Christmas 2009

We just cannot seem to get the perfect family photo.
Maybe I am too picky.

Someone is always out of focus, or has a double chin or isn't smiling.
But these are a few pretty good ones.

My mom was a genius and did the peace sign, rabbit ears
behind my father's head as he took the picture
so we were all cracking up.
Best smiles ever!

My lovely 16 year old baby with her mother,
before church and dinner out on Christmas Eve.
She has grown to be a 1/4 inch taller than I am at 5'7".
I am crazy about every inch of her!

Our Darlings

John is trying to put a sweet face on here in spite of the fact that he was so upset. He had gone for a mountain bike ride and came home with very muddy bike clothes. I scooped them up and washed them while he was in the shower. When he got out and went looking for his I Phone, guess where it was? (his wallet too). His life is stored on that phone.

We put it in rice and it is finally today reactivating, thankfully. But that night, he could not shake off his disappointment until the church service. They played a short clip, movie about a man who had had a very bad year, no job, bills in the mail box, big family to support and then lost his father. He slipped in the snow and just stayed down. After that, John was able to enjoy his own Christmas with a fresh perspective. It is always so magical when Church can help give you that kind of gift.

(And John, who is the most amazing person I know,
never even 'blamed' me!! lol)

Grandma Judy sent Bailey this very special doll, above.
She has named her Ashley
(and sometimes Alex after her middle name).
Baby Rose has a new sister and Bailey loves being a mommy.

This bear was a gift to Britton years ago.
Bailey wanted to have her picture taken with him
so I got some really good ones of her with...oh, its a girlbear.

Bailey adores this little Jesus in the manger.
She wrapped it and put it under the tree,
then opened it about three times since we set it out.
(Too bad its a homely little version of our savior!)

John's parents sent a cheese cake so we had a birthday party for baby Jesus. Christmas Eve, late, we sat around the fireplace and the tree with Christmas music, egg nog, a few gifts opened and a story or two and then watched 'The Nativity' before bed.

(After we sang 'Happy Birthday' and Bailey blew out the candle, we went around the room sharing what we were most grateful to God for this year. There were some beautiful words spoken. Bailey and Britton both expressed how thankful they are for their family.
I kept trying not to tear up.)

Christmas morning...

I only took a very few shots so I could 'be' there but I am so glad I got these...

Grandmother Leah gave John and Barrington matching Black, rocker shirts.
They loved them!

John and I thought these PJ bottoms would be cute on Christmas Morning.

Santa brought her fancy blue dress and a pink kitchen and Aunt Shelly sent the perfect cupcake baking kit. She has not stopped playing yet.

Hope everyone had a very special Christmas.

Bailey the Christmas Priss

Today is John's Birthday and he is off work for the holidays, (Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!) so we are in full Christmas mode already. Britton gave Bailey her bath this morning and dressed her in Barrington's favorite dress (thanks Uncle Jim and Marilou!) and did her hair. Bailey was feeling extra cute and happy so Britt took some shots of her showing off in full 'Priss Mode'.

Britton seems to be able to get her to play for the camera way better than I can!

I interrupt the display of 'Princess Priss' for a moment to bring you a little teenage romance...

David came to dinner to spend some time with Britton and exchange gifts. (With all the sports they are both involved in, they don't see each other outside of school very often), but He had been telling her she was really going to like the present he had bought for her and boy did she...

A floating heart with diamonds that he picked out himself.
She was thrilled.

(The ring she is wearing is one I have had since I was 16. It just happened that it was given to me by an old boy friend too. There was another ring also with pearls that he had given to me a few years after, one Christmas. I gave it to Barrington for his 18th birthday since that was the age I was when I received it. He gave it to Rachel right before they went to homecoming.
I know this might seem a little strange but these were special to me at the time and I had saved them for my future children since college. John reluctantly understands. lol. No really, John is very secure in our marriage, as well he should be. And he often find himself understanding of my sometimes peculiar ways... hehe)

Anyway, I enjoy watching my teenagers in their first relationship and how cute they all are.

The jacket David is wearing is from Britton. (Barrington went with her to pick it out and was drooling over it.) David didn't take it off the rest of the night, even though we were sitting by the fire in the living room after dinner. Also, we asked David if he wanted to say the prayer before the meal and he accepted graciously...and did a great job!
(I just have to log all these sweet things in to remember later.)

