Blessed Beyond Belief

I have so many awesome pictures

and stories to share, yet here I am posting this. In my defense I do only have a minute since Tim is waiting for me at the kitchen to do 8 batches of crusts. So, here it is - my mom and I's version of a typical myspace pic. Let's see - bathroom mirror (check) reflecting flash (check) off center and horrible picture quality (check) and last but not least - lips puckered and twisted to the side of face (check). What the heck IS with these expressions anyhow?? Anyone care to explain? Oh, we forgot the 'peace sign'. If that's even what they call it....

Meet Snoopy

more later..... we are leaving now to go see some lights.

Nativity

The live nativity on Saturday night was really neat. We took a tractor hay ride from the parking lot to the gates of Bethlehem. We were then lead on a tour from the gates, to the Inn, to angels and then to the manger. It was cold and I didn't want Will to be freezing and have a hard time. So we managed to bundle him up with ski pants (over his boots - not easy), two jackets, a scarf, hat and gloves. I felt like the mother on 'the christmas story' dressing her youngest to go to school in the snow. And he looked like the kid who couldn't put his arms down and then fell in the snow and couldn't get up.

He had been talking about seeing baby Jesus all day. When we finally got to the manger I thought he might make a scene. Right away he realized that baby jesus was a doll. Luckily he called me down to whisper in my ear - 'is that baby not real??? why is he not moving?? why is that baby not real??' Poor kid. He almost didn't want to leave. And then wanted to go another time on the tour. I guess he thought that the real baby jesus would be there if he came back.

For those of wondering about the groceries in front of the manger - you could bring food donations for the Eagle food bank to lay at the manger.

Hey look! I DO have a third child!!!

Isn't he cute?? Don't even bother with hair comments. At least you can see a bit of eyes here.

More Christmas goodness

No, I didn't get a post in last night. I was just too wiped out after our friends left to put together a coherent post. So here is it today!

Last night we hosted our group of Kuna friends for a Christmas party. Because of work schedules, we haven't been able to visit with them in a few months. So this was really nice. We ate, read the Christmas story, took communion, visited, and then some played Apples to Apples. I didn't play (you know me and board games), I cleaned up. But I was listening to them play and watched a little. What a hysterical game!

William helped pass out communion (the cracker part).

I set the camera up on the mantel on a timer. So here are the adults. The kids didn't make the cut!

Course, not sure if the kids realized we were actually TAKING the picture. Check out my lovely daughter. Will took this one.

It was a fun night. We are so happy that we have these wonderful friends!

Last week I made a christmas countdown calendar:

Each day has new activity to do. The first night we had dinner by candle light at home. No biggie, just meatloaf and mac&cheese, but everything seems more special by candle light. Then yesterday everyone got to choose one christmas song from itunes. Today's activity is to visit a live nativity. . We will have to start getting ready very early since we should probably dress like we going to the snow and never coming back...

Choir

Today the 5th/6th grade choir preformed at the start of the kindergarten christmas program. They sang three songs including Silent night in english, spanish, german and sign language. They sounded like little angels in heaven. Unfortunately, we could not see our angel. Here she is when they first started coming. Pink scarf towards the right.

But soon the others lined up and our view of her was totally gone. Bright side - every once in awhile we got a glimpse of her green headband, so we knew she was there!

On Monday the choir is going over to the senior center to sing them Christmas carols.

Let it go and let it be

Each year when we put up the tree and pull out the decorations I get all stressed and go into some type of weird christmas tree disorder. Symptoms: unpacking all the ornaments myself, handing them over to the kids, then directing them where to put them, making sure that the tree has an even number of ornaments on all sides, and making sure the angel on top is straight, facing the right way with her skirt fluffed just right. Basically making the tree look the way I want it to look despite the kids excitment over decorating the tree.

Not this year. And it wasn't intentional. On saturday we brought this tree home and later in the evening we opened the ornament box. Like every year the kids (autumn and william) dove right in eager to see them all and hang them on the tree. They went right to it and it felt good to just let them place things where they want and pick the decorations they wanted to hang. The only ones I insisted on placing were the three little clothespin dolls that Grandma Ann made for me a long long time ago. I love those little dolls on my tree. Autumn even put the angel on top when I wasn't looking. Complete with a front tilt and unfluffed skirt. In the past few days, some of the low hanging ornaments have been knocked off the tree by a wagging dog tail. I just pick them up and hang them higher on the tree - cuz there are a few blank spots on top. ;) We have a beautiful tree.

this little piggy broke in half.

Sorry, this is going to be short with no pictures.

Problem number 1 - I finally went to get my foot xrayed. After two weeks it was still not better. Turns out that my middle toe is broke. He gave me a stupid shoe that doesn't feel any different than my regular shoes.

Problem number 2 of 100 - half my computer screen is gone. Bottom half display is nearly nonexistent. Scary.

I'll keep the other 98 to myself.

A Gingerbread Christmas

Last Friday was Will's christmas program at school. They had been practicing for a couple of months and we had already heard bits of the songs. He played the triangle. He did so good! And looked so big in his shirt and tie.

See - I wasn't kidding...!

Positioned carefully looking oh so cute handsome with his hands in his pockets.

Girl in odd blue dress blocking our view of the best triangle player.

Oh good, there he is.

Check these kids out while watching another group preform!

And, here he is busting some moves in the gingerbread rap.

We were SO very proud of him!!!!

December stuff

I know I've been a bad blogger. Sometimes I need reminding that it serves a higher purpose than me amusing myself! So - on to what the past couple of weeks have looked like. December 1st was the Kuna Christmas day. All the shops and businesses had special deals and such going on and then the parade at night. All very festive - especially when it's in a small town. We bundled up like we were going to spend a week at the north pole. It was ccccccccold standing out on the street! Casey went too, but he didn't like the sweater I had picked out for him so he went au'natural.

Sorry I don't have better parade pictures. Lots of lights, a jr high band, lit up work trucks, horses, people walking their small farm animals. Our favorite was the pony that wasn't much bigger than casey. I wanted a snap of the kids in front of the parade going by. This is what I got. Anyone care to caption that one for me?? No clue - other than evidence that once in a blue moon my children are NOT paying attention to me!!

The parade ended with Santa waving from the top of a fire truck. We decided to take a walk into town a bit. First hit Wild Ivy. LOVE that store and the owner is so nice and helpful. Anyway, we found the perfect red bench with storage underneath to store all the cold weather items. Casey still seems to have a thing for gloves, so those need to be kept up. Next was a stop into the coffee shop for some yummy warm me ups! Finally we headed back towards the car, but decided to go into the old 4th street gym. I was filled with vendors, an auction underway, and SANTA!!!! I wasn't planning on santa pictures, but all of the sudden Will was begging me to get in line. So we did and he was very happy and excited. I asked him what he was going to tell santa - he said "I'm going to tell him about my christmas program on friday". Aaaahhhhh....

Ok, I must go now. I'm nodding off and can't see straight. But here's my goal for december (what's left of it). I'm going to make a new post everyday. Probably at night. So there you have it!