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

Nothing But NET!

From the Fall Play we move right into CYO Basketball.  Molly left the boys team from last year and joined the girls team at another Church.  She is the only 7th grader on this team, the rest are 8th graders.  These are serious ball players!  Molly is having a blast with this group of girls.  Today was a scrimmage that was fun to watch.  Molly had been hanging back and not shooting baskets much with this new, older team.  Today her Dad and I encouraged her to shoot, Molly, shoot!  She did!  Yayyyyy Molly!

SWOOSH!

Krazy Kamp

Molly was in the Middle School production of Krazy Kamp.  She played Theodora Wolfswinkle, a compulsive eater who attended Camp Pocahontas.  In her role, she had to eat every time she appeared on stage, which was quite often.  She ate Hershey's crunch bars, popcorn, bananas, fruit by the foot, a box of chocolates and pie. She ate during three or four rehearsals and two shows.  OMG! Needless to say this part was made for our sweet girl with the sweet tooth!  She had such a blast with this part as each time she came out she was bigger and bigger and bigger.  Molls is very comfortable on stage and doesn't even need a microphone as she can easily project her voice to the audience.  The best part is, of course, hanging out with all her BFF's after school.

 

Did you?