Christmas 2011 - The Important Things

I few more things I forgot to mention.  Christmas Eve we usually act out the Christmas story from Luke 2 while someone reads it.  David really didn't want to dress up and act it out, so instead we asked him to put together a program.  He asked everyone what they were going to do, and then he typed it up.  We started with a song and prayer.  Then David played Jingle Bells on the piano, Timothy told us all about the symbols of Christmas and he was spot on!  I wish I had recorded it.  Amy and I sang a few songs, Aaron read the Christmas story from Luke 2, and then I sand O Holy Night.  We had a closing song and prayer and then we opened the pajama presents.  I think we have a new tradition.  Especially with the piano available.  I think we'll take lessons soon, and I'll actually practice my song next year.  I love it!

The other great thing was a letter from Timothy that he typed up, printed out and put in an envelope for everyone to open Christmas morning it read, "Remember when you open your presents on Christmas morning that Jesus was the best gift."  It was a great way to start our Christmas morning.

Christmas Day 2011

Have you ever heard some one say, "This is the best Christmas ever!" ?  Well that pretty much sums up our Christmas this year.  I took some pictures of the scene after Santa left. 

 I was surprised that I didn't have any little kids trying to sneak out in the middle of the night like last year.  Timothy did wake up first around 6:15 and since everyone else was still asleep we had him take a bath, and I showered so we'd have plenty of time for presents before church.  Timothy put his pajamas back on.  By then Amy was awake and David woke up as Timothy was getting ready.  We instructed them to come down the stairs Amy first, I should have had them pose for a picture because the candids didn't come out well.

 Amy decided to come down head first, and David is hiding in the back

 First we let them rifle through their stockings and open their gifts from Santa

 David was very surprised and excited for his Millennium Falcon LEGO set

 Timothy found his head light

 Timothy was excited about his LEGO city airport

reading it from the bottom

 Amy wasn't sure about this candy cane filled with M&Ms

 

Grandpa G* made this rocking horse.   

 Timothy got a turn

and so did Amy

I understand Grandpa made several more -one for each of the married kids' families plus more.

Amy was excited about her kitchen, but some how I didn't get a picture of it before the rest of the presents were opened.  We took a break and ate some breakfast of nuts, oranges and cereal.  Then we went back to presents.  Aaron and I had discussed letting the kids open them at their own pace.  We told them they could play with the toys or open more presents, but at 9:00 we had to get ready for church.  They chose to open all of them.  We left a couple under the tree before we left for church.  I only took a few pictures before we left.  A couple weeks before Christmas Amy decided she wanted a puppy that barks for Christmas.  Since Santa had already picked out a gift for Amy, Aaron came through and found one for her.

 It was quite a mess before we were done.

Then we got ready for church.  The boys wore their new ties, Amy wore her new dress, and I wore my new socks.  We were running a little late, and I had to put Amy's tights and shoes on in the chapel.  We were still on time but the chapel was very full.  We found a place toward the front, and soon the program began.  There were two talks and several musical numbers.  It was so good to see so many people there.  A lot of people were visiting parents for the holidays with their families.  After some beautiful music Dustin M* gave a talk.  I was glad I was able to hear what he had to say.  He doesn't speak clearly so I really had to concentrate on what he was saying.  He bore such a sweet testimony.  The music was provided by the Young Women, the Primary, Crystal on the Violin, Teri and Rose on the piano, two of the B*'s daughters on the piano, Teri on the organ, and the congregation.  Br. B* gave a great talk reviewing the Christmas Story from the scriptures.  It was just perfect!  I had tears in my eyes for most of the program.  After it was over I didn't feel the need to hurry home, I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and I did get to talk to many of them.  I was sad that a few weren't there for health reasons, and a few were visiting family elsewhere. 

