Sacrificing for the boys

Sometimes scout leaders do things for the boys that they would otherwise NEVER do...

A Penny for your thoughts.

We had the typical christmas morning with gifts and all. Now that a couple of days have passed it's easier to tell which toys are the real favorites. Penny is the family favorite by far. She's a prolific pooper but we love her all the same.

Casting Call

We act out the Christmas story every Christmas Eve. This year we had fewer to participate but did it all the same. Joshua was Joseph, Lily was Mary, Kerrigan was an Angel and Ryan played the role of all sheperds. Penny played camel/goat/sheep. It was great in spite of a small domestic custody rights dispute between Josh and Lily. We eventually all busted up uncontrollably laughing in the end. Josh got custody, put the baby in the manger and promptly climbed in with him. Leigh Anne saved the evening by suggesting we watch a DVD version which helped to transition from laughter to feeling the spirit. We had great laughs and a great close to the night. Definitely a night to be remembered!

What's under the tree?

Who do YOU think wants this puppy the most?

Thumb's Up Santa!

Josh sat on Santa's lap tonight and when Santa gave him a goodie bag, Josh smiled and gave him a big thumbs up!

The Real Thing

Mom picked up these itty-bitty coke glasses and the kids LOVE them! Macaroni and cheese is SO much better when it comes next to a package like this.

Snack Time

This is how it's properly done.

Cocoa-Latte!

Ah...how sweet it is! Tammy and Clint introduced us to this fine little appliance and we've been using it daily ever since. Hot cocoa has seriously become popular here!

How's YOUR mood today?

Kerrigan was in a mood. I came in and she was all mood. I walked back in with a camera. Funny how a camera can change everything. In the end we had a good little talk...and some fun.

Gastroenteritis -- that's what's for dinner!

This was not the way I imagined starting the Thanksgiving holiday. Everyone huddled on the floor together just wondering who will throw up next. Joshua went down first -- threw up for hours driving home from Spokane last Saturday. he's fine now and smiling as you can see. Then it was me. This morning Lily got hit hard but is improving and now Leigh Anne has the worst part. I hope Kerrigan is smiling because she knows she won't get it!

Big Helper

Joshua is always quick to dive in and help out...sometimes it's hard to get things done when he's helping but he LOVES helping daddy!

The Good Things.

Kerrigan does some of the sweetest little things. This is a little card she made for me and left on my nightstand the other night. I find little things like this all the time. When she was little they were no more than mashed up things made of paper and tape with random scribbles. I can't count the number of times she has made a bed for Little Bear on my nightstand. This one was particularly nice. I think she's a great artist too -- love the tree!

What do you remember?

What do you remember most about those trips to the temple for Mom and Dad? Let's face it -- as a kid we weren't thinking of the temple! I remember going to the pool.

We just got back from our first trip to the Spokane temple. It was great. Two other families made the trip with us and we swaped babysitting so we could go to the temple. This is a shot of the kids before we ran off to the morning session. My guess is they'll remember the pool. It's tough to top a waterslide.

This Horse Rocks!

Joshua has been in the saddle a lot lately. He just loves this horse. Papa Ted actually made this years ago for Kerrigan. I think Ted asked what Kerrigan wanted for Christmas, Leigh Anne said "Rocking horse" and he got to work. A few months later we received this beautiful horse. He's got some miles behind him between Kerrigan and Lily -- so his leather ears and his tassel tail are pretty much missing and he's got a few scars here and there. None of this slows Josh. It's just a great rocking horse. It will last forever. Knowing grandpa made it by hand makes it even better.

Tinker bell can come back to bite you!

Josh thinks these glasses are so cool! He was loving these tinker-bell glasses and would hardly take them off -- I just had to get a picture...who knows where this will pop up in the future...