New Year's Shiner

1st lesson learned in 2010: If you stand only 3 feet tall, don't walk too close to a foos ball table while your cousins are playing. You're liable to get a black eye!

Santa, please stick to the script!

We took the kids to the Pioneer Park Christmas display in Ferndale today. The whole experience was really fun and REALLY COLD! We walked through all the little cabins, the little school house, post office, general store, etc... The kids got to do crafts, make cookies, eat cookies, ride a covered wagon and see SANTA (this was the highlight of the trip, of course)! Jaron was nervous about talking to Santa, so Faith went up with him to give him courage and to be his "spokeswoman." She got right to the point and told Santa what they both wanted. Afterall, she had been thinking about it all morning, running different ideas by us. We had to shoot down her number one choice of gift, a ride in Santa's sleigh. I felt bad telling her she couldn't ask him for that, but I explained the safety issues that would be involved, not to mention the time crunch Santa would be in on Christmas Eve, and she seemed to understand. :)
Instead, She asked him for a jewelry box and for Jaron, a toy car. Then, Santa started asking them questions. It went something like this:

Santa: Jaron, have you been good?
Jaron: Nodded his head.
Santa: Jaron, do you help your mom?
Jaron: Shook his head. ( I don't think he understood the question, or maybe he was just being really honest) :)

Santa: Faith, have you been good?
Faith: Yes.
Santa: What grade are you in?
Faith: 1st grade.
Santa: Do you work hard in school?
Faith: Yes.
Santa: What is your favorite subject?
Faith: Bible.
Santa: Oh, what school do you go to?
Faith: Lynden Christain School.
Santa: Really? There is a church group that meets at that school on Sundays and that is where I go to church.

Long pause...

Dave and I look at each other,
Santa looks at us,

Clearly, we are all thinking the same thing. 'It's time for us to leave and time for Santa to review his script.'

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving.

At 7:30 on weekdays, you will find the kids and I standing at the end of our driveway waiting for the school bus. For the past several weeks, it has been getting darker, wetter, and colder everyday. I know, we live in Washington...it's just that time of year...what do I expect?...So, I won't complain (too much). I'll just say, it's getting a little old.

This morning we were greeted at the bus stop by this rainbow. Faith was excited (so was I) and asked me to get my camera. The sun was just beginning to rise, so with each passing minute, the rainbow got even brighter! It was such a fun addition to our normal, everyday routine and a perfect start to the Thanksgiving holiday. It reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for. I know that sounds corny and NO, I won't list everything I'm thankful for because that would take too long and just be tacky! But, I will thank God for changing up our morning just a little, and for the small reminder that the rain doesn't last forever. Thank you, God, for calling us out of darkness into your wonderful light! (1Pet2:9)

Jaron woke up a few minutes after the bus picked Faith up (I know, another thing to be thankful for!). He wanted to see the rainbow, too...but he didn't want to go outside to do it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Incog-neat-o!

Our family thoroughly enjoyed playing the part of a circus act for Caryn and Brian's Halloween carnival this year. It was so much fun seeing everyone dressed up and having fun in a carnival atmosphere! Faith even found the courage to go through the "haunted carnival woods" twice before we left. I guess that isn't too surprising...she is a brave & ferocious tiger after all! Jaron...not so much.