What I love about Christmas is just spending time with family without any other plans.  Having dinner on Christmas Eve means we just eat leftovers all day long.  When it was time for nap I didn't see how I was going to get Amy to sleep.  She was having so much fun playing with her new things I didn't even bother trying to get her to sleep.  She was fine.  A few more pictures:

 The boys in the playroom putting together their LEGOs.  Both of them did it completely by themselves.  With the exception of asking for help finding a few things.

 Amy loved her puppy.  

Can you see the serving platters and veggie tray Aaron got me for Christmas

 Amy and Timothy enjoyed the turkey legs for dinner.

 

 By Monday morning David had his Millenium Falcon put together.

Timothy has his put together Monday morning as well, however I never got a picture of it, and it has already been dismantled.

Oh, and it you are wondering about Aaron's gift that he bought himself -  He got a new phone.  His was about 3 years old and was doing some weird stuff.  He finally has a smart phone - a Droid Razr - and he loves it.  The kids were happy with their presents, there were very few squabbles, we got to play some fun games together (the gifts we opened after church), we got to spend time with friends at church remembering the reason we celebrate Christmas.  It really was the best Christmas Ever.

Christmas Eve 2011

The day began with the normal Saturday chores.  The boys were having a Christmas music war.  Timothy was singing Jingle Bells at the top of his lungs and David didn't want to hear it so he turned on a CD in the family room and turned up the volume.  Meanwhile Aaron made one last trip to Costco to pick up his Christmas present.  I made the roll dough for dinner and let it rise and then we went to the I*'s.  They started a Christmas Eve movie marathon last year, and did it again this year.  They listed the movies and times and invited everyone to come and watch with them.  We showed up a little after 10:00 and the kids enjoyed Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Mr. Kruger's Christmas.  We had hot chocolate and other goodies.   Aaron made it around 11:00 and joined us. Eventually the kids went upstairs because they knew about all of the toys up there.  It was fun to spend time with Julianna and Phillip on Christmas Eve.  We went home around 12:00.  I had eaten enough I didn't want any lunch, but the kids were hungry so we had some leftovers.

I tried to get Amy to take a nap, but it didn't work.  The kids played outside, and in the playroom.  And I think they watched a movie, or played on the computer, I can't remember which now.  I spent the afternoon getting ready for dinner.  I baked the rolls, made the pumpkin pie, the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, and the green bean casserole.  Aaron did the turkey on the Weber grill, made the cheese ball, deviled eggs, the onion dip and the gravy.  I was surprised I didn't use both ovens until the end.  The turkey wasn't getting done and the charcoal was burning out.  We stuck it in the wall oven for the last 30 minutes while the stuffing and green bean casserole were baking in the other oven.

 Timothy lighting the candle for Christmas Eve dinner.

 A picture before we start

 Great smile Timothy!

 Amy made a quadruple decker cracker stack

 My pie turned out great, too bad the picture didn't

 Then we put out the reindeer food for Santa's reindeer.

 A tradition brought in from Aaron's family is to open one gift on Christmas Eve 

 It is usually pajamas.  When you can buy then for $5 - why make them?

OK maybe it's because I'm lazy, and spent my time else where this year.

 The three kiddos in their new PJs

Then the kids set out the cookies for Santa and went to bed.

I knew Amy would fall asleep fast since she didn't get a nap, but I was sure the boys would be up for hours.  I was pleasantly surprised that the kids were all asleep by 9:30.  It only took us a couple of hours to finish wrapping and setting up everything for the morning.  We were in bed by 11:00!

Christmas Babies

The last few weeks have been very bittersweet for me.  First my sister Sara had baby #2.  Troy Jerry B* was born on December 14.  I had talked to her the day before as she was seeing her last patient of the day.  I chatted with her early Wednesday morning as she had contractions off and on.  Finally she was silent, and then she posted, "I'd better wake up TJ".  They don't have time to wait around when the hospital is 45 minutes away.

