12 Days of Giving-Day 7-Decorating!

Since my parents were here for Ainsley's birthday party I was able to take Ainsley to school without the other two {this is a real treat since we go up two flights of stairs to get to her classroom!} Last week the teachers had asked if anyone wanted to help decorate the staircase and I did but there was no way I could having Harper and Bennett with me. However, today when I dropped her off there was a mom decorating all by herself and since my parents were with the kids {although I told them I would be right back :)} I thought maybe I could offer her a little help.

So I did and it was fun plus I got to meet a mom I didn't know, as well as another that came a little later. I was so glad I was able to do this since it was something I wanted to do but didn't think it was possible. Thanks mom and dad for watching the kids for a few more minutes!!

12 Days of Giving-Day 6-The True Meaning of Christmas

Tonight as the girls hopped into Ainsley's bed to read a book I pulled out the story of Jesus' birth and shared the true meaning of Christmas with my children. We talked about why we really celebrate Christmas and how Jesus was God's most precious gift to us. Sharing this story with them, to me is one of the best gifts I can ever give them, if they'll receive it.

I pointed out the shepherds, the animals in the stable and then the 3 wise men and in the picture one of the wise men had a big white beard and Harper shouts "That's Santa Clause!" - LOL. Oh my, maybe next year she'll begin to understand. Although she was able to tell me Christmas was when baby Jesus was born and Ainsley promptly piped in "but he's not a baby anymore!" Ahh, they make me laugh.

A Princess Painting Party With Snow!!

Today we had a birthday party for Ainsley! She will be turning 5 on the 20th of this month {I have a special post for that day} but we've got a ton going on this month so we decided to have it a little early this year. Ainsley loves princesses and painting so why not combine the two?!

Snow started falling early in the afternoon and for the first time ever, I wanted it to stop! I was beginning to worry that her party wouldn't happen but we went ahead with it and all was fine.

The season's first snow!

In her special birthday outfit-my Ainsley is getting so big!


I decided to make her cake this year, tad stressful but I think she liked it!

Getting her face painted by "Cinderella" {Ainsley and her friends were pretty suspicious of Cinderella-she didn't look quite like the one they were used to so they grilled her about why she wasn't wearing her glass slippers among other things but Cinderella had good excuses and played right along!}

Harper getting her face painted.


Granddaddy and Bennett

Posing with Cinderella-Harper was convinced!

Some of the girls in their aprons getting ready to paint their pottery!

Both girls seemed to really enjoy painting their own bowl and plate.


Blowing out her 5 candles!

Yay Ains!

One last pose with Cinderella!

Ainsley opened her presents once we got home and her and Harper had a hay day! They were busy playing for over an hour while Bennett enjoyed the tissue paper!

So on day 5 of the 12 Days of Giving, we gave our daughter Ainsley a birthday party and we hope she has fond memories of it one day! We love you Ainsley, hope you had a wonderful Princess Painting Party!!

12 Days of Giving-Day Two-Cards!

Today I started sending out my Christmas cards and while I've never considered this as giving, I guess it is. This year I wanted to make them a little more custom and personal so I added bows and some card stock and signed each one with all of our names-I usually get them printed. I have to say I may have to go back to getting them printed-my hand about fell off after signing "Merry Christmas" Love, Mike, Adrienne, Ainsley, Harper and Bennett on almost 100 cards! I also picked these cards because of the verse inside:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

and then it says:

May this beautiful season open your eyes to His wonderful gifts.

God has given us so much and especially this year with a special little package: Bennett!

I realize after the holidays the cards probably go in the trash but I know how much I love getting cards and seeing everyone's families, new babies, dogs, cats or just a nice saying. Yes it can be stressful with getting the picture (if you choose to put a picture on it) and getting them all signed and all that but hopefully ours will bring a little smile to the faces of our friends and family, letting them know we care and we want to wish them a very Merry Christmas!

So maybe this season can open your eyes to the wonderful gifts you've been given and open your eyes on how you can give back;)

*Remember, this is not to brag about things I've done! I'm feeling like it looks that way but it's to share how just little things can be giving and maybe to remind you "hey, I can do that too". It's not all about money either!! One blogger said that she was going to limit her time checking emails to spend more time with her kids-just spending more time with your own kids is giving back to them!

12 Days of Giving-Day One

Bethany at Life with Bubba, Chicky and Nika is hosting the "12 Days of Giving" on her blog and I think it's such a great idea and a wonderful way to help encourage and inspire others to give back. Click on the button above to learn more about it! At first I thought this may be too hard to try and give each day for 12 days but it can be something small or something large-either way you are giving.

So for the next 12 days I will share with you how I gave that day (not to brag but to encourage or inspire you to give) and feel free link up and join in on the "12 Days of Giving" if you have a blog!

So tonight I decided to donate to Reese's Rainbow. For those of you that don't know, this is an organization that helps families raise grant donations to adopt children with Down syndrome in other countries. These children are in orphanages and by the age of 4 most will be put in mental institutions to basically die. This breaks my heart that someone would feel this way towards my sweet Bennett, all because he has an extra chromosome and there are many people in the world that see that as worthless. Thankfully there are hundreds of families waiting to adopt a child with Down syndrome. Yes, there are also wonderful people in this world that want to care for a child with special needs and want to give them a chance at life. But it's not cheap to adopt so tonight I thought I'd chip in a little to help a child come a little closer to being with his "forever family"

This was taken from the Reece's Rainbow site:

Our Sponsorship Program provides a unique opportunity for anonymous donors to contribute to the adoption journey of our families. These children are viewed as outcasts with no ability to learn or be functional members of society. They languish in mental institutions, hidden away from the world in shame. Even if you are not able to adopt a child at this time, you truly can change the course of a child's life by helping adoptive families afford the costs of international adoption.

This is the little guy I donated money towards:

Artem

Boy, Born September 10, 2008

Artem is a tart of a boy, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was born with an atrial septal defect, and will need to be followed by a cardiologist once home. But he is so young and will greatly benefit from early intervention therapy with his new family!

Arrived to the orphanage at the age of 2 months and 18 days

Weight at birth 2900 grams

Weight at 2 months - 4 kg

Isn't he just a cutie?! I think his name is cool too! What a sweet little boy. I hope by next Christmas he is on his way to being with his "forever family"!