Christmas card album

My long friend (remember, I don't call anyone old...especially as I approach 4-0) who has creative, fantastic designs, shared this wonderful idea with me a few years ago.

You know all those precious photos you receive in Christmas cards or as the cards? I told her that I can't bear throwing them out. For all those parents who bathe, coordinate, and primp their families  into looking spectacular for a photo shoot (not us!)...seems unjust to toss them along with the junk mail to be covered with coffee grounds, right?

So, she gave me this solution: take an inexpensive photo album that holds 5 x 7's and put photos/cards in it. (Trimming is sometimes necessary to slip pics in.) Love it!

This is our third year keeping the album, so we don't take photos out from year to year unless we have an updated picture to replace an older one.

It is a great tool when we are on our far-off adventures with Sweet Daddy...a fine way for the kids to see and think and pray about people we may not see often: grandparents, friends, missionaries we support...and mitigate the homesickness.

I mention it today because I just today found our black album in one of our black traveling trunks out in our dark and cold garage...anywhooo....Bean promptly ripped our book out of my hands and hasn't put it down since.

Mr. G's birthday

She pulled off the surprise...he was flabbergasted, stunned, overwhelmed...just the reaction she was hoping for these many weeks.

What a fun night...fine job, Mrs. G....

six

We celebrated in the snow...and then by the fireplace.

My sweet boy is six. Oh me....

Not much fanfare this year...but it's a year we won't forget. A year of becoming a reader, a better swimmer, a reluctant two-wheel rider, a savvy traveler-in-tow, a better explainer of feelings, a kindergartner, a "just-right for Bean" big brother, a brother in Christ.

Happy Birthday, Bug!

   

sNoW!

Just like many of you...we are snowed in...and loving it. It started about 10 this morning...we had 7 inches by 4pm and it's still going. The world seems simpler tonight and we have no choice but to do the things for which I wish I had more time....snuggling, playing games, watching movies with my babes, soup, reading books, baking and eating those baked goods....

Actually, that's about how our lovely week has been...time, two parents, special outings with each kid, a good Recovery meeting, 4 complete days of schooling (cheers!,) a boy's night out for Sweet Man and 2 girls' nights out for me.

This afternoon, it wasn't so peaceful...we were visiting friends (mucho fun) and trying to get a few things taken care of in the neighboring town and the usual 10 minute drive became about an hour and a half long. I had time enough to take pictures from my traffic jam. After which my brave Sweet Man finished up errands so that we can celebrate our boy...tonight, just after midnight he will be six (gulp.) More on that later.

I'm so thankful for this warm, safe space to tuck in. So, I pray that wherever you are you are happy, healthy, and cozy.