The day before I found out that my friend Betsy was told that her unborn grandchild had died.  The mother (Besty's daugher-in-law) was 6 months along.  I had met them a few weeks earlier as they came to ask Aaron questions about medical school.  Roughly the time my sister delivered her baby this mother was starting the process to deliver her baby that she would hold and then bury.

Two days later my SIL Kimberly delivered baby number #3, another nephew for us.  Benjamin S* was over 2 weeks overdue.  We were excited to hear that he had finally arrived.

Then on the 19th my best friends from high school had her baby #3.  After two precious little girls she was surprised to discover that she has delivered a beautiful little boy.  He was in the NICU for a bit, but they got to go home Christmas Eve!

Just 4 days later I received notice that Aaron's cousin (I consider them just as close as my cousins) had lost her 5 year old daughter.  Abby has struggled with health complications her entire life.  They knew she wouldn't live to adulthood, she has had countless hospital stays, and numerous times they thought they would lose her.  Her passing was quiet with no trauma leading up to it.  I would say that is a blessing. Just because she wasn't expected to live long doesn't mean it wasn't hard to let her go.  I know her parents have great faith, and they will miss her greatly as will everyone whose life she touched. 

Then I found out that a friend delivered her first baby on Christmas Day.  She has been waiting a long time for this baby.  I'm so happy for their family. 

Reflecting on the last couple of weeks reminds me of how grateful I am for the gospel.  All of these families have great faith in the Lord and his plan for them.  With the exception of my best friend all of these families have been sealed in the temple and will continue to be a family for eternity.  I am so blessed to be able to celebrate the births, and have comfort and peace with the deaths.  I continue to have faith that the Lord is in charge and that he knows what we need, and how to bless us.  He knows what trials we can handle, and wants us to learn and grow. 

Christmas Break Update with a Few Pictures

I'm now over 2 weeks behind!!!  I am not going to have time to tell about everything but I do have a few things I want to share.  Three Sundays ago we got to church a few minutes early, all of sudden there was an extra kid on our pew.  Cecil had wriggled away from his dad and came to sit with us.  He had this mischievous grin on his face.  He had fun with us for a few minutes until church started and his parents brought him back to where they were sitting.  I think he did that because a couple of weeks ago Cecil's Dad was giving a talk, and Cecil was giving his mom a hard time about being still and quiet.  I thought maybe Crystal would like to hear the talk, so I offered to take Cecil for her.  She asked him if he wanted to sit with Amy.  He had an unsure look, and was really quiet for a few minutes while he was trying to figure out what was going on.  Then he sat quietly and played with Amy, and Crystal got to listen.  It worked out for the best. Our home teachers came over that afternoon. OK, this is going to take way too long.  Let me do this differently.

Aaron has been busy at work, even on his day off two weeks ago he had to go to another clinic to check out their new software to see if it was working well enough for him (he's one of the physicians that is giving feedback on the new IT stuff they use). He also went duck hunting for the first time on the 23rd.  He only got one shot off, and didn't bring home any duck, but he enjoyed it.

Aaron also interviewed a candidate for another pediatrician at the clinic.  He knew her from his residency program.  She came out on the 14th and the clinic treated her to dinner that evening.  With it being a Wednesday all the Young Women were at mutual which means I didn't have any babysitters.  I was grateful to Julianna who agreed to watch the kids and put them to bed.  We got back around 9:00 and Amy was actually in her toddler bed rather than on the floor.  I was impressed!


David enjoyed the last week of school before break, and played with Gabe a lot.  I don't know why they get along so well with the age difference, and the fact that Gabe's sister and David don't get along at all.  She is really mean to David.  I enjoyed going to David's classroom during that last week.  They were just playing a Christmas trivia game.  They were learning about Christmas around the world and Hanukkah.  It was funny to watch them answer the questions.  One team kept begging for me to help them.  I did know all the answers.  Then they had a coloring contest.  I got to talk to Mrs. M* (the sub) and she was so excited about the apricot jam that I brought as a gift, and that it was for her.  Most of the kids' gifts were addressed to Mrs. I* who is still out on maternity leave.  I stayed a little longer that day as Timothy's class schedule changed because of an assembly.  I helped Mrs. M* tie raffia onto the gingerbread ornaments the kids made.  As I was observing the kids by David's group one of the girl's asked me how old I was.  I hesitated, but then David answered for me.  The girl commented that her mom was 44, and another girl said her mom was 26.  Wow, that means she was 16 or 17 when she had her.  Then Mrs. I* stopped by to give the kids candy canes and say hello.  The twins were home with her mother.

