Christmas Happenings

This month I am in full nesting mode! So along with Christmas happenings I have also been getting ready for Samuel's arrival. Speaking of Samuel, I have yet to blog about him at all! I am saving that post for next week. So like I said I have been getting the bedroom ready for Nathaniel and Samuel to share. In between that we have been doing fun Christmas activities. 

First I actually learned how to crochet! My fabulous Mom-in-Love taught me how to make a hat for Samuel!

Then I went to a fabulous local Holiday Home Tour!  This is the only pic I got from my phone.  My friend Sweet T will be blogging about that!  I'm so gonna add these bows to my tree next year!

Then I worked on some letters for the boys room and did some Modge Podging!

We went to Bass Pro Shops where they do free Santa pics and have all kinds of fun things for the kiddos to do.  Here is last years and this years side by side.  Ha!  He used to be so scared of old men and especially Santa!

Today we went to a Christmas Cookie Extraveganza at one of Nathaniel's little friends house.  It was so much fun!

I had to take a picture of some of her decor.  I love that new mesh stuff and seeing it everywhere!

She made these aweoms aprons for each child to wear while they decorated thier cookies and then packaged them all up in a cute box to take home.

 This weekend we are going to a Christmas show and have a few more things planned before Samuel's arrival!

Good Grief

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Pumpkin Fun!

Yesterday I had some friends over for a Pumpkin Carving Party! We had a great time carving pumpkins and letting the munchkins play some fun Halloween games.  Nathaniel was so excited having his friends over as well.

I love this picture!!  Look at William's face!  And then James with the empty watergun and Nathaniel eating his cupcake! Ha! 

Then this morning Lesh and I met our friends the Caraway's and the Cummings for our annual pumpkin patch pictures.  This is our third year to take these pictures and I'd say more difficult this year considering the kids just wanted to run around!  Ha!  It's a fun tradition and look forward to it every year!We were missing one though who was feeling under the weather.  We missed you Carly!

 Halloween 2009

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2011



Okay so this one is the best so far! Ha!

Asked of God, Heard by God

Lesh and I have been keeping baby #2's name under wraps!  We have decided that we want to share his name now!  Before I do, I wanted to share why we chose his name.  I've shared before in other blog posts about my struggle with food and the addiction I had to it. 

For years growing up I begged God to take away my struggle with food.  I hated myself for overeating and eating when I wasn't hungry and I was so sick of being sick about food.  Then last year a woman named Gari Meachum came to our church.  She is a speaker, writer, and Bible study teacher and she wrote the book Truly Fed.  This book was the beginning of my walking in freedom from food.  The book has such a different perspective of food- the Bible's perspective on food and the relationship we should have with it.  If you have ever struggled with food or know someone who does,  this book is just for you!  I'm so thankful for God bringing Gari into my life and her ministry of helping women walk in freedom from bondage.  Not only has it helped me walk into freedom, but has also ushered my wonderful husband into that same freedom.  After almost 30 years of bondage, I can praise God and thank him for hearing my prayers all these years and leading me into freedom.

 Isaiah 43 18-19 says, "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.  Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness. Rivers in the desert."  I rejoice over the "something new that God is springing forth in our lives.

Many of you are familiar with the story of Hannah in the Bible found in 1Samuel 1, and how she was barren for many years and she prayed and begged God for a child.  He heard her prayers and because she asked of God he blessed her with a child.  I look at this scripture through the eyes of praying/asking of God something for years and longing to have that prayer answered.  Because God has broken my bondage during a time that I have also been pregnant, Lesh and I thought it perfect to name our second son Samuel.  Samuel Brennan Richardson is due to arrive on or before January 17th, 2012.  Lesh and I can not wait to meet this sweet son who will always be a reminder of God ushering us into freedom.  And as a testimony to God, not to brag, I can share with you all that I have only gained 1 lb in my 28 weeks of pregnancy.  That is a miracle from my God who is showing me and helping me learn what it looks like to walk in freedom.

If you have struggled with something that has kept you in bondage for years, please know that you can be absolutely FREE from what that thing is in your life!!

Here is a picture of Samuel from my last ultrasound.  We have asked of God, and have been heard by God.

Randomness

I haven't written in a while!  My mom moved in about a month ago so life has been pretty chaotic around here!  Some pretty Random stuff has been going on, so here a just a few things that have been happening!

Nathaniel is sleeping in a big boy bed!  Since I'm pregnant my back has been starting to hurt and lifting 30 + lbs over a crib rail was getting difficult.  He only fell out of  bed once and he does great now!

I gave Nathaniel some chocolate covered peanuts and 5 minutes later he came to me like this! What a mess!!

Guess what Nathaniel's gonna be for Halloween?  Iron Man! Prototype one from the first movie, the one Robert Downey made in the cave.  He's so excited about it!

A kidnapping!!!  Yup, I was involved in kidnapping Sweet T for her birthday!  A bunch of us gals got together and took Tina to DQ for some of her favorite ice cream cake and then headed back to her place to watch some Rachel Zoe and Project Runway.  She had a great time!

Homecoming in Texas!  This is a tradition that apparently only exists in Texas and Oklahoma.  I love me some crafts, so when my youngest Bro-in-law asked if I could make his mum I jumped at the idea!  Here it is all done!

So lots of different things going on in the midst of my chaos, but it's all been good to help me continue to heal and grieve from the loss of my daddy.  Each day brings a new set of emotions, but I know God's working it out all out for his glory!

I'm Addicted!

So I have to admit that I'm addicted to several TV shows!  How do I know?  Because I hate watching TV in the summer and I just miss my shows!!  These are some of the shows I love!  Oh and last year I cut my shows in half because it was getting redonkulous!!  I'm starting with my summer list!

1.  The Closer-  I'm so sad because there are only 2 episodes left of the series!  Kyra is calling it quits and they are doing a spin off with another character in the show.

2. Rizzoli and Isles-  Love this new show with actresses I was familiar with from other older shows.  Rizzoli was in Law and Order and Isles was in NCIS.

3.  So You Think You Can Dance-  It is so fun to watch these talented dancers do routines that range from Hip Hop to the Fox Trot.

Okay that's it for summer!  In just a few more weeks Some of my faves are starting again.  And don't get on my about how many I watch.  I know I'm not the only one! Ha!  After alll, I need something to watch while I fold laundry and do my house cleaning right?

1. NCIS- mystery, murder, action, and humor

2. The Rachel Zoe Project- I love fashion I just can't afford it or wear most of it, but I love to laugh at this show.  It is pretty Ba-Na-Nas!

3. Project Runway-  More fashion in design!

4. Chuck- for the inner nerd in me

5. Bones- doctor/cop show

6. The Office- just plain ole funny!  Although, I'm a little aprehensive about it since we lost a main character last season!

7. The Biggest Loser- very inspirational to see people transform their lives from the inside out!


 What shows are you addicted too and looking forward to watching again?