Christmas #1

SO SUNDAY WE HAD OUR FIRST OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS. WE WENT TO LONGHORN WITH GRANDPA AND GRANDMA COW, VINCE AND JODY, JACLYN AND HARIOM, AND STACEY, HAILEY, CODY. DINNER WAS GREAT TARALYN ALWAYS LOVES STEAK SO SHE WAS IN PURE BLISS. THEN AFTER LUNCH WE HEADED OUT TO JODY AND VINCES. THE KIDS PLAYED WITH THE PUPPIES FOR AWHILE THEN WE OPENED GIFTS. TARALYN GOT A NEW PAIR OF RED BOOTS AND HUNTER GOT HIS BULL. THE BULL IS VERY EXCITING IT BY FAR IS THE GREATEST THING EVER TO HIM. HE RIDES IT CONSTANTLY. HE EVEN JUST SITS ON IT TO WATCH TV. OVERALL THE DAY WAS GREAT THE KIDS WERE ALL VERY HAPPY WITH THE GIFTS.

A VISIT FROM SANTA

AFTER THE CHURCH XMAS PROGRAM WE ALL STOOD AROUND THE CHURCH AND SANG JINGLE BELLS. THEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AT THE DOOR. LOW AND BEHOLD IT WAS GOOD OL JOLLY SANTA CLAUSE. WHAT A GREAT SURPRISE IT WAS FOR NOT ONLY THE KIDS BUT ALSO THE ADULTS. THE KIDS ALL GOT TO TELL SANTA WHAT THEY WANTED. IT WAS SO NICE SANTA CAME TO SEE US AT CHURCH AND SAVED US FROM WAITING 2 HOURS IN LINE AT A MALL. OF COURSE HUNTER SAW SANTA IN HIS STREET CLOTHES AT MAZZIO'S PIZZA THE OTHER DAY AND THOUGHT HE WAS A SNOWMAN. I THOUGHT I HAD FAILED AS A PARENT MY KID DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SNOWMAN AND SANTA. BUT NOW I THINK WE ARE ALL STRAIGHTNED OUT. THE KIDS CAN'T WAIT TO OPEN THIER PRESENTS.

Church Xmas Program

FRIDAY NIGHT THE KIDS WERE IN THE CHURCH XMAS PROGRAM. WE DID A LITTLE PLAY CALLED THE THREE TREES. TARALYN WAS TREE ONE WHICH WAS THE MANAGER. SHE MADE A GREAT LIITLE TREE. HUNTER WAS A WOODSMAN WHO HAD TO SAW DOWN THE TREES AND ROD CARRIED THEM OFF. HUNTER ALSO PLAYED JOSEPH AND MEGAN WAS MARY. THEY WERE OH SO CUTE. AT THE END THE KIDS ALL SANG US WE WISH YOU A MERRY XMAS. I THINK IT TURNED OUT GREAT THE KIDS ALL HAD FUN. OF COURSE ALL THE COOKIES AND FOOD AFTERWARDS IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL TREAT.

SUNDAY NIGHT

YES SO THOSE ARE PRESENTS WRAPPED UNDER THE TREE. I FINALLY GOT UP THE URGE TO WRAP THEM. LEE, TODD AND THE BABY CAME OVER TODAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE. WE TRIED WATCHING SOME FOOTBALL BUT WITH MY TWO WILD KIDS RUNNING AROUND THAT WAS A LOSS. POOR BAILEE MY NEVER HAVE A BROTHER OR SISTER AFTER LEE AND TODD HAVE HUNG AROUND MY TWO WILD MONKEYS. IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH MORE ATTENTION KIDS WANT WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE AROUND. KINDA LIKE THE MINUTE YOU GET ON THE PHONE THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN NEED YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. I STILL HAD FUN AND HAVING THE COMPANY WAS NICE.

WHERE TIME GOES

WELL IT HAS BEEN A MONTH TODAY THAT WE LOST NATHAN. ONE MONTH AGO TODAY I WOKE UP AND SAW NATHAN AND HUNTER ALL SNUGGLED UP IN THE BED BOTH SNORING. IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY TO ME. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TIME GOES BUT IT GOES BY EVERYDAY. EVERYDAY IS A STRUGGLE TO GET OUT BED AND TO GO TO BED. MY FEET HAVE NEVER BEEN SO COLD IN BED AS THEY HAVE BEEN THIS PAST MONTH. THE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT YOU MISS THE MOST. THE QUIETNESS IN THE HOUSE, THE EMPTY DRIVEWAY, SPAGHETTI ALL OVER THE KITCHEN, TOOTHPASTE SPLATTERED ON THE MIRROR. WOW HOW I MISS THE NOISE AND MESS..WORDS YOU NEVER THINK YOU WOULD SAY. I WOULD LOVE TO BE CLEANING EVERY POT AND PAN IN THE HOUSE AND TOOTHPASTE OFF THE MIRROR.