So back to David, he has played with a lot of friends since the break started.  He's been over to Gabe's and Zakary's - we are sad to hear the Zak and his family will be moving in a few months.  He's also had Gabe over here, and played with Joe next door.  His dentist appointment went fine.  He has one more today.  He has really enjoyed the Christmas songs.  He asks to listen to Pandora all the time, and if he can't because I'm using the computer, he'll put on a CD in the family room.  I think David has stopped believing in Santa.  Although he doesn't let on because he still wants presents.  He wrote a short story in school using vocabulary words like acquaintance, eavesdropping.  He said he was "eavesdropping on my parents pretending to be Santa".  He's still excited about Christmas though.

Timothy enjoyed the last week of school as well.  When I went to help in his classroom they were at an assembly at David's school.  The 5th graders can participate in a basketball skills club.  They put on a couple of assemblies, so I walked from David's class to the gym, and watched the assembly.  It was impressive to see over 90 5th graders do basketball tricks and a routine set to variety of music.  They all got to pick a nickname to go on the back of their shirts.  One of the girls had "Mommy Long Legs", I thought that was creative.  Then I noticed one of them had "Jimmer" for a nickname, and then I realized it was Brock, an 11 year old from church.  Each of the 5th graders picked a 2nd or 3rd grader from the audience to show them how to do two tricks.  I was glad Timothy was picked.  Although afterward apparently he said, "Well I've found another thing I'm not good at".  He really doesn't have much coordination.  He doesn't even want to learn how to ride a bike.  At this point Amy may learn before him!  Anyway, after the assembly I met the kids over at their classroom.  I didn't do much, but I had Timothy give Mrs A* her gift, and then she sneaked a gift in my purse while she was getting snack ready.  She had given me a little box with some chocolates, and a small box of Mary Englebreit tissues.  At home Timothy continues to make snowflakes and paper airplanes, draw and make decorations, and write Christmas poems, cards and letters. Oh, and he reads a lot, especially when I tell him it's time to get dressed or clean up his room.  His dentist appointment went well also, and he really liked that we got ice cream before lunch after the appointment.

Amy has been doing so many things.  First of all about 2 weeks ago she started writing letters of the alphabet.  She has been drawing smiley faces for a couple weeks before that, and then she decided to write an "H".  Then she wrote an "A", and then a "Y".  She had no idea she had spelled a word.  She can also write M, O, D, V, T, I, C and L.  All capital letters though.  Although she can recognize more lower case letters as well. She keeps trying to write a Q, but forgets where to put the line after she makes the oval, it's really cute!

 Some of Amy's letters

Amy hasn't been napping well with the boys home.  It's like she knows she'll be missing out on something.  I hope she'll nap better once they are back in school.  She has enjoyed having the boys home to entertain her.  She has played at Cecil's and Aleya's house over the past couple of weeks.  We really ought to have them over here sometime too.  Amy also got new mattress for her bunk bed that we bought back in July. We picked up the mattress last Monday, we put away the toddler bed, and she was very excited and she slept in it for about 2 minutes, and then she wanted to be on the floor again :(  However one of the many times she called me back to her room I asked her if she wanted to sleep in her big bed and she said yes.  Then she slept there all night, and didn't wake up until 6:00!!!  Perhaps that is why she wakes so often at night - she's not comfortable on the floor.  I've found that the nights she sleeps on her bed she doesn't wake up until at least 5:00, and then it's easy to get her back to sleep.

