the REST of our "holiday" weekend

My menfolk did something very manly to start off the day--they picked us up a cord of wood (thanks to the help of our fantastic bishop) to have on hand. I felt warm ticklies in my tummy when I saw all that lovely wood stacked on the side of our house (I always took it for granted when my Dad just went & did it, you know?). It feels great to be prepared (last year there was a horrid ice storm that lasted for days)! Don't tell Tony I asked you, but wouldn't it be great if we saved ourselves some money & heated our entire house this way??! Maybe you should call randomly & tell him all the merits of wood burning & such...

The boys are allowed to play internet "Lego" games when their Daddy is with them, so while they did this...

I bonded over bread-making with my little gal

Some more Christmasing...

Since the boys are leaving for Christmas this year, we had ours early...this is the table of food stuffs. Mr. Tony made his first turkey (totally succulent I might add) & batch of caramels! Christmas this year was great, we started two new ideas we hope to make traditions. I had the boys make each other a present & we also did the 3 present thing, one representing each of the gifts given to Christ. 1.) Gold--the gift of fun, the must-have toy, etc. 2.) Myrrh--the gift of usefulness, clothes, etc. 3.) Frankincense--the gift of meaning, a hand-made article, etc. Loved it!

When we were little we kids would organize my Dad's sock drawer many times for his present. The weird thing? He LOVED it! Tony wanted some new work socks, so the boys completed the present by matching all the socks in his drawer & we wrapped all the loners up with his new socks. Then of course they sent him on a treasure hunt to find it!

The cat was even included in the festivities

Our favorite present (the boys still think she's the best thing EVER!)

The Merry of Our Season!

Good thing our tree isn't any taller, eh?

They loved seeing it light up & the scene inside

Our ward had a "cookies & milk" theme w/ crafts for our ward Christmas activity. I was in charge of the pipe-cleaner n' bead candy canes (I believe we have 20 gracing our tree!)

...And the dancing

...And our lovely friend who coaxed our lil' bitty into slumber

...And ta da! The climax (if this Santa wouldn't have been able to do it, they asked if Tony would. Well, he has been to "Clown School" in his past where he was an awesome Santy-Claus, but we were grateful our children could get their visit in to a non-Daddy version of the big, jolly man)

My Random Gratefuls!

1.) For my little turkeys, gobble gobble!

2.) For food! And for the lovely people who invited us to partake of theirs (Ali's pumpkin cake-bars--oh, divine!)

3.) Nature, for the creativity of children & their love of everything beautiful & simple!

4.) Books have always thrilled me, so this Kodak moment practically sent me over the edge!

5.) That Tony was able to sell this so quickly in order to procure our family with a computer that works! I'm so grateful!

6.) Once detested as a child, oatmeal now warms the tummy & feeds my "happy gland"

7.) Gotta love those bright, sunny colors & boy do I love how Legos keep ALL my men entertained!

8.) Going to the temple has just gotten 286 miles harder, but our awesome ward made it so we could all go by providing baby-sitting at the near-by stake center. Nothing is the same as the peace of the temple.

9.) I'm grateful for a husband who teaches our boys the absolute importance of the temple

10.) I love water creations (& again, those little darlings in the background), they make me feel giddy & childish (I just hide it inside :)