To everyone else, the Nutcracker is a Christmas decoration....

to 4 year old boys....a giant bad guy!

Our church is helping a local school and it's been a great opportunity for all of us to think of others.  Super hard to buy toys for other kids and then look at them for a few days without playing with them!  He tried negotiating and said he would just "borrow" them for a little while!  =)  He helped wrap and then carried them to our class Sunday.  It's been really neat to hear him talk all week about the "little boy who doesn't have toys".  Please pray Caleb will understand how blessed he is and that these next few weeks that special little boy will stay on his mind.

 Very particular as he worked all morning on 

his nutcracker!

 Redid the stickers a number of times 

to get just right!  

 Ta...da!  Yes....took me four years, but 

today I was one of those moms!  I had planned ahead,

we did a craft and I took him somewhere that

the craft applied!  YES!!!  And it was 

totally all for him, not for me in any way shape or form.

(congratulatory pats on the back can be added 

in comment section....thank you)  =)

 The mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer!

Caleb got up close and personal with the 

Nutcracker!  His father was very happy

when he heard his favorite part was when the

mice and toy soldiers fought.  And when I asked him 

what was his favorite costume he said, "the blue ones". 

I love boys!

Our very special manger scene from Argentina. 

(Thanks, Aunt Dana!)

 Thanksgiving in Indiana!  Uncle Isaiah photo bombing! =)

 Still not sure how Aunt Becca got roped into game time...

but she's the best!  ZINGO!!!

 Can't believe I got another shot of motionlessness!

Well, snacks help....but next time, Grandma...

double the fudge and oyster crackers!  

Felt safe all week surrounded by heros!

 His "muscles" are great for warmth

on the cold days!  =)

So thankful I have a place to send these restless

boys on cold dark evenings!

 "I was a little scared last time, but I'm gonna be brave today."

 He did so good that he got something from the treasure chest again!

And mama got lunch at Qdoba!!!  What a good day!

 Today was work day at church.  

Caleb really wanted to work with his
Sunday School teacher, Mr. Jim.

 And work he did!  Was very proud of him!  Also worked a little with LeighAnn, both came back covered with paint, but neither knew how that happened....
which one needs supervision next time?  =)

Another perk of being youth pastor's kid!  

By the way, he had a VERY serious face as he went up!  =)

I love it when he "reads". =)

 Uncle Jay and Aunt Kari visited a few weeks ago, the boys had tons of fun!

 FROM OUR LIVING ROOM!!!!

GOD'S CREATION IS MAGNIFICENT!! 

 A number of years ago our church decided to take advantage of all the trick or treaters that park in the church parking lot.  It's been a great outreach and we literally had hundreds come through this year.  Caleb (aka Captain America) barely moved as he heard that our insides are yucky like a pumpkins!  

 This was definitely one of the favorite games!

 He got a hippo painted on his hand!  

 Thankful for our teen boys who were sweet enough to help our little hero!  =)

 Teen girls over to make caramel apples.  

He made it longer than I expected before testing the treats!

Hey...you can only do so many apples, 

sooner or later the popcorn has to come out!  =)

Delish!!!!!!  Decided next girl's group needed to include exercise! 

Thank you ALL (you know who you are) for spoiling our son on his birthday!  

So much fun to see him transform into a super hero!

 Always enjoy new books to read over and over and over again!  =)

 A new table that Daddy and Caleb put together!  

 New luggage, that he wanted to use right away to go visit Ms. Phyllis with.  

(our sweet sweet neighbor)

 And a lantern to plan the next adventure in the dark.  

Blessed beyond imagine!!!!

 Caleb is 4!!!  So on his special day we asked him where he would like to get lunch?  Duh, McDonalds! Then we asked him where he wanted to eat?  At home, at the restaurant, in the car?  Without hesitation he answered, "The woods.".  =)  So off we went, into the woods!  Praising the Lord for these 4 years and all that He has taught us.  Please pray that we will be parents that hunger and thirst for righteousness, that we will have wisdom on training our son, and that the Lord will draw Caleb unto Himself.  

 Lots of hanging around! 

 If you are around boys in the woods for more than 2 seconds....

you realize that there are more than 842 uses for sticks.

Swords being one of the top 5.

 Was very special that Uncle Isaiah and Aunt Becca got to spend some time with us!  Spoiled us good =) with some much needed clothes for fall AND....

a puzzle as BIG as Caleb!!!!

This year mama earned that medal around her neck!!!  13.1 miles, oh yes, a half marathon.  Dad needs one too as not only did he help train....but made it possible to do it!  Finished just in time to see Isaiah and Becca as they came though town!  What a great day!  (2 hours 19 minutes...if your wondering!)  Woohoo!

I have so many more pics of the beach I want to put up...but we hit the ground running when we got back.  Actually, Bruce hit the operating table and then the ground with a crutch (or a staff, as Caleb calls it).  Minor surgery with 6 week recovery...and he is doing great!  His doctor is a Christian and what a sweet sweet time as he asked if he could pray for us and the surgery before he took Bruce back!!  Caleb's a good helper and we wouldn't have survived if Aunt Dana hadn't come to help!  As always, God is so good and faithful and gives us His strength as we need it!  

 So THIS is the beach!

 Wave jumping was a favorite!

 Found lots of cool shells!

 Kite flying on the dunes with dad.

Dinner at sunset...on a pirate ship....

everyone was happy!  =)