XMAS WISH LIST

OK MOTHER I GOT THE HINT...XMAS WISH LIST..SO MY WISH LIST IS ON AMAZON..IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.

XMAS SHOPPING

SO THE KIDS AND I ALL SPENT THE WEEKEND UP AT MY MOM'S. WHERE I MANAGED TO GET TWO NIGHTS YES TWO NIGHTS OF UNINTERRUPTED SLEEP THAT WOULD BE 9 HRS EACH NIGHT TO BE EXACT. I FEEL LIKE A NEW PERSON WHO NEW SLEEP COULD BE SO IMPORTANT. SATURDAY NIGHT LEE AND I WENT SHOPPING..AND SHOPPING..AND SHOPPING. IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD SHOPPING. NO KIDS NO WHERE TO BE JUST PURE JOYFUL XMAS SHOPPING. WHO NEW YOU COULD ACTUALLY SPEND TWO HOURS IN KOHLS.. REALLY WITH NO KIDS 2 HRS IN KOHLS. SO NOW THAT I HAVE MOST OF MY XMAS SHOPPING DONE. I HAVE ZERO DESIRE TO WRAP ANYTHING WHICH IS USUALLY MORE FUN TO ME THAN SHOPPING.. SO IF EVERYONE RECEIVES THEIR GIFTS IN THE STORE SACK WELL I MAY PUT A BOW ON IT. WELL TECHNICALLY I STILL HAVE 19 DAYS TO GET UP THE FEELING TO WRAP THE PRESENTS. I AM SURE THE URGE TO WRAP WILL COME TO ME.

TREE TIME--

YES AS I GAVE THE TURKEY HIS DUE..I WAITED TILL THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING TO PUT UP THE TREE. THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE THE TREE UP AND DECORATE IT WITH ORNAMENTS. HOW LONG THE ORNAMENTS WILL STAY ON THE TREE WITH OUR NEW LITTLE KITTY WE WILL SEE. BUT THE TREE IS UP AND LOOKS WONDERFUL. TARALYN AND I BOTH WERE WONDERING HOW I WAS GOING TO GET THE STAR ON THE TOP SINCE NATHAN ALWAYS DID THAT FOR ME. SO I WAS GOING TO JUST LEAVE IT OFF BUT TARALYN INSISTED IT BE ON SO I STOOD ON A CHAIR CLINGING TO LIFE ON THE MANTEL AND YES THE STAR IS THERE AND IT BETTER NOT FALL DOWN.

THANKSGIVING AT MIMI'S

WELL WE MADE IT THROUGH OUR 3RD THANKSGIVING DINNER SO FAR WITH TWO MORE TO GO!! WE HAD THANKSGIVING DINNER OVER AT MIMI'S THURSDAY. THE KIDS AND I MADE A BEAUTIFUL CENTERPIECE WHICH I MUST SAY I WAS VERY PROUD OF. POOR HIRAM GOT TIED TO HIS CHAIR BY HUNTER WITH LOTS OF HELP FROM AUNT JACLYN. OF COURSE WE GOT TO END DINNER WITH GRANDMA'S EVER SO GOOD PUMPKIN PIE. ALTHOUGH IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE THANKSGIVING DINNER WITHOUT NATHAN BESIDE ME, I KNOW I STILL HAVE LOTS TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

WONDERFUL WEATHER

WHO WOULD THINK THAT ITS ALMOST A MONTH FROM XMAS AND WE CAN PLAY OUTSIDE. THE KIDS LOVE BEING ABLE TO RUN AND PLAY OUTSIDE. GOOD THING MY DRIVEWAY IS LONG. OF COURSE I LOVE THE FACT THEY RUN OFF ENERGY OUTSIDE AND NOT INSIDE. MAYBE WE WILL ALL SLEEP BETTER TONIGHT WITH ALL THE FRESH AIR AND EXERCISE.

THANKSGIVING MARSHMALLOW ROAST

SO WE HAD THANKSGIVING AT THE LONG-BAKER ACRES SATURDAY. MOM THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO ROAST MARSHMALLOWS ON THE PILE OF BRUSH SHE WAS BURNING. GREAT IDEA EXCEPT THE SMOKE KEPT CHANGING DIRECTIONS AND THE FIRE WAS WAY TO HOT TO GET CLOSE. BUT OVER ALL WE DID GET SOME ROASTED AND THE KIDS HAD FUN.

