'Fess Up Friday

When we first got married I begged Brent for a dog.

What was I thinking?!?!

My dad was wise and knew that we did not need a dog...

Why? Oh why did I not listen to him?!

Anyway, shortly after we were married, my dad gifted us with the "perfect dog."

Not to be confused with...

The "less-than-perfect-dog"

Anywho...
One night this week, I found that the perfect dog had been accessorized.

I am pretty sure I know who was responsible.

She is a pretty awesome accessorizer after all.

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As one of my goals for this year, I am trying to be more intentional about learning/teaching/growing opportunities with the kids.... I am hoping to foster an environment for learning rather than my typical M.O. which is often... just a whole-hearted attempt to keep everyone alive.

I plan to utilize the blog as a means of accountability. So, this week we broke out the clay to do a little sculpting. Mr. Jenkins declined participation and chose instead to watch Despicable Me.

Shocker.

But Sassy, Chilli and I played with some clay. Well... Sassy and I did. Chilli kinda ate it.

Sassy made a number of these...

Which she called, "poozels"... well, technically, "baby poozles" because, obviously... these are small poozles.

Duh!?

And speaking of clay... I was blessed to be able to take a fall mini-session at our local art studio at the end of the year. I love handbuilding and made a few things that I am actually proud of! I know this is 'fess up Friday, so I really shouldn't be bragging, but will you let me show you a few of my "creations"?

My favorite

I was especially proud of how thin this one was.

Okay... thank you for allowing me that.

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I'll leave you with a video of Chilli. She has been starting to "talk" a bit recently. I can't imagine why she has learned this phrase so well...

Happy Friday!

Maranda

Christmas 2011

A few moments from Christmas...

Decorating Eating Cookies at a friend's house.

Christmas morning at Church.

Mr. Jenkins showing his sister how to play with her new toy.

Silly Chilli.

Chilli chillin' with Grammy

 

Sweet cousins opening gifts.

My sister-in-law included a lollipop in some of Mr. Jenkins gift packages. Here you see that he is not the least bit interested in his super cool, Matt Ryan jersey. However, the root beer lollipop is of great appeal!

My little monkey opening a monkey gift. (Note the orange lollipop).

 

Sassy posing with her herd of kittens (and one stolen monkey).

Lastly, I thought I would share a few pictures that we didn't find time to make into a Christmas card this year. So, let me put your mind at ease if you were wondering where the Curl's card might be. Don't be offended... we just couldn't seem to get our act together!

Shocker.

My awesome friend Katie Davidson took these and she is truly a miracle worker considering the state of my children the afternoon of the shoot.

Seriously.

They couldn't have been much worse.

At one point, Sassy was literally frothing at the mouth.
Fortunately, you'd never know it to look at these!

Maranda

"Saurs" and Drawers

I am sure I went to Fernbank on a school field trip as a child, but I certainly didn't remember that it was so stinkin' cool!

My very brave sister and dad joined us for a fun-filled afternoon with my littles at the museum.

Mr. Jenkins was so excited about the dinosaurs.

Honestly, it was a priceless moment witnessing his face when he first saw the "saurs" (A.K.A. Dinosaurs in Jenkie-speak).

SAURS!!!!!

 

And lucky for sweet Jenkie, there were plenty of "saurs" to be seen at Fernbank.

The museum had an incredible children's exhibit called Nature Quest. My kids ran around like wild Indians. Next time I think I am going to bring a lawn chair and just sit by the exit to the exhibit because I nearly wore myself out chasing them all over that place. Praise the Lamb my dad and sis were there to help me keep up with every one!

 

We have enjoyed a wonderful December. We spent time with family and enjoyed the Advent season as we anticipated Jesus' birthday. I'll try to post some other pictures in the coming days if I can get my act together, but in case you have forgotten how crazy we can get, here are a few pictures to remind you.

Sassy has continued to make some excellent fashion choices.

Yes, those are socks on her paws...er... I mean hands.


She is also becoming quite the artist.

This is a picture of me.
I don't mean to brag, but I look pretty awesome on a Magnadoodle.

