Surprise Visit

Two weeks before Christmas, Lachelle and her youngest (Landon) came for what she called a mini 'mommy vacation.'  She was missing home and wanted to spend a little one-on-one time with Adam and Karina.  It was different not having the entire family come, but we enjoyed it in a different way.  Lachelle was able to do some of the things she can't always do when all the grand kids tag along.  She took Adam and Karina out on a 'date' to get ice cream late one night after Adam worked.  They went Christmas shopping, and even made a gingerbread birdhouse. 

Fancy roof of Necco wafers, a bird perch made with a candy cane, a wreath of M&Ms, and all!

Landon got in on the action with a 'play date' with his cousin, Hudson.  Hudson and Landon have the same taste in toys and clothes.  They wore the same pajamas, tugged on the same toys, and even took turns with Hudson's Christmas hat.  It barely fit Landon, we had to stretch it on!

There are a few draw-backs with the kids coming to visit.  One is that they leave so soon, and the other is that it makes me miss all the rest even more.  I would gladly take the bad with the good anytime that they could come though!



Christmas Tradition

For years now we have cut a real tree for Christmas.  I think the tradition really started because we didn't have money for a tree so we cut a cedar from the fence row at Grandma Shoaf's house.  The cedars were very unshapely but they sure smelled nice!  Then as the kids grew we found tree farms that were local and were relatively cheep compared to a tree lot in town.  The tree farms often had tractor rides or some fun things to do while you were there.  I remember a three-legged dog at one of them that the kids just adored.  It was the kind of dog that was so ugly that he was cute, and he was very funny to watch.

 Now that artificial trees are available for a more reasonable cost I often suggest that we invest in an artificial tree because it holds heavy ornaments and I don't have to put the lights on myself.  The kids still won't hear of it.   So this is the tree hunting adventure this year. 

So will it be this one or that one... too tall...  too short...  too thin...

We finally decided on one of the first ones we looked at and still had to figure out how to get it home.

Somehow I forgot to take the picture of the tree just decorated, but here it is on Christmas morning .  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!