Trim Up The Tree With Christmas Stuff...

Well, Christmas has been crazy this year and we have just gotten the stuff up in the past week.We have begun a tradition in our family that each child has the opportunity to finish the christmas tree decorating with the placing of the angel tree topper. Kendal has bestowed the angel for three years. And now it is passed down to the youngest child able to do it. Avery is next in line. She will be able to do it until Drew is able and so on and so on. I suppose when we finish having children, which may have already happened, we will have to form some sort of system of taking turns. Anyway, Avery was completely thrilled to do the honors this year. Then, we tried several times to set the timer on the camera for a family shot. This was the best of 15 shots. Anyway, we will have the memory forever, and that is what is most important(can you sense the sarcasm? I hope so.). Anyway, I love Christmas!!

This year will not be the one noted for all the expensive things under the tree. It will be one we remember as truly focusing on others' needs and learning more about Christ. I have decided that a Christmas without all the crazy loads and loads of gifts is truly the best kind of Christmas. I really believe it is a blessing that the recession is happening during Christmas. It gives us all a great excuse to turn our hearts to each other and the needs of someone beyond our family circles. It is a blessing. I truly believe it. Merry Christmas!!

Curly Girly...

Okay, I have had lots of interest in the crazy new way I have found to curl Avery's hair. I found these curlers at Sally's Beauty Supply. The hook goes through the curler, then the hook pulls the section of hair through and the curler curls back into its' original curly shape. Everyone wants to see just how curly that happens to be. I tried to take pictures of the ringlets just after taking them out. Hope you can see them. I have been impressed overall with the curlers. It did take a few tries to get the right size of hair section, but they do great at making the curls. Enjoy!

Kendal...Author to my Heart

My son , Kendal, is in kindergarten. He is learning to read and write. He is also learning to spell and create sentences for himself. Since he is my first child, and I have never seen the miracle of one incredible kid learn to do all these wonderful things, I had to get a picture of the first love letter he ever wrote!! Let the record show, it was to his mom...that's me. And let the record also show:

Kendal, I LUF U 2!!!

Thanks For Thanksgiving!!

L to R: Half of my nephew, Luke, Jan (youngest sister), Tim (older brother), and Me (between the two in age). Missing in the picture is my oldest brother Matt who had not gotten out of bed yet or maybe hadn't combed his hair, and older sister Amy who did not come.

Our family took a little (okay, very LONG) road trip to my sister Jan's house for the Thanksgiving weekend. It was an absolute delight!! All the siblings, save one, and their families all gathered together for some riotous good times. There were 22 people in all and would you believe we all fit in the tiny mansion of the Taylor household??

Thanksgiving was filled with lots of great food (even the turkey) and chaos!! It was truly one of those Thanksgivings that is memorable. We could have easily beaten out the Lampoons. It was loud and messy and crazy awesome!!

Not only did we celebrate Thanksgiving, but we also threw TWO birthday parties!! My nephew KALEB turned FIVE (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KALEB!!!) and wanted to go to Chucky Cheese's. There is one in Boise!! That is one hoppin' place!! The kids had wild times spending about a million tokens and eating pizza and more pizza!!



And another nephew turned ONE TODAY(Happy Birthday, LUKERS!!!)and we celebrated with a great homemade cake and huckleberry ice cream. Yep. I did the decor on the cake. We wanted it to be red frosting, but we ran out of red food coloring. Hence, it is a bit pink...ish) But Luke is one year old, he is not going to remember it, right? Well, maybe not until I BRING IT UP!! Sweet Blackmail!!



Anyway, it was quite a weekend!!

Thanks Jan and Brian for braving the party!! You put on quite a spread!! Love ya!!