Lucy

Lucy's preschool class performed the nativity for the parents last week. Lucy was bursting with enthusiasm and couldn't stop smiling. They did it twice so the children could play different parts. Lucy was Mary and the Innkeeper. She loved being dressed up, saying her part, and singing. And I loved watching. She looked adorable in costume.

Well, it finally happened. Little Lucy gave herself a haircut. Apparently, she didn’t like her hair hanging in her eyes, so she took a pair of paper scissors down to the basement and fixed the problem. So, now she has short little bangs. Fortunately, she has a cowlick in that same place, which causes all of the hair to lie to the side naturally. So, it doesn’t look as bad as it could have. I figured it was bound to happen at some point. Hopefully, this will be the last time.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Spencer and Charlie enjoying homemade bread after school. I remember loving coming home from school to the aroma of fresh baked bread. My mom made such yummy bread. We'd spread it with butter and honey or homemade strawberry jam. I'm glad my kids are enjoying the same tradition. They complain about so many of my meals, that when I get a thumbs up, it makes all my effort worth it.

Sawyer has been so bummed about the lack of snow in Kansas compared to Michigan. So, yesterday, after school, he couldn't wait to put his snow pants on and play around in it. I love it when the boys go outside and play. For some reason, I always feel like being outside is productive, even if they're not really doing anything. So, if that's what it takes to keep these boys outside all winter- bring on the snow!


I bought this nativitiy set in Israel several years ago while on study abroad there. Each Christmas, I've been careful to guard it from little hands. But, this year, Lucy beat me to it. Before I knew she was unwrapping it, both the staffs were broken. And now that it's on the mantle, she just can't resist taking it down to hold baby Jesus, look at Mary and Joseph, and rearrange it over and over again. Now, instead of being on the mantle, she's moved it closer to the floor and it looks like this:

Last year was the first time we bought matching stockings and an artificial Christmas tree. Before that, we had makeshift stockings and a real tree or no tree (especially when we travelled). So, breaking out the decorations these past few weeks has been really fun. The house feels cozy, we've got the Christmas music playing, and lots of yummy smelling things baking in the oven. Since emerging from six weeks of nausea, my taste buds are back, stronger than ever.

Thanksgiving

We just returned from a wonderful Thanksgiving in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Kim and Clark were terrific hosts. I’m grateful we have such loving families. Some of my favorite moments of the weekend were:

Watching people hit the Elmo piñata Kirsten purchased for her birthday. She doesn't care for Elmo, so she bought a pinata for the kids to whack away at in celebration of her 40th birthday. They had a ball.

Eating all the yummy food. Everything tasted SO good. I ate and ate and ate. This year I made a relish tray, cheese ball, mashed potatoes, and streusel topped pumpkin pie.

Watching the kids have so much fun with their cousins. They all slept in sleeping bags in Kim’s playroom. They stayed up late every night telling scary stories. Now that we’re home, the kids keep saying they’re scared to go alone to different places in the house.

Reading a good parenting book and having Spencer and Charlie snuggle up and fall asleep next to me on the couch.

Watching the kids play “Virus” in the backyard as well as football and other games. They had a ton of fun together.

Having a relatively easy ride to and from Oklahoma. It took three hours each way.

Relaxing on the couch with a book while the kids played.

Smelling the scents of Kim and Clark’s freshly cut Christmas tree.

Playing six- handed Rook.

Watching the grandkids wrestle with grandpa

Listening to Christmas music.

Eating Kim's yummy homemade bread.

Friday, we all visited Woolaroc, which is the ranch of billionaire Frank Wright. It was fun to see all the wild animals (especially one with an electrical cord wrapped around his antlers). Lucy was fascinated with an Indian display where several members of the tribe were dancing. She couldn’t stop talking (loudly) about how they “were sticking their bottoms out.” (But her word choice was different). Where does she learn such talk?