Free Movies and Popcorn for a year???

As the snow comes down steadily outside my window, it makes me want to curl up with a blanket and a good movie. We have netflix already but to have it paid for a year would be even better. The sisters over at 5minutesformom.com are having a contest to giveaway popcorn and Netflix for a year. You can check it out here!.

A sad christmas card

Sometimes, I get a glimpse of thankfulness. It's like God says, Heather you think you have it bad but you really don't. I hate to say this is at someone else's expense. I have a friend who I worked with for a few years right after I got married. She was a great support to me as I was a newly married woman. She also got me into stamping and scrapbooking. I got a Chrismtas card from her today and her husband's name wasn't on the card. She gave an email in the card so I emailed her. I got an email back from her saying that her husband has fallen away from the Lord and then walked away from her and their two girls. She moved back to be with her family and the Lord blessed them with a great home. I cried when I read the email. I never thought they would be a couple that would get a divorce. Now, I don't know both sides of the story but it pains me what she and their girls have gone through. I've been there as a kid of divorce and it sucks. I pray that her and the kids would be healed of this and that her husband would find his way back to the Lord. It makes me thankful for my husband and his commitment to me and the kids. Thank you Lord for what you've given me and the man who is committed to me!

What a Merry Christmas it was

It all started at 8 AM, yes that's right we have three kids under 4 and they weren't up until 8 AM. I made chocolate chip pancakes (a new tradition) and most everyone enjoyed them. Then we opened presents. I have to admit that although I love getting gifts, I loved seeing our kids open theirs. It's become so much more about them than me this year and I'm thankful for that. When Alexandra opened her Ariel tent, Sebastian said, "That's Awesome". I thought that was great. We headed over to my dad's for a few more presents and then off to my step-mom's sisters for dinner. It was all so yummy as usual. Then, we put three very tired kids in the van and headed over to see my mom. I think the kids had a great time all around. Poor Atticus, he only got about an hour of sleep all day. I'm liking the new traditions we are starting with the kids. Paul is too. He mentioned that to me today. As I left my mom today I told her I was so tried and our house was a mess and that i had to go home to it. She said some day my house would be totally clean but the kids would be gone and I would only have these times as memories. She's right, these days do seem to go by fast even though they are so tiring! :) Merry Christmas!

Tackle it Saturday thanks for Brother Chas

I got a comment that my brother wanted to see old Bobbi Vila's finished kitchen. See as My reader you get what you ask for if I can. So here you go!

Vote for me and Sebastian

Holiday cheer photo contest

Nothing says holiday cheer like a toddler with chocolate all over his face. You can go and vote for my photo in the contest at Write from Karen.

My favorite time this year

As 2007 comes to a close and with lots of snow on the ground, I've thought some about this summer. How I got a swing set for the kids at a garage sale for $15 and how many times each day I would say ok a few more pushes and mommy is done. Since we've started Sebastian's therapy, it's come to my attention that he really needs the swing stimulation. I'm glad I did that every day into November so we could meet that need at home. I also think about taking a walk this summer with Alexandra and walking by a "big" school and talking to her about that. It'll be next fall when she starts kindergarten. I also think about Atticus crawling on the driveway this summer and then later this fall chasing Alexandra and Sebastian around the driveway on two feet. I will cherish those lazy summer days watching the kids in the pool and me sitting in the chair in the shade. Ah, only a few more months and we'll be a back there.

This post is a part of the Mamablogga December Writing Group Project. You can get more info on that here.

Another blow to Sebastian's development

On Wednesday we had our final evaluation with the Kalamazoo County Early on program. Although Sebastian has made great strides in the areas of speech and emotional development, he is still struggling with his gross motor skills and his fine motor skills. He's also having trouble with what they call motor mapping, pretty much where you give him a task, and he can't complete it without you showing him how to do it. Also, he's still having trouble eating and trying new foods. They are recommending he get a new evaluation with the next program for his age called the PET program. I thought we were making good progress and although we are in some areas he's still struggling with the physical stuff. We have many options as to what kind of treatment to proceed with. I'll keep updating you on his progress. My goal right now is to work really hard in the next 2 1/2 years so that when he starts school no one will ever know what kind of struggles he's had.

Another awesome contest at 5minutesformom

I would love to win the latest prize pack that 5minutesformom.com is giving away. It's from Parents magazine and it's a ton of toys. If you'd like to check out Parent's magazine here the link. Wish me luck!

Tackle it Tuesday

Ok, so I'm still in the process of tackling but I thought I'd give some kudos to myself for most of this tackle done. We decided to paint the kitchen after 7 years the week before we're having 10 of Paul's co-workers over. The first set of pics are of the kitchen before we scraped the border off and then with the border off. I'm working on the banana nut shade today and will finish this later this week.

A field trip to the Library

Today Alexandra's preschool class went to the Parchment Library. They had two stories and then a craft. The craft was so clever. It was an upside down ice cream cone. The kids covered it with frosting and then put m and m's and other candy on it for decoration. This is Alexandra's you see pictured here. A fine christmas tree and she got to eat it when we got home. Even better!

Merry Christmas from the Erbe Elves

Check out this link and see us as elves. The kids cracked up when they saw this! It's pretty cute!

The weather forcasters seem to be right this time

As I look out my window, I see a lot of white stuff coming down from the sky. In the last month the weather people have predicted that we'd get some significant snow fall. It hasn't happened. They are saying we'll probably get 2-3 inches tonight and it looks like they are probably right. I have to admit that it's pretty cool when we get snow in the evening and over night. We wake up and all the ground is covered in white. It looks all clean and new. With all the snow coming it makes be thankful that I don't have to go out in it tonight and hopefully by church tomorrow they have the roads cleaned off. Ah, whenever this happens I do need to remember that we choose to live in Michigan.