Grandmom and Granddaddy told Britton and David some stories about their own dating years.
And they both really enjoyed hearing them!


Okay, back to the Christmas Priss...

(Every little thing she does makes us smile. She laughs outloud and we can't help but laugh too. She is just such a bright little light in our household and the joy she is feeling as Christmas draws near, spreads into every room)

Look at all those stuffed animal 'friends' that Bailey has organized on the middle of the sofa.
She is really enjoying TOYS.
I can't wait to see what she does on Christmas morning!

Needless to say, she is having a blast with her grandparents.
And all the family home together.

Our little cutie pie...
who is really turning into a four year old, big girl. Below, is Britton's favorite shot of all (guess who showed her how to pose like this!?! Wonder which one is the biggest Christmas Priss of all?)...

Hope you don't mind my sharing this kind of casual family life post but since its Christmas,
I thought I could get away with it!!
(PS As I type, John is on the phone with his parents getting the 'one year closer to death! song. We miss not being with them this year but plan to keep in close phone contact!!)
And I do hope to post again for Christmas, if I can.

Bailey's Preschool Christmas BASH

I forgot to mention something cool...(This is actually the last picture first). Bailey is leaving with her loot. The school collected gently used 'gifts' from all the families then had the kids earn 10 quarters to spend. They carefully 'shopped' in a make shift store and bought presents for all their family members. The teachers helped wrap them and Bailey is so excited to have us open them on Christmas morning. Its great that she is almost more excited to give than to receive! I love that she gets to have that experience at such a young age. (I just hope John doesn't get his same tie back!)

bAILEY'S CUTE LITTLE PRESCHOOL

sO FUN TO HAVE gRANDMOM Mi Mommy COme shaRe THe dAY

Duck duck Goose
(lot of farm animals at school)

Bailey's close friend, Avery

A Tree dedicated entirely to kid decorations

Grandmom watches as Bailey decides to get on Santa's lap.

She did it!

Another good friend, Sarah and Miss Terry and Miss April, the teachers.

My favorite ones..Bailey's foot print and hand prints made a rain deer.

No horse back riding lately.

Bailey and Mi Mommy
(I must say, this has been the best visit.
It has taken all this time for Bailey to warm up all the way to her grandmomma
but now it is set in stone. They are so close this Christmas, and I am So happy about it!)

Click here to see the crafts in large. For some reason they are really cute, 'big/!

Christmas Happenings

There is so much going on, I can hardly find time to log anything in much less take any pictures. We took Bailey to the mall, all dressed up in her new Christmas mary janes, to see Santa and find a new outfit for me to wear to John's company party. Plus Santa shopping, etc. Bailey also had her preschool party where Santa visited. She actually went and sat on his lap, although it was iffy there, and she wouldn't make eye contact. But she was excited to see him. She wants a 'fancy blue dress' for Christmas. That is,,, the Cinderella dress -up gown at Target. She spotted it a month ago and still remembers it with high hopes. (It is under the tree already! But they sold out of the shoes! I will have to go back another time)
Last night John got a hotel room with a waterfront view and we checked in, dressed for the party and had a great time. (Except I could hardly walk in my new pointy high heel pumps..and they were so pretty too, Something to be said for not having practice in years. ) The people John works with and their spouses have all become really great friends over the years so its very fun to be with them. The after party was on one couple's boat and I stayed up past midnight, which I never do anymore. I cannot even stay up for the midnight Christmas Eve, candlelight service, which is so special. Tomorrow is my mother's 68th Birthday. We are surprising her with a limo driven Christmas lights tour. They will arrive at 5pm to pick us all up and she has no idea. I can't wait to see her expression. (luckily, we will be home before its late!)
John's birthday is also coming up and I still have to plan that!

Happy Birthday next week to my brother Tommy!!
And to my Uncles John and Bubba and my cousin Jennifer.

I have some shots of Bailey's preschool party where she wore that same Santa dress again!
I will come back soon and post them here, a few were very cute.
I am thinking of all my sweet blog buddies, friends and family very often and hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas time!

Star Struck

"Dis One, I made!"

She is so proud of all five ornaments that she made
with her own two precious little hands that are hanging on the tree!

