Christmas Decorations

There are a lot of "funky" Christmas decorations available in stores these days. You can purchase inflatable Santa's or metal Reindeer that light up and move. However, I feel fortunate to have inherited special Christmas decorations that are not only beautiful, but also very meaningful and will last for generations!

More than 40 years ago, my father made choir boys out of wood that every year adorned our front yard on Rye Road. These young men would "sing" around the lamp post and, as kids, we would stand between them pretending to sing carols.

Years later, these 3 unique ornaments stand in my yard every holiday season, singing hymns for my friends and neighbors to enjoy. My kids love to pose amongst them too.

 

Jack and Timothy, at age two, playing between the Choir Boys!

All the kids in 2007!

After more than 40 years, the "'fellas" needed a touch of paint.

A few hours to dry on the dining room table, and the boys were ready to go outside.

2010 and the twins are taller then these exceptional Christmas decorations.

 We were also very lucky to have inherited Grandma Dunn's nativity scene.

My Daddy even made this barn for the creche.

Christmas  is filled with many joys, but when I bring out these extraordinary treasures every year,  I am filled with such thankfulness for my family and our traditions.

Daddy (Robert Dunn) and Grandma Dunn

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

was the smell of Lasagna and Dustin in his Christmas blouse;

 The children were crowded around the dining room table with care

in the hopes of getting right to the dessert fare;

All decked out in their new "jammies" and ready for their beds,

While visions of "Despicable Me" danced in their heads;

 And Mom in her polar bear pj's and Dad with a night cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap;

With memories of what a decade ago, did appear,
Not "hamsters" at all, but identical twins, 10 weeks early, oh dear!

But this Christmas eve, they are so lively and quick,
We thank the Lord every day and today even St. Nick.
Happy Birthday Tim and Jack, now get out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Snowball Fight!

There is nothing like a good old fashioned snowball fight, especially boys against the girls! The family Christmas party provided a great opportunity for some mayhem. The cousins took cover and went to work bombarding each other.

Ella and Molly set up camp behind a snow drift.

 

The boys make their "ammunition".

Ready, aim, fire!

A direct hit! 

The problem is...not a lot of snow for making snowballs...hmmm.

The solution:  Molly abandons the safety of the snow drift and attacks from behind!

Watch out boys!  Girls can throw just as well!

Family Game Night

Lately the dining room table has been utilized for games:  Risk, Sequence, Stratego, Life, Pitch and tonight a little game of Monopoly!  The wheeling, the dealing, the blowing on the dice -this is serious game play!!!

Rusty would very much like to be the "dog", or maybe the "slipper".

Look at all the money!  And who made Molly the banker?  OMG

This takes a lot of concentration!

Hmmm, how much is this property worth?

Let the trading begin!

The Perfect Christmas Tree

Every year we go out and cut down a Christmas tree.  It is a treasured tradition for my children.  On this particular day it was super cold and very windy.

We went early, before the crowds, and took the wagon ride out to the rows and rows of Douglas Firs.  Even though it was bitter cold, the kids were in no hurry to settle on the first one they saw.

We searched and searched until we found the perfect tree.

After Molly cut down the tree we went into the barn for hot cocoa and coffee.

When we got home and put the tree up, it was just a bit too tall.

This happens every year, just like in the book, "Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree".  This is one of my favorite books from childhood about Mr. Willowby who received a tree that was too tall for his parlor, so he lopped off the top!  The discard made its way to Miss Adelaide, the.upstairs maid.  Then off to Tim, the gardener, Barnaby Bear, Frisky Fox, Benjamin Rabbit, and finally to Mistletoe Mouse who, of course, lived with Mr. Willowby. 

This is a very sweet Christmas tale of sharing for children of all ages and one we read every year! (and  it makes me wonder which animal in our yard will use our tree top this year)

and then there were FIVE

I am blessed with four of my own children.
But I also have the good fortune of having another "son".

Sean comes to our house on Friday's and stays for a day or two. 

We consider him one of the family. 

The kids have lots of other friends that hang out too, but Sean is really, really fun! 

He plays. 

And I mean PLAYS HARD! 

When he is here, the kids do EVERYTHING: 

Basketball, Hockey, Football, Tag, you name it, they do it. 

Now, how do I get him to teach my kids to dance?

November Tradition

For the past nine years we have been keeping track of how tall everyone is growing.  This is done on the laundry room door.  This is a very serious and important tradition in our house!  Yesterday we gathered everyone in that tiny little room and went to work!

Jack is very pleased with how much he has grown in a years time.

Molly makes sure feet are flat on the floor.  Absolutely no cheating is allowed!

Timothy takes this very seriously.  This year he is a hair taller then his twin, at least on this particular day!

For the record, Molly is still shorter then her mother this year.  Whew!

Robbie passed up his mother a few years ago!  He better come home from college next year for Thanksgiving so he can be measured.  

We know he has a few more years to grow!

Mom will measure herself this year, thank you very much!  The resident "measurer" keeps making it look like she gets shorter every year.

And Mommy will measure Daddy to prove that he is indeed shrinking in his old age!  Ha!

Timothy checks to see just how much he grew since last year.

Bird Song Trail