Christmas Eve

Our church hosts a Christmas Eve service at the local ice skating rink every year. There are Chrstimas carols, a seeker-friendly message, and then free skating and hot chocolate. Lots of people from the community come out. This year the attendance was very low due to this weather, but Don took Nathan and Patience and they all had a great time. Patience has no fear according to Nathan, and by the end of the evening was skating very fast (still with the training aid).

When they got home the girls had baths, put out cookies for Santa and treats for the reindeer, and then went to bed where visions of sugar plums danced in their heads...

Pork Loin Crown Roast

Last night we cooked and ate this lovely roast. I've always wanted to do a crown roast. It was delicious...the stuffing was incredible.

Visit with Santa

Krause Berry Farm hosted a pancake breakfast with Santa this morning, so of course we went even though there was fresh snow from last night. We got the girls all dressed up and they were so excited they could hardly stand themselves! Neither of them have met Santa yet. Of course Patience was eager to hop onto his lap and give him her request. And of course Jordyn was reticent and had to be coaxed with a candy cane! Nick couldn't care one way or another!

Nick-Bo-Bick

Nick's Stocking

Don's great grandmother knitted the boys their Christmas stockings when they were little. Since she passed away before the Littles were born, my dear parents have been getting knitted stockings for them as they came along. Here is Nick in his stocking:

Christmas Tree 2008

Yesterday Lee and I left at around 11 to drive down to Seattle to pick up Nathan. The PNW had just gotten a dump of snow the day before so we were a little concerned about the driving conditions, but for the most part I-5 was clear and we made it down without incident. We picked him up at 3 and were home by 6, just in time to eat the pizza that Don had brought home and decorated the Christmas tree. We had a great evening...the girls loved decorating and singing Christmas carols. Here are some pics!

Me and my tiny shadow...

I can't remember ever being tethered to a baby like this...it seems like I'm always with Nick and usually holding him. Even when we're sleeping! I guess it's safe to say that "bonding" has occurred!

Snow Day!

We woke up to a light dusting of snow this morning, and it continued to snow all day long. I'm hoping my parents aren't watching any weather forecasts for the PNW or they might postpone their trip. My mom is not a fan of snow. I let the girls go out and play in their pajamas, knowing that whatever they wore out there would be wet and would need to be changed anyway. They made snow angels and did lots of snow tasting.

Sean and Sam

Last night the Sea Cadet corps had their annual Christmas mess dinner, and the photographer snapped this very cute picture of Sean and his "special friend," Sam. They've been special friends for a l-o-n-g time now, so I've decided to get my head out of the sand and embrace the situation. First step: invite Sam to help us decorate our tree on Friday night. If our family doesn't scare her away, maybe Sean should try to hang onto her : ) Besides, you gotta love a girl who dresses like this!

More Stinkin' Cute Baby!

Is it just me, or is he getting cuter every day?

Christmas Calendars!

Last night Don and I decided that this year we were going to really do Christmas, despite the fact that December was half over. We've never really made Christmas memories with the Littles because of our industry. But we closed last night with 35 trees left to sell, so we decided we'd get rid of them and not cut and sell anymore. Don spent the day outside in freezing weather, selling trees for basement bargain prices and cleaning up the yard, disassembling tree stands, etc. At the end of the day we have 15 left, and he's going to try to get those wholesaled to a desperate tree lot owner.

So, we made a list of all the things we wanted to do, and making Christmas calendars was on that list. This was a family tradition while Val and I were kids, and all of our older kids always enjoyed their Christmas calendars, which they made on Thanksgiving. Like I said, the month is half over, so I made smaller calendars that go from today until Christmas. I think a shorter period might be better for the girls anyway. Each day has either candy, a present, or both. The girls can't believe their good fortune!

Saturday morning snuggles...

I took these early this a.m. before Don got dressed and braved the frigid temperatures to go sell Christmas trees. He's hopeful that he'll sell them all today; my bet is that we'll be open through the weekend. There's no snow or rain today, just cold and clear, so the weather is working for us!

Extra points to anyone who can figure out what's different about Jordyn!

