Merry Christmas!

The kids slept until 8! By noon they were requesting friends over. Luckily at 5 we had the Leavitts and Petersens over for dinner. The kids played and the adults talked. Great Day!

Silent Night

Maybe not so silent - but silent at key moments and it was a holy night. . . We spent Christmas Eve with friends/neighbors at the Williams home. After dinner we went to the seminary room and we talked about the gifts we will give our Savior this year. Susan and Jay gave each family an ornament that opens and inside we put the papers that list the gifts. We will put our ornament on the mantel to remind us all year what we have promised.

After the adults received the ornaments, Susan gave each of the children (all 13 of them) a gift. On the count of three they tore open their boxes and pulled out pajamas! They were very excited. Hugs and kisses all around (between Susan and all the kids). I should note here that this is Susan who Grace stops in to see every day after school. The Williams are so good to share their mom with the neighborhood! We had a wonderful evening.

Nativity Night

Sunday night, we joined several other families at the Wisniewski home for the Nativity Play. We used to do this at the Woods on Christmas Eve - so we are happy that the Wisniewskis are keeping the tradition going. We enjoyed great food, played the chimes and enjoyed the nativity. Chloe as a cow and Tanner as the Donkey - waiting for their moment in the spotlight

The highlight this year was the addition of a lion to the nativity. Matthew wanted to wear the costume so the lion was added. The lion rocked the baby, sat on the baby and danced. Matthew (lion) is the one laying on the floor.

Grace

This post is for my mom. She sent me this dress last month. It is a dress that I wore when I was about 9. I was shocked to see it. I had no idea she still had any of my childhood clothing. Grace saw it and loved it. Her older sisters informed her that it will be a great dress to wear for "pioneer day" in the 4th grade. I think Grace loved the twirly skirt part the best.

Super T.

He loves super heroes. He spent some time at a friends house last week and came home with the mask and cape (super friend's super mom made). He has worn it a lot. Almost as much as his power-ranger costume. Last weekend our power was out - so we decided to go out to dinner. I heard Hannah trying to talk Tanner into changing out of his power-ranger costume into some real clothes. I hadn't even thought about it. . . She would be so embarrassed if she knew all the places he has been in his power-ranger costume. . .

I am realizing how much I have evolved as a mom. With my older kids - I really thought they were a reflection of me - and I would never have let them go out in public in a costume. "What would people think?" I thought that phrase a lot. I think that about 2 times a year now - and then remind myself that it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.


So now I realize that my children are there own beings and their thoughts and feelings are not mine and their thoughts and feelings are more important to me than the strangers staring at us at the restaurant.

Once There was a Snowman

The kids spent several hours outside building this little snowman. It was so fun to watch them work together. And then we spent the next 24 hours watching it melt. The next afternoon there was just a pile of carrots and a hat and a scarf.

We love our friends!

Snow Day

Today was the first Snow Day for the 2007-2008 school year. Pickerington is known to have a plethora of snow days - so when we heard the forecast of 1-3 inches we were pretty sure everyone would be home from school. We all had fun in the snow, except Eliza who may have strep. . . we will know tomorrow after a visit to the doctor.

Tanner made one ride down the hill and then decided to go swing and make snow angels. We had a great snowball fight, went sledding and shoveled the driveway and were in the house sipping hot chocolate by 11am. The rest of the day was filled with movies, friends and a few more trips outside to play in the snow. The first snow day is always fun. I will not be writing happy posts about snow day # 5. The snow was beautiful and I love snow in December. It is just hard to love snow in the same way when it falls in March. Kind of like my children. I love them most at 7 in the morning. I love to wake them up for school. I love to rub their backs and kiss their cheeks when I wake them up. As I make them breakfast - I love to hear about whatever is on their mind. By 8p.m. I just want them to be in bed - with their door closed. I get meaner every hour. So it goes with snow days. Each passing snow day becomes less fun. By the 5th - there will only be shoveling. And hot chocolate if you want to make it yourself.

I will hope for a paucity of snow days so my children can have good memories.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

13 Things I love about Hannah: SHE:
1. is one of the kindest people I know.
2. is good at solving problems.
3. takes teasing well. (she can laugh at herself.)
4. understands sarcasm.
5. doesn't worry about what other people think about her
6. recognizes the good in other people and focuses on it
7. loves her siblings and isn't afraid to show it
8. wants to learn
9 knows that she needs her sleep
10 isn't afraid to make mistakes
11 knows what to do if she makes a mistake
12 doesn't mind being alone
13 SHE IS MINE and I am blessed

Turkey Bowl

After dinner, while Grandpa did the dishes, we went bowling. We met some of our favorite people at Gahanna Lanes. We bowled. We ate pie and other yummy sweets. We laughed. My one regret - is that we didn't have more time to socialize. The bowling got in the way of my conversations. . . We will have to figure something out before next year. . .

Thanksgiving

We were so blessed to have Grandma and Grandpa here from Alabama and Rudy here from Chicago. We love watching our kids love their family. They were absolutely giddy all weekend. It started off on Tuesday night when Rudy arrived. Grace had been watching at the window for about an hour for his arrival. Grace and Tanner ran to his car screaming; "Rudy!, Rudy!" They climbed in before he could get it in park.

Mom and Dad arrived on Wednesday. The girls worked out a sleep-over schedule for staying with Mom and Dad at the hotel. Everyone wants their "one-on-one" with Grandma and Grandpa.

Rudy and Mom cooked most of the yummy feast. Our good friend Nelda joined us for dinner. We are grateful for the Gospel, Family/Friends, Health, Beauty of the Earth, and Learning new things every day.

Where is Grace?
5 points to the first person that can find Grace in the picture.

Editor Needed!

I just re-read my first post and see that I need to have a refresher course on editing skills!

I have been a blog - stalker for several months now. My favorite part of Christmas is receiving the long detailed/funny Christmas letters from friends. So reading blogs is like being able to do that year-round. It is wonderful -- yet I find myself drawn to blogs of people I don't even know. I actually have a few bookmarked on my computer. It is kind of like watching reality television. Kind of addicting. And kind of stalkerish.

I wrote a post about a week ago and decided to start a blog. When I couldn't edit it the way I wanted - I got frustrated and gave up. . . Until today. My sister-in-law Kalee started a blog and inspired me to write a new post and begin this new way of communication. I still don't know how to text on my cell phone and I can guarantee there will still be glaring mistakes on this blog. But I hope that this can be a way for our families and friends to stay close and in touch with what is going on in our lives . . .

A Very Good Place To Start

Halloween was pretty simple this year. Everyone but Tanner pulled together costumes from their closet or the dress-up box. Tanner wore his Power Ranger costume most of the month - so it was worth every penny we spent on it. Not to mention that there is nothing in the dress-up box that would make a 3 year old boy look tough.

Grace wanted to wear a shawl that my Grandma Rhees had made. Eliza went as an Buckeye Zombie. and Hannah was a . . . well it started out as a blond - but the wig was not what she wanted - so I think she was a teenager??? She took Grace and her friend out and she got candy
and she was happy.

Tanner spent the night with his "friend" Chloe. They held hands the whole night. They tell us that they are getting married in the temple someday. We are just hoping that he is potty-trained by then. . .