SLUMBER PARTY!!

FRIDAY NIGHT LUCAS AND ADDI SPENT THE NIGHT WITH US. HUNTER AND ADDI ENJOYED LAYING IN BED AND WATCHING MOVIES. MEANWHILE LUCAS AND TARALYN WERE BUSY BUILDING A HOUSE FOR TARALYN'S CAT, TWILIGHT. WHILE TARALYN HAD PLANS TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. ALTHOUGH SHE WAS THE LAST ONE UP SHE DID COP OUT ON LUCAS AND LEFT THE LIVING ROOM TO SLEEP IN HER OWN BED.

OUR FAMILY'S LOST ONE

ON NOV 11TH I LOST THE MAN THAT I LOVED VERY DEEPLY. I APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVING SUPPORT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM SO MANY MANY PEOPLE. I COULD NEVER EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE I HAVE FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR MY FAMILY. EVERYDAY THROUGH THIS TRAGIC TIME IN MY LIFE GOD REMINDS ME OF ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT I AM LEFT WITH. IT IS AMAZING HOW MANY THINGS CAN REMIND YOU OF SOMEONE. I WILL MISS MY HUSBAND VERY MUCH AND I WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER THAT HE WAS SUCH A LOVING & COMPASSIONATE MAN.

HARD AT WORK

HUNTER WAS VERY BUSY HELPING DAD LOAD PAVERS ON PALLETS. EVEN THOUGH HE GRUNTED WITH EVERY LIFT AND KEPT SAYING HOW HEAVY THEY WERE HE DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING FUN ABOUT CARRYING THOSE PAVERS OVER TO THE PALLET AND THEN HE HAD TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE ON THE PALLET JUST RIGHT. HE EVEN CORRECTED MINE A COUPLE OF TIMES. HE IS OUR HARD LITTLE WORKER.

Weston Gymnastics

WESTON HAD HIS FIRST GYMNASTICS TOURNAMENT ON SUNDAY. HE DID SO WELL!! THEY DID THE UNEVEN BARS, FLOOR ROUTINE, THE RINGS, VAULT, AND PARALLEL BARS. THEY HAD TO WAIT IN BETWEEN FOR THEIR TURN AND HE SAT STILL FOR SO LONG. HE DID SO WELL HE BROUGHT HOME A 2ND PLACE FOR HIS AGE GROUP AND THE TEAM ALSO WON A TROPHY. WAY TO GO WESTON!!!

PICKING UP HEDGEAPPLES!!!

WELL IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE THOSE DARN OLD HEDGE APPLES JUST HAVE TO FALL. YOU KNOW THEY COULD CAUSE SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO YOU IF YOU JUST HAPPEN TO BE STANDING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME. THOSE THINGS ARE LARGE AND HEAVY. ANYWAY WESTON, TARALYN, AND HUNTER ALL HELPED PICK UP THE YARD FULL AT BRENDA'S. THE BEST THING ABOUT PICKING UP HEDGE APPLES IS RIDING ON THE MOWER WHETHER IT BE IN THE WAGON OR RIDING UP ON TOP. I THINK WE ENDED WITH ABOUT 3 OR 4 TRAILER LOADS SO MUCH FUN IT ALL RUNS TOGETHER. BUT THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT FOR SPENDING SOME TIME OUTDOORS.

TRICK OR TREATING

OUTSIDE SOME OF THE SPOOKY HOUSES

LOOK AT ALL THAT CANDY!!!!

WE WALKED TWO MILES WITH JACLYN, HIRAM AND WESTON TO GET ALL THAT CANDY. THERE WERE SOME GREAT SPOOKY HOUSES ALONG THE WAY THAT WE STOPPED TO GET A PHOTO OP!!! HAPPY TRICK OR TREATING TO YOU ALL!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

THIS YEAR TARALYN DECIDED TO BE A BLACK CAT OF COURSE AFTER NEW KITTY TWILIGHT. EASY ENOUGH TO DO BUT DRAWING STRAIGHT WHISKERS IS HARDER THEN YOU WOULD THINK. HUNTER WAS JOHN DEERE FIX IT MAN AKA BOB THE BUILDER I GUESS. HE LOVED WALKING AROUND WITH HIS TOOLS. NATHAN PAINTED HIS FACE UP TOO THIS YEAR. I THINK HALLOWEEN MIGHT BE HIS FAVORITE HOLIDAY- DRESS UP AND FREE CANDY. FORGET THE TWO MILE WALK TO GET THE FREE CANDY.