There were two special people that weren't able to make it to Alabama.

Lara and Jim are dearly missed. We try and keep them updated with text messaging and phone calls. Before we had kids I made some wood ornaments. Grandma and Danny are helping Lil B decorate his tree. I thought that this picture was sweet cuz Lil B is pointing up at the star that Grandma just put up.

Grandma sure has her hands full. Lil Brian is playing in the box that Grandma Anderson sent.

Grandma Mitchell is helping me with a In n Out quilt made out of old t-shirts.

This one is for Jerry and Kristy. Sadie is having a good time. We'd find Padmae in Sadies bed and it seems that Sadie's fine with it.

Grandma Mitchell made a beautiful cross stitch for Lucas.

I'd love to post more pictures but Lucas wants to eat so I'll try and post some tomorrow. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.

Cookies and Mario Party

It's been so fun having Grandma and Grandpa here along with Danny. Tuesday Mom and I went shopping and later that night we decorated sugar cookies. Little Brian was happy with just eating the cookie dough but Grandma was able to help him get out a few shapes for Santa. It's a neat tradition to decorate sugar cookies in the Mitchell family in the years past.

After we got our fill of sugar we introduced Danny and Grandma to Mario Party 8. We had a good time.

Taking a break

I'm just checking in and taking a break from finishing up a few last things before my In laws get here on Monday. It'll be a cozy house with 5 adults, 1 toddler, 1 baby,and 3 dogs. It'll be fun. I'm looking forward to it. We went and bought a new air mattress cuz the old one died during the night while my Sis in Law stayed with us. Poor Lara.

Sadie (I'll post a picture later) is staying with us while Jerry, Kristy, and their family are in Utah. She is one of the sweetest dogs I know. She doesn't seem to mind Little Brian crawling all over her. The weather has been short sleeved t-shirt kinda weather but they promise that it'll get chilly for Christmas. Meanwhile my Sister in Law has been getting snow in Victorville (it's pretty rare cuz she lives in the desert). She'd post pictures but is having computer problems. I gotta get back to my To Do List. If I don't check in before hand I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.

I was looking for an old picture and realized that one of my firsts posts was pictures from last years Christmas in California. It seems like we got together for paintball and it looks like we'll be doing it again this year except I'll watch the guys play instead. This might be the start of a tradition. Christmas paintballing.
It was fun to look back at last year and reminisce. New Years at Laras. Aunt Lynn's Christmas party. Great times. I will miss my family and Sister in Law but am thankful to have my In Laws and Danny here for Christmas.

Brian and I were discussing how we were going to open presents. Growing up my family someone played Santa and we went from Youngest to Oldest taking turns. We'd watch the receiver open the present and when that person was done we'd move on to the next person. Come to find out it drove Brian crazy -waiting for someone to open the gift. Brian's family members take turns distributing each of the gifts and said a huge thank you in the end. I'm pretty sure that there is more to it so I'll double check with him. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Overall the important thing is that a whole lot of thought went into the gifts and that they were given out of love.
So I was just curious on how does your family open gifts Christmas morning?

Christmas Poem....(author unknown)

'Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the town

Not a sign of Baby Jesus

was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy

with Christmas time chores

Like decorating, baking,and shopping at stores.

No one sang, "Away in a Manger

no crib for a bed"

Instead, they sang of Santa

dressed-up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart,

Papa drank "rootbeer" from a tap.

As hour upon hourthe presents they'd wrap.

When what from the T.V.

did they suddenly hear?'

Cept an ad...which told

of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall

they all flew like a flash...

Buying things on credit...and others with cash!

And, as they made their way home

From their trip to the mall,

Did they think of Jesus?Oh, no...not at all.

Their lives were so busy

with their Christmas time things

No time to remember

Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap

and cookies to bake.

How could they stop and remember

who died for their sake?

To pray to the Saviour...they had no time to stop.

Because they needed more time

to "Shop 'til they dropped!"

On Wal-Mart! On K-Mart!On Target!

On Penney's!On HallMark! On Zales!

A quick lunch at Denny's

From the big stores downtown

to the stores at the mall

They would dash away, dash away,

And visit them all!

And up on the roof,there arose such a clatter

as grandpa hung icicle lights

upon his brand new step ladder.

He hung lights that would flash.

He hung lights that would twirl.

Yet, he never once prayed "to" Jesus...

Light of the World.

Christ's eyes...how they twinkle!

Christ's spirit...how merry!

Christ's love...how enormous!

All our burdens...He'll carry!

So, instead of being busy,overworked, and uptight

Let's put Christ back in Christmas

and enjoy some good nights!

Breakfast with Santa

This morning we had breakfast with Santa. The Primary kids were invited to come eat Santa pancakes (whip cream for hat and beard, cherries for his hat and nose, bananas for his eyes and ears, and chocolate chips for eyes) Oh and little sausages and orange juice. It was so cute.They decorated sugar cookies, made little thumbprint ornaments and each left with a stocking full of toys. I was in charge of the cookie decorating. It went pretty good. I've learned from my past mistakes so clean up wasn't so bad. Big Brian slept in the morning cuz later he went to help out hotshots by playing and refereeing paintball in the charity Toys for Tots. They were short one player so they needed him. I know they really had to twist his arm. He loves paintball.

Lucas was an angel and slept the whole time up until the very end when he got a picture with Santa. Lucas didn't have a problem with Santa but Little B did. Because I was helping out with the cookies I barely got there in the nick of time to see Santa and just plopped Brian on Santa's lap. I'm sure that if I'd been there with him and we watched the other kids go up to Santa then he would not have been so scared. My good friend Jen watched B for me and then took over kitchen clean up so I owe her a big thank you. Is it me or are the pictures really dark? I wanna new camera.