceased! I was so excited for my Friday Tree Decorating Plan....it was raining so hard that with no break in sight that I had to realize no tree decorating would be happening Friday.

I am currently in jeans and a hoodie and feeling pretty chilled. I thought we were coming back to Summer?!?! But I do have to admit the thought of putting up the tree and the decorations in a sweatshirt needing to drink hot chocolate to get warm sounded pretty fun :) I love warm weather but this first transition of a "hot" Christmas was a bit much for my mind to wrap around.

I woke up today to the sound of rain once again....but as the morning wore on I heard the rain lessen and lessen. I finally went outside and there was a little sliver of sunshine. I, of course, woke Sam right up and said, "maybe....maybe....we could get our tree today!?!?!" He groggily said yes :)

We will see if the rain holds off though. We have to go get some Christmas lights...they have to go on the tree first and we have none of that stuff. And then when we get home if it's still not raining we might get it...if not we will get it next week at the first sign of sunshine. My mother in law is going to get her tree rain or shine today, though. She thought I was a bit silly to want to do my tree this Friday....she was certain it was too early and might die too soon. Which it will....but how can one wait to get the tree decorated?!?! I sure can't...well this morning she told me she decided she would go get her tree today as well. All her decorations were down and she was VERY excited to show me the old ones all the kids had made through the years. She is quite good at saving things and even showed me Sam's baby teeth this week....along with the mini letters from the Tooth Fairy that came with each tooth. Quite cute! And she had even made mini envelopes with Sam's name and address and a pretend stamp on it :) Very fun!

So tonight if nothing else I might get to help the family decorate their tree then have a whole other night to decorate our first Christmas tree....It is super special for me to have a first Christmas together and I look forward to starting new traditions, but also not being too crazy about traditions and the decorations and enjoy the season together with new family, new friends and in a new season of the year....

Pictures will be coming!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

After the kids got home from school yesterday James and I decided to make Christmas Angels that my mother in law had bought for us. We patiently waited all week for me to do them with them, so yesterday I couldn't resist when he asked again. We went for a quick jog and then started Christmas fun!

We had decided to use the angels as name places for Christmas day. Then James had the great idea to make every angel have each person's personality. SO awesome!!

Then Rosie and James and I made advent calendars to start the season off! I was at my friend's house yesterday and she inspired me to make my own this year. Here is mine...still am going to add a bit, but it was so fun to do! I took old tea bags and wiped them on white cards to make them look old, then stitched it up and added the number...then placed it on an old bag. The theme this year is old fashioned, traditional, & home made! I am so excited to get our tree on Friday.






James' Advent Calendar--he made it all by himself! And will put two candies in each day....one for him and one for dad. He loves his dad!



Rosie's Calendar! (How cute is my sister in law!?!?!)



Rosie's close up



SO since Christmas was beginning I thought it was time to get out the Christmas things I brought over....





We are getting the tree on Friday!!! So more pictures will come!!!!