Amy leading Cecil down the stairs to play with her.

Unlike Thanksgiving vacation the boys have been sleeping in every day.  It's nice, but then I'm not very motivated to get out of bed.  So breakfast is often not until 8:00 and I'm starving by then.  I've also been staying up later.  Aaron has had several days off, which means he doesn't have to get up early for work, or stay up at night to go through his work list.  So we've been watching more Fringe episodes.  That's why I haven't blogged in the evenings, or gotten up early to blog in the mornings. Since the kids got out of school I have been busy either making goodies, or playing with them.

One afternoon they were all busy in the family room, reading drawing and coloring.

Sunday the 18th we had Julianna and Phillip I* over for dinner.  We enjoyed some good food and ate the cake from the hospital kids' Christmas party.

Amy was making a mess, so we took a picture

Then it got worse.

What else have we been doing? We took 4 trips to Costco in one week.  That wasn't really the plan.  Monday I went to pick up the Christmas cards, they weren't ready, so I had to come back and get them Tuesday.  Friday Aaron and Timothy did some shopping in the city, including looking for a specific present for himself.  Saturday he went back to get it.  We tried to do most of the wrapping on Friday so we wouldn't be up at night Christmas Eve.  David was excited after I put most of the presents out because he decided none of them were clothes, and Santa wasn't going to give him clothes.We also had the missionaries over on Thursday night.  We had taken home the left over potatoes from the ward party, so it was a repeat, but still delicious.


As for me,  Friday the 16th I went out to dinner with some friends.  Originally she was going to host a dinner at her house, but then she received a gift card from her boss at the work Christmas party, so she treated us to an Italian restaurant in the city.  It was delicious. We spent 3 hours together talking and eating.  It was really fun.  Last week I enjoyed baking banana rolls, gingersnaps, peanut butter cookies, Marnae's cookies, sugar cookies, and making fudge (the first batch didn't turn out, so I made a second one), chocolate truffles, and dipping pretzels in white chocolate.  I just remembered yesterday that I forgot to make peppermint bark!  I'll have to remember next year!  The kids helped me dip pretzels, and frost sugar cookies.

 I started a movie and then gave them frosting and cookies

Timothy helped me with the gingersnaps.  I spent all day Monday, and Tuesday making yummy treats to give to friends and neighbors.  We delivered them Wednesday during the day, Thursday during the day, Thursday evening and Friday morning.  I couldn't believe I ran out of some of the cookies, and had to make a few more chocolate truffles to make up for running out of fudge and Marnae's cookies.

So I guess I'm almost caught up. Most Christmas posts coming!

Christmas Party #s 4,5 and 6

Christmas Party #4 - Aaron’s pediatric department Christmas party was on the 16th (that's the 3rd work party). They get secret Santa gifts for each other, although this year by the end it wasn't a secret anymore. Aaron got some fishing tackle, a popcorn and M&M movie kit, and a great picture frame for the family.  I really shouldn't complain but I think they spend way too much on the party.  The 4 physicians cater a lunch and then buy gift cards for everyone and on and on. Aaron's portion was a good chunk of change.  Oh well, I guess it could be worse.  When Aaron worked with a practice during residency the 4 pediatricians there rotated hosting the party at their own home, inviting the employees’ families and guests, and catered the whole thing on their own, that was easily $1000, probably more.

