My Little Chimney Sweeps

I'm not sure what to say. I guess it's what I get for allowing five minutes of unsupervised play.

Merry Christmas

Huge picture post for all our family that isn't here with us. We hope all our family had a great christmas. We love you!

Prayers

My brother Brian and his wife Kaylyn had a little baby boy yesterday. The delivery went well, but Tyler (the baby) has an infection. He is in special care right now and may be moved to the NICU this morning pending lab results. It could be Group B Strep to meningitis to just a cold, but they don't really know yet. He also has an abnormally low immune system so even a cold is dangerous for him Could you please add him to your prayers?

We Got It!

So we've been waiting to hear if we got the hosue we wanted in California. They finally called on Saturday and we got it! We're still working out details, but it's such a relief to have somewhere to live. I won't bore you with too many pics, but look at the kitchen!



I love this kitchen! Plus, the entire house has either tile or hardwood floors. It will be so much easier to keep Brayden's allergies in check. Now we just have to move all our stuff...On second thought, can we just get rid of it all?

Tag Time

A friend did this on her blog and I thought I'd follow along. And because I know you all care sooo much about my answers...



1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on gift, but usually wrapping paper

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. We got a real tree for the first time this year and I'm never going back to fake. Unless Brayden develops allergies to real trees. Let's keep our finger crossed.

3. When do you put up the tree? Right after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? When it's too big of a fire hazard

5. Do you like eggnog? Absolutely NOT! but my husband does. It's one of his very few faults.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Little Pony Castle. It was even more awesome after we spray painted it camouflage, built catapults and stuck barbie heads on the spikes around the top. It was awesome, but I don't think it was quite what my mom was going for.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband and my mom. Why is it always the people we know the best that are so hard to buy for. Maybe it's because we care the most.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids. They love everything. The hard part is not buying them too much.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, given to me by my Grandma Sharlene. Thanks grandma!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? If you're talking about intention, I would mail my Christmas cards. If you're talking about reality, usually neither happens, which is what will happen this year. (Don't judge! We're moving the week after Christmas)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Umm. not sure. most have been good. Wedding presents were a different story....

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually around the beginning of October.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? More than once.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Meat. Steak, prime rib, pork ribs, carne asada, king crab legs. You name it, I'm there ( as long as it's rare). Blame it on my dad. It's all his fault.

16. Lights on the tree? Of course

17. Favorite Christmas song? So many songs, so little time. What child is this? is a great one.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We have always traveled, but are staying home this year. I have a sneaky suspicion I'm going to love it.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Let me check....yep

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open ornaments from grandparents as soon as they're wrapped (so we can look at them). Other than that, Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Don't have one. I prefer random ornaments that have history and sentimental value. My grandma got me one every year since I was born and I love them!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? See above love note to meat, and add some twice-baked potatoes, homemade bread, green beans with bacon and grilled asparagus. Yum. I usually have no room left for dessert. Maybe that's why I don't care too much for desserts. I never have room left to eat them!

It's Christmas Time (picture post)

Tons of cute pics and not much time for words, so here it goes...

First we looked for the perfect tree...look we found it!

Tawny wasn't too into decorating the tree at first...

But she warmed up to it all (she only put one ornament on the
tree, but took it on and off a million times)

Brayden loved it!

So handsome.

Look at that tree!!

Decorating cookies (the beginning)

Loving it.

Concentrating so hard...

Messy, but having so much fun!
So proud of his cookies!

so happy.

The aftermath...

Tawny's cookies. Yummy! (don't worry. nobody ate hers.

They went right into the trash.)Steven and Ashley came up (my brother and his wife)

So did Brian and Kaylyn (another brother and his wife)The next morning Brayden and I decorated a gingerbread house.

Ta-Da! Brayden insisted that we use every single piece of candy,

but it turned out cute.
Completely unrelated, Tawny has learned how to smile on

command. This is what it looks like. What a great smile!

She also loves bananas.