Sunday School Christmas Party

Our Sunday School class recently had our annual Christmas party which was jam packed with things to keep the kids entertained. There was a juggling act, an impromptu nativity pageant where all the kids got to dress up, carol singing, good food, friends, and Santa and Mrs. Claus bearing gifts. Sarah Hazel had a blast and sweet Cameron enjoyed watching all the big kids.

The Angel

Cameron as baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph are our good friends Janet and Phil.

Clapping and singing Jingle Bells

Hello Santa!

I'm not a huge fan of Santa Claus but I do know that most children love him, including Sarah Hazel. As long as we keep Christ as the center of Christmas, I'm sure we can find a balance with Santa Claus. She really was so excited to see him!

Baby Gee

Today I read the "Story of Jesus" Goldenbook to Sarah Hazel. I recreated the first page of the book with our own Fisher Price manger scene to try and make it more realistic for her. No matter how many times I corrected her, Sarah Hazel insisted on calling baby Jesus, "baby gee".

Hello Winter

*For those of you on Facebook and/or on the Walgreen's photo list, I do apologize for showing these again. I guess I'm just a proud mama of two cute kiddos and like to show them off.

We woke up to a nice little snow on Saturday! It didn't stick to the roads (never really does) but it was just enough to cover the ground and allow for some fun playtime. If you have ever been around our dog Brandy, you know that she is the most laid back and lazy dog on the planet. We were surprised when she started running around in circles and rolling all in the snow. She was so happy that she was paying no attention to where she was going and plowed right over Sarah Hazel. Everyone was fine except Sarah Hazel was really upset that she had snow all over her coat and mittens. We showed her that she could pick up the snow and throw it around and then she realized that it was ok and fun to get messy. Cameron loved watching the snow fall and kept trying to focus on one flake falling at a time. We kept him bundled up under his blanket but he still got a chance to touch snow for the first time. Personally, I'm not a fan of cold weather and getting wet snow all over me but I'll do whatever it takes to see my kids (and dog) happy.

Brandy running faster than I have ever seen her run!

Staying warm and cozy.

Looking at all the white stuff on the trees.

She was really proud of the snow covered stick she found.

A few pictures from the birthday party!

Here are a few party photos taken by my friend Diana. All of the girls were so cute in their tutu's and princess dresses. I'm happy John decided against wearing one!

All About Sarah Hazel!

Now that Sarah Hazel is a big two year old, she has past all of the baby milestones. From now on, all of her new ways will be here and the old will be here.

Teeth: I think she has all of her baby teeth now!

Movement: She loves to dance and tumble!!! We have her enrolled in a toddler gymnastics class at The Little Gym which she is really enjoying and doing well in.

Verbal: She now can talk in complete sentences and uses words very well to get her point across. She still talks gibberish now and then but the majority of her words are understandable. She is really good at verbalizing hot and cold in reference to food, the outdoors, and for her own comfort.

Sleep: In her toddler bed for a solid 12 hours a night and a 1-3 hour nap each day. She likes to have her nightlight on and sleeps with all of her stuffed friends as well as a tiny pillow.

Skills: She can count to 6 without help and knows most of her primary colors and basic shapes (circle, square, oval, star, heart, triangle, etc...) She knows several letters and loves to "read" and point at the letters she understands. She can hum along to several songs and will sing out the words she knows and do motions if there are any in the song. She enjoys puzzles and playing with toys that have small details. She also likes to draw and color and is able to draw circles. Currently we are working on potty training. Somedays she's all about it and will go, and then other days she doesn't want anything to do with it. We've got time!

Toys: baby dolls, girly accessories and dress up clothes, Barbies, Loving Family dollhouse, Memory game, Little People, stickers and Colorforms

Shows: all PBS cartoons and Sesame Street, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dora, Backyardigans, WonderPets, Special Agent OSO

Foods: anything that is on someone else's plate but not on her own!

Sort of Catching Up

I do have pictures from Sarah Hazel's birthday party. Just bear with me! They'll get here someday.

