Yes

Last night while Ryan was putting Nora to bed I looked up from the quilt I am trying to finally finish (because it's only been a year and a half in the making) and realized I was sitting in the middle of my dream scene.  As I sat stitching the buttons in between the squares, Grace was busy crocheting a scarf to match her jacket and Jackson was immersed in spoon carving.  More of this please.

Christmas Eve

{The game Grace made for Jackson}


{Ryan opening the picture Grace drew for his shop}




{The bunny I made for Nora}


{The mat and house Jackson made for Nora and Grace's critters}


{Jackson opening the carving knife and kit I gave him}


{Nora after opening the doll outfit Grace made for her baby "Cindy"}


{Ryan setting up the "stadium" he made for Jackson's beyblades}






{Nora and Grace and I made bird-feeders as is our tradition}




{Nora and I on our walk in the Land of Twilight}

Makin'

11

Wearing a new outfit from Grandma Lee and Papa.  Most important are the new boots, though you can't see them very well in this picture (so unsatisfied with all the phone pictures, someday soon... fixing my camera).

Eleven??  Okay, I'll try not to talk about the can't believe sort of stuff.  We had such a nice day.  So relaxing and cozy with various birthday visitors.  Auntie Katie stopped by in the morning, Grandma Lee and Papa in the early afternoon, and Grandma Sam and Grandpa Scott in the evening for dinner.  She requested chicken pot pie for dinner and we had eggnog (with whipped cream and sprinkles) and gingerbread men for an afternoon birthday treat.  We'll plan a party after the holidays as always.

The Spot by the Fire

Where everything happens from December to March.

Random Thoughts

This was the sunrise I woke up to today.  Our curtains are actually white so that pinky-peach color was a little good morning present from the sun.  A happy start to the day.

Today was our first day of winter break.  Yes.  I love winter break.  Except that today I found myself feeling crabby way too often.  It is only now as I look back on the day that I realized I never went outside!  You'd think with that sunrise and all it would have been the first thing I did.  Whoops.  Tomorrow.



We have been busy making our Christmas gifts (that's Grace with the drill up there).  It is hands down my favorite tradition we do with the kids.  Tonight Grace told me that she is so excited for Christmas because she can't wait to give her gifts.  Me too.



Today was my Grandma's birthday.  In her honer my mom and I spent the day texting old pictures of her to each other.  This was one of my favorites.



Last week I made snowflakes with the kids.  As we sat down at the table I begin folding my paper and they all stared at me, well how do we make them mom? Wait, has it really been that long that no one remembers making snowflakes?  So I proceeded to show them what to do and when I opened my paper the look of stunned joy and amazement on Grace's face is one that I will never forget.  We now have a snowflake in every window space and their bedroom looks like a blizzard.

Animal Project Fair

{Jackson studied the Arctic Fox}


{Grace studied the Bottlenose Dolphin, aside from her diorama she also wrote a paper}


{Nora studied the Polar Bear}




{Jackson being a goof as usual}

Santa and Our Tree

Thanksgiving

{Turkey going in}


{Turkey out}


{Reading "Cranberry Thanksgiving"}


{Puzzling}


{Getting the table ready and Jackson making his fruit salad}






{The two "waitresses" taking orders for dessert}

I think I need to invest in a new camera.  This one just isn't reliable anymore.  But pictures aside some thanksgiving notes...

~ The 24 and 1/2 lb turkey was done in 3 and 1/2 hours (at 350).
~ Grace made her pumpkin bars again with cream cheese frosting, Jackson made his cornbread as well as fruit salad, Nora made Cranberry bread from the book Cranberry Thanksgiving
~ I made my usual pumpkin pies (though next year I want to find new recipe, I only like this one when I add extra spices) as well as delicata squash (definitely new tradition) and the turkey (well I'm the briner anyway).
~ I had almost all of the cleaning done by Tuesday.  This meant that for the most part Wednesday could be devoted to cooking and baking with the kids.  Very enjoyable.
~ Katie and Kris stayed overnight in the camper.  Hope that's a new tradition.
~ All and all a really good Thanksgiving.  As always I was overcome with a feeling of gratitude for all of my beautiful family.