A very nice Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. We got to spend Christmas Eve with Ralph's family and Christmas morning just as a family and Christmas afternoon with my family. It's always very busy driving down to Citrus Heights one day and Elk Grove the next, but we wouldn't want to miss any of it. The kids were spoiled rotten, and so was I by my sweet husband.

The last couple of days have just been spent playing new games, cleaning up a bit, being lazy, and now tonight we have our Colette here playing games, watching a silly old movie, etc. So life is good, and whatever tomorrow brings, we have the memories of another fun family Christmas.

God is good!!!

Christmas Baking--3 Days til Christmas!!!

Today we made truffles, fudge, m&m cookies, and gingerbread men.

Jackson was so helpful with the gingerbread men--he dumped out all the sprinkles, recut the gingerbread men into strange shapes, ate all the toppings......you know, just a real all around helper. :-)

Good thing we love him!!

Last Friday night we did our annual drive-around-and-look-at-Chistmas-lights trip. First we went to the drive through Nativity at the Nazarene church. Jackson's favorite scene was the one with the wise men. He really wanted to go back through again to see those wise men, but we had lights to see, so we went on.......As we drove around looking at lights, all I heard was, "Jackson, look over there, Jackson, look at those ones, Jackson this, Jackson that". And you know, I am so thankful we still have a little one to share our joys with. He is so much everyone's baby boy, and all the kids just love to show him new and interesting things. I am so glad we have every single one of our blessings and didn't stop after 1.7, or whatever the dwindling average is now! After we were all done with the lights, we went to McDonalds for Mcflurries. So another memory made.

The weekened was busy with the church Christmas musical. It was beautiful, but since I forgot my camera, I won't have any pictures to share.......

So far this week, we have had alot of snow play, and I do have a few pictures of that, thanks to Cara. (You don't think I went out in the cold to get these pictures?)

We also got down to my parents house on Wednesday, for a little visit. That was fun, as always. We are praying for my mom, for healing. Her leg that was shattered back in May was not healing, so they are trying a new treatment, called a bone stimulator. We are all praying this will do the trick, and also that the insurance we stop being dumb and pay for the machine.

And here is one more picture, just for fun:

A fun messy day!

Yesterday we had our sweet friends the Hoffmans over for lunch and playing and gingerbread house making! The kids worked so hard getting every ready. Nick and Cara made the best chocolate truffles on the planet! For lunch we had chicken rice casserole (called Samantha's casserole cause she loves it so much), homemade bread, and fruit salad. For dessert we had those awesome truffles, pumpkin pie squares, and delicious corn muffins made by the Hoffmans.

At first we couldn't get the gingerbread houses to stay together, but then when I got out of the way, Nick figured out how to make them more stable, and then all the kids were able to do so much better than I did. I always knew my kids are smarter than me.

So a lesson today was learned in patience and perserverance!

Of course we have pictures. :-)

Christmas Shopping

Yesterday I got to take Cara Christmas shopping for her friends. Just the 2 of us, spending time together. I try to take a different kiddo shopping with me every 2 weeks when I do my big shopping trip. This gives me a helper and them some one-on-one time. But yesterday we didn't have anything we had to do, just be together and take our time.

And then we split a Coffee-Toffee from our favorite Java-Drive-through on the way home.

Life is good!

What we do around here for fun....

The younger kids planned a little surprise for us--a Christmas concert. I think Samantha was inspired by the concert she went to Friday night with Danny and Cara (which she and Cara were in a couple of years back), the annual Festival of Chorals, or whatever it's called. :-) Anyway, Samantha directed Joey and Rebecca in about 8 or so Christmas songs, with Jackson joining in, whether they wanted him to or not. :-) Then Joey played his first piano song on the piano. He started lessons today and has already learned his first song, and could not be prouder of himself!

So of course I have a few pictures....

Please excuse Jackson's lack of attire. He doesn't think much of clothes. (He was at least wearing pants; you just can see them.)