Christmas 2010.................

Another year and another Christmas! We had a good day, we spent it the way we spend all of them. Morning at our house and afternoon at Grandma and Papa's house. Throw in way too much good food and a few naps and you have a well rounded nice day!



Craig took the boys and Maggie with him to pick out our tree......

Tallis liked the tree right off the bat..........

All trimmed and pretty..........

The boys spending some time with Mom on the sewing machine..........

Homemade gifts for the girls..........

The Rosies..............

I witnessed the rise and fall of the Green girl band within a half hour this afternoon. Maggie spent an hour setting up the living room into their stage, complete with drums, poster board guitar, and music stand and microphone. Molly and Maggie started practice without Tallis due to the fact that she was down for a nap. They had some discussion as to the best band name and came up with 'The Rosies'. I was able to snap some pictures before the fall happened. I heard a shriek from Molly and then a defiant 'I don't want to be in the band'! To this Maggie responded with her own frustration, 'So what, your just gonna ditch the band?'. I had to laugh as the line from 'That thing you do' rang in my ears. "Being in a band a week is sometimes a week too long"! They kissed and made up but the fate of the Rosies is probably bound for lots of dramatic arguments! Song style, dance style, wardrobe style, I'll have to keep you posted~



The 'Cover' shot............

Maggie as lead singer (of course)...........

Jammin'............

Molly on guitar..............

Maggie filling in on drums because Tallis wanted to see who was on the camera...........

The Green Girls have chicken pox.................

"There faces showed all the signs in rosy, polka dot designs!" I'm really glad that we picked up the book 'Goldilocks has chicken pox' this summer from the library's reading program. For some reason I knew that it would come in handy! Somewhere this fall we happened upon some chicken pox. Maggie was the first to come down with them. I have to admit I wasn't sure at first what we were dealing with. Then it became VERY apparent! Within two weeks Molly and Tallis got their spots. We were blessed to not have high fevers or feeling crummy, just spots. We made fun out of applying our thrice daily dose of calamine lotion. I didn't get a shot of Tallis's face paint but Craig said that the girls looked like little white native bush girls with their pink lotion in crazy designs. We had a 'Get Well' basket from the Hansens with homemade lipgloss and stickers and treats to get them through. It was very thoughtful and I'm sure it helped!

Hanging on every word................

I came down the hall to this scene. Craig was telling the boys a story about work and they had settled themselves on the floor to listen intently to every word he was saying. I love how boys look at their Dad, I also love how the girls look at their Dad. I hope it has something to do with the way that I look at their Dad~

Basket for baby................

Tallis found this basket that we had brought home from Krissi's house. She made use of it by taking her books with her!

Just so very Thankful...............

I am thankful for so many things in this life that the Lord has given me.

~I'm thankful for my Lord. The giver of the wonderful blessings I have, the one I'm able to talk to in the shower about absolutely everything and I know he hears even the things I don't say, and being my constant support.

~I'm thankful for my husband. His support, his appreciation, dates in the car, being my best friend, his sense of humor, the way he smells, and the way he looks at me.

~I'm thankful for my boys. Their blunt honesty, that they still like to hug and kiss their mom, that they can see me at my very worst and love me anyway, and the way that they 'hug' when they wrestle each other. (I stole that from somewhere)

~I'm thankful for my girls. Their overdramatic dramatization, the way they sound when they play 'nicely' together, listening to them sing LOUD in the car, that the things that frustrate me are the things most like myself.

~I'm thankful for my parents. The understanding, the love, the inside jokes and falling off the curb, having someone to cry happy AND sad tears with, and just being a 'sure deal'.

~I'm thankful for my siblings. Having relationships with one another that are real, unconditional love, being able to tell poop stories and coupon scores all in one conversation, having nieces and nephews that I so adore and enjoy.

~I'm thankful for my home. It's comfy cozy, we fit perfectly, it's a haven.

~I'm thankful for where I live. My view is pretty amazing, we get ALL of the seasons, you don't have to drive very far to be alone, and even in town it is quiet at night.

~I'm thankful for friends. Having a mom you can call to pick up a kid last minute, repeat the poop stories and coupon score to, encourage you in life's daily hectic pace, and laugh with.

~I'm thankful for good food. Avocados and chalula, baked potatoes, pecan cookies (twice a year), diet coke (not sure if I'd qualify this as healthy but I'm thankful for it none the less!), fresh fruit, and LOTS of milk.

~I'm thankful for being able to stay home with my children. This is one thing that I never take for granted. I appreciate Craig so much in this, both because he works so hard and that he is happy I'm able to be with the kids.

~I'm thankful for good tools. A washing machine and dryer that are reliable (also the knowledge of how to fix them both, most of the time), a clothesline in the
summer that cuts my power bill, a dishwasher that never stops running, washrags that make my kid's face clean, pots and pans that I like.

~I'm thankful for clean. Bleach, ammonia (not at the same time, of course!), comet, and toilet wands. Fresh sheets, fresh towels, mopped floors, and nicely vacuumed carpet.

~I'm thankful for My Story. It belongs to no one else, it is unique, it is special, and I think it's a good one. I am going to enjoy adding chapters to it.

~Missy