Merry Christmas from the Soums!

Christmas Eve...

I picked up the boys from my mom and dad's (they had been there since Monday evening) and we headed to church for the Christmas Eve Service.
One of my favorite things about Christmas!
The boys had scriptures to read on stage, and then Jacob got to light a candle.

Here is a video of the reading:

Afterwards, we drove around a few neighborhoods to see Christmas lights.

Then we came home and the boys each opened up a designated "Christmas Eve" gift...

They love their pajamas!

Then we watched a movie...

And here are the photos from Christmas Day. Enjoy!

Instapic

Christmas Eve fun #newpajamas #candy #minilegos #timeforachristmasmovie via Instagram

Christmas Cards

This is probably the LAST time I will make Christmas cards myself.
I didn't really have the time I needed to get it done weeks ago when I started it, and the ones that I mail will probably end up being more like New Year's cards.
BUT I do like how they came out!

And here is my awesome little helper...lol.

Christmas Lights...thanks Pinterest!

This year I wanted to do something a little easier with the Christmas lights.

I do NOT like seeing Brian hang over the edge of the roof as he clips the lights onto the peak. It makes me nervous and I stand out there as if I can catch him if he falls. Yes, I know that wouldn't work!

So after looking on Pinterest for "easy Christmas lights" I came across the tomato cage/front door decoration, and here is the result:

I only spent $10 and reused tinsel garland and lights. :)

Piano Recital

We are so proud of Jacob!

I will try to post a video of his performance this weekend. Crazy busy...

Simple Woman's Daybook 12/9

Outside my window...there is darkness. And an apple tree. And parked cars and a house. (I'm waiting on Jake at his piano performance class. )
I am thinking...of all the things I need to get done before Christmas. And, more importantly, how I can get Jake to relax before the church Christmas program.
I am thankful for...all that God has given me. And even the tough lessons that have brought me here.
From the kitchen...we had a very simple dinner: fish sticks and homemade tartar sauce, bacon green beans and mac & cheese.
I am wearing...jeans and my foiled Buzz shirt, pea coat and black and purple Reeboks.
I am creating...memories with my family.
I am going...
I am reading...
I am hoping...
I am hearing...
Around the house...
One of my favorite things...
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...(add your picture here)

Storage Room madness!

Our storage room is our catch-all room for junk. Don't know where to put something? Throw it in there. And to make it worse, I ask the boys to bring the item down and it ends up thrown at the entrance of the room. Yeah. Kids...no organization. And sort of lazy.

So I got a wild hair and decided to clean it one afternoon. Snow day fun...lol.

Before:

After:

2 trash bags and 2 bags plus 2 boxes of donations later, and we can walk through and breathe!
That pile of boxes there at the pole...still need to go through all of that.
Joy...

Snow Day!

Indeed.

Instapic

Much needed time alone with a friend. #girlchat #chocoholicsdream #raidedthecandystash #newweeklydate via Instagram

Mizzou Baby Blanket

A friend asked me to make a baby blanket for a family member's baby shower.

I am no sewing expert. 

I worked in a sewing factory for a year when I first moved to Missouri. It was AWFUL. But I learned to sew and moved my way up to quality inspector. I was 19. 

Again, it was AWFUL. I loathed it. 

Fast forward 10+ years and I have a sewing machine to make blankets.

Straight lines. That's my limit!

Cut. Measure. Cut again.

Sewing...and I don't pin. Because I'm lazy.

Sometimes it comes back to bite me. Sometimes it works out ok.

No School Friday

Good morning! 

Why is it more fun to eat breakfast together on a day off rather than a weekend day? 

Oh yeah...because we should be at school! ;)

Voted!

Please vote NO on Ammendment 3 today!

Starting over

I really do have a love of blogging, but I have not made it the priority I want it to be. My goal is to post regularly here and share that on Facebook, rather than living on Facebook all day long.
I'm too nosy to let go of my favorite social media, but in order to make other things a priority in my life (family and a medical need to be healthier), I need to make a lot of changes.
Why do I like to blog, or, should I say, why am I in love with the idea of blogging? First of all, I think my boys are too darn good looking and smart to not share them with the world! Biased? Of course. Do I care? Not at all. Yes, there is the issue of privacy and safety. We don't get out much. Our kids know stranger danger. We don't let them out of our sight and it's not a major issue for me. Second, I want to keep track of our lives for them. An online documentation that is better than a scrapbook! (Don't get me started on scrapbooking...I collect and never create. True story.)
And third...I don't have a third reason. Just go back to reason #1...



See what I mean?
Enough said.

Anyhow, I'm struggling with the idea of starting over and/or importing old posts from the old blog. No? Yes? Maybe I can use those as fillers when I have writers block? A TBT post? If you don't know what TBT is, look it up. I'm too busy to tell you!

I have a lot going on in my life right now...almost to the point of being overwhelming. One. Day. At. A. TIME.

That's about it. I'm praying for many things, and I'm throwing in the need to prioritize my life:
God
Health
Marriage
Family
Friendships
Blogging
...and then those darn pesky DVR shows! Lol!