MOPS playdate-Great American Cookie Co

Jake, Emma Grace and I had our 2nd playdate w/the MOPS group this morning....We got to tour the Cookie Co , see how the cookies dough was stored and baked...and..they got to decorate their OWN cookie w/icing and had a coke...all for $1....We had a blast and got to eat lunch at Cancuns mexican restaurant w/friends...The highlight of the afternoon...Eating in the room (w/noone else thank goodness) , where the bar is, letting the kids sit at the bar to watch cartoons on the bar tv....I cant decide which is worse, the kids sitting at the bar, or the bar tv playing cartoons....go figure....Anyway, it was a fun day to say the least!!

BAKE SALE FOR HAITI VICTIMS

Audrey and I, like most of you, we're watching all the devastation undfolding in Haiti from that horrific earthquake last week on the news....Right in the middle of the interview on CNN, a reporter heard what sounded like a baby crying, so he put his mic in the crook of his arm and starting digging in the rubble, only to find an 18-month old baby girl...ALIVE!!...He immediately started pouring his half drank bottle of water over her dusty looking head, then into her mouth, she was ,at first, in shock but soon started guzzling the water like she hadnt drank in days...literally....that was enough for me, I started crying, and immediatly thought of Emma Grace, she is too 18 mos old....that could have been HER....my heart went out to those people, and right away, Audrey and I were concocting a plan to raise $$ for this poor nation....We decided to have a bake sale, and sell all the goodies at mission friends/Awanas Wed night....I baked Tues night and ALL DAY Weds....from 8a-time to go!!--WE had 200+ cookies (Nestle TH Choc Chip, Double Choc chip, Snickerdoodles, Lemon Iced and plain cookies) @50 brownies and 50 rice krispie treats!!! Thanks to our friends at our local Food City for donating a $25 gift card toward supplies!! And.......Im proud and priviledged to say Mt.Lebanon Baptist Church showed their true giving spirit Weds night,and we were able to raise $340 to send to Haiti!!!!!!! Praise God!!! We will be giving this $$ to World Vision (a Christian org that helps missionaries and disaster relief).....God is Good, All the Time!

Christmas-2009

I love the different seasons God made, in his infinite wisdom...I have to admit though, after Christmas is over, it seems like theres just no point to having Winter anymore, ya know?? Its almost kinda depressing...Anyway, we had a wonderful Christmas, though, filled w/wonder, joy, complaining (of course), but most of all excitement....Santa was plentiful this year, bringing the kids a Wii to play with...(It was either that , or a real puppy, per Audrey's request--the Wii sounded more "economical" lol).....Jake got a bow-n-arow, nerf gun, 2 remote control monster trucks, Emma G got clothes, mostly and a baby stroller...Audrey got clothes, puppy calendar, boots, barbies, polly pockets...But most of all, we wanted to instill the REAL reason for Christmas, this year...And thats the precious baby boy, Jesus that was born to be our Saviour....Praise be to God for his unfailing love...Hope all of you felt that this Christmas season too...

MLBC CHRISTMAS CANTATA-2009

Well, we at Mt Lebanon Baptist Church brought the house down (or I should say the church) after singing the last 2 nights....But, seriously, God received ALL the glory those two nights....The music was beautiful and breathtaking!! Ronnie did such a great job directing us, and me!!! Yes, "yours truly" had a solo w/the choir that was called, "Here comes the bride", talking about how, when Christ comes back for his triumphal return, and takes all his people home to Heaven, how there will be a wedding celebration and feast!! It was a lot of fun and a much praise-worthy night....Merry Christmas to all....

Kids say the darndest things..part 2 (Christmas version)

* Jake oftent tells me that he hasnt done something since "lasteryear"...(translation- yesterday and last year).....

* Emma Grace thinks its funny to be eating the REAL candy canes off the Christmas tree, that have been in the ornament box for the last 4 Christmases...

* NOTE TO SELF---REMIND YOUR 4 YR OLD THAT ITS CHRISTMAS, NOT VALENTINES DAY...


* Jake LOVES to hang ornaments on the tree, too bad he put them all in the same spot, now that part of the tree is wilting...

* Jake decided to put on Audreys dress-up cat outfit, and said, "Now Im Black"...Then proceded to change the image w/a santa hat, to be a Christmas elf....Do they have African American elves that look like cats in the North Pole???

* Last, but certainly not least, the homemade presents....my kids are ALREADY utilizing their giving skills for the Christmas season...So far, Ive received a pencil holder (made of cardboard), a Christmas calendar (made of cardboard), oh and a wrapped present from Jake that was daddys bible ...( I wonder if Russ knows that)....I LOVE MY KIDS!! ARENT THEY THE SWEETEST!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT !!

3 OUT OF 3..

Well, its been a hectic week at the Lonas household...between Friday morning and Saturday evening, ALL 3 of my children had fallen ill with the stomach bug....and this one lasted 3 days !!!!...It was awful, ALL the washing I had to do with laundry AND linens, it was AWFUL!!! (Did I mention, awful??)....anyway, all are better now, and to make matters even MORE upseting,we had 3 birthday parties to attend...(Sorry to Lexi, Grace, and Nigel, better luck next time)...BUT.......there is a bright light at the end of this tunnel,,,WE GOT IT ALL OVER AT ONE TIME!!!!....There is nothing more challenging, I believe, for a mother, than to take care of her sick child....I was OVER IT and DONE by Saturday night, I was utterly EXHAUSTED.....but......... God helped me through it...Thank you Lord....

Halloween-2009

Well, it was an eventful night, filled w/whining, crying, excitement,,,,,and of course lots and lots of RAIN....Big rain, little rain, sprinkling rain, no rain (for about a minute) I know I sound like Forrest Gump, but Im pretty sure it comes in 3's...Every 3 yrs it has to rain on Halloween...but, nontheless, we still had a great time....Audrey was a snow princess, and wore it VERY well, she even sang Taylor Swift's song, "Love Story", w/it on and I video taped it (as soon as I figure out youtube, I'll put it on there)...Jake was Batman (the dark knight) I didnt seem to get pics of him at church, he saw the inflatables, and we lost him from there....MY precious Emma Grace was a perfect pink/white bunny rabbit (Audreys old costume, Im suprised it held up, after 8 yrs!!).....It was fun though!!!