Our Christmas Tree

      This year we met the Habel's out at Landren Tree Farm in search of the perfect Christmas Tree.  The tree farm was really nice.  Beautiful trees, free hot chocolate and cookies, it was very picturesque!  The only problem for me, which was a big one, were the prices.  $40 a tree!  I am a cheapskate, so I kindly told the lady we would not be buying one at her farm.  She was so kind and offered us hot chocolate and goodies anyway.  After taking a few family photos, the same lady came back and said she had a tree that she would sell to us for $15.  SOLD!  The tree wasn't the most ideal, it could have been a little taller, and every time I saw it the song Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen would pop into my mind, but it was worth the $15!



Christmas Ships

      One of the perks of having parents who live near the Columbia River is that we get a great view of the Christmas Ships when they float by each December.  They are fun to watch.  The Christmas Ship Parade is a volunteer organization that has been going on for 58 years.  As much fun as it is for us to watch them, I can only imagine how much fun it would be for those owners to be in the parade. 

Finding Peace Among Tragedy

      Even though I firmly believe that Satan exists, I still have a hard time understanding how he can be so evil; and today the world saw his evil!!!  20 children shot to death in their very own elementary school in Connecticut!  20 CHILDREN!!  I am always deeply saddened when I hear of tragic events that involve victims of any age, but especially children.  The school housed about 600 kids between the ages of 5-10 who will forever be traumatized by this evil act.  My heart goes out to them!  As soon as my boys walked through the door after school today, I hugged them both tightly while tears flowed down my cheeks.  I love their innocence.  I will do anything in my power to protect it, and I'm sure that's how the parents of those Victims felt too, but sometimes we are just so powerless.  No matter how much we desire to, we CAN NOT stop others' agency, unless we take their life like this 20 year old boy did today.  The ability to choose for ourselves (Agency) is powerful, and yet in this case, horrific!  I find the timing of it ironic too ... just 11 days before Christmas, how sad!  And yet, it's timing can bring comfort because the whole purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and if anyone knows pain & suffering it's Him!  It is my hope and prayer that those who need comfort at this time can find it in our Savior.  That they can put their trust in Him and let Him take their pain away.  Because He can & He will!!   

Meet Mack

 This is Mack, our Christmas Elf.         

      Isn't he cute sitting there with those big blue eyes, and warm smile?  Okay, okay, I'll admit it, it's a tad bit creepy, I know!  But the kids really like him.  You see they believe that Mack is the eyes and ears of Santa Claus, because how else would Santa know who's Naughty or Nice?  Each night, while the kids are sleeping, our elf journeys back to the North Pole to share his observations with the big guy.  Before morning he's back and ready to take notes for that day.  Which means his location for the day has changed and it's up to the kids to find him, and I guarantee inquiring minds want to know.  The kids' reactions to our Christmas Elf have been priceless.  Andrew talks to him and can't get enough; Cameron thinks he's super cool, and asks me with awe if he's a real elf; while Austin is torn between wanting to believe, but also thinking he's just plain creepy!  I finally let Austin in on the secret of it just so he could enjoy the situation a little more.  I think it'll be fun to have Mack around.  It's nice to add a little anticipation and make believe to each day, makes it more fun that way.               

Time With Friends

Friendships: 

It's not in the quantity of communications,

it's about the quality of the connection.

 

      I really don't know how I ended up so lucky, but I have amazing friends!!!  This includes my friends who are not shown in this picture, because I truly cherish each and every one of them too.  But in reference to this entry I'd like to talk about the connection I have with these four women.  I don't know how common it is to find 5 women who come from such different backgrounds, share different interests, and yet compliment each other so well.  I wonder if it's more common than I think?  Regardless, it works for us, and I am a better person because of their influence in my life.  One of the best parts of having long-standing friendships are the little traditions that just become the norm.  We have several, but most specifically our Christmas Dinner/Gift Exchange and Twilight Movie excursions have been among my favorites.  When Shannon moved away, I wasn't sure if that meant our traditions moved with her, but I am happy to say ... not this year!!

      Last Friday Shannon flew out from Vegas to spend the weekend with us.  It almost seems like WE should be the ones flying out to Vegas for a girls weekend, but doing it this way felt right, almost like no time had passed at all since she's been gone.  She also booked us adjoining rooms in the Aloft Hotel by the airport so we could truly have uninterrupted girl time :)  This is how we spent our day:

• Lunch at Red Robin
• Shopping at Cascade Station
• Happy Hour at Portland City Grill
• Dessert at Papa Haydn's
• Window shopping on NW 23rd
• Gift Exchange in hotel room
• And long chat in hotel lobby in pj's & bathrobes                

      Saturday was equally as much fun!  

• Sleeping in till 8:00 a.m.
• Cinnamon rolls & hot chocolate in bed
• Back to NW 23rd for more shopping & lunch
• 2:00 p.m. showing of Twilight in Scappoose
• And traditional fried ice cream following the movie at Ixtapa

      Our time together this weekend was definitely fun-filled, but it was so much more!  I was also uplifted, inspired, listened to, and reminded how special our connection truly is.  I do cherish each one of these women.  Thank you ladies for your unconditional love!

A Preschool Lesson On Honesty

      A couple of months ago I accidently double booked myself to teach a Sunday School lesson in Primary, so I recruited Spencer's help to bail me out.  I chose to teach Austin's class and Spencer chose to teach Andrew's.  After class I happend to glance over and look at a chalk board and noticed this drawing.  I started to laugh because I recognized it as Spencer's.  Below is his interpretation of the boy who cried wolf.  The lesson was on honesty and this is how he taught it to a bunch of pre-schoolers.  Kind of adorable if you ask me.  

Award Assembly

      Cameron received an award from his teacher at the last assembly for having a "Great Attitude".   Now don't get me wrong, I think it's great when kids are awarded and recognized in front of their peers, it makes them feel special, and as a parent you couldn't be more proud of them, but what about those kids (like Austin) who try so hard and rarely receive recognition?  My heart just aches for them.  I try really hard to instill in each of my boys good sportsmanship and being happy when others do well, but part of the time I find myself down playing to Austin the recognition that Cameron recieves because Austin just doesn't.  I worry so much about my kids' self-esteem.  I want each one of them to feel special and great because they are!  I guess sometimes I lean more towards secret recognition, where only those being awarded attend.  But most likely, I am just way over-thinking this whole thing, like I do with most things.         

Technology Is Awesome!

      For several years now its been a tradition for my friends and I to get together, usually for lunch, to celebrate one another's birthday.  Luckily when Sheila moved away she was still close enough to carry on the tradition.  When Shannon moved away, I thought our tradition would be forever changed, but it didn't.  Thanks to technology, and Paige's iPad, Shannon has been able to celebrate with us and it seriously feels like she is really in the room.  Technology is awesome!