SNOW!!!

Our first real snow of the season and it's a doozy (Not sure if that is the how to really spell doozy, but it works.) It started this morning when I left for the school and still has not stopped. It has snowed about 8 inches at my house with no signs of stopping. It took over an hour to get home from school. Thankfully we didn't see any accidents over here. I know there have been tons of them though and they have shut down many streets. Anyway, it is supposed to snow all night so I'm hoping some will be sure to stick around for Christmas. I love white Christmas'. I have to admit that I don't want the snow to stay as long as it did last year. That was a bit on the overkill side.

Just having fun

Hello all,
This background said it was for New Years. I haven't quite figured out the connection it has to New Years, but the green was kind of bothering me and there is only two weeks until the New Year. If I'm going to use a New Year's background, I had to do it now. With all that said, I'm actually just procrastinating from the work I know I should be doing right now. I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas season. We are so blessed. God just amazes me. We are so undeserving and yet He loves us anyway. Merry Christmas to each of you.

Rachel has had pink eye and looks pathetic. Her eyes aren't pink anymore, but she has rubbed them so much that they are very swollen.




Rachel was trying to smile, but it didn't quite make it.

Monty has moves

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More elves

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Elves in the making

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Rachel is five!!!!

Well, today is a special day in more ways than one. First of all, Rachel made it to her 5th birthday. I can't believe that time has gone by so quickly. In spite of all her craziness we love her tremendously and she is a blessing to our family. I don't know what we would do if we weren't always wondering what she is up to. It will be wonderful to see what God will do with her. She has no fear and will talk to absolutely anyone. Her heart is gold. Happy Birthday Rachel, I love you with all my heart!!! The next reason it is special is because it is also Belinda's birthday and I had three of my very close friends over for Breakfast. Belinda, Amy, Cyndi, and I have had some very interesting times. I cherish each one of them. They are my friends in spite of my downfalls and yes, they will tell me when I'm being dumb. Anyway, I made a small goody box for each of them and we enjoyed the morning just visiting. I took a picture of the table before they got here. Have a great day.


Rachel is enjoying the loom she got from Grandpa Goodman and Grandma Betty. I like it because she has to sit still to do it. YIPPEE!!!

Just some thoughts

Hello family and friends,
I am supposed to be doing work right now, but you know how that goes. What better to do than procrastinate. It seems that lately I have been more reflective than usual. I don't know if it is just because I'm getting older and seeing more or if I am just working through the feeling that are going on inside with my mom leaving and getting hurt. Maybe it is a combo of things. I am not struggling in a bad way. I just don't like emotion very much so I'm not quite sure of what to do with it. I of course have been reading all the Thanksgiving posts and remembering all that I have to Thank the Lord for. Now as Christmas approaches I look around at all the people rushing around and wondering how many of them really have a clue as to what Christmas is. Don't get me wrong, I love the decorations, the food, the family times, and of course the gifts, but I have to wonder how many of us would be content to be without those things and just be content with the gift that Christ gave. We will have our fun times this year and we will go to the Christmas parties, but what I really want to do this year is reflect on the real Christmas gift. I have had emotional struggles the last few weeks with all that has been going on that I could not change, but through it all there has been Jesus. He has been there with arms wide open just waiting for me to turn over my fears and worries to Him. That is a gift that cannot be ignored. When I look at the past few months I think that God is trying to stretch me. How incredible that He would care enough to make me a better person. I'm so thankful and I want to use this Christmas season to reflect on Him a little more than what I have in the past.

I like the Christmas-y background. Cool!

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over already. We had such a great time at Cheri's house. It was a very lively place to put it mildly. With everyone there were 15 people. I am so blessed to have the family that I do. The pictures are kind of backwards, but you will get the point.

We were out on the front of the Ferry boat when the other was passing. The girls thought it was great to be on one "ship" and see another.

I just had to get a picture of the handsome guy up by the railing.
Natalie and Rachel being still for a second so I could snap a pic (Hailey was asleep and there was no way I was waking her up)
Rachel and Daddy (Rachel made me nervous. You never know what she will try.) The boats captain had just waved at her from the window just above so she was very excited.
Natalie is not sucking her thumb. She was wiggling her tooth the whole time. (It came out today. Now she has all 4 of her front teeth missing.)
Their first moments out of the car were filled with excitement
All the girls dressed for Church. Hailey didn't want to smile, but at least they all look pleasant.
They had a blast looking at all the sheep and llamas. I didn't realize it was raining so I took them in right after this picture. They were soaked.
Hailey found someone's hat.
Aunt Cara did great with the Veggie tray. She has some great help from the kitchen crew.