Embrace the Camera



Meet my nephew Jaden. He is an adorable, sweet, says the darndest things little 3 year old.

I have decided to join Emily's Embrace the Camera. Check it out.

My husbands brother got a new job and he, my sister-in-law, and little Jaden will be moving 3 hours away. I am his Christmas...and that is what he calls me instead of Aunt Kristin. "My Christmas". He loves his Uncle Anon & Aunt Christmas, and we love him. I know we will still see them, but not as much as when they lived 20 minutes down the road. SO I have been snapping many pictures of him and grabbing hug after hug since we heard the news.

We hate to see them move, but know that it is for the best. Plus it is bitter sweet, because Aaron and I will be moving into their house. Goodbye old house...HELLO new recently remodeled house with fenced in yard. YAY! The dogs are very excited.

Then & Now: Hayden

My nephew Hayden born March 29th, 2008

It was love at first sight

Sweet Baby Boy!

Nap time with Cocoa

Hayden & my brother Mikey

Loves bath time

 

My little man

Silly Sissy!

 Fun at Easter

When I could still pick him up

Monster Trucks @ Sissy's

First Day of Preschool (3yrs old) 

Darth Vader for Halloween

Always Smiling...

He loves his Sissy!

And Sissy loves Hayden!



He loves Dixie too

 

 I know they have to grow up and it's a good thing, but does it have to be so fast!?!

 Then: he was this precious baby boy that stole my heart. Now: he is the little boy that owns my HEART. 

Then: he was this active toddler into everything. Now: he is still that active toddler into everything!

Then: he said Sissy for the first time and made my day. Now: It's Sissy, Sissy! and I adore it.

Then: he was this tiny little baby and I loved him so very much!

Now: he is 3 yrs. old (and a very BIG 3) I can't even pick him up anymore. He is such a happy child, smiling all of the time! I love him so very much!

Monopoly by the old oil lamp

While Aaron was working in PA, Dixie and I spent the night with Mamaw & Popaw Blankenship, in the Holler at Hanover.

Unexpectedly the power (or juice according to some country folk) went out. So what did we do...Played Monopoly by lamp light.



Popaw was the car, because he loves race cars. And the banker.

I was the dog, because I love dogs. And the properties, house/hotel manager.

Dixie was the hat, beacause she likes hats. And got to work on her math skills.



Mamaw was the old lady in the Shoe (j/k she could pass for 40) and the WINNER!

Embrace the cards you are dealt and make the most of every situation...you may be suprised and make some great memories.

We had a wonderful, fun evening and the power was restored around 11:00 pm.

Plans Change

I have done a study on creation, and I had PLANNED on turing that into 7 days of posts. But life got in the way! I am not perfect like God and got distracted. God created the world in 7 days, because He wanted to, so that's how He did it. I don't always get what I want or do what I plan. Haven't you ever heard, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him YOUR plans".  Well my PLANS were interrupted because it was on my heart to share my grandfathers story for Veterans Day, and then my PLANS were interrupted again by according to me, one of God's greatest creations. And according to The Oak Ridge Boys song Thank God for Kids

 I will share the last 3 days of the creation story, but first I would like to share my weekend because I was blessed to spend it with two children that hold a very special place in my life & heart.

Making a cake...we started with a white cake mix (or you can make a white cake from scratch)

she is going through a peace sign phase...he tries to copy her

It was a Rainbow cake so they had to color the batter...

Split the batter equally into 4 bowls, and color with coloring paste (or liquid food coloring)

 It turned out really well. All the colors swirled...and after it was baked we covered with white icing...YUMMY! Rainbow sprinkles would have been a nice touch, but we didn't have any.

 Learning about the frog life cycle, because we are growing FROGS. They each have a tadpole that we are going to try to raise and not kill. Hopefully seeing them through the cycle to adult bullfrogs.

 We colored bullfrog life cycle printouts...then made paper bag frog puppets. Idea from Enchanted Learning

 Air mattresses are not just for sleeping...they make a bumpy road to race monster trucks

Our plasma isn't working so it has retired to the floor

Watching Sponge Bob and eating popcorn...while I did the dishes

The non-working floor model serves as the stand for an itty bitty TV

Then it was time to brush our teeth, bedtime prayers, lights off, and hope they fall asleep before I do

And they did...a fun filled exhausting day...can't go wrong with cake, puppets, and moster trucks.

Day 4 - Ruler of the Day and Night

*most pictures were in my personal library, but some I had to search for

Genesis 1:14-19

14. And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years;

15. And let them be for lights in the expanse of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Sun

Full Moon

Stars

17. And God set them in the expanse of the heaven to give light upon the earth.

18. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Think about how beautiful the sun is, rising and setting. Not only can we see it, it is the light that rules over the day so we can see everything by it. We can also feel it! Close your eyes and imagine being outside and the sun touching your skin as it begins to warm your whole body. Think about how beautiful the moon and the stars are on a clear night. Now think of the four seasons how each is different and forever changing, but beautiful all the same. Seasons are different depending on where you live, but I’m sure we all can find beauty and tranquility in our surroundings if we just open our eyes, and soak in God's greatness.

Summer – The breeze is blowing. The sky is blue, the trees are green and full, and the waters have been warmed by the sun.  Gardens have grown and we are reaping the harvest of fruits and vegetables.

Cocoa, Bentley, & I running on the beach at OBX

Lake at Snow Shoe, WV

 Autumn – the days are beginning to cool from the summer heat, the leaves are changing colors and beginning to fall and fly through the air. The air is crisp of the mornings, but slowly warms with the sun. 

Twin Falls State Park, WV

 




Mom walking with Hayden through the leaves in the woods

My backyard

PA - Sometimes it even snows in the Fall

 Winter – the leaves are gone, and replaced with snow. The white has dusted all over the land, and even though it is cold the sight is beautiful.  

View from Mamaw & Papaw's Porch in the Holler

*Holler = Hollow - having a space or cavity inside. Basically there are valleys in between the mountains where roads have been carved out and follow along the creek, where people have made their house seats along the way. I have also heard it defined as a, "one lane road with two way traffic"

It is easy to become depressed or discouraged in the winter. The days are cold, and the wind can cut you like a knife. The nights are longer than the days. The roads are slushy and slick at times. Salt is applied to roads, driveways, and walkways to melt the ice, therefore it clings to all the vehicles, and makes its way into every house. But that is just how it is, it is a season, and it to shall pass, so look beyond the cold and dirty slushy roads, to the white tiped trees, or the warmth of children smiling, sleigh riding,  Christmas cookies and presents. Most importantly we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on December 25th.



My nephew Jaden first sleigh ride...EVER!

Nick - Dixie's little brother

Dixie - decorating cookies

My nephew Hayden in his new tent

 Spring – the snow is gone, the days are starting to warm, and life is beginning to bloom once again. The seasonal cycle continues. The rains may come throughout the year to wash away the dirt, and give the Earth a drink, but in the spring the rain waters the plants, and along with the sun, help them to grow. This continues the cycle, and produces herb and fruit, that were created on the third day.

Creek with blooming flowers



Flowers from Aaron...Just Because

Not only is spring beautiful but it leads to delectable smells, including one of my favorite smells, Honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle bush at my great-grandparents old home place in the head of the holler

Not only can we see God in the sky, land, and waters, and feel him when the wind blows and the rains fall, and stand still and hear him, and taste the fruit and herb he provided, we can also smell the fragrances he placed on this Earth. Negative can be found no matter where we are, it just takes a negative person to find it. So don't worry, be happy, and take it all in!



What season is your favorite?