One present came early... At least for Mom & Dad!

We got an early Christmas present at our house this week...

No, it's not a visitor.
(That happens tomorrow).

No, we're not expecting a new baby.
(Shame on anyone even thinking or laughing at that thought!)

No, we're not on some vacation to a warm spot in the south.
(Though that is tempting in this cold, soon to be snowy weather).

Curious yet!? Okay.... Here it is:)

Due to how well he did on his ACTs, Devin has started receiving scholarship offers from the colleges he's sent stuff to! And not just any scholarships... Academic Scholarships that are renewable for his tenure at college. That means Tony and I can finally breathe a little when Devin talks about going to college next year. Because it is now reality that we won't have to sell a car or something to pay his tuition! (