Mr. Jenkins continues to keep me on my toes, and the combination of Sassy and Jenkins can make for interesting times.

Yes. Mr. Jenkins is sitting in our coffee table drawer watching PBS kids...

...While picking his nose.

And yes. Sassy is sitting in an empty diaper box...

...While sucking her thumb.

Thank goodness this one isn't big enough to get into too much trouble...

But I have a feeling, it won't be long.

Maranda

Decorating for Jesus' Birthday

 The Curls' got all handsome on our Christmas decorating today.

What? You don't know what it means to get "all handsome on" something? Don't you people read the Lumberjack's Wife blog? That's where the funny is.

 I don't think our glass ornaments are going to make it this year thanks to a certain fellow.

We have already lost 3 glass ball ornaments to his monkey business.

Actually, one due to monkey business, two due to clumsy boy hands.

Oh, but how I love that monkey. 

I have to say my favorite part of the day was setting up the nativity with Sassy. I told her the story of Christ's birth as we took each figurine out of the box and added their character to the scene.

Once everyone was set out on the table she became quite upset that all these people couldn't see baby Jesus. I mean, after all, at least 3 of them had come quite a long way.

So, she began the process of reorienting all of the figurines so they could see Jesus.

 She was particularly concerned about the camel and donkey having a good view.

My first instinct was to think, "I'll move everything back the way I want it once she goes to bed." But I caught myself.

Sassy had it right.

That's what I've been wanting her to know about Christmas this year... that it is all about Jesus.

The way I had the nativity scene arranged looked good... but the figures were just kinda peripherally focused on Jesus.

She wanted them to really see Jesus.

I love it when my 4 year old can encourage me with what was truly a profound lesson.

Despite the fact that the disordered look of the nativity makes me twitch a little bit, I'm leaving it set up this way in hopes that it can serve our family as a visual reminder to keep our focus on Christ this season.

Maranda

Another way to say I love you.

Sassy: Mommy, do you know what "commode-all" means? (Asked while sitting on the potty).
Me: Do you mean commode? As in another word for toilet?
Sassy: No mommy, "commode-all" is another way to say "I love you" in Spanish.

I must have missed that lesson when getting my major in Spanish.

'Fess up Friday

Long time no blog.

We have continued to be busy this month with travel and the every day shenanigans of life with three little gremlins.

I'm out of practice with the blog, so this could be a lame 'fess up. Make sure you check out Kira's blog more entertaining confession material!

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Sassy has taken to watching TV upon a perch.

I think she is funny.

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Despite our busy fall schedule, Sassy has been keeping up with all the latest fashion. I give you the outfit of the week:

Guuurl, I love 'dem shoes.

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We were in Florida with Brent's family to celebrate Thanksgiving. Grammy treated us to a trip to Zoo World. It was awesome, but I kid you not... there was a tiger that wanted to eat Mr. Jenkins.

Mr. Jenkins was of course off doing his own thing and he happened to be rustling around in some tall grass near the tiger cage. That big white Bengal tiger saw that twitching in the shrubs and he lunged up against his cage with his eyes trained on the boy!  It was a little freaky, and I was grateful for the bars!

We got to feed some of the less hostile animals. They even had a giraffe named Sydney who was quite sweet. Yay for vegetarian animals that don't crave the taste of boy.

Just look at my sweet monkeys.

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Brent's wonderful family stayed with the kids so we could go out to dinner a couple of nights. We went to one of our favorite places for oysters and tried the "jalapeno style."

I promise that the oyster you are about to see was not altered by me (as has been my habit in the past) in any way:

That oyster just showed up at our table looking like a minion from Despicable me!
Don't tell me I am the only one who sees it?!

Hello?

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Moving on.
Lastly, I will leave you with a horrible picture in which you will be able to see nothing of the glory of what was in fact before us.

Yes, far in the distance you may be able to make out a small white speck. My friends I tell you the truth. That speck is a man riding ... yes, I said riding... his ice chest.

It was awesome.


Oh. My. Word.

I just found a picture of one on the Internets (not to be confused with the Internet).

You know you want one.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Maranda