Time to Celebrate!

Last year our Christmas tree (artificial) stand broke, and the Christmas tree fell over. We were all in the living room when it happened, and somehow I managed to catch the tree before it hit the floor. Some of the ornaments still broke, but none so special.

So, this year we are just using our small, 4-foot tree for now. A few days before we put the tree up, we started to talk about it. Kynzie was very excited to decorate the tree and immediately set about the task of scouring the house for "decorations" for the tree. Even though I tried to explain we had ornaments packed away, she filled a shoe box with various items from the house. Included in her box were items such as a purple padded hanger, her princess tiara, a plastic bead necklace, mylar balloons, and anything sparkly. I took some pictures of the tree with her items, but they are all blurry.

She said we needed the star-shaped mylar balloon because it was the star of Jesus when he was born. It still makes its way to our tree from time to time.

We also brought out the Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set. The little kids loved it again this year. Kynzie loves to act out the story of Jesus' birth, and she has tried to explain it to Max a couple times.

Snow Ice Cream!

Several days ago, when it snowed, we set a bowl out on the patio table to collect some snow. Kynzie was so excited to have some snow ice cream. She seems to remember it from last year. She loves to play in the snow, and thinks it is even better to eat it! So, I mixed a batch of yummy sugar snow. I loved snow ice cream when I was growing up.

By the way, this is how Max eats all food. He must have a spoon or a fork to hold or stick in his food, but he still uses his hand to put the food into his mouth.

Breakfast Bits

This morning we were listening to some Bbile songs while finishing up breakfast. Kynzie looked at me and asked, "Jesus wears britches?" It took me a minute to figure out she somehow got that out of a song that goes "Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches."

After reviewing the contents of a container full of maternity clothes (given to me by my sister-in-law - Thank you, Kerry!), I mentioned it is going to be exciting to wear some different maternity clothes now. Delainey replied, "It's going to be exciting to see you in some different maternity clothes now."

Max has a miniature basketball (this poor ball is permanently partially deflated) he calls "etball". He brought it to breakfast this morning and pretended it was more important than his cereal. But, when push came to shove, and I wouldn't give him the cereal until he dropped the ball, there was no contest. Food wins every time! He is a little food tank.

Parents of a Teenagaer!

(As a side note - we didn't get many good pictures of Delainey's birthday because most of them were blurry.)

Delainey had a whole weekend of festivities. Friday Delainey, her friend, my sister-in-law and I spent the night in a hotel (courtesy of my bro & his wife). It was fun and a good time to be had by all. The made-to-order omelet for breakfast was my favorite. Saturday, we went to my mom's for a family gathering there. My parents, my brother and family, and my sister and her family even came into town. Sunday was an all-day shopping trip capped off by a second family gathering at my mom and dad-in-law's which included all of Scott's siblings and families.

She felt pretty special with all the activity ushering in her 13th birthday. Thank you to everyone!

Here are some of the pictures that did turn out okay. I love the one of the little girls sitting around her on the couch waiting for Delainey to read the card.