Christmas Party #5 - Saturday the 17th we all went up to the city to the dollar store, so the kids could buy presents for each other.  Basically they each got $10 to spend to buy gifts for 4 people.  The boys decided they wanted to buy things for the cats too.  Aaron and I split up so the kids could pick things out in secret, and then we would switch.  They really love doing that.  Then we went to the hospital's children's Christmas party (work party #4).  We thought it started at 10:00 and we got there at 11:20, however it didn't start until 12:00, so the kids sat in the lobby and watched a very quiet Polar Express.  Aaron took Amy over to the hardware store.  When it started the kids enjoyed games, and a cake walk  they each got a cake, I thought it was way too much to take home and we gave one back and just took the cupcakes Amy wanted, and one cake.  They also served a lunch of hotdogs and nachos.  They had several crafts.  David made a Yoda sticker magnet, Timothy made a reindeer from a candy cane.  They both attempted to make felt Christmas trees. Everyone made a beaded bookmark. No one wanted to do face painting or painting a plastic stained glass window ornament.  Eventually it was late and we went home.  Amy fell asleep on the 10 minute drive home, and that was her nap, yikes she was grumpy that day!

Christmas Party #6 - The last Christmas party was on the 21^st at the church.  It was fabulous.  We got there a little early so the kids could go through their parts for the short program.  They were asked to be a couple of the wise men.  David really didn’t want to do it but I promised him he wouldn’t have to dress up or say any lines.  So he finally agreed.  When we arrived only two cars were there, but soon others arrived.  While the boys were doing who knows what, Aaron and I started setting up a few things, and we soon realized a few items were overlooked, but through some quick thinking and a lot of people willing to help out we got the items we needed and the party went off without a hitch.  I confirmed that with a few people who had no idea what was going on behind the scenes.  After a song and prayer Br. W* led everyone in a few cheers and stories.  We sang a few more songs. Then he slowly let people get some dinner.  Inviting first, those that were attending the Christmas party for the first time, including half of the high school boys’ basketball team, OK there were really only 4 of them.  Then, those that have a hard time walking, etc.  I wasn't sure when we were supposed to go, so around 7:00 I just told the kids we were going to eat.  We enjoyed the food, and the program was wonderful.  I loved singing so many Christmas songs together, and watching the primary kids act out the nativity.

 I didn't do a good job of taking a picture of David and Timothy as the wise men came in. I had to use arrows in point them out.  All I can see is the top of Timothy's head, and I can barely see David's face.

Santa came at the end and the kids lines up to see him.  Amy was in the first group of 3 and under.  She wouldn’t go near him.  David patiently waited his turn, but didn’t want me to take a picture.

I completely missed getting a picture of Timothy. I kept checking to see how close he was to the front, but then all of a sudden he was done.  We stayed to help clean up (that’s what High Priests were in charge of), and there was a lot to clean up.  However many hands make light work and it went pretty quickly.  They even decided to do the normal Saturday cleaning instead of waiting until Christmas Eve, and we were still done by about 9:00.  Not bad.  The kids were getting a little grumpy though.  Overall it was great, every got food, there was plenty of dessert, and it was great to be among the hundreds of people that filled the cultural hall and the Young Women’s room. 

Merry Christmas!

I know I haven't posted in a while.  We've been really busy getting ready for the Christmas and all of the activities surrounding the day.  Before the morning comes and we get really busy again I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

And the Winner is....

I completely forgot to draw names last night.  So I did it this morning.  I only had  people enter this year, and this winner is ...

Jenny!

I've known Jenny since 4th or 5th grade!  She recently moved back to our home town, so Jenny I need your address, so I can send you the goodies!  Enjoy!

Christmas Party #3

 Last Saturday evening we had yet another Christmas party to attend. This is one for Aaron's job as well, but this time it was for the clinic or rather all the clinics in the company.  Everyone from the clinics in Washington as well the ones in Oregon is invited.  I don't how many people come, but they filled the convention center.  The tables seated 10, but I can only guess how many tables there were.  We carpooled with Julianna and Phillip.  Nikki was going to come with us too, but plans changed.  We had a nice drive up.  We got there just as they were setting out the veggie trays.  We kept looking for the chocolate samples like they had last year, but I guess they didn't do that this year :(  We walked around a bit and talked to people, and then we looked at the program and proceeded to find 5 glaring errors.  Four of which would have been caught by spell check.  The other was that they had put the year 2001 instead of 2011.  Mirna and Patti joined us at the table as well. We enjoyed a great meal.  They recognized those that had given service for 5, 10 (including Mirna), 15, 20 and 25 years (including the CEO), and two that were retiring.  There were several prizes given out, but no one at our table won anything.  No one was drinking the wine at our table, so the table next to us asked if they could have it.  This was after we observed them acquiring wine from other tables as well.  As fun as it was as soon as they finished giving away the prizes and started the dancing, we were gone.  I didn't fell like being around drunk people, especially with the way many of them were dressed, I was worried some of their clothes might have a wardrobe malfunction.  But we did take a couple of pictures before we left.

