New Year's Day - catching up and moving on - Christmas 2009 recap and SNOW!

Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough and move on, right?

Well, that sounds good to me...the things I would've blogged about if I'd taken the time (why do we always say "If I had time....I'd...." - truth be told, often we just choose to use our time for other things - let's just be honest here!) include more updates on Miss Baby as she has been growing and changing so quickly, school week updates...yes, I let that slip by the wayside round about the time we were hit w/the plague back in October and I just never got back "with it" in that respect....goings on with all of us...we're busy, 'nuf said....and probably more things that I can't recall right now.

So, a few highlights and then we will press on!

(in no particular order)

Thanksgiving Medieval Feast - I had planned to do a big post on this and share tons of pictures...guess what? I don't feel like doing all the pictures right now....so I'll share a few of the highlights and then we'll move on -

Ok, you caught me - I started this post and saved it to work on later and then went ahead and made that big ol' Medieval Feast post with TONS of pictures - sigh - anyway - if you missed it, here 'tis:

Medieval Feast

Christmas....too busy before hand and not enough time after to enjoy my parents' being here. Sigh. Why do I always think we'll just be sitting around, talking and "visiting" the whole time - then chaos sets in instead (oh yes, well, part of the reason involved a certain someone who did not start her Christmas shopping early like she said she was going to....I mean, who does that anyway? Not me, I tell ya, nope, not me.) Ahem...



Anyway, after much mad rushing around and gratefulness to my parents for watching over the children while I did said rushing around, I got it all worked out. Next year I'm starting in July....really....no, I mean it...



Christmas Eve and Day were very nice - we enjoyed watching the children open their presents and were very happy to see into their hearts as they each one exclaimed individually (and not in the presence of each other) how they couldn't wait to see how much the person they'd bought for would like what they'd chosen for them (each of the children drew names this year and had one of the other children's names and then w/assistance from CKB and I went shopping for that person). It was very special once again to see the thoughtfulness that went into the decisions they made for one another and such a blessing to see how well they know each other.

This was Miss Baby's first Christmas - can you see how excited she is?


She liked the stocking itself better than what was inside, I think!



And here she is getting into someone else's stuff.....isn't that always the way!



Here are a few more highlights from the day.....

Excited girls....



and boys....



and grandparents....on a side note...guess who was SECOND into the den to see the presents and tree...hint hint, it was NOT one of the children...and he likes blue....hmmm.....


Anyone need anything fixed? (or broken...ahem...)


Mr. A was more excited about his fruit and electric toothbrush that were in his stocking, than the little toys and candy! He proceeded to eat part of the apple and then wanted to go brush his teeth!


That boy loves his Daddy! Sigh....


who's that? uh...let's move on...


Miss A is excited to have some paper dolls to go along w/her Felicity books...


Miss E - a new watch - hooray! Now, didn't she already have a watch? Oh yes, it went through the wash a time or two...how did that happen, I wonder, no good Mama would let that happen, would they? I mean, I check every...single...pocket...every...time...don't you? Sigh....


Mr. E really enjoyed this! (so did everyone else!)



Ah, the expressions on Christmas morning...priceless!


Ok, moving on.....


Snow!!!! We've had 3 snows before the end of the year - amazing and our "snowiest" year in this area, yet! We're hoping for more! The best part is that it snowed on Christmas Eve and we had our 2nd white Christmas - an answer to prayer in our house this year - Praise God! The children played in the snow in Christmas Eve and again Christmas Day (after opening presents, of course, we must have our priorities right, now mustn't we?) - it was a lot of fun followed by hot cocoa and a nice warm fire!


Of course, there were snowball fights...


And lots of running around...


And snowmen....yes, with crayon noses and eyes and mouths...they use something different every year!


Wow, that snowman is good - he even caught a football!

and another....


Grandpa even got in on the fun....


Someone missed the memo on which gloves to get...hmm, those look a TAD big, don't they?


We like snow!!

Has it snowed in your neck of the woods yet?