December Daily--21

I am working on a little project,and for said project, I needed to scan in some old pictures. This is my family circa 1976. I am sitting in front of my dad. The picture was taken at the time my dad graduated from university. I am three, Melanie is two and Camille is one. We are all 13 months apart. 1989 and welcome big bangs. At least I'm not alone in the quest for the tallest bangs--Melanie has me beat. I also discovered while looking at all of these old photos that Christian looks a lot like my brother Ryan. Natalie also joined the family.
1994--right before my mission. The bangs are gone, but holy cow, apparently floral dresses are in.

1997--our wedding.

P.S. The project was for my parents. My dad asked me to get a digital picture frame for him to give my mom for Christmas. My siblings and I decided to give my dad one too. My sisters sent me pictures and I scanned some. I think they liked the gift.

December Daily--20

Saturday the kids had taekwondo testing. Beverly tested for her Recommended Black Belt. That means that her next testing will be for her Black Belt.

She did a good job on her testing. She is now the high-ranking student and is now called Miss (last name.) (That is my effort at keeping things anonymous for any creeps that might read this.)

Christian is thrilled that he is now a green belt. That is his favorite color, so it was a good day.

Bev loves baking, and she is getting really good at it. She made some brownies. She is my little helper. She plays with the babies (I think they will still be called that even when they are teenagers.) She has helped me with wrapping gifts, laundry, cooking and cleaning up. She is really earning her keep lately. I love that she is so willing and interested in learning how to do things.

December Daily--19

Wall Art:

I am cool with my kids "hanging" their artwork with tape. We have been having issues with Kiki and Jess sneaking into Andrew and Bev's rooms during the day. Mike says it is an issue of supervision. I guess that makes sense. Except that it happens during the sacred "rest time." That is when they have to be on their beds reading or doing a quiet activity. They sneak out and explore the older kids' rooms. So, it was on one of these expeditions that Kiki found Andrew's box of push pins. I went upstairs after rest time and found these creations pinned to my bedroom wall and his bedroom wall. By the way, the drawing above is me "holding a broom." Mike will get a kick out of it because I also appear to have a rather pointy head and a cape.

December Daily--18

These kids love them some hot cocoa.
Kiki mixing the muffins.

When I brought the kids home from preschool, Kiki put his "glubs" on and went out to "help Dad shovel the snow." He got exhausted and came in to ask me if he could use the snow blower because it was just too much snow.

December Daily--17

There won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime.

I loved this song when it came out--I think I was eleven. I saw it on Friday Night Videos at my friend's house, then I waited with my boombox for it to come on the radio so that I could record it. I liked it then because I really liked George Michael. Now it makes me think of my Jessie.

December Daily--Dec. 16

Christian had his preschool program. He made the cutest little reindeer. He sang it loud and proud.
Andrew and Bev joined the school choir at the beginning of the year. They have been practicing Monday-Thursday mornings at 7:30 before school. It has been quite a challenge getting them up and ready. Mike has been a good sport getting them there.

Thanks to Ross for the pictures. My camera won't take pictures inside and far away. I have camera envy right now.

At the end of the program they did a number called the Reindeer Twist. Some of the singers got to come out in the audience and pick someone to come up and do the twist with them. Bev picked Jessica. Bev adores her. She told me that she was going to pick her because, "I'm so glad I have a sister, and she loves to dance."

Bev did a great job--she knew all the words and really got into the dancing.

Of course, so did Andrew.

He got into it. His favorite was the Mexican musical number. I just wish my kids would come out of their shells.

December Daily--Dec. 15

My not so secret dirty little secret......

This is the office/craft room. My craft room has always been a little bit junky--I do a lot of projects. This however, is just unacceptable and inappropriate. Usually the kids get to use and enjoy the craft room--right now it is too dangerous. This room ends up being the dumping ground for stuff I want to deal with later. Well, recently it has been the Christmas workshop--the storage for all of the elf work I do this time of year. Last night I stayed up late and got a lot of the Christmas projects done and almost all of the wrapping done. Now I am left with this disaster of a room. Since moving into this house, I have not tackled this room. Well, that is about to change. I am posting this as a "before" shot. I will be posting the "after" shots in a few days. Wish me luck. Oh, and I am really hoping for no spiders. That was the motivation as a teenager to try and keep my room clean. I have spider issues, and my mom, wise woman that she is, told me that if I made my bed and kept stuff off the floor the spiders would have no place to hide. There are a lot of places to hide in here.