Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Socks, Socks, and More Socks

Every year in San Angelo around Christmas time, a hundred homeless people are walking around wearing a brand new pair of white athletic socks.  They could also be found eating a candy cane, or sharing the legend of the candy cane with their peers.  It may not seem like much, but to someone who does not have a washer or dryer, does not have money to buy necessities (like more socks), or who has none at all, these socks are a welcome gift!  These gifts have been given anonymously by my mother, Marty Edmiston, for over 20 years now.  She has been buying candy canes, socks, stories, and ribbons for hundreds of people, most of whom she'll never even meet.  They are always wrapped up by Christmas eve and dropped off at the back door of a San Angelo church.  The next day they hold an annual Christmas Day soup kitchen, and the bundles are passed out.  For many years we've spent time as an entire family, around the dining room table preparing these gifts, and some years she and my dad have done it by themselves.  They have even made trips into San Angelo late into the night on Christmas eve, just to ensure that the bundles are there by morning.  This year at Thanksgiving we shared this tradition with our children and our dear friends who joined us for turkey day!  Now the two overflowing laundry baskets of socks, stories, and canes are waiting to be delivered!!!

In Molly's first grade class, each child will have a stocking hanging in the classroom and all of the classmates can drop off small trinkets and gifts this week.  WELL, we decided to take Momsie's tradition and pass it on to our friends at school.  Here is the story we included (a child's version) and hopefully some of Molly's classmates will share it with their family and friends as well..............


The true meaning of the Candy Cane

Look at the Candy Cane

What do you see?

Stripes that are red

Like the blood shed for me

White is for my Savior

Who's sinless and pure!

"J" is for Jesus My Lord, that's for sure!

Turn it around

And a staff you will see

Jesus my shepherd

Was born for Me!



Monday, December 13, 2010

CRAWL, WALK, RUN!

Over the weekend I participated in my first 5K Run.  At the beginning of October I decided that my babies would be turning one in a few weeks (and I'd be 35 soon), and I needed to get up and get moving!  I decided to try the Couch to 5K app on my iphone and began on October 11th!  In the beginning I was jogging mailbox to mailbox and trying to do it pushing our double jogging stroller (Ha!)  That only lasted a few times and I quickly figured out that going alone at 6am or 8pm (before anyone woke up, or after all the kids were in bed) was the only way to go!  Some days were cold, some days were windy, and it was almost always dark, but I persevered and now I am able to jog at a steady pace for 30 minutes at a time!  My good friend Charlotte decided to do the training too, so although we only ran together one time, we motivated each other to keep going :)  I am now signed up for The Resolution Run in Round Rock on 1/1/11, so hopefully that will ensure that I don't quit and become a full-time couch potato again anytime soon!  I am blogging about this today because it has been a good thing in my life, and I want you all to know that if you are considering anything like this, and I can do it, you can too!

Charlotte & Me before our first 5K!!!



Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christmas is only 20 days away!!!

 

Today we were invited to attend a Christmas open house and customer appreciation function here in Round Rock.  There were lots of people there, lots of yummy food, and we had a very nice time.  Molly had fun getting her face painted and all three kids got a turn on Santa's lap!  The carollers added a nice touch and Eric and I enjoyed hot beverages from the gourmet coffee cart.  We returned home to finish decorating our tree and now we are officially counting down the days!  Have I mentioned that Christmas time is my absolute, all time, favorite time of the year???


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Turkey Day in Eldorado

Last week we traveled to Eldorado to my parents place for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  We enjoyed lots of good company with family and friends, as well as LOTS of great food!  Eric smoked a turkey, I made my Granny's cornbread dressing, and everyone else contributed sides and desserts galore.  All the kiddos had a ball playing outside, riding four-wheelers, picking up pecans and even taking a dip in the hot tub.  We have so much to be thankful for...............now on to CHRISTMAS (my favorite time of the year :0)

What a turkey!!! and the bird was wonderful too!

Momsie and Poppa Edmiston


Silly babies looking out the window

Crazy Cousins (Clayton, Trace, Molly & Jake)

Sweet Sam & Me

Waiting on Popcorn.....from a real popcorn popper!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Introducing: Holly Simmonds Nail

 Last week Molly and I took a trip to Dallas to "get away" and visit my bestie, Errin!  We also got to meet up with Aunt Shelle and Uncle Trey for dinner at Glorias, after a fun time at the Galleria ice skating.  The highlight of our trip, however, was getting to visit the American Girl Doll store and enjoy shopping and brunch at the American Girl Bistro.  We arrived at the store before the doors opened on Monday morning and Molly picked out her doll (the one she thought looked most like her!) and named her: Holly Simmonds Nail!  The first stop for Holly was to get her ears pierced in the doll hair salon (so she would look even more like her 'sister') and then it was on to the racks and displays of every doll accessory imaginable.  We came home with an assortment of accessories and if you can imagine it, Molly has several more things on her Christmas wish list.  Holly is a good 'daughter', she is very well mannered and quiet.  She wears her seat belt everywhere we go and has enjoyed meeting all of  our friends and family so far.  We look forward to introducing her to you all very soon too!!!
Headed Home From Dallas (5 minutes later, Holly was wearing
those wireless headphones so she could enjoy the movie too!)