Jolly & RAK Day 19

 It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Super Jolly.

 Jolly was flying high on our ceiling fan this morning complete with his own personalized cape and green mask. 

 All 3 kids were sitting on the couch this morning and all of a sudden Jolly came off the fan and flew right onto the couch with them! 

 Close-up of Jolly's gear. 

 Our RAK for today was to visit the Laundromat and leave laundry soap and quarters. 

 Each of the girls got to take their bottle of laundry soap and quarters and pick a machine to put it on. 

 My sweet, photogenic, Gracie:)  Thank goodness they are getting haircuts tomorrow so the child will be able to see again! 

After our stop at the Laundromat we got a treat from Dairy Queen and drove around to look at the Christmas lights.  I accidentally cut Wyatt out of the picture, he was already sleeping by this point:)

The Fringe Hours-Launch Team

Through one of my favorite blogs, www.moneysavingmom.com, I was introduced to Jessica Turner and began following  her blog, www.themomcreative.com, as well as her Instagram .  Her new book, The Fringe Hours,  will be out in February 2015 and I recently learned that they were looking for individuals who were interested in being part of the launch team; people to read the book before it's release, give feedback, and share excitement about it.  Last week I filled out the online form in hopes of being chosen as part of that launch team.  Today I received an e-mail saying I had been chosen and my copy of the book would be arriving soon!  I am so excited for this opportunity and can hardly wait to crack open her book!  I'm hoping to share some of my experience, feedback, photos, etc. here,  which is why I wanted to tell a bit about it.  Here's a little about Jessica's book, taken from Amazon.com. 


"Every woman has had this experience: you get to the end of the day and realize you did nothing for you. And if you go days, weeks, or even months in this cycle, you begin to feel like you have lost a bit of yourself.

While life is busy with a litany of must-dos--work, child-rearing, keeping house, grocery shopping, laundry and on and on--women do not have to push their own needs aside. Yet this is often what happens. There's just no time, right? Wrong.

In this practical and liberating book, Jessica Turner empowers women to take back pockets of time they already have in their day in order to practice self-care and do the things they love. Turner uses her own experiences and those of women across the country to teach readers how to balance their many responsibilities while still taking time to invest in themselves. She also addresses barriers to this lifestyle, such as comparison and guilt, and demonstrates how eliminating these feelings and making changes to one's schedule will make the reader a better wife, mother, and friend.

Perfect for any woman who is doing everything for everyone--except herself--The Fringe Hours is ideal for both individuals and small group use."

Jolly & RAK Day 18 and Madi's Concert Day!

 Our RAK today was one final stop at the post office to mail a little something we wanted two special people to have to open up on Christmas. 

 Jolly must have known Madi was having some nervous jitters about her concert today because he did just the perfect thing.  He was pretending he was singing on 'The Voice.'  He also left her a note telling her, "Madisyn, You have 'the voice' of an angel!  Good luck at your concert today!  P.S. You'll do great!"

 Our beautiful girl all dressed up for her concert.  We even did sparkly red nails this morning:)

 A quick wave to Wyatt before heading up on stage. 

I forgot the bigger lens for my camera and it's almost impossible to get a good picture in the gym.  Madi's head is behind the microphone:(  On a good note though, we stopped at the bake sale we baked for and they were selling our containers of treats for $5!  Hopefully the raise lots of money towards their new risers. 

Jolly & RAK Day 17 and Santa Comes to Story Time

 Jolly thought our lighting could use some help so he gave us a festive red light bulb for in our lamp.

 Today we left a special treat for our mail carrier as our RAK.  We gave her a code for a free Redbox rental, some popcorn, and a box of movie treats:)

 Gracie, my little elf:)

 Putting up the flag so she stops to see what's inside! 

 I finally worked up the courage to load up all the little elves and take them to story time at our library.  Getting all of us loaded to go anywhere is quite a task but we couldn't pass up story time with Santa!  And really, it went very well so we might just have to make it a regular thing. Here Santa is reading "The Night Before Christmas" to the kids.

 Santa was rockin' the ukulele!

 My sweet Goddaughter, Hannah, watching Santa from a distance. 

 Gracie and Hannah (at this point Hattie and Wyatt were sticking pretty close to me)

 Gracie showing off her Christmas tree hand stamp from the librarian. 

 Grace and Santa!  (no picture of Wyatt, he wouldn't go near him!)

Hannah and Hattie visiting Santa.  Hattie was ready to make a break for it and Hannah would've sat all day and cuddled; she kept touching the soft fur on Santa's coat. 

Jolly & RAK Day 16

 Today Jolly made a Christmas tree right on our table! 

 He left a trail of streamer all the way from the kitchen, down the hall, and to the girls' room. 

Today we did some baking for our RAK.  After Madi's Christmas concert on Thursday they are having a bake sale to raise money for new risers for the school; "Raising for Risers."  We made 12 bags of caramel corn and two containers each of inside out s'mores bars and white chocolate s'mores cake bars (I guess I had s'mores on the brain?). 

Jolly & RAK Day 15

 Jolly wrapped up the girls' backpacks this morning :)  They weren't quite sure what to think and both checked inside of them to see if he'd at least left a present inside:) 

Since we missed our RAK yesterday, we decided to double up today.  Today we dropped of dinner for my brother, sister-in-law, and the twins. My sister-in-laws Aunt passed away last week, and today was her funeral; this comes only a month after her Grandpa passed away.  I have such a hard time knowing what to do or say, so I cook.  We also had some flowers sent to a very special lady in Wyoming who lost her son 4 years ago today; she was in my thoughts all day.  I just can't imagine her heartache. 

 

Jolly & RAK Day 14

 This morning Jolly set up hopscotch in our living room! 

 Wyatt had to get in on the action:)

 Then he caused a traffic jam; not letting his sisters get though. 

 Madi in action

And Gracie, always in action:)

 

So we just did not get to our RAK today.  My mom and dad moved into their beautiful new house this weekend and we simply ran out of time today.  Can we count the move???  Tomorrow we will be back at it but tonight everyone is T.I.R.E.D.