Christmas 2011: The Year of the Tornado

 Thanks to a couple of tornadoes in the area, we had our traditional Birthday Party for Jesus...sans electricity!

We had to put off the meal we had planned (hot dogs and french fries) and grab dinner out.  We debated what to do when we got home to the power still being out.  The estimated time it would be back on was 11am the next day.  So, we went out to the dollar store and stocked up on batteries and candles and went through with our plans.  The weather was mild...not too hot or cold.

 First we had a cupcake and sang  ♫Happy Birthday ♫

 Ruby enjoyed the candlelight as well.

We switched the camera over to using the flash to get better pics, so just imagine the rest with the same look as those first few. ha ha.

 Then we finished our "What God Wants For Christmas" Nativity Set.

 Ruby checking herself out in box #7 (a mirror! ooops spoiler alert!)

 Our advent wreath...isn't it beautiful?  We did a mix n match wreath last year but this year we got a real one! :)

 Then they opened one gift.  New school clothes...er...I mean pajamas! ha ha. We let them each pick a pair to wear to bed and this is what they picked.  They each had more Christmas-y ones, but oh well.

I also opened a gift, a new knife block set, and Corey opened a gift, two tees from 80stees.com.

 Ruby's first gift ever.  She was SO excited when we put it in front of her.  Finally, all that being pulled away from the gifts was over! And.....she just wanted to bite it.

 Opening gifts by candlelight.  You have to imagine this like the first few pictures.  They really couldn't see anywhere except where the flashlights were shining.

 Christmas 2011! Ruby picked the right pjs!

 The power came back on earlier than expected at 6am, so when I got up with Ruby we came to rearrange the gifts for the next morning.  She got a little sneak peak/taste of the family gift.

 YAY! Katie finally got up so Noah could come open gifts!

 Noah's "want" gift: a remote control motorcycle.

 Katie's "want" gift: a new doll and canopy bed for the doll.

 breakfast! bacon, eggs, pancakes.

 A little gift from Katie to keep Ruby busy at the table.  It was a math mitten.

 Opening the family gift together...a Clearplay DVD player.

 "Santa" brought a stocking full of many yummy things for Ruby.

 Ruby's "want" gift: a ball popper.  

 Santa found many a great value on Amazon this year!

Doll accessories and furniture, video games, and LEGOS!

We had a very memorable start to the Christmas season this year.  Now to find somewhere to put it all! :)

Christmastime is Here

As we were out and about on Black Friday, we drove by a storefront where a woman was painting the windows with Peanuts characters.  I really loved it and wanted to do it on our windows.  We've been so busy I didn't have a chance to do it until today.  This is how the panels are arranged.  Because of the way our porch is set up I had to take individual photos and put them in a collage.

Corey then added multicolored lights around the window.

Christmastime is here!

Right Now

I'm totally copying  this from a friend who posted this today.  I've maybe done a post like this once or twice.  What I WISH I was posting is pictures from my brother's wedding last weekend, but I have none. :(  It was beautiful and fun, and I hope to see some pictures soon!

So, here we go:

right now i am…

watching:  Noah put up his DS before bed.
eating: nothing at the moment, but about to dig into the cookie dough again.
drinking:  not enough water.  <--same as my friend.  
wearing: gray and yellow striped pajama pants, white socks, black nursing tank and nursing bra.
avoiding:  cleaning.  
feeling: happy that I stocked up BIG time at Aldi today.  Very productive day in the food department which reminds me I bought a hummus "quartet" sampler....maybe I'll try some of that too!
missing: Corey.  It's been way too  busy around here.  Between the wedding last weekend, his school work, and his practices for the church Christmas play, I've barely seen him at all lately! 
thankful:  for the full cupboard, my sweet healthy baby, my smart healthy children, and for Christmas fun!
weather:  45 is the high today.  TDC.  (too dang cold) <---same answer as my friend. She's my neighbor. :)
praying:  for a peaceful December.
needing:  to clean the house and get some homemade Christmas gifts started/made!
thinking: about the latest experiment in getting Ruby to stop waking up randomly in the night. Hope it works!
loving:  cooking (lately).