More Christmas

In looking at the last Christmas post I noticed not one picture of our tree. I simply couldn't let that happen our Christmas tree is one of my favorite things about Christmas.

And the boys wanted to show off the Lego projects they have been working on so it gave me the perfect chance to take pictures of both.

 

This is the biggest Lego project Luke has put together and he did it almost all by himself.

This morning we made it a family project to put together their marble race tower. As you can see there were only a zillion or so pieces. With a few other random Christmas toys thrown in.

So back to our tree. It is a wonderful collection of mismatched ornaments. Every homemade ornament the kids have ever made. (yes I have a gold macaroni ornament which I love) We try to pick up ornaments from every place we travel to. Which makes it so fun every year to unpack them and talk about the memories they bring. We also add picture ornaments every year and any other thing we think of. So there is absolutely no rhythm or reason or theme or color scheme to our tree and I LOVE it.

This year the boys got me this ornament in honor of Bailey. (of course I cried)

I found this globe that I put a small heart over every place each one of us was born. (to the right is a camel ornament we brought home from Kazakhstan)

Me and Dewey's picture this year was on the beach in Jamaica.

Luke's ornament me made at school, so cute.

And Kolbys cutie school ornament, love them.

Dewey and I went on our first cruise this year so of course we needed a ship ornament.

The boys picture ornament was from one of our Christmas card pics.

And finally the boys and I went to Texas this summer and got to visit the Alamo, tada.

I'm sure I'll spend tomorrow carefully packing up all the ornaments to pack away until next year. I hope this coming year brings as many adventures and wonderful memories that last year brought us.

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful blessed Christmas and hope the same for you.

Our tradition every year is to have the boys sleep in our room. When they wake up (obviously way before we normally would) Dewey goes out to make sure Santa came (and turn on lights and start the coffee) Then I try to take pics as the boys come out.

Look at these happy excited little faces.

 

 Checking out what Santa brought.

The week before Christmas we painted the boys room and had new carpet put in. We planned to do a Star Wars theme this time. We think that Jolly the elf must have told Santa our plans because he did a little decorating while he was here.

This is the boys seeing it for the first time.

Their favorite part other then the bunk beds is this huge Millennium Falcon on their wall.

Every Star Wars room needs a Yoda. The boys are thrilled with their new room. And to recap it started as a Winnie the Pooh Nursery. Then we went to a Cars and now a gasp big boy Star Wars.

 

Liz and Gary (my sister and brother in law) drove down from Salt Lake to spend Christmas with us. It was so nice to be able to spend the holidays with them. I'm sure they appreciated the boys getting up at 6 am and pounding on their door to wake them up :)

Poor Dewey got sick a few days before Christmas, we are pretty sure it was the flu. He was so sick but rallied and powered through with a smile on his face. Love that man of mine.

Grandma and grandpa came over Christmas morning to open presents with the boys. Then we had a big Christmas breakfast. Winnie made a huge wonderful Christmas dinner for everybody so we spent the afternoon at their place.

 

A wonderful Christmas that came way to fast. It seems like December just flew by and now we are on to New Years and Lukes Birthday.

 

Jolly the Elf

Is back!!

He showed up a week ago with a Sunday morning surprise breakfast Elf style.

The boys were excited to see Jolly had come back this year. And of course happy to eat doughnuts for breakfast.

Every Elf is different, our Elf likes to hide somewhere different every night so the boys have to find him the next morning. Sometimes he brings little treats for them. He has hid in the Christmas tree, sat on the ceiling fan, hid in a house plant and played with star wars figures in the boys bookshelf.

He also went for a chicken ride.

Its so fun to watch the boys jump out of bed to try and find the elf every morning.

Last night Dewey and I were working on Christmas cards while watching Monday night football. Every so often Luke would yell out "Why didn't he just run the ball he was wide open" and various other football sayings he has likely heard Dew and I yell out. (warms a moms heart :)

I hadn't heard anything in a few minutes and looked over at him, hum looks like he is watching the game.....

On closer inspection..... fast asleep. I ask you how sweet is this little face?

These are all phone pics (as you can probably tell) It's been that kind of week.

Bailey

 

 

7/2000 - 12/1/2012

 

It was a beautiful September day in 2000 when I first saw the cutest little wiggly ball of Lhasa Apso fur. It was love at first sight, I simply melted when I held Bailey in my arms. She was hardly bigger then the size of my hand. From that point on we were inseparable. She spent her youth as a city dog but adapted very nicely to being a country pup.

Our family joke was that we put up a fence for the dogs in the backyard. Skip won't leave the yard unless you force him and Bailey learned how to wiggle her way through the fence whenever she wanted.... thus no point to the fence.  

She followed me everywhere in the house. She slept in our bed next to me. As soon as the garage door opened when I came home everyday she was waiting. She would run to my car and poke her head in as soon as I opened the door. That is love in its purest form.

  

 

At 12 years old she started to have health issues which have gotten progressively worse. Thankfully she went down hill rather quickly. I don't believe she suffered. On Sat Dewey and I made the decision that it was her time to go. As fate would have it the Veterinarian on call was the country vet just down the road from us. I had never taken Bailey to him as I had heard from numerous sources that he is a farm doc and very gruff in nature. (and the honest truth is that I didn't want a lecture about my pampered little princess pup) So this stranger saw more raw emotion from me then people who have know me my entire life have seen. But as it turned out he was incredibly compassionate and respectful with Bailey. As hard as it was I'm blessed to have been by Baileys side as she took her last breath.

 

I spent the weekend in tears. There are a million little things that are different now that shes gone and its so very hard. But I also know that she is in a better place now happy and healthy. And I am a better person for having had her 12 and a half years of unconditional love.

Dewey has been amazing, he is as ever my rock. Everybody handles grief in their own way. He understands that I am not OK and not handling this very well. He has been there every step of the way letting me go through the emotions involved in the loss of a constant companion. I'm thankful beyond belief for his love and support. 

The boys have been wonderful offering up lots of hugs because they know mom is very sad and misses Bailey now that she is in heaven.

Goodbye my friend , until we meet again....