Amazed & Amused: January 2008

It was an odd night at the dinner table... my boys just weren't eating!!
I thought the world was coming to an end.
They were giggling and talking, but not eating. So, I commented, "If you don't eat, you won't get big and strong like your daddy." In that split second, Colby ran to get the scale from my bathroom. He placed it by the table and weighed himself. Sat down, took a bite, and weighed again to his reply, "Nope, haven't gained yet." Then preceeded to eat more and more, with big brother Jack joining in the efforts, trying to gain weight. By the end of the meal, plates were cleared and maybe a pound was gained... wishful weighing!!! I marveled at their efforts and found a new way to get boys to eat!!
Also, roasted bell peppers look like worms... so, you can imagine the "worm eating contest" was a real hoot...

WOW!! What a JOYFUL holiday season!!!
To kick off the season was The Great Christmas Tree Hunt that I wrote of in a previous post.
Next was Kari's Annual Christmas Cookie Party. This is the event that gets me out of the backyard from playing with the boys and into the kitchen. I LOVE to cook and bake, but I hate giving up playtime to do it. I will be a grand chef one day when the guys are out of the house! All of the cookies were a joy to see and eat. Everyone gets in the holiday, and competitive, spirit!
Then, it was Santa picture night... reference to the previous post!
Next, was our WFC Women's ornament exchange... all of my sweet friends who are so dainty, gentle, and precious 364 days out of the year show their true colors at this annual gathering. We laughed ALL evening. My cheeks are still sore!
Then, Christmas Eve was here! We had a sweet night at our Community Candlelight Service with our precious church family and many more. We picked up our Candy Cane cake from Jen and headed home. Everyone was ready to go to bed except Jackson. So, we tucked three of them in and then stayed up with Jack to read Twas the Night Before Christmas. I remember reading it as a child and getting lost in it. My little girl handwriting is found throughout the book and Jackson thought that it was so cool. We tucked Jack in and got to wrappin'!!! I love that time together with Sam. We hit the hay around 12:00! Soon to be awoken at 5:40am!!

Singing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" with Aunt Jen's Candy Cane Cake and a Candle

Big Digger Bo

Max is Just Chillin'

Colby a little excited to get his bike ramp

Jackson thrilled to get entire Rocky series

Christmas Morning Tornado

After we opened presents, we loaded up and went and did one of themost special things we've ever been a part of. Delivering food to the homes of extremely poverished families in our city. We arrived at a local high school in which volunteers had worked all Christmas Eve packing food boxes from local grocery stores and now were ready to give us a map and boxes of food to deliver. We pulled up "drive-thru" style, grabbed our map with assignment and food and headed out. I was so touched by the long carpool line of folks 8:00am on Christmas morning ready to deliver food. Some people loaded truckloads of assignments. God was shining bright through His people that morning.

Sam and the boys delivering to our special lady.

We returned home to a fun day of new gifts and beautiful weather and a BIG NAP!!! We talked to our family on the phone and I must say I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS WITHOUT SEEING THEM AGAIN!!! Since Max is so little, we didn't travel this year and most of them had been here to see Max for his birth... so, nobody traveled. I thought I'd be fine... until I heard my sisters voice... never again... we will always see each other for the holidays.

Christmas night we had a Mexican Christmas with our precious friends', The Caffey's.