'Tis the season

There has been a lot going on this past week. We seem to be getting back into the swing of things. With a fresh new snowfall and the fact that various neighbors are getting into the spirit of christmas, we decided we'd better get on the band wagon as well.

On Monday night, we broke out the Christmas decorations and the kids had a blast setting up the tree and hanging up santa etc. We still have to put lights up outside but John and I are debating what to do. Icicle lights, or just multi-colored bulbs? Reindeer on the lawn? Santa on the roof? How will we decide?:)



I went down to Sears and picked up the famous Christmas wishbook. Abby has spent many afternoons (while sam and jess sleep) cutting out things she'd like and glueing them onto her own "Wish list" for Santa. She wrote a letter today for us to mail to Santa and asked me if she could mail all the pictures of what she wants with it. Something tells me we will have to narrow this list down a bit, AND perhaps teach her a little bit about money because let's face it, I love her daddy, but I didn't marry him for his money!


For Family Home Evening I brought out our newly purchased Nativity set and tried to teach Abby about the true meaning of Christmas. Why we "really" celebrate it. She had fun holding all the peices but she clearly didn't hear a thing. That night before bed I couldn't help but laugh as she was praying and actually had the nerve to sincerely say, "we are thankful for....Santa Claus." Yes Abby, we are thankful for Santa, and many MANY other things as well:))











Sam is keeping us busy. We took the kids swimming this past week and it was such fun. Sam however was content to just sit on the edge or better yet, "leapfrog" all around the deck of the pool.
Oh well, atleast he was saying "rriibbitt" which helped ease any fears I had that he doesn't talk. Plus, I think the little amount of Chlorine he did come in contact with helped wash some of this mess off of him.












I had to post these two pictures as well. Both are of the kids' bedroom door. Abby has been doing so much art work, at home and school that she has begun taping her best work to her door. I personally think she just enjoys using the tape all by herself, but whatever. It made us laugh though as we went to bed the other night, we glanced at the door and something caught our eye. She had actualy taped the roll of TAPE onto the door. Goof.



This second picture shows what has become a daily routine in our home. Because there is a good inch or two of a gap between the door and the floor, this is now what happens. Every afternoon when Sam wakes up from his nap he crawls out of bed, onto the floor and lies there watching us all until we notice that he is awake. Sometimes he will stick an arm or a leg out when he really wants to be noticed. For the most part though, he just lays there...watching. Creepy.




Oh yeah, this is a terrible picture but I'm very proud of this quilt that I made. I don't sew, (if you don't believe me just ask my seamstress/sister, jewel). But I did do this quilt for my Mother-in-law. It has all the handprints of her kids, their spouses, and her grandkids on it. I had hoped she'd get to use it lots before she passed away, but I barely got it done in time for her to use it for a few days. Still, it meant a lot to me to do this. Probably the one and only time I'll sew in my entire life:))












Well that is about it for now. The tree is up. decorations up? ...check. Nativity out? ...check. Stockings hung?...check. Christmas is comin' fast. Am I ready for it?...not even close!