Thankfully Slowed Down by the Sickies

I feel like this month has been a blur. I really wanted to slow down and not have so many committments and I got what I wanted...just not how I wanted it. It just goes to show you that we are on God's time and not our own. I had piled way too much on my plate with bible studies, a craft show, MOPS, a jewelry party, and other social callings. Add in Sarah Hazel's birthday, Thanksgiving, birthday and Christmas professional portraits, and then Christmas obligations and it all just became way too much for one mama with small kiddos. I was becoming resentful of my obligations because they were putting stress on us timewise and financially. I have learned that if my kids are overly cranky then chances are that I have pushed them to their limit and not thinking of their needs first. All they really want to do is stay at home and play. Can you blame them? A few weeks ago Sarah Hazel had a mysterious rash on her torso which kept her away from others for about a week. We never did figure out what it was but I'm glad it happened because that is when I realized that this whole family does better if we don't have so many outside obligations and instead just stop and enjoy each other. Right after she got over the rash, we spent the whole weekend with family celebrating Granddaddy's retirement from church. By that Sunday night, Sarah Hazel was running a fever and quickly became very ill. A few hours later, Cameron's fever kicked in. I did NOTHING that whole week but sit and hold my sick babies. Our whole family had been majorly exposed to a virus (not the flu) as well as the H1N1 flu . They had the same symptoms as the family member with the regular virus so they were diagnosed with that but then Sarah Hazel became sicker so the doctor thought that she had H1N1 on top of that. We never knew for sure if she did. A couple days later I started getting sick but thought it was most likely from sitting out in the cold at the UT game. Turns out I had a virus, most likely whatever my kids had. I didn't rest or let myself heal so of course mine went right to my chest and left me with a nasty case of bronchitis that became pneumonia. That brings us up to now and almost one month later from where this madness began. My house looks like a tornado came through but that's ok. I never made it to this month's MOPS meetings and that's ok. I missed my last day of bible study and a great meal with friends but once again, it's ok. God answered my pleas for my life to be slowed down and showed me that my kids and my husband are top priority and I should never ever have to apologize for that. So what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving???? Sickness of course!

Hiding From The Boss (aka Sarah Hazel)

The Boss. Watch out. She's ruthless!

Today has been one of those not so great days but I did have one moment where I had to laugh at myself. John and I (with kids in tow) met a bunch of John's co-workers at a not so kid friendly Asian restaurant for lunch. Had we been at Five-Guys Sarah Hazel would have been an angel but of course since we were at a nicer place she picked today to flail around in her high chair and squeal like a banshee the whole time. We tried everything we could think of to keep her entertained but that was hard since I was holding a fidgity little Cameron who wanted to grab at my food. I managed to inhale about a quarter of my food before finally having to take Sarah Hazel to the car to finish her fit. John boxed my food and brought it to me. I was starving so I used one of Sarah Hazel's spoons and ate a little bit more of my meal. I had nothing to drink so I saved the rest till I got home. By this point, I needed a moment of peace to eat and actually taste my food so I hid in the bathroom and ate. I couldn't help but laugh at myself eating fried rice with a child's spoon and hiding in the bathroom from a not even two year old! In case you haven't figured it out, she runs the household.

So Very Grateful For the Past Two Years

We are almost done with our crazy two years of having two under two. It's been wild to say the least. I have had to learn that no matter how frustrating it can get, that I have no choice but to find a little more patience than I thought I ever had. Cameron is finally starting to nap and sleep for much longer stretches than he ever has which is providing me with some much needed and overdue time for myself (like right now!). Over the past 7 months, Sarah Hazel has grown so much emotionally, socially, and mentally (not much physically...ha!). She has gone from a baby to a little girl. It's hard to say goodbye to the days of her babyhood but she is so much fun as a toddler that it makes it all ok. Staying home with them has allowed me to never miss a moment and I am so grateful for the opportunity. Granted we struggle financially more than any of you realize but that is the choice we made. We give up a lot for me to be able to do this and is not easy nor is it the laidback romantic lifestyle that so many people believe it to be. But it is worth every sacrifice. So what if I can't buy myself new shoes or get my hair done or buy my kids all kinds of fancy clothes and such? Missing their little moments doesn't compare to any of those things and it saddens me that there are people who choose a lifestyle over being with their babies. This post is not saying there is anything wrong with working so don't get your panties in a wad thinking that is the way I believe. I truly admire a mom who works to support her family because there is absolutly no other way to get food on the table. I do firmly disagree with choosing having your hair done, going on vacations and buying fancy clothing over your kids though. I guess what I am trying to say is that if you at all have the chance to be with your kids, take it, even if it means giving up everything. Isn't seeing your child grow worth it? Don't turn away from them. Before you know it your baby is a two year old and so much time has gone.

Santa Money

Money is more than tight in the Fields household. In fact, it's pretty much non-existent! To not put the extra strain on our budget, I am trying to make our money to buy Christmas gifts for our kids, family, and hopefully each other. Plus I need to come up with money for Christmas and Birthday portraits as well as Cameron's six month ones that I still haven't done. Oh, and then there is the money I need to pull off Sarah Hazel's birthday party. Whew! I was in a craft show last weekend and still have lots of burp cloths and hairbow holders leftover from that. I've marked them down to $5. Hopefully I can get some of those sold quickly and add it to the spending money. I'm not even close to being as good as the Proverbs 31 woman, but I sure try!

Here's the link to my website: Lads and Lassies