Rewind Just a Little Bit

I'm going back into my pictures a little bit to see what I forgot to post.  On Thanksgiving weekend we stayed with Josh and Allison. On our way home on Sunday we stopped for our Christmas tree.

 

 Our second annual trip to Klucks Nursery. Another cold day, another successful trip.  I love this place.  You park your car walk all around the lot to find your tree.  Cut it, then drag it to be shaken and wrapped.  And then when your done with all that you can get some hot apple cider or hot chocolate and sit by a great big fire.  I'm sure I posted pictures last year of the fire.  Somehow I didn't take any of that this year.  I think I was too busy drinking my delicious apple cider.

 ahhhhh I wasn't so sure about this tree.  I didn't care for it much on the lot but I was feeling agreeable.  I thought oh geez how bad can it be, we have a ton of decorations, I'll make it work.

Turns out it is one of my favorite trees of all time.

 Jacob was about over posing for pictures.  I could barely get him to sit long enough to take any. Sarah on the other hand is like mom mom mom take my pic over here, over here and over here.

 I think these are Chase's favorite pictures.  They have to try several times till he thinks I've captures just the right jump.  They of course to post it and tag him right away. 

 3 stooges!!

 The decorating process.  Jeremy hangs the lights and then we all help with ornaments and getting it to look just right. 

The finished product!

So pretty, with my precious pup posing for his picture.

Merry Christmas

 

Well it's all over. 

Another Christmas, another opening of presents, another day full of good food and this year full of good friends. 

I intended on blogging everyday till the end of the year.  I really tried. Then on Sunday early morning I got sick, really sick. Ruined my Christmas this year but I'll post a "I got sick" blog to tell you about that later. So for now all I can do is try to blog these last 6 days and then next year....well we'll just have to see what happens. Although I will say this would've been easier had Santa brought me a tablet, sigh. 

Oh Christmas Tree 2012

We had a great time getting our tree on Sunday with Josh, Allison, and Chase.  Of course when we got home Sunday night we had to put it up right away.

I remember being a kid and going to get our tree.  We always cut one down from somewhere.  We would spend a LONG time picking out the perfect tree, my dad hated it.  Or pretended he hated it. 

But when we got it home we had to put it up and "let the branches fall"  " let it warm up" What a load of bull crap.  I couldn't wait to decorate the tree.  We always had to wait, sometimes till the next day.  What a punishment.  I vowed to never make my kids wait.  We cut it down, drive it home, put it up, get lights on it, and BAM its decorated!! 

I treasure this time.  It's only a matter of time before my kids won't want to help decorate.  We go through all the ornaments, talk about where we got them.  I have several from my Uncle Gary from when I was growing up.  Jeremy has several that his mom gave us from when he was growing up.  He even has an original Elf on the Shelf.  We never knew who he was till a few years ago.  We just thought he was an ugly antique elf.  Who knew he was watching us all these years. 

It's one of those times that the kids get along and are helpful to each other.  We get it done pretty quickly since we're all helping. 

I do have to say that this years tree is the smallest I think that Jeremy and I have ever had.  Even in our small apartment and small house on Weeks.  Its pretty.  Just doesn't have that wow factor for me.  Jeremy is pleased that the top isn't jamming into the ceiling.  I do think it looks better since it doesn't look like the top of it is upstairs in Sarah's room.  I guess I just like a fatter tree.   

It's a pretty tree.

Made more pretty by the tree skirt that my grandma Hartley made for my mom and dad many years ago. 

Merry Christmas!

Sarah's School Christmas

Sarah's teacher decided to do a Holiday breakfast this year instead of the typical afternoon party full of junk. I volunteered to help so I was at school first thing in the morning. I didn't realize that with their morning announcments they do some sort of stretch or exercise.

This is Sarah and her bud Max doing morning exercise....

After morning announcments, while myself and the other parents were getting breakfast ready, the kids did their morning math.
Sarah and Max, after everyone had ate and I was getting ready to leave Sarah requested a picture with Max.

The Riverside Holiday program.
They have the program at First Wes church so there is enough room for all the parents and families.

Sarah is quite the singer. I am pretty sure I could pick her voice out of everyone else.

She really enjoys music class and her teacher, Ms. Champion.

(I almost forgot to add that Sarah said she felt like a disco ball in the pink dress. She said put a string around my neck and hang me from the ceiling...hmmm)

Christmas Eve recap

First of all Christmas Eve has always had something to do with celebrating my sister in law Emily's birthday. She is lucky enough to be born on December 24th. We usually meet up for an early lunch but this year her family and her came over a couple days earlier and we had some pizza and gave her her gifts. So even though we didn't see her on her birthday we were thinking of her anyways.

Christmas Eve in years past has always been spent with my mom, Grandma Turkey. This year she wasn't able to come home so we had to celebrate without her. It was tough not seeing her. I missed her a lot. But not only did I miss her but my kids did too. Both of them made comments about not seeing her and both said something about hoping next year she would be here.

So in honor of her we still opened our gifts from her when we got up.

She is pretty creative with her gift choices...

Jacob and Sarah both got dream catchers. ....

Sarah with her stocking goodies....

Jacob with his "jail" pajamas.....

Sarah with her Moxie dolls...

While we were opening presents the movie "Incredible Journey" was on tv.

Mya couldn't get to the tv to watch so she jumped up on the couch to get a better view.

Crazy dog!

We went to church at First Wes at 3 and when we came home the Couch family joined us...

We ate some yummy food and just enjoyed each others company.

The kids were so funny talking about Santa and when he would get to our houses.

Little Sarah was so excited she couldn't wait to go home so he could come to her house.

It was wonderful to have friends that are like family to spend the holiday with.

I missed my mom tremendously but having a bff to spend the evening with made it much easier.