Everyday Confetti Book Review

 Your Year-Round Guide to Celebrating

Holidays and Special Occasions

SUMMARY:  Got a calendar packed with reasons to celebrate but a brain that lacks ideas?  Special people you want to love on but limited time to do it?

  Relax.  We've got you covered.

     Everyday Confetti is your go-to guide to making holidays, birthdays, special events, and even the everyday special.  Inside you'll find more than two hundred ways to make memories with your family, including easy recipes, fun activities, and inexpensive decorating ideas - all simple, doable and stress-free.

REVIEW:  This book came to my house just in time.  The month of January is a popular one in our house for birthdays.  With an upcoming Thirteenth birthday for my daughter and a Seventh birthday for my youngest son,  I was looking for some ideas for some things to do and celebrate and make these days special for them.  This book is chocked full of ideas, easy and simple just like I need them, to give me a place to start. 

     The authors don't stop with just birthdays and national holidays but for fun days like Name Day, Siblings' Night, and celebrating spiritual birthdays.  They also give hints on how to stay connected with your friends, neighbors and college-bound kids.  Included are family traditions the authors have in their own homes as well as some you could start in yours like creating a special plate to be used for a good report card, special recognition at work/school, inviting singles over for Valentine's, and making a special recipe for a specific holiday.

     The recipes included are tried and true ones used in their own homes and families.  They look like they are easy to make.  I've marked some of them to go back and try with my own family.

     This is a great book for anyone looking to make special occasions, holidays or even just everyday a little brighter and more fun.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Karen Ehman is a national speaker, an online devotion writer, an author for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a contributor at TheBetterMom.com.  Her latest book and Bible study is Let. It. Go.  She has been a guest on Focus on the Family, Moody Mid-day Connection, and The 700 Club.  She and her husband, Todd, live in Michigan with their three children.  Connect with her at www.karenehman.com.

Glynnis Whitwer, executive director of communications for Proverbs 31 Ministries, is one of the writers of Encouragement for Today, the Proverbs 31 Ministries online devotional.  She is the author of several books, including I Used to Be So Organized.  Glynnis and her husband, Tod, live in Arizona with their five children.  She blogs regularly at www.glynniswhitwer.com.

Family Vacation

     After all the busyness of Christmas, Mike and I took the kids to Chattanooga to visit Dick and Daphne, Mike's dad and step-mom.  I thought we would never get on the road.

    Mike had to work Monday and Tuesday, so I tried to get everything packed and ready to go.  It is easier said than done when you are trying to unpack all the mismatched clothes and short-sleeve shirts your kids put in their suitcases and telling them they can't take everything they got for Christmas.  I could not keep my focus on what I needed to do and would get distracted at every turn.  The kids were helpful in that they cleaned my bathrooms, dusted, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher and whatever else I needed them to do.

     Hannah's friend MaKayla was going with us so her mom Ami dropped her off late Tuesday afternoon.  While going through our bags to see what to put in the van first, we realized that MaKayla's suitcase was still in the back of her mom's van - 45 minutes away.  Ami and I met halfway at Sonic.  The kids ate dinner while Ami and I made the exchange.  As I am pulling out of the restaurant, the car behind me started honking at me.  It was Ami again.  She forgot to give me a permission slip in case something happened while we were gone.  So, we both pulled back into the parking lot and Ami gave me the paper.  Once we get home, Mike helped me get the van loaded with all the suitcases, toys, bags, food, cooler, pillows, blankets, movies, DVD players, etc.  We make the kids take a potty break while we walk through the house one more time then get on the road.  We finally pull out of the driveway at 8:55 p.m.  Yes, you read that right - PM.  Since I had to make an extra trip I wasn't planning on, Mike thought it would be good to top off the gas tank.  We pull into Sam's and notice the gas station closed at 9 p.m.  It was 9:02 on the van clock.  Since Mike had not eaten, we decided to forget getting gasoline and stopped at Krystal's.  Normally we are in and out within 5-7 minutes.  That night, we left about 15-20 minutes later.  We finally got on the road at 9:30 p.m.  Mike bought two 8 ounce coffees, one for me and one for him.  I drank both of them plus most of a 24 ounce cafe mocha Mike bought when we got gas at the Linden exit.  (In my defense, I was tired after all the packing and late night plus I was driving.)  Needless to say, I was wired and could not stop talking once we finally got to Chattanooga.  Mike and his dad were amused.

      We arrived at Dick and Daphne's at 4:15 a.m. and got the kids settled quickly.  Mike and I slept until 10:30.  Mike's brother Rich, Michelle and their boys drove down from Pigeon Forge and spent the day with us.  Brent and Jennifer, Mike's step-brother and his wife, along with their two boys came over too.  We ate a wonderful dinner and opened Christmas presents.  We had a great time.

     Thursday found us being lazy all day and not doing anything.  We thought about taking the kids to the park and letting them run around and play but we never got it in gear.

     Friday, we all went to Brent and Jenn's house.  The kids ran around outside and played (the temperature was around 65).  Everything we ate was delicious.  The kids have a picnic outside and enjoyed it.  Jennifer made chocolate fondue as a snack.  GOOD!!  It started raining late and rained all night and most of Saturday.  Mike and I took the kids to the Creative Discovery Museum Saturday since it was wet.  The kids had a blast playing and looking at all the exhibits.  Their favorite was the water feature at the very beginning.  If they had a choice, they would have never left.

