Category Archives: holiday

when the apple’s ripe…

Grammy, Grandad, holiday December 1, 2010 1 Comment
Our Thanksgiving was really peaceful.  Our first stop was to my husband’s side of the family for dinner and the mood there was somber for several reasons.  The absence of Granny Grubb was tangible.  Before we ate, Uncle Walt shared some interesting facts about Thanksgiving, then Aunt Faye passed out some poems that Granny had written this past summer.  I was glad that I wasn’t asked to read one aloud, I am sure I would have started sobbing into the mashed potatoes.  The readings included praise to God for all He had done for her over her long life.  Chris ended up reading the last one and it was one to make us all laugh through our tears.  It was so appropriate, she was always ready with a smile.
Granny had a way of looking at things, after talking to her you could actually breathe easier.  She wasn’t dismissive as some people can be when you share your concerns, but genuine and honest, about how much control God had over the situation and how little you did.  One of my absolute favorite memories of her is when I would be in the very last days of a pregnancy.  I would be complaining  talking about how ready I was to deliver and she (a mother of 5) would say, “when the apple’s ripe honey, it’ll fall.” Good point, Granny.
We also have family members that are going through difficult personal trials.  In our close-knit family, each triumphant milestone and painful struggle has a ripple effect on the rest of the extended family.

We all ate more than we needed to and the kids played.  The kids and I loaded back into the van and headed to my parent’s house for the weekend.  Chris and his Dad went hunting. We had a great time at Grammy and Grandad’s house.  The kids helped cook and decorate their tree. I was able to do some shopping (all by myself) which is always wonderful.

Foster putting on his show. He wants to take guitar lessons now.
Brentley, Katie, Ansley, Foster, Theodore and Parker at Aunt Diane’s

 

Foster and Katie helping cook dinner at Grammy and Grandad’s house.

 

Theodore helping cook at Grammy and Grandad’s house.

Showing off their new Christmas pjs!

 

Theodore helping to decorate their tree.

 

The boys picking which ornament should go on next.

I love this time of year, we have gotten most of our shopping done.  Of course, I had to order our calendars for the year from Shutterfly.  My mom called the other day just to say “Well, I was looking at my calendar and this picture of Theodore in his carseat and they just grow up so fast. I know those calendars are a big expense for you but I just really love mine.” Oh so subtle. Of course, she doesn’t know that Shutterfly offers all these fantastic deals and discounts and makes designing the calendars a blast. The Christmas card creating will come next! I love when my friends send picture cards, because we save them and look at how much everyone has changed from year to year. Now, just because I told you how cool they are I’ll get some free Christmas cards to send out. Yeehaw.

Christmas Morning

holiday December 29, 2008 Comments: 2

Here is the gang on Christmas morning. At our house, Santa doesn’t wrap the gifts from him he just lays them out so its the first thing you see when you wake up. He also fills your stocking and lays it under the tree. We had done that part and then taken a little break to wait on Grammy and Grandad to arrive so we could have a big country breakfast and then open the rest of the gifts. I was trying to think what my kids favorite gifts were but they were too excited about everything. A couple of things that stood out was a book from my Aunt Eileen, Foster stopped me and said “Mommy, I want to keep that book forever, I don’t want us to sell that one ok?” He is used to us having yard sales and me just “weeding out” in general. We can’t keep everything or we would be in chaos but apparently he wanted to make sure that I knew this book needed to stay around! So, kudos to Aunt Eileen for picking out a great book for our collection, that is her specialty after all. (= Another highlight was Katie and her Tinkerbell pj’s and robe she got from Grandad, she loves Tinkerbell things but I really think it was because it was from Grandad…One thing that I was excited about this year is we got more board games, puzzles, arts and crafts and play-doh than ever before. Also, NO video games or gameboys or nintendos or blah blah blah….I was relieved about that! And we only received a few things that take batteries so all in all it was exciting for the kids and not too painful for the parents! We had several traditions that we enjoyed this year but one we will add next year is a cake and singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. Our kids know what Christmas is really about but I would love to help them feel the joy of an actual birthday celebration for Baby Jesus.
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Thanksgiving fun

holiday December 6, 2008 Leave a comment

Katie is sitting with cousin Michael at Aunt Diane’s house. In the middle of the table is the turkey craft the kids and I made and if you can’t tell it had markers sticking out of its back for “feathers”. Foster and Katie really enjoyed making this and then Katie loved coloring all over the paper tablecloth Aunt Diane put on the kids’ table. Michael was just visiting with Katie since he’s really too old to be at the kids’ table now! You know how some adults just talk around or at children? Michael doesn’t do that, he actually talks to them and treats them like the little people they are, my kids love that about him. A few months ago he gave Foster some old dinosaur books he had as a boy. That was really special to Foster but he couldn’t understand why Michael didn’t need his books anymore! “Doesn’t he want to read his books anymore, mommy?” I just told him that Michael likes to read different books now. (=