Fat dog in a little coat

Sasha the Evil Chihuahua got her Christmas present today.

One more nativity to share

My kids have always loved to play with Legos.  Especially on Sundays....  Here is what they created today:

Love my creative kids!

I love the starry night

The Three Wismen
and their gifts

Andrew made the star & manger
Shea designed everything else

Beautiful Nativities

There was a Nativity Event at our Stake Center this weekend... I LOVE seeing the beautiful Nativities from around the world.  Makes me want to start collecting.  Hmmm... a new hobby?  Something new to obsess about?  Of course!

Oklahoma City Memorial

Andrew flew in last night, so today we went into Oklahoma City to the memorial of the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Federal Building.   Braden was 9 days old and I remember watching the news as this happened, but after moving here and hearing people talk of the tragedy I wanted to learn more.

168 people died, 19 were children (there was a daycare in the building).  Over 700 were injured.  It took weeks to identify all the dead.  The tragedy and heroism were both so overwhelming that I was deeply touched throughout the museum and memorial.

The quote on the wall is beautiful.

as are my children.

Please take a flower

to remind you that beauty still

exists in our world. 

There is a beautiful reflecting pool

and 168 empty chairs...

all with Christmas wreaths.

 This tree survived the bombing.

amazing.

any body know how I can photo-shop Kayla in?

Stocking all hung by the chimney...

I was looking at our fireplace and the six stockings that represent my little family.  I got a tad sentimental. My babies are growing up and Christmas just isn't the same.  Kayla was on her mission for the last two and Andrew is only coming for a few days before Christmas this year.  

So I made a decision.   A very important decision.

These six stockings will be FOREVOR on my Christmas mantle.  When I'm 80 years old, I'll still be sitting in my rocking chair and looking at these stockings.  Wherever my kids may go , wherever they may spend their holidays, their stockings will ALWAYS be right where I am. 

They are still my babies.  Even if I don't wipe their bottoms any more.

Andrew turns 21!

YAY for Lexus!!  Yesterday was Andrew's birthday and I MISSED him!!  I was very happy when she sent me pictures.  Isn't he SO handsome???!!!  And to think that 21 years ago he was my little Christmas present.  Ok... now I'm missing that baby very, very much. 

Excuse me while I get a tissue.

I added in the baby pictures so ya'll could see what an adorable little thing he was....

I give up!

Asparagus (the kitten, also known as Gus) is driving me crazy!!  She won't stop climbing the Christmas tree.  She goes all the way to the top and bats at the ornaments until they fall.  Over and over and over again.

This started two weeks ago when we put up the tree... so I took her to the vet to get fixed and declawed.  You'da thunk it would have slowed her down.  NOPE.

So today I gave up.  We are going to have a misshapen, half-decorated Christmas tree. 

So there.

Kayla and Tyson

Aren't they cute.....

....and now for some reason she isn't quite

as excited to come home for Christmas.

11-year old entrepeneur

Shea recently finished reading all seven Harry Potter books and was feeling bored. She started making hairbows with plans to sell them and retire by 15 while supporting her parents. This was all her idea (except the supporting her parents part) and I have the trail of scraps and fabric to prove it.

Last night she made her first sale - to her piano teacher. She bought five for her "prize box".

Shea looked up online different types of bows.

This one requires fire, so I helped just a bit.

Being the good mom that I am.

Very pretty!!

(clip is on back)

This is how she is displaying them to show her friends at school



Christmas Parade

That's Braden with the blue shoes... nice backside shot :)

Braden & Hayden

Braden and Derek

cute pumpkin coach...