One the Second Day of Christmas . . .

Two manger scenes,

and a lovely Christmas tree!

On the First Day of Christmas!

. . . . On the first Day of Christmas my true love gave to me. . . One Christmas Tree!

Morning! (Good, you decide?)

In the wee hours of morning (2:30 am), as I was busily dreaming of something (can't remember), I kept feeling something tugging at me. Finally I realized it wasn't in my dream, but a child. As I opened my eyes and try to open my ears (doesn't happen very easy), Isabella stood before me crying a little and saying she felt awful. So I had her crawl in bed with me thinking that maybe she just couldn't fall back asleep but that wasn't the case. She was incredibly warm. So out of the warm covers I crawl, grab my glasses and head to the medicine cabinet to grab the thermometer and some advil. After stepping on some lego's that my son so wonderfully left on the floor for me to find, I made it to our bathroom and brought her in there to check her temp, 100.8 at the time. She was shaking and coughing a raspy cough. Gave her advil and brought her back to bed with me. After tossing for what seemed like an eternity I finally suggested that we escape to the living room and check her temp again. 102 this time around and a very sick little girl. Of course with that fever your entire body hurts. So after some benedryl for sleep and the raspy breathing, we lay on the couch and talk for a while and then slowly but surely her fever came down and she fell asleep. It is 7:55 and she is still sleeping and I will let her sleep for a while. The other two are up eating breakfast and doing devotions. I haven't had a regular school week since before Thanksgiving and it is driving me insane. We will try our best today, but it looks as if Isabella won't get in much, if any. I was able to go back to sleep around 4:00 am and woke up around 6:00, maybe I can catch a nap? I had a lot of things planned but I find that when I need to slow down somebody seems to get sick and therefore stops me in my path. Today in quiet time, I just asked the Lord to let me glorify Him in being a mom today!

Friday Fotos!

Mike's Granny (90 years old!)

The Roberson Cousins being crazy as always!

Trimming the tree!

Santa House

There were two very prominent families who established my town and one of their houses still stand today and is exactly 100 years old this year. It is a beatiful 2 story home with lots of rooms and lots of antiques orginal to the house. It is for this reason they put on a Santa House every year through the house and the money goes toward the upkeep and personel of the musuem/house.

My children and I knew nothing of this wonderful event until this year while scrolling through the emails, a wonderful opportunity to volunteer showed itself within the pages. We promptly put our names in to volunteer for the Santa House. The Santa House puts on a play and also has a bitty part of introducing them to some of the children that used to live there (by actors) and then they meet Santa (elves are walking them through the house making sure tiny little hands are nice and not naughty) and then onto the kitchen to make a cookie. After the cookie, the elves bring them to the carraige house to participate in making a craft which is the end of the tour.

As I said we all volunteered for 4 of the many days this production goes on. Sarah volunteered to be the Tin Soldier, who so proudly puts out a fire in the toy shop. Isabella is a china doll in the toy shop named Mimi and she also portrays the youngest of the children of the house, Sybil. She comes down the beautiful stairs still in her pj's and looks in her stocking, stomps her foot and disappointedly climbs back up the stairs because Santa has not come yet to fill their stockings. Zech and I volunteered with the crafty bunch. We have helped at least 100 by now kindergarteners and preschoolers make a snowman ornament for their tree.

It has been a wonderful volunteer job for all of us and we are having so much fun. We have two more days next week and then we are through with this experience. We are all so very thankful for the fun we have had the lives we could touch through this. One teacher in particular after I said, "Merry Christmas" promptly corrected me and said, "We say Happy Holidays." Now many of you who know me, know that didn't settle correctly and therefore I promptly told her, "No, Merry Christmas!" I said it over 5 times before the children had to leave! We celebrate Christ birthday not a holiday! Not sure I touched her with the message more than I touched her with a nerve, but I'll say it again, "Merry Christmas!"

My Favorite Son!

Zechariah turns 12 today! Woohoo! He is everything anybody would want for a son! Mike and I are so very proud of him. He loves Lego's, pizza, time with family, and football! He has such a kind heart and usually always thinking of others. He loves to help out and teaches lots of people lots of things that his brain just naturally absorbs.

He is sitting here watching me blog at 6:35 am. He woke up early this morning and sat before his presents waiting on his turn to tear them open! Then onto Chocolate gravy and bisquits this morning for our usual breakfast treat on birthday days. We celebrated with a meal and cake last night due to the fact that today for lunch we will be gone and also tonight we will be at the church.

Thank you God, so very much for giving me this special, favorite son of ours!

Family Reunion!

The day after thanksgiving when all through the house, all my lovely family sleeping and no movement in the house. When what to my lifeless ears do I hear, my alarm, chirping so early and dear. I sprang from my bed, threw on my clothes, and dashed out the door. When upon the lawn the chariot was waiting to take me to the long lines and the shoppers abating! The stores all opened with afoot we all drew near and dashed away, dashed away with holiday cheer! I received all my treasure I had so thoroughly traced through the sale ads the day I gave thanks for His grace! Now after many hours of shopping I needed to settle down for my long winters nap, when only to confront packing and driving many hours to our destination I found a great family awaiting and a Granny to boot who turns 90 in which we celebrated with cheers and hoots! So enjoy this sorted tail of early mornings and shoppings, traveling, napping, and families toppling. Yes, this family although wild and wacky, we have a Granny who has taught us and we are not lacking in love, and fellowship, and most of all the One and Only God above all! We are reminded once again to cherish our families and friends!