December Highlights

This Christmas season we're enjoying all the SNOW! Two snow days last week found us baking Christmas goodies and watching Christmas movies. In jammies of course. :) Blowing snow drifted over our furnace pipe and we woke up to a freezing cold house Wednesday morning. Thank goodness for a fireplace and for repairmen who came over first thing that day. Derek snowplowed and shoveled for almost 5 hours that day...what a blessing to be able to help others like that. An elderly couple I didn't know came up to us at the movie theater and thanked Derek for his hard work. Seeing their gratefulness really blessed my spirit.

Kings of the Hill

There's nothing like playing in the snow with Daddy. All the boys, Derek, and Ginger played on a huge snow pile out front. The kids are still tunneling their way through that mountain. I know snow causes adults a lot of headaches, but none of that matters when I see the kids having fun in it! The backyard has snow forts and tunnels too, although with the high snow drifts I've had to watch the dog a bit more closely. She likes to perch herself on the tallest hill and peer over the fence. Yikes! Thankfully she hasn't jumped ship...yet.

Friday night our kids spent the evening with their cousins while Derek and I went Christmas shopping. Thanks to a great brother and sister-in-law, I can officially say we're all done shopping now! Saturday the boys spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house sleeping around the Christmas tree, roasting hot dogs in the fireplace and watching a Christmas movie. Derek and I went to our small group Christmas party and stayed out past midnight! How fun that was for us old folks! ;) If you ever have the chance to play a game called "Things" I highly recommend it!

Aaron's gift from preschool--the bag says To: My Family, and he drew 5 smiley faces

Aaron's all smiles at his program

Lots of fun activities going on at school this week. Aaron's highlight was his Christmas program today. Hard to believe it was our last one...one of many lasts we're experiencing this year. Aaron said his favorite songs were "Jingle Bells" and "Over the Hills" (also known as Go Tell it on the Mountain.) :) Our pastor spoke during the program for a few minutes, and when he asked the kids some questions my little Aaron was the first one to put his hand up in the air. A HUGE difference from last year at this time. He's really coming out of his shell, affirming our decision to give him an extra year at home before putting him in the public school system. For that, I'm very thankful.

Finally, we made our annual visit to see Santa this afternoon. Braylen blushed when I told him to go tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas (a real football helmet.) Later I told him I wouldn't make him do that next year. Another little boy of mine growing up. Aaron sat on Santa's lap and told him he wanted a stamp book. That's his #1 wish this year! Kind of crazy, but a friend told me today about a 3rd grade boy who's asking for a nutcracker. That shows me Aaron's request isn't all that wacky. :) Kaleb's visit with Santa went like this:

Kaleb: I want an Eagles hat, Eagles pants, Eagles socks, Eagles shoes, and Eagles underwear.

Santa: Okay, I'll see what I can do about that.

Kaleb: Oh, and an Eagles jersey and helmet too.

Santa: Anything else?

Kaleb: A Nintendo DSi, Wii games....Santa, you know what I did last night?

Santa: What?

Kaleb: YOU tell ME!

Ha ha ha! Poor Santa--he had to be pretty quick on his feet. You never know what Kaleb's going to say....