Christmas Card

Lonely in the Snow

“Loneliness adds beauty to life.
It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.”
- Henry Rollins

Leaving A Light On

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
~Henry Van Dyke


(Adding a few more to keep them with this set)

Through The Woods

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Robert Frost
'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'

“When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, we hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago, and etched on vacant places are half-forgotten faces of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know.”

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

My parents arrived yesterday and so it feels like the holidays have really begun. It doesn't look like I am going to get a Christmas card out this year, (first time ever) so please accept one of these 'cards' that I have been working on. We never did get a family portrait. I promise to try harder next year!

The Road Home

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave,
and grow old wanting to get back to”
-John Ed Pearce

Home for the Holidays

Oh there's no place like home
For the holidays, 'cause no matter
How far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can't beat
Home, sweet home

click here to hear it.

O Holy Night

This is my overly ambitious attempt to glorify a humble stable in hopes of drawing forth the feeling I get from this song, this time of year...

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

click here to hear it...

Seeing Through To The Mystery of Christmas

"Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things - trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's a small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say."

Puddleglum - The Silver Chair


(Click here to see these in large.)

Hope everyone is enjoying this time of year.
We are keeping busy. Bailey is just having a blast with every Christmas detail.
I will try to get some photographs soon to post.
Please keep Britton in your prayers.
We are planning her hernia surgery and that is always a little scary.

Bailey the Wee Singer

From our home to yours,

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

This past weekend, Bailey was a part of a little performance where the 3/4 year olds along with the 5/6 year olds opened for quite a grand Christmas musical of 7 to 14 year olds at church. The Wee Worship Singers were the 'carolers' on earth where the 'angels in heaven' of the musical watched them. They had three rehearsals for this and had to wear jeans/jean skirts, their Peace on Earth T shirts, snow hats and scarfs. (Thanks Paula for making Baileys beautiful wool twisty scarf!) Bailey adored every minute of this even though it was the second time this week she had to go on stage. Her nutcracker performance was adorable but we did not get any footage, so please excuse this rather lengthy and rough video but we loved every minute of it too!

Its Beginning to look alot like Christmas

A little warmth before you are plunged into the cold...

Unprecedented SNOW fell down on us...

It is really looking like Christmas Time. Too bad it won't last!

Bailey's snowsuit is a hand-me-down from my friend Tracy's girls to Joanne's girls and now to us. I think I might keep it for all of our granddaughters now. It has too much history. I'm glad Bailey got a chance to wear it before she outgrows it too!

The children were all out at first light, making snow angels, having snow ball fights, throwing snow balls for Bronze (who was so confused to have it disappear in his mouth), sled riding on the snowboard and making a snowman...

Snow in California! CraZy!

I got a wild hair and textured the kids snowman with Glory's snowflake cookies and loved how it turned out. Click here to see it in large and some other processed shots.

Snow brings out the 'child' in my teenagers...

Snowball fight or keep away from Bronze? I was yelling at Bman not to slip and rebreak his arm, but,... "he is 18 and doesn't have to listen". When he tried to snowboard down the yard, I drew the line and threatened NO car!! (Mothers always have tricks up their sleeves. lol)

We also have been decorating finally. Bailey, snuggled in her new pink bathrobe, did just what I always did as a child, played dolls with the Mary, Joesph, baby Jesus and the whole crew...

Bailey and I went to a Gingerbread making party and this is our masterpiece...

dON'T LAUGH!!

And then decorated the tree...

She is getting some use out of this dress while she still can!

All of the very bottom branches are filled with ornaments!
It's so funny. I am trying not to be a perfectionist and rehang them!!

Pulling out some very special ornaments like this 'Bear with a Boat' that Uncle Bubba and Aunt Cindy gave to Barrington when he was so tiny. That had been his nursery theme.

Origami Ornament

John picked her up this year, to hang a few on the high branches and I was bummed I didn't get a shot. Barrington got out his broom stick to hang the high ones from the balcony. It is his annual job he never minds doing.

Britton's grandmothers bought this Ballerina for her when we were all together in Canada one summer.

One of the Chinese Ornaments that we bought for Bailey in Beijing to be the special ones she hangs each year. (They force me to bring the subject up!! Its important to talk about China and adoption a little every now and then so that it never comes as a surprise.)

