December Happenings

Not much to report but I had a few minutes while Dan is out running errands with the kids. I always forget how busy and hectic the holidays can be. The time gets away so fast!

Last blog, I reported that Caitlin would be walking in our Holiday Parade. Unfortunately, that didn't happen since she wound up getting sick (first out of two times this month) right before the parade. Poor thing! She did get to help decorate the banner with her troop so at least she was able to be involved. The upside (or downside) was that we were able to watch the Army-Navy game sooner than later. It was such a TOUGH game to watch! We'll keep rooting on Brave Ol' Army and hoping that things turn around for them VERY soon.

Caitlin had her first away-from-home sleepover this month. Her friend, Keeli, invited Caitlin and their other good friend, Emma over while Keeli's brother was having his birthday sleepover party. Keeli's mother had 7 boys and 3 girls. What a saint!!! In typical form, there was some 1st grade drama but all in all the girls had a good time and said they would like to do it again.

The kids last week of school was filled with activity. Book Exchanges, Ornament Exchanges, Secret Santas, Toys for Tots, Gingerbread House Making, Holiday Music Program, Peanut Cracker, Christmas Parties, Pajama Day, on and on and on. But as of Friday, the kids are out of school until January. It's up to me to keep them engaged. They have written a list (and keep adding to it) of all the things that they would like to do while they are on break. Make a snowman, go sledding, have a snowball fight (please cooperate weather), bake cookies, the list goes on and on and on. It should be a lot of family fun once Amazon starts slowing down. (We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.)

Well, our lights are up, the house is festive (and short two stocking holders - thank you Cameron), the tree is decorated, the presents are purchased, the cards are sent (today for that matter), so now it's off to wrap, wrap, wrap! We wish you an amazing holiday week!!!

Holidays and Friends

I haven't blogged in a while mostly because I've been tormented by the fact that I lost all of our digital photos. Fortunately, I had printed out a copy of everything up until about the middle of 2007. For those of you that have sent me links and e-mails of photos that I have sent you over the last several months, THANK YOU! It'll be great to piece together a portion of the year for the kids scrapbooks!!!

We are definitely starting to feel at "home" in Nevada. It's been 8 months and we feel settled - a much smoother transition than some of our previous moves. In November, we had several of our "new" friends over to watch some football. The guys had fun drinking beer while the girls chatted and the kids put on play after play for us. The kids also made some cute turkey hats.

It's hard to believe but Christmas is just around the corner. This year, we have a new addition to our family - our Elf on the Shelf named Jon. What a great tradition!!! They should have a Cupid, Leprechaun, Easter Bunny, Uncle Sam, Ghost, Turkey ... "on a Shelf". Dan said, "We need one of these things year round!" To see more about our new friend, visit elfontheshelf.com. And no, we do not own stock in the company. :-)

Aside from the excitement of the holidays, we have childhood stepping stones to be proud of. Cameron is learning to read!!! Tonight as he was reading us his book, he would read each page and then turn the book around proudly to display the pictures (all the time making sure that Jon, The Elf, could see. Santa is watching after all.) What a big boy he is becoming!!! Does anyone know how to make it stop? :-)

Off to relax with Dan as he is home only for brief periods of time these days. (Thank you everyone for keeping Amazon busy during these economic times!) Caitlin is walking with her Brownie Troop this Saturday in our "Hometown Parade" so there's sure to be another blog with photos very soon.

Don't forget to root on Army this Saturday.  BEAT NAVY!!!

Much love,

DDCC