Hooray!

I have a new niece!  Asena Ellene came early this morning.  She was 20 inches long and weighed 7lb 6oz. 
Congratulations Marissa and Tevita! 

She is adorable!  Click here for more pictures!

Christmas day...

Last night we read the Christmas story in Luke 2.  We talked about the birth of Christ and imagined what it was like.  We said our family prayer and turned out the lights.  I know it was hard for the girls to go to sleep.  Ruby and June kept sneaking out of bed.

It was after 8am when they all woke up.  Alli, Ruby and June were so excited as they waited on the steps for the go-ahead.

First we emptied our stockings.  Santa brought new toothbrushes for everyone and a box of special band-aids for each girl.  June found a boo-boo post haste and applied a Dora bandage.
Then came the presents under the tree!

Oh, the excitement!

Can you spot Alli's new dictionary (she asked for it), my new shoes (magenta sneakers!), a little plumber smile, and a homemade book Alli made for Andy and I.


June just knew this little trike was hers.  She spent the entire morning cruising around our house and trying all kinds of tricks on her trike.

Ruby got the pillow pet she "wanted her WHOLE LIFE!"  She was all smiles.  Except for this one moment...

I think she was pouting because "Toy Story" is a "movie for boys!"  Then she watched it and changed her mind.
We had a delicious breakfast... with toys by our side.

And now I breathe a sigh of relief.  Sure, there are bit of wrapping paper in our great room, but the busy part of Christmas is done. 
The kids are playing with their new things.  Andy is in his shop making something awesome (I can't wait to show you!).  Most of us are still in jammies at 3:30pm.
And that is why I am finally catching up on the blog.
Today I feel the peaceful part of Christmas. 

I am thankful for Jesus Christ.  I know the peace I feel is from HIM.  I am thankful for all the little miracles and tender mercies and blessings in my life.

Christmas Eve with Santa...

Yesterday was Christmas Eve.  We drove up to visit my parents.  We had a big ol' get-together with my family.  It was fun catching up with siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Of course, Santa came for a visit.

And Great-grandma T. made cookies and caramel corn!

And Ruby collected a pocket full of candy canes.

Merry Christmas to all!

O Christmas Tree

Here is our evergreen.  Truly evergreen... because it is fake.


Our tree is decorated like this...
Kid-friendly and indestructible ornaments from the bottom to about 3 feet high.
Semi-breakable ornaments from 3 feet to 5 feet up.
Delicate ornaments and candy canes above 5 feet.

But still, there is only one candy cane left (out of 12 to start)... way up high.  I can't even reach it.
Somehow Ruby got to these ones...

And there has been a steady stream of ornament repairs.  There are five waiting to be glued/put back together right now.  Not kidding.

I am glad to have a great big tree this year.  Last year we used our skinny-Chicago-apartment-tree.  It was adorable... but we have passed it along.  And thanks to a Craigslist deal, we have a big ol' tree that will work for us for many, many years.

all I want for Christmas...

nine front teeth.

thank goodness for digital

Downloading the pictures from our pocket camera is always a treat.  The kids like to swipe the camera and snap pictures of all sorts of things.


And sometimes it is very easy to tell who took the pictures.

Yes, Alli is missing five teeth!
The girls really get in on the action.

As you can see, there has been lots of excitement at our house.  We put up a Christmas tree.  We installed a patio with help from Mars Irrigation and Landscape (my brother).  We have had grandparents and cousins and an aunt and uncle stay with us.  We are counting down to Christmas...

But for some reason (see above) I have to keep refilling our advent calendar.

And now the camera memory card is downloaded and cleared and the battery is charging.  Stay tuned for more exciting pictures from Alli, Ruby and June!

'tis the season

... for Christmas concerts!

Alli and Ruby helped June set up her stage and piano.  Then they called us down to the playroom for a special concert.  June played the pink piano and sang songs.
I love the songbook on top of the piano.