Keep them in our prayers...

Our Nephew Devin is currently serving in Iraq. And while I won't be able to write it as eloquently as I feel it in my heart... I wanted to at least post a note to remember our military soldiers in our prayers. They are away from their families and the freedoms we enjoy here at home, and serving, sacrificing, and enduring everyday. They won't be enjoying a winter break like we are.

Devin finished 8 months of military training in February, and was hoping to be home for a while, when he left for Iraq two and a half months later. He won't return until June of 2008!

He has a wife and daughter who will be 2 years old in January at home. In their Christmas letter, she sounds very positive and is keeping busy doing really good things at home, and taking great care of their little girl. The pictures she captures of this kid are hilarious, she is a doll.

Today I saw this picture of Devin on her website and just started bawling! I hadn't seen him in action, and honestly couldn't imagine in my mind where he was and what he was doing. I tend to block out things to keep from being affected by them.

We love these kids, will keep them in our prayers as they serve and sacrifice!

Blondes, Brunettes, and Red Heads...

Our Blonde...

Our Brunette...

And Our Redhead (turning grey)...These guys are so fun at Christmas time... it's like they know something is going on. The smells, the treats, the new toys! It's all so exciting!

In the meantime... it's PLAYTIME!!

I promise no critters were injured or hurt in anyway when taping this video.

Can you hear all the panting and the grunting and ripping of the threads? Really it's not her teeth coming out, I promise!It's amazing our tree is still standing, our little house is not nearly big enough for all the roughhousing that takes place here between the boys and the dogs.

He knows when you are sleeping...

Trevor Patrick

My SIL's nieces new baby... was born12/13/07 and had some complications with his lungs but is now doing much better and will probably get to go home tonight or tomorrow morning.

(What a wonderful Christmas gift)
Here is his first picture with Santa… his Mom saw Santa roaming the halls of the hospital and asked if she could get a picture of him with her baby.

Isn't this the sweetest picture ever?

My New Favorite Post Office...

Unbelieveable!

That was my reaction when I realized I would have to be going to the post office again... I really wanted to get some letters off to our missionaries, and I had one last address located for a Christmas Card. I could have just put them in the mailbox at the house, or done the missionary letters through dearelder.com... but I had some pictures to send with them, and I didn't know what the postage would be on them going out of the country and all.

So I waited until the end of the school day and went and picked up 2J's.

It was pouring down rain... and he needed some driving experience in the rain...
He was REALLY not happy getting his picture taken again, and when it took me 3 tries because it kept coming out blurry... he was really really not happy, but compliant and forgiving of his mother.

So here is my driver in training, still doing well. It was really nice to have someone drive me out to try and find the little post office in the boonies that I had heard about.

When we clocked it, only 6 miles.... well worth not having to go to the busy one in our town with the grumpy stamp guy and crowds.

As we drove up, I could see the house next door with their manger scene and lights all of the old little farmhouse... too cute.
It is one little tiny building with standing room only inside, but we were the only ones there at 4:15pm on the busiest mailing day of the year... the very nicest little lady you could ever meet, with the most helpful sweetly given shipping tips to guide you along if you don't know what you are doing!

So quaint, so homey, so small town... I love it!!
She even put out little train lights outside to decorate the Post Office!

I am in love ~ and so excited to find my new mail stop!

Yipeeee!!!!! Thank you for all your support, I was trying really hard not to have only puppy posts this month, and ended up with more Post Office posts than anyone ever needs... sorry, still working on balance in my life.

SPT...

SELF PORTRAIT TUESDAY - Lelly's Challenge

"THE CHILDREN WERE NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THEIR BEDS"... 'twas the week before Christmas, are you up late at night getting ready for Christmas? are you surprised, as an adult, how much effort it takes to make the holiday *magical?* if you're already "ready," do you take time to sit in the glow of the tree and the candles and really enjoy the spirit of the season? is there a favorite Christmas movie that you watch, or favorite music that you enjoy? are you rested and relaxed? or a tad frazzled, like me?

The dark circles under my eyes are not from being frazzled about the week before Christmas... me and Morgan are sleepless wishing we were in Seattle. (and you can see our little "monster puppy" squiggling out of my hands to get away and go play).

Don't get me wrong, our little Taylor is precious, we love her so much already... but puppies are so much work. We are feeling ready for Christmas and WANT to sit in the glow of the tree and candles and enjoy the spirit of the season....

but little Taylor is up and down, outside, and tugging, and chewing, and drinking, and running and eating and the few precious moments she might drop off for a nap, are so short and few in-between now. My Man has been so good sharing getting up with her during the night, but I try as much as I can to cover it, since he has to get up and go to his job, and I don't want 2J's all tired and grouchy going off to school.

We pack up all of our Christmas movies to pull out and watch during the season, but we haven't had time to watch them during puppy training and all. I did buy a new DVD called "Stalking Santa" thinking it would be a cute comedy... but it is horrible, don't buy it, I will send you ours.

There is usually a new Christmas movie under the tree for our traditional flick after we get up in the wee hours of the morning like 3am, barely missing Santa's departure and going through our stockings. Then we snuggle up in blankets for the movie and a nap under the glow of the tree before we get up at 5am to open presents and eat breakfast to balance out the sugar kick.

I find it gets harder to make "magical" moments as my son grows older, but we have had some wonderful "meaningful" moments this season together... I have dubbed them them "Momeries" because as he gets closer to leaving home, they seem to be more precious to me than him, but I am hanging on to each one of them!

Elders Quorum Social...

The Elders Quorum at our church planned a spoof off of the ladies "Super Saturday" where we get together and teach each other crafty stuff, and had a "Super Man Saturday" where they got together and worked on cars and did other "fix it" projects together. I have to say they were very productive and it worked well because there were some who knew things they could bring to the day, and others who needed that knowledge who learned. And they were able to trade talents with each other.

Then they invited the wives to come around noon and bring side dishes to add to a pig they had roasted the night before at an overnight fire pit.I stopped by to pick up 2J's the night before, it was held at his friends house where he had been hanging out, and the men were there cleaning out the pig, I didn't get pictures of that.
But they did a great job cooking him up and getting the meat ready for lunch.
It was held in a shop, so we were bundled up, cold, and not frilly table clothes, but the food was really good.
And the best part was the men cleaned everything up, spic and span as we stood and talked...
and watched the kids eat...
or watched the kids play with the puppies...
or took pictures of the puppies...
A good time was had by all...