     Saturday night, Cody and Erinn came over along with Brent and Jenn and their kids to celebrate New Years and Cody's birthday.  Erinn is pregnant and due any day.  She wasn't feeling few well so they left early.

     After an awesome breakfast, we left Chattanooga around 1:30 for home.  We made good time and made it home by 7:15 after stopping for lunch in Dickson.  I was so excited to be home.  We really enjoyed our trip but it was nice to sleep in our own beds.

Thanksgiving Celebration and Fun

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year.  Mike and I load up the kids and drive for two days to visit Mike's aunts, uncles and cousins.  We always have a great time and hate to see it end.  Every year after we eat Thanksgiving Dinner, the guys like to play in the Turkey Bowl.  It is a touch football game that gets more serious every year.  This year, a couple of the guys went and lined the field and set up cones to mark the end zones and the sides of the field.  I even found t-shirts at Old Navy that were perfect for the game.  Later that evening, Mike's cousin Andrew took a picture of the whole family on the staircase and a video that he is going to send in to Good Morning America for their "Three Words" segment.  We hope it will be picked.  If it is, I will try to post something here.

Here are some pictures from the weekend of the Turkey Bowl and a few of the kids.

Isn't this a handsome group of men?

Hannah and Ashtyn were the cheerleaders

 Andrew and Will playing in the sand

 

Some action shots

Mike has the ball!

Hannah and Ashtyn enjoying their time together

Aren't these some beautiful ladies?

Will being silly

The Grissom, Frazier, Edenfield, Jinnette, Chitwood, Hoyle and Nowiski  Families

Mike and Andrew were on their way back from the restroom when this picture was taken. (LaNell, Will, and Isabelle were looking at them.) I think another one was taken with them in it but I do not have a copy.  They were in the video which was done next.

I just love this family!!!

Hannah's room and Happy New Years!!

On Sunday, December 27th, Mike and Hannah started cleaning Hannah's room about 2:30 p.m.  They finally finished about 8 p.m. with a few short breaks mixed in.  They filled both a 55 gallon trash bag and 33 gallon garbage bag with trash.  Mike also filled one box with toys for Andrew's class at school.  They cleaned out the plastic bins under her bed; cleaned up all the junk, toys, clothes and dolls in her floor and in the corners of her room; cleaned up her closet and bookshelf; and cleaned up the storage unit and boxes in her room.  Everything looks wonderful!!!  Now that we are back from our trip to Chattanooga, I plan to get Melanie's old daybed and change out Hannah's bed.  The daybed Hannah has now is a heavy wood frame that is more suitable for a boy.  I bought it for my guest room when I was single.  I don't know what we will do with it, probably sell it.

Happy New Years!!  I know it is now the third of January but I did not have access to the computer while we were gone.  We left for Chattnooga on December 30 to celebrate Christmas and New Years with Mike's dad and step-mom and returned today.  While there, we got to see Mike's brother Rich and his family; spent a couple of evenings with Brent, Jennifer and their boys, Ethan and Blaine; celebrated Cody's 18th birthday (Brent's nephew); celebrated Christmas with the family; and went to the Creative Discovery Museum with the kids. 

The Creative Discovery Museum is very similar to the Childrens' Museum of Memphis.  It has a ton of hands-on exhibits, things to do and play with and interesting things for parents.  We were there about two hours.  My favorite was the water exhibit when you first entered the museum.  You could play with the dam trying to redirect the water, open and close locks and dams, and generally have loads of fun.  The kids had a blast!  I don't know what their favorite things were but I'll make some educated guesses.  Mike seemed to like the area where you could make a toy car that would run using an electrical charge on a special track.  He made two cars: one for Hannah and one for Will.  Andrew seemed to like the musical area where he could play the drums.  Will's favorite seemed to be a machine that would help you get a basketball into the goal using a bike, skate, kiddie pool, double-ended kayak paddle, two shovels, a tube of fabric and a clothes basket.  Sounds weird, I know but you had to see it.  It was neat.  I'm not sure about Hannah.  She was everywhere and participated in just about everything. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful God-filled year. May Adonai bless you as you seek to know and love Him more each day.

Happy Thanksgiving

I know I am a few days early but we are leaving tomorrow to head to North Carolina for the holidays.  Since I don't know if I will have access to a computer, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  Please remember to thank God for the blessings He has given you so far this year.  If you think you have nothing to thank God for, thank Him for waking up each morning and for air to breathe (no matter how stuffed up your nose is - HEHE).

Happy Thanksgiving from the Jinnettes!!!

Veteran's Day

Today is the day we set aside to remember those who have served, those who are currently serving, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in one of the fine branches of the United States military.  Thank you for everything.  The sacrifices you made makes it possible for me and my family to enjoy the freedoms we hold so precious and dear.   THANK YOU!!

On that note, if any of my readers are currently in the military or have served in our fine armed forces, go by Applebee's restaurants for either lunch or dinner.  Applebee's is giving our veterans and servicemen a free meal.  You get to pick one of nine choices and a drink.  You must show some sort of proof that you served or are serving to get your meal.  If you go to http://www.applebees.com/, you will find a list of the proof they will accept (even a picture of you in uniform) and what meals you can choose from.  They did this last year at a few select Applebee's.  The response they received was so overwhelming that they decided to offer it nationwide.