Bailey spotted this bear in the attic and now its her favorite. This bear is too special to throw out even though it's going on 25 years old. The MacIntosh family gave it to me when I was their babysitter and I had it on my bed in College.

Finally, Britton had Kelly over and they made a giant gingerbread boy. Kelly went to a new school last year but is back this year so it is so great to see them back together. Click here to see their Christmas Baking pictures from two years ago. They have grown up so much!

Bailey's Birthday Party

Thanks to my friends Behnaz and Glory's amazing talents, sweet little party guests and Bailey's Ballet teacher, her party was everything she had dreamed it would be. She has been so excited for her 'Bird Day'.

Glory emailed this morning to say the party was famous...click here to see it featured on her favorite party planning blog.

Glory came over the night before and hung her fabulous creation
...snowflake ballerina ceiling centerpiece.

The Snowflake Ballerina Princess Birthday Dress!

I served my mother's recipe for Rainbow Sherbet Punch
(Sans Champagne!)

Glorious Treats Makes Dreams Come True

Way too many pictures again...I have such a hard time cutting them out and also I want her to be able to remember every pretty, dreamy, magical detail.

Ballet Dancing

Aunt Shelly's tutu was used for the pattern for Raina's mom, Behnaz to make the party favor tutus that also made 'ballerinas' out of the dining room chairs.

Bailey saying 'thank you' to Miss Elece.
She handled all of this attention very graciously.
She amazes me.

At least this little ballerina would hold still for a good picture. I think every shot of Bailey was a little hurried. I will have to try to get one good shot of her in this dress another time.

Snowflake cookie Decorating

opening birthday gifts

John came home from work to be there. We really do think we have the best Dad in the world. Barrington and Britton also took a little rest time home from school so they could be there (and continue to really take it easy. They are still not 100%)

And having ballerina cupcakes...I wish I could have captured the expression on her face when everyone sang 'Happy Birthday dear BaiYleeee". I think its the first time a large group had ever done this for her and she was...amazed. Priceless.

Little Grace wrote 'BaIlEy' on the back the 'paper doll'. We are going to keep it forever!

If you can believe it, I might come back and add even a few more! Thanks for coming on to look and putting up with all the shots I can never choose from!!

Happy Birthday sweet Princess.
You are so excited to be a big girl, 4 year old, And
You are so very loved and adored by your devoted family!!

Bailey's Birthday

We are so busy today, but I wanted to save a place on this date, to put the pictures I will hopefully get of today. This is a last year shot but it's one of my favorites. And some pictures Glory took of the snowflake cookie she made for Bailey's party.

Happy 4th Birthday Precious Girl! We love you so very much.

Santa Bailey

Bailey was so excited to put on her new Santa dress (that she chose herself at Macy's while we were in San Francisco). I kept telling her she had to wait until after Turkey day so the very next day, look out. Then after all that waiting, she wanted to take it off after less than an hour. lol

We are beginning to decorate the house and its starting to feel like Christmas a little but we have had to put off making the annual trek to cut down our tree until next weekend. Britton is still so sick and Barrington had a snowboarding accident. He broke his collar bone and had a concussion but is healing well. (I had a long drive to go get him, trying not to panic because the ski resort medics decided to have an ambulance take him to the local hospital when he couldn't say his phone number, day or birth date correctly. After I arrived, John was an hour behind me, he fell asleep for half hour and woke up fine.)
We have just had a very quiet Thanksgiving here and kept the kids low key. Bailey's cold is still hanging on also. It has been going on for what feels like forever.
I have been playing nurse maid (mostly serving maid) but its been cozy family time with fires in the fireplace and now, as of today...Television. Yep, we finally caved and got it back after
over four years. We are all glued to all the christmas movies!
Someone is going to have to come over here and pry us away with a tire iron!
I'm Kidding, of course, John has taken mountain bike rides everyday, Britton manages to keep her homework in front of her all the time and Barrington squeezes in visits from friends.

Yay! Its officially Christmastime!!

I saw my first TV commercial, (they are not too bad the first time) it was "Give the gift of Bailey this year" haha...Bailey's Irish Cream.

Click here to see a cool shot of Bailey.

Hope everyone had a really wonderful Thanksgiving.