We.Are.Grateful.

Big's Holiday Sing-A-long marathon was last night. It was a fantastic soup of carols and holiday poems. It was amazing that those kids could remember all the words they were responsible for. There were about 15 songs and poems all together. C'mon teachers, give us, I mean them, a break! It was really cute but poor Big was burning up because I made him wear his Christmas sweater and it was 67 degrees outside and about 102 inside with all the people and lights! This is when he first spotted us in the crowd. We are grateful for the gift of song.



We got to see all the wonderful, beautiful things Lil' has been learning at her dance class today. She is soooo carefully graceful. We are grateful for the gift of dance.





On this holiday and throughout the year, we are grateful for our beautiful and precious children. We are grateful for our sweet and loving family. We are grateful for our amazing friendships and the love that surrounds our lives. We. Are. Grateful.

They Will Never Ever Forget You

I have lots of great memories from growing up. They all float around in my head from day to day and come to my consciousness from time to time reminding me of something from my past. Memory can be a great gift.

I will never forget a hero I had in high school. He was magnetic. A force. A beautiful force with a bright shining smile. He was everything. Could do anything. And he always did it well. He once carried me off the softball field when I broke my foot. He picked me up like I was a feather. Like a firefighter would in a fire. Like a cop would after an accident. He grew up. He became a real hero and has been a pilot in the military for a long time now.

He has brain cancer now. They say he is going to pass before Christmas. I pray for his family. His friends. For all the people he touched because there is a long, long list of us. Be a good memory for someone and they will never ever forget you.

Yep. That's the One.

Can you guess what song has been stuck in my head all day by looking at this picture?



Yep. That's the one.

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Goodnight

I Promise My Heart

While the men spent the day yesterday chopping firewood, my little lady Lil' helped me bake some cookies. I cherish moments like this because I know when she's older, she's not going to want to be around me. I can see it coming. She's gonna be testy. Because of this, I made her promise that when she's older, she'll still want to hang out with me. I envisioned our cookie baking days in the future and they looked very similar to yesterday, although they involved wine. Yesterday, we just had hot chocolate. She said, "I promise my heart Mommy." I said, "You mean you cross your heart?" She said, "No, I promise my heart." I said (sniff, sniff), "Ok, I'll take it."

Walk a Little Lighter

Alright first of all let me say this. I am aware that the following does no good for our family's carbon footprint. I'm sorry about that. I just can't help it. Once it starts... I just can't stop.



Our tree has a bit of a rough backside. I can identify with that so I'm ok with it.



Our footprint will recover. We'll all just walk a little lighter.

It's On Like Donkey Kong

It is upon us. I see it in their eyes. I hear it in their voices. The hounds have been released and they smell... Christmas. Things have gotten a lot louder in our house this week. There is the usual constant motion and commotion but its mixed with sounds of ornaments falling off the tree and the occasional shriek of "There he is" or "Look at those lights." I can't blame them though. I love Christmas too.

What I love about it has changed over the years. Gotten a little more detailed. I love watching the movie "Christmas Vacation." Who doesn't? But what I love the most is when the little doors of Dec. 24th open up on the Christmas advent house. Don't ask me why, I just do. It's my favorite part.

I also love the way a Santa hat feels. Can't explain it. I just know that there's nothing else that feels that way in the whole world.

One other random thing is the electric candles in the windows. If Daddy would let me, I'd leave them on in my room all night. I love staring at them from the inside of the house and the feeling of excitement that I've gotten from that since I was a little girl.

Anywho - My kids are pumped, primed and ready. Lil' had her Christmas program tonight at school and she was amazing. After tonight, it's on like Donkey Kong.

It's Really Always Been There

Big got a hold of the face paint crayons the night before we left to go to Chapin for Thanksgiving. He came jumping down the stairs just like this and Daddy and I cracked up. His name is Chief Run and boy did he. All around the house. All over the place. All weekend long.

Lil' got a big ole' cold before we left.You can see it in her eyes. That flash in the background is Chief Run.



Sweet little Miss E. made her first Thanksgiving appearance with great style and grace.



We had a big crowd for dinner. We all wrote down the things we were thankful for. Big wrote his own and came up with it all by himself. "I am thankful for my family," he said. Lil' said, "I am thankful for my blankie."



This Thanksgiving I was thankful for all the new family members I received this year: Chippie, Leann, Miss E., Cameron and Quinn.

That's a whole bunch of new love that really has always been there.