Christmas, Part 3

a random collection of family photos

Christmas, Part 2

Christmas, Part 1

They're my best friends from high school.
And after...
16 boyfriends
4 vacations
3 colleges
3 weddings
3 states
6 babies
2 minivans
an assortment of cats & dogs
and 8 million conversations... we still enjoy life together.

Today

We spent the afternoon celebrating Christmas with Alex, Tricia, Davy, and Jacob. I'm always a little distracted when taking pictures while parenting, but here's a FEW from our time together.

Lydia trying Davy's new chapstick:

Uncle Al and Aunt Tricia got Jonah a Transformer voice changer. How cool is that!

Jacob is always a bit scared of Uncle Mike. Mike thought wearing the voice changer would change Jacob's mind...... yeah, I don't think so.

Family Day

This Christmas has been a little unusual for us. We're staying in town and Mike is still working.

We decided to participate in a common Christmas tradition this morning by baking cookies as a family.

Messes make memories, right?




It took the whole morning, but we had a good time. Now what am I going to do with 50 germ-contaminated, overly sprinkled, BEAUTIFUL cookies?

Details

So based upon the emails I've received, I guess I better tell more details about seeing Hildi and Paige. Our new youth pastor and his wife, Tom and Jillian, won a room makeover sponsored by Kodak and TLC. Hildi was the designer and Paige was the host for the "show" that will air on Kodak.com. (I'm a little sketchy with the details).

The room looked great; it was a $5000 room makeover so they got new couches, new flooring, a new plasma tv, etc.

Hildi was very pleasant. She went out of her way to come meet and talk with us. Paige was a little more preoccupied when I was there so I didn't talk with her. My quirky observation of her was that while picking lint off the rug in the new room, she bent over without bending her knees time and time again. I thought that was weird. She's obviously a dancer!

I'm anxious to talk with Jillian to see how practical the room is for them now that they've had a chance to live in it for the past two days.

Exciting times in this small town!

Look Who I Saw Tonight

Hildi and Paige Davis from TLC's Trading Spaces....it was exciting for this small town!


And yes, that's my friend Beth with her hands on Paige's waist :) She doesn't know a stranger.

Let's Be Honest, Folks

Lydia has always been shy when she's not in our home. People think she's quiet and sweet and dainty...

BUT

You're about to see the real Lydia--

The Lydia that we see all day, every day...the Lydia that doesn't want her hair brushed...the Lydia that pulls out any barrette or pony-tail holder....the Lydia that wants to pick out her own clothes and put them on by herself, regardless of where the tag is located or if it matches...the Lydia that has found her voice and spent the day growling like a lion...

This, my friends, is the REAL Lydia...

Last Night

Neighborhood friends, Tyler and Lily:

Tonight

We played in the snow at dusk tonight.

Thanks for the clothes, Nora!