The Gift of Time!

Don and Waneta knew just what we needed with a new baby this tree-selling season: time and convenience! When they came down yesterday they gave us a very generous gift card to M&M Meats, which is a place that sells very high-end, gourmet convenience foods.

I took advantage of the girls' preschool session and went this afternoon to spend my giftcard and fill my freezer.

Here's everything in the back of the Yaris. Among other things, I got: stuffed chicken breasts (2 types), stuffed baked potatoes, a huge shrimp ring, meatballs, lasagne, shepard's pie, a baked brie (Mom, save a few WW points for when we bake that puppy!), burritos, creme brulee, tiramisu, hamburger patties, and more! Dinner for the next little while is going to be delicious and easy! Thanks, Mom & Dad! You guys rock!

The Murphys Visit...

Yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting with Don and Waneta for a short time. Here are some pics of Waneta with grandkids #7, #8, and #9...see what you can get even if you have only two children? Check back later today for a post of the very generous gift that they brought us.

All we want for Christmas...

After we dropped Nathan off at the bus stop in Bellingham, we went by Val's to visit and she let the girls play with her last puppy. They liked him a lot, but I think prefered Barney the cat. At one point Jordyn said, "it's just like a real puppy!"

Sling Fun

Nick and I are getting the hang of the sling!

My ongoing conversation with Nick...

Inspired from Perdita and Roly from 101 Dalmations:

(1 am) Nick: Mommy, I'm hungry!
Mommy: Nick, you can't be hungry! You just ate an hour ago...
Nick: I'm hungry, really I am!

(2 am) Nick: Mommy, I'm hungry!
Mommy: Nick, you can't be hungry! You just ate an hour ago...
Nick: I'm hungry, really I am!

(3 am) repeat
(4 am) repeat
(5 am) repeat
(6 am) repeat

My 4 sons...

Here they are, enjoying the San Jose Sharks vs. Edmonton Oliers game. Notice Nathan's Shark spirit is soaring!

Murphy's Tree Farm Lite

For those have been wondering what Don's "driveway tree farm" looks like, here are some pics of Saturday around noon. It's raining, but customers are still coming! This is the first year in 4 years that Lee hasn't spent the first couple of weeks of December helping us. We miss him!

Nathan got the day off work yesterday so he came home. He took the 1:00 bus and Nick and I picked him up in Bellingham at 3. After a quick stop at Edaleen, we got home in time for Nathan and Dylan to take the girls to Chuck E. Cheese's before Dylan's "movie night" at a friend's house. I found out last night that Nathan's motivation for these Chuck E. Cheese trips, which the girls absolutely love, is not purely selfless. It turns out that CEC has some good-looking girls working there, which is why Dylan jumped at the chance to go. Whatever. It gets the girls out of the house for a couple of hours!

Nathan spent the evening reaquainting himself with NHL.com and purchasing 6 Shark tickets for January. So, yeah, Nathan is a pretty happy guy right about now.

Dylan slogging trees. If I ever complain about my teenage sons again, please point me to this picture.

There's Nathan.

One stinkin' cute baby

I know I'm the mom so I'm a little partial, but Nick has gotten so darn cute in the past couple of weeks I can hardly stand it! I think he's getting tired of face kisses : )

Where in the world is Jordyn?

I couldn't see her nor hear her so I was getting nervous. Right before I started running to find her (and the havoc I was sure she was wreaking) I saw her peaking out from behind the glider, quietly watching Thomas the Train like a gr girl ("good girl" in Jordynese).

Sleep in Heavenly Peace...

Nick is getting into the spirit of the season!

Fall Concert

Here is a photo that our friends (and carpool partners) forwarded to me. You can see Sean "t-boning" in the middle of the photo. The concert was good but painfully long.

Happy December!

Here is a bright and cheery Nick on December 1st ! Despite a difficult night due to congestion and a cough, he's a happy baby. Don and I just commented last night that Nick hasn't had a fussy evening for a while now. I think we can safely say he's over that.

Now he's counting down the days until his grandma and grandpa arrive from California. He appreciates good care, and no one cares like grandparents : )