2010

It has been my intention now for over a month to do a post about Christmas at the Jennings household but now that it is February 5th, I don't think it's going to happen. I'll just say that we had a wonderful Christmas with our family and both our extended families, we were extremely busy leading up to Christmas Eve, loved the boys reactions to all of the Christmas festivities, stories, baking, decorating, presents, etc., etc., etc. I had so many funny John Michael quotes & stories that I wanted to share but it seems so far removed now, I will let it pass. I started keeping a Christmas Journal in 2000 where I record special memories about the season and I absolutely adore going back each year and reading things the boys did, asked Santa for, or wanted to buy for someone else, favorite Christmas activities/traditions and so forth. The journal is something I will always cherish and I would recommend it to any mom. We are so blessed and the Christmas season always brings that home again. A few of my favorite traditions for our family are, of course, our elves Elfie & Bedford and all the fun they stir up. The boys love it and look forward to it so much every year. Even Samuel at 9 years old still loves the Elves. Secondly, the Christmas cookies we bake each year. Joseph & I started baking these sugar cookies years ago before we even had kids. It has become my 'thing' at the family Christmas gathering. This year I took it a little further and did several batches of cookies to share with friends, take to parties, give to teachers, etc. It really added to our Christmas spirit and we had so much fun in the process! Another thing we always enjoy, John Michael & Samuel were talking about it just this week, is getting our PJ's on, making hot chocolate, and going out to look at Christmas lights. A small thing that I love is constant Christmas music playing in the kitchen. I keep it on around the clock 24/7 and I love walking in the kitchen after the house is quiet at night or first thing in the morning and hearing it. Finally, the Christmas movies that we watch every year... Christmas with the Kranks, The Polar Express, The Elf, the Christmas Classics - Rudolph, Frosty, etc. We love these movies and I laugh so hard every time I watch the Kranks! The Polar Express was a favorite this year with John Michael and it is still one of Samuel's favorites as well. After Christmas, things slowed down a bit and we hibernated for a few days. It was very cold so we enjoyed a fire most every day/evening and just stayed home. I think we all read a book or two, the boys enjoyed playing with the things they received for Christmas, we played board games, video games, watched movies, and enjoyed a slower pace. I read a couple of really good books and have several on my 2010 reading list that I am looking forward to. I finally got around to reading The Shack. I know everyone else read it a year or two ago, but I just got around to it and I enjoyed it. I also read Dear John by Nicholas Sparks in anticipation of the newly released movie. I enjoyed it as well but not at the top of my favorites list. Something else that I have enjoyed during the month of January is sharing books with Samuel. He loves to read these Historical Fiction chapter books from his library at school. Knowing that I love the Titanic and Pearl Harbor movies, he brought a couple of books home related to those events and wanted me to read them when he was finished. I did and he has since brought other similar books home that we have shared. It has been fun for both of us. We are still enjoying the slower pace since we aren't involved in any sporting activities right now. Samuel decided he needed a break after almost nine straight months of baseball and football last fall. Still enjoying more time at home, cooking more, reading more, and I have even been knitting a little again. Samuel is still doing piano once a week and is in 'training' for the upcoming Mercedes Marathon and baseball will be starting in just a couple of weeks. We were very proud of him for saying all of his memory verses last year at church. He and only 2 others said all memory verses in the BMW (Bible Memory Warrior) program last year. We are very proud of him for the dedication and commitment it took to reach that goal. He has also made the all A honor roll both grading periods this school year. SO proud of him! John Michael has a computer class at school once a week and is eagerly anticipating his chance to hit the field this fall when he will be able to play soccer. Yes, it is nothing more than entertainment for the parents and others who want to come out and watch 3 year olds attempt at playing soccer. Should be a lot of fun to watch! He continues to challenge us every day with his own ideas and concepts of how things should go around the house. He always makes us laugh and keeps us on our toes! We celebrated Joseph's 41st birthday a couple of weeks ago by going to Hokkaido Japenese Steak House, Barnes & Noble, & Yogurt Mountain. A fun night for all of us! Thanks Joseph for being the wonderful husband and dad that you are! I appreciate you so much! Just a little news about what's going on with us. Happy 2010 to all!