Snippets

These photos are in no particular order, just snippets from our Christmas with Al's family.

Al's Grandma, Marie joined us for fun time and food.

We went outside to sled and camera in hand I can't help must try and take some artistic pics.

I thought it was cool how it looked like this sunflower was dripping, but it's really ice. Emily spinning in her Christmas dress.
Sledding behind the 4-wheelers, what could be better than that?? I did get on, but no one took pics of me. They were too busy trying to dump me!

Grandpa gave a ride in the skid loader and dumped them out on the big snow pile!!! AGAIN, AGAIN GRANDPA!!! A toast to Christmas and Jonnie Walker Blue Label!
My boys and cousin Nicholas.
Here goes the ride...
Cousin Blaine trying to pitch it...You know from Cars..."If you pitch it hard enough left, you'll find yourself going right"
Casey begging at Grandma to open more and not take turns.

Emily and cousin Grace all dressed up in their Christmas best and done doing hair and make up with Aunt Amy. I thought this was cool catching Grace in two mirrors.
Aunt Amy has 3 boys and loves to play with the girls.
Grace playing with her Tinkerbell set that we got her.

Carter so excited rushing back to get another present

Al trying out his new sweatshirt. He went in at 4 that morning to work and then had to be back in by 3 the next morning. He was pretty tired.

Grandpa Paul got a walker for Christmas as a joke because he really got Jonnie Walker Blue Label. All in all, it was a great Christmas and a lot of fun family time.

An Old Fashioned Quilting Bee

Last night UNI played basketball so Carter, Al and his dad went to the game. Lucille came over and brought me some yummy soup and hung out with Emily, Casey, and me.
I have this quilt that I started over 10 years ago. When we moved here, I even designed the bedroom to match this quilt. I have done the entire thing by hand. A couple of years ago, Lucille talked me into letting her help me just get it done. So last night we sat down and taught Emily how to hand quilt and the three of us girls sat in a circle quilting my quilt and watching the movie Casey picked out. He wanted to "help" also, but we convinced him he could sit under it with us.
It is very overwhelming to me, hand quilting such a large quilt, but I love the look and feel of what is done. And I still love the fabric that I chose so many years ago. Maybe this will be the year the end is really in sight and if I have help, just maybe I'll see it on my bed yet.
Either way, we had an enjoyable evening with our old fashioned quilting bee.

Previous Conversation with Emily about Christmas

Emily: I'm asking Santa for a Nintendo DS.
Me: Em, What difference does it make if it is from Santa or me or Grandma, so long as you get it if that is what you want?
Ems: Well, I know the ds is expensive and Santa doesn't have to buy his presents. He makes them all so I thought I'd ask for it from him and save the rest of you all that money!
Me: Oh, well okay. Thanks for thinking of the rest of us, Em.

For posterity.

Monday, December 21, 2009

This morning I took the kids to school and Casey to the sitter and then I decided to run back home and wrap some presents. I used to always get up and wrap presents at midnight when everyone was sleeping, but this year, I think I must be too old for that.
Anyway, I finished up most everything and then headed to work.

Emily and Carter were supposed to walk to the library after school and then home and Al would meet them there.

So this afternoon, while I am at work, I get this phone call.

CONVERSATION WITH EMILY:
Me: Hello?
Ems: Mom can we shake our presents?
Me: You know you can't peak, can't lift tape, can't open and close back up, can't see it in anyway.
Ems: We know Mom. Can we shake our presents?
Me: If you cheat, I won't wrap presents until just before you open them ever again. I may even take back what you see.
Ems: We promise, we promise. So can we shake them?
Carter picking up other phone: Mom! Can I shake my BIG one?
Me: Don't shake too hard, you never know what is in them, it might break!
Ems and Carter: Okay Mom Bye!
Me: Big Sigh. Bye!

Oh the joys of Christmas...

It's Definitely Winter in Iowa!

Christmas Concert 2009

Thursday Emily and Carter had their Christmas concert for this year. It will be Emily's last Elementary concert and she got to play her trombone, the recorder and sing! Carter's group did a mini musical with songs and actions!! The kids were so excited that it actually snowed that night because it made the concert more "Christmasy" and special for them. They looked great, did an awesome job and had lots of fun!!

Traditions

One Christmas tradition we share is going and cutting down our Christmas tree. This is something that Al and I and our family does. I used to always get real trees growing up, but don't really recall walking through all of the trees and picking just the right one. Al always had an artificial tree. This is something of our own.
Anyway, we always go to the same place, getting to know the family that owns the tree farm and getting something new for our tree or house every year from their little store. The kind of tree has changed through the years. This year is is a Concolor Fir(sp?) Which has shorter needles that don't really fall off, but they are soft to the touch. And the smell is really yummy! I really love a real tree in my house.




I'll have to post more on how the tree looks inside. I actually was able to pack some stuff away so we could make room for this gorgeous tree!!

I didn't take a lot of pictures because the kids and I were decorating while Al was at the farm. Carter was a great help this year with the lights, Casey tied himself up with the garland, and Emily is getting a nice appreciation for my special ornaments.

I find I have a lot of ornaments on the tree this year that I have left off in year's past because there wasn't room or they just weren't my favs. I neglected to go through the boxes before the kids started decorating this year...Oh well. That's fun too and I think it's beautiful.

Our tree is kind of a mismatch of homemade ornaments, store bought, and hand blown glass with multi colored lights. What do you put on your tree?