Tree Trimming

Ah, Christmas time. How I love the traditions that go along with this wonderful time of year. I love doing fun things with my kids, like decorating the tree and the house. They love helping, and it makes me happy to see how happy they are.

Chris and Nathaniel string the lights.

Everyone poses with "Rudolph," our pet reindeer.

Adding the ornaments. This is always fun. I used to stress about placement, but now I love that my tree looks like it was decorated by kids!


Three happy kids with their finished product. Fun times.

Christmas Activities

The kids were so excited about the prospect of making cookies and delivering them to neighbors. Together with Aunt Mel, expert baker, they made the most delicious chocolate chip cookies, packaged them up, and chose to whom they wanted to make deliveries. I simply drove them around the neighborhood, and they did the rest.

Afterwards we talked about what a good feeling it gave them to do something nice for others. I am really proud of them for being such giving, loving people.

Later that same evening we had our ward Christmas party. Good food, good friends, and entertainment. The boys were most thrilled to sit on Santa's lap, but Lindsey would have nothing to do with that scary man!

Just Had to Share This . . .

Don't you love coming across something awesome like this? Kids are so funny!

sNOw!

So here's what we woke up to a few days ago, after our wonderfully warm and lengthy fall. I guess winter is upon us. Grrr. It's pretty, though, huh?

Lindsey's First Haircut

It's funny how I was always chomping at the bit to cut the boys' hair and did so by the time they were 6 months old, but with Lindsey, I never wanted to do it. But it had gotten way past the point of straggly, needing a trim to make it look healthier, so I had to give in. You can't really tell much difference between the before and after shots, but she lost a good 2 1/2 to 3 inches.

In Scouting News . . .

Nathaniel received a bead at his Pack Meeting last night. Anyone like me who knows nothing about Scouts -- that means he is progressing toward his next rank. He already acheived Wolf and is working toward his Bear. I just think he looks cute in his uniform!

Tough Guy

Just a couple of shots of my little Bradley who got into a fight with the train table and lost. That is the 3rd major facial injury for him in less than a year! Poor little guy!

Another Holiday Tradition

Every year on Thanksgiving, I love to pull out the old guitar and serenade the family with a holiday classic. This link provides the only video I could find of the original performance on Saturday Night Live of that great song, "Basted in Blood." Enjoy.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=22176165

Give Thanks

With Thanksgiving approaching, I find myself, like most everyone else, reflecting on just how much I have to be thankful for. The list is staggering, and it's a huge comfort when I'm feeling blue just to stop and think about how tremendously the Lord has blessed me and my family.

This year will be (I think) the first time we have had Thanksgiving alone, as a core family. Even in the years we have lived far from the hub of our family, we have always had a sibling or cousin or someone with us. With Mel at home in Georgia, and Pat receiving a "better offer" from a young lady, it's just me, Chris, and the kids. In a way it's nice to do our own thing, but I find myself longing so much for my family. Memories of all those holidays at home are flooding my mind . . . Granny's dressing, uncles watching football, and the rest of us crowded around the dining room table after dinner to play board games. Those were the days, and I really miss them. I'm excited to establish new traditions with my kids, but I so cherish all that family time when I was growing up. I hope you'll all play a round of Catch Phrase for me this year.

My greatest blessing is by far my family. My grandparents and parents, aunts, uncles, cousins. My wonderful brothers and sisters. My in-laws. My neices and nephews. I love these people and thank a loving Heavenly Father for allowing me to be part of such a wonderful heritage.

I'm so very thankful for my amazing husband and for my children. There is no greater blessing in my life than to be the mother of these incredible little people who make me happier than anything else ever could. I sometimes get impatient with them; life is challenging from day to day. But there is absolutely nothing I would rather do than spend my time with them, trying my best to prove worthy to be entrusted with their care. How merciful is the Lord to give us the opportunity to live together forever! I'm so excited to spend eternity with them!!!

So to all my family back in Georgia, Florida, Washington, Maryland, the Netherlands, Massachussetts, Missouri, and wherever else you are right now -- Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for being part of what I consider to be the greatest family on earth. To all my fantastic friends, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families as well!

Just By Way of Information. . .

Some of you have privatized your blogs and I can no longer read them. If that's how you want it, fine, but if it's not, hook me up! I miss reading all your happenings! LOVE. . .