A Very Early Merry Christmas!

It's 2:45 a.m. and everyone in my house is sound asleep; that is, except me. I just finished wrapping and setting out the last gift and I just couldn't go to sleep without sharing my Christmas Eve with you all. First of all, I grew up with three younger brothers and let me tell you they haven't changed a bit as you'll see from the pictures I TRIED to take. I can't even show you a few of them for reasons I won't go into, but any of you that have brothers know exactly the kind of pictures I'm referring to. In fact, the only nice pictures were those taken of the ladies and my Roger, who doesn't behave like that either, lol, he takes wonderful pictures (Sharon, that was for you and no, I didn't get the picture you wanted either!). All 18 of us once again gathered at Shawn and Shelley's house for Christmas Eve to eat, open gifts, to eat......what else? Oh, yeah, we ate, and then of course the picture taking, and then we ate some more. This first one is Logan earlier before we left to attend Bible Study. McKayla, Shane, Lyndsey and Josh All the grandkids, except Leyna who refused, lol
Leyna and Logan
Shawn and ShelleyMy sister-in-law Kathy with my mom My oldest brother Jeff and wife Kathy. Are you noticing a pattern with the faces my brothers are making? This went on all night long. Me and my good, well-mannered husband.Chris and Amanda. He's laughing because of the faces he made in the previous three attempts. Gee, do these two look anything alike? Amanda and Logie Some of the guys, the others were edited out, lol This time ALL the girls!Amanda and Christopher Even Walter had the decency to smile for the camera!
Beautiful McKaylaThe pre morning frenzy booty. I hope everyone has a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

IT TOOK ALL DAY, BUT...

Well, finally, with just two days before Christmas, I have finished decorating. Yep, I'm done, no more. And I must say I'm quite pleased with the way things turned out, and I am trying very, very hard not to think about all the stuff I have to put away, yet again, after the New Year. Leyna and Logan just finished minutes ago watching "The Polar Express," and now Logan and Roger are putting the train together that goes around the tree. See, I told you I was done! When asked what she wants for Christmas, for the last month Logan has been telling us about this horsey she's seen on TV {which I'm about to throw out the window}. You can ride it, feed it a carrot and its head moves to nuzzle you. It's what she THINKS she's getting, lol, but that sucker is $200 and it ain't happenin with this Santa. So at the table tonight, she once again "mentioned" about this horse. I told her that Santa may not bring her that horsey 'cause she has three real ones she can visit any time she wants at her Pappap and Granny's house. I really don't want to see her disappointed. She kinda worked it through that highly intelligent brain of hers - gratuitous nanny compliment - and just when we thought it had worked in our favor, she puts her little finger up and says, "Well, then he better bring me lots of other stuff." Yeah, like that's gonna happen! {wink wink}

Oh, no, I couldn't help myself...I got this one in Italy, hence the gondola.Yes, it's a dragon and there are six of them on my tree. I love dragons and I do believe they were real (ask me about it). We have an awesome God who created the whole universe, dragons were a piece of cake. Notice the ears. A young secret sister from Indiana, PA got this for me about 12 years ago. Like I said, doesn't everyone have a cow in their tree? This is one of the wooden ornaments my mom repainted for me. FELIZ NAVIDAD!

A Heart for Adoption

As many of you know Roger and I are in the process of adopting a little girl from China, it will be a couple years from now, but we are also in the final stages of becoming a registered foster family in our county's foster to adopt program. If you would have told me 10 yrs ago that I would be considering even adopting one child, I wouldn't have believed it, I had a child and I was done, my heart wasn't in it, and Roger's wasn't either for that matter. But after my granddaughter was born {I'm laughing at that one}, something changed, God instilled in both Roger and I a heart for adoption. I don't know how many children it will lead us to, so we'll just go with it, although if I had my way it would be as many as possible because there are so many orphans and you see, unlike adults, children love to hear about Jesus and what he has to say to them. As many of you may already know, Steven Curtis Chapman lost his five year old daughter Maria in a horrible accident at their home. She was the youngest of three daughters he and his wife adopted from China. He made this video about adoption. Grab a Kleenex.

That's One Huge Tree!

So Roger, Logan and I go to get our tree today after worship. Leyna couldn't make it because she had to work. We were told by my sister-in-law's father that it was a good sized tree and based on the ones we have bought previous years he thought that we would like it. Well, it's a good sized tree all right, and you know they always look twice as big in your house as they do outside. This one was no exception. It's enormous. Roger thinks it's about 9 to 10 feet, and yes, I'll have to use that ladder you see there to decorate at least the top half of the thing. I'll post some pictures tomorrow night of the finished product. It should be spectacular. I'm guessing if I start at 9 AM, I should have it all done by say 5 or 6 PM, lol. I know you all will be anxiously awaiting the final unveiling so stay tuned until tomorrow night. Oh, by the way, notice the orange twine at the top of the tree. We had to tie it off to the two rafters to keep it upright, and when I say "we," I mean Roger tied and I supervised. The unfinished room the tree is in will someday be used as a family room, for now it's Logan's playroom, but it's the only room in the house that is high enough, lol.

This is Logan's miniature tree with all her Logan sized ornaments on it. You may recognize a few characters from Finding Nemo and Dora the Explorer intermingled with a variety of princess legends.Every year my mom gives her granddaughters the Holiday Barbie Dolls and these Holiday Barbie ornaments, and since Leyna is the oldest hers go back to 1993, so including this year's she will have 16 altogether. They're actually kinda too heavy for on the tree, so I started displaying them on this table.

Sugar Cookies

I know, you're thinking how lame taking pictures of cookies, but since I'm not scrapbooking that much anymore, I really wanted to document all aspects of Christmas 2008, and besides, the second picture is just too funny! Leyna and Logan spent yesterday morning making these sugar cookies. When they'll ice them is up in the air, lol, so far it's been 32 hrs. and counting.

These brave first batch soldiers gave their life for the cause.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

If you'll notice, our cat Teenie even has a hat on, and as you can see she looks just absolutely thrilled to be able to take part in the festitivies. Hey, we humans can't have all the fun!

Logan just wouldn't stop giggling long enough for me to take this picture.

THE FIRST TREE IS UP!

I say the first because we have two. Leyna and Logan have their artificial tree with all the ornaments I collected for Leyna over the years and the ones she and I have collected for Logan. And then Roger and I also get a live tree that I put all of my special ornaments on that I have collected from different places I've been, and also those that others have given me. We will be getting that tree sometime in the next couple days. I don't get it early 'cause I hate pine needles in my barefeet. And this year for the first time I also will be putting on our tree wooden ornaments that I had "painted" for my mom when I was little. Last year she got them out and repainted them and then gave them back to me, which was kinda cool. They look really nice and will look great on our big tree. Here's a picture of Leyna and Logan's tree and a few of my favorite ornaments on it (for those of you who won't get to see them in person). Okay, so maybe there's a little more than a few. Hey, I like ornaments, okay, alright! And, Shawn, before you respond, THIS IS WHAT BLOGGING IS ALL ABOUT!!

This is Logan's first ornament.

Here's a mother/daughter one I got for me, Leyna and Logan.

While on vacation, my mom got this one for Leyna in, well, 1997, lol

These next two I just got this year.

This one I got in Ireland in 2002

For those Disney fans, I got Gus from the movie Cinderella as a

Happy Meal toy circa early '90s.

And doesn't everyone have a cow in their tree?

Just spreading some Christmas cheer!

FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

(Luke 2:1-18)