WOW...WHAT FUN!

I think back over the last few days and can't believe all that we were able to do! What fun it was! It was a wonderful Christmas with time spent with family, attending a wonderful candlelight service, driving in weird weather, playing games, sledding, listening to Christmas stories and eating!! (as you can see..I even got into the sledding!)

The Snuggie

I never thought I would be writing about those, "Snuggies!" Well, Link and Tucker received early Christmas presents from my mom and dad. We got them all dressed to head out into the elements. Well guess what? We sent them out and they arrived at the back door "naked." No snuggies in sight. So we had to figure out if they..
a) Were ripped off of them and robbed by the neighbor dogs.
b) It was just too warm outside for them to run around in.
c) They were embarrassed to be seen in them.
d) They weren't flattering on their bodies
e) all of the above
you be the judge......


p.s. The snuggies were found! However, I think they are a little overrated!

"December to Remember"

Morgan, Shelby and Seble had a dance on Friday night at school. I was enjoying a night out with friends (see next post) so I was thrilled to see pic's!

A night out with friends

The weekend started out great! I was able to go the the Sarah Groves concert with three friends, Barb, Renee and Mary. Mary's husband planned this night out for her/us! We left our husbands in charge and took off for the the cities at 4:00 and headed to Biaggi's Restaurant in Maple Grove, it was fabulous and relaxing! We then headed the the Church of the Open Door, it was a perfect setting for the Christmas Concert. The evening started out with Sarah's husband asking people to stand up for different reasons...ex: If you don't like egg nog stand up..If you have a real tree stand up..then he said if you have 3 or more children please stand up, 4 or more stay standing...etc...well Renee has 5, Mary 6, I have 6, Barb well she has a whopping 9, she was one of two standing in the whole place..she got a round of applause for that!! Between the four of us we have..count them up...26 kids....we did need a night out! It was fun to hear about Sarah's traditions growing up, it was also wonderful to hear what they are doing in Rwanda..that was a highlight, with recent pic's of the trip they took in March.
I just have to say "Thanks" friends, it was fun!
p.s. Allen thanks for planning the night, it was great fun!

Piano Recital

Morgan started taking piano lessons again after taking a little over a year off, I am glad she decided to continue. They had a Christmas recital on Sunday, it was so fun to see and hear the students play! Morgan played a duet with her great friend Ellie. I think they could pass for sisters!

Tis the Season

Tis the Season of many exciting and fun things, which also means busyness. Last weekend we were able to spend Saturday with my brother Troy, his wife Michelle and my niece and nephew, Madison and Mason. They drove home Friday night, we had brunch on Saturday morning, followed by our gift exchanges with them, eating, napping, games and visiting. Since my brother is a State Trooper and my sister in-law works in radiology at a hospital, they end up working many weekends. We usually end up celebrating holidays with them at different times due to the schedules....It was fun to spend time with them...I love having a 5 year old (niece) that gets super excited to see her "Minnesota Cousins!"

12 years old!

We celebrated Syfah turning 12 last week! We squeezed it in between basketball tournaments and games! He chose Chinese food,homemade chocolate cake by Grandma Jane and peppermint ice cream. Grandparents joined us for the evening!
I look at pictures of Syfah and cannot believe the young man he is turning out to be. He is maturing and growing up way too fast. The other day at school a parent mentioned to me..."wow, don't you have quite the charmer." I said, "what?" She said, "look down the hall." I looked down the hall to see several girls, one carrying his back-pack and one carrying his lunch...He was enjoying every minute of it as he smiled from ear to ear. I think he actually might be enjoying being on crutches..(not really)...hopefully only two more weeks and he will get to start be able to put weight on his foot.
Syfah has a special way of lighting up a room when he enters, He has definitely "lit" up our lives and I am thankful!

The ornaments....and so much more

Well, we broke into the Christmas box of ornaments and started putting out the snow globes, mistletoe (troy‘s favorite), lights….things were going great….then came the “where are all my ornaments?” “that one is ugly, do we have to put it up?” “I only have three.” “Why isn’t my name on that ornament?” the list goes on….how do you answer that? Our tree is pretty “traditional,” I like the sentimental value that each ornament holds…the three sisters on the sleigh, with the names..Morgan, Shelby, Corbin…dated 2003. The five stockings on the fireplace ornament that reads “The Dobles.” The Soccer player ornament that says, “Araya 2008.” The little African Willow Tree ornament that says “Seble” on the bottom. The wild looking Snowman that says, “Syfah,.” One of my favorites is the Precious Moments ornament of a newlywed couple in the their convertible, it says “First Christmas.”
This year, we just sort of went through that box and started a pile of …No’s and Yes’s. The “No’s” didn’t make it on the tree this year, The “Yes’s” were the lucky ones! As I packed up the lonely ones that didn’t make the cut this year, I found myself feeling a little sad that these didn’t mean as much to the rest of the family as they did to me.
Part of it is the fact that quite simply, Seble, Araya and Syfah don’t have the memories of Christmas like we do….Christmas was not about decorating the tree, or counting the ornaments, or the gifts. I don’t want it to be the meaning for any of us. We/I, am the one who gets caught up in the “looking good” Christmas Tree…or the perfect lights on the garage and house. So while I have been a “little temped“…o.k… a lot tempted to take out the “lonely” ornaments and put a little tree in my bedroom, I won’t.
I also know that this time of year holds a lot of “memories,” for families….that is how “traditions” are made. I really am praying that this Christmas we continue to make memories together that will “unite” us as a family…a family that has been blessed, because we know Jesus and because we have great families and friends who support us!!
P.S. …next year I want a “Non Traditional Pink Christmas Tree.” ;)