Aaron and I with Julianna and Phillip

Patti, Mirna, Aaron and I

We got home before 10:00 I think.  All of the kids were asleep for once.  I guess we aren't usually out that late with a babysitter, so at least Amy is usually still awake. I took Rebecca home, and then Aaron and I crashed.

Christmas Goodie Giveaway 2011

It's time for my annual goodie giveaway.  Somehow I forgot to start it earlier like I had planned. So I hope everyone still gets s chance to enter.  I haven't started the baking yet.  We plan to bake Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and deliver starting Wednesday.  So that means you have until 9:00 pm on Tuesday night to enter.  Just leave a comment on this post, (if you are posting anonymously leave you name) and tell me what your favorite Christmas tradition is.  Then I will mail you a box full of goodies like these:

Minus the banana rolls of course.  I don't think they would be edible by the time they reached you!  So ready.... set.... comment!

Freezing Fog and Toy Trains

I few things I missed:

Timothy lost a tooth last Tuesday.  He lost if right after he got to school.  They gave him a tooth holder to keep it safe.  However he lost it again when he got home from school.  He didn't find it again until Aaron was vacuuming on Saturday morning.  He put it under his pillow that night, but the tooth fairy couldn't find it.  He got the money anyway.

This picture of Amy was taken Friday night when she didn't want to sit at the table for dinner because her legs hurt.  Saturday morning she was still complaining that they hurt, but since we knew she could walk we didn't let her get away with much. She was still sensitive about anything touching her legs.

Friday we woke up to a world of white.  There was freezing fog.  We got all the pretty whiteness without having to shovel walks, or have slippery roads.  I took a few pictures on Saturday.

 The Japanese Maple

 The handle of the broom that was left outside

 spiderwebs covered in frost!

 The pool fence 

 The decorative cherry tree

Back updating now... Saturday morning The kids got started on their chores, and I had a RS presidency meeting.  I helped them finish up with house cleaning when I got home.  Then we went to the toy train event at the train museum.  We missed out on it last year.  The kids really enjoyed it.  There were several model trains, a train ride to the "North Pole" to see Santa, a craft, hot chocolate and a cookie.  There were also toy trains that the kids could play with.  That's where Timothy and Amy spent most of their time.  Timothy was way too old to be in there, but oh well.  We didn't get any pictures with Santa.  They were $10 each for the cheapest one, and you couldn't take your own pictures unless you bought a picture.  So the kids just talked to Santa about what they wanted for Christmas. David asked for a Wii - ha, that's not going to happen.  Amy asked for a puppy that barks. That wasn't on our list - oops.  I guess we are going to have some disappointed kids for Christmas.  Oh well.

Here are a few pictures if you are interested.

 Timothy playing with the display in the lobby

 Amy and Aaron in the lobby - apparently Amy's hat has a reflective strip

 On the train

 Timothy having fun on the train - see the missing tooth on the bottom?

 Some of the train displays upstairs

 more trains upstairs

 A large on downstairs

 More of the same display

 there was even a wedding at a church!

When we got back we had some lunch and put Amy down for a nap.  Then we took the snowflakes that we made a couple weeks ago and taped them to the front window. Then Aaron used the fake snow in the spray can to paint the snowflakes on the window.

 

There is much more to talk about, but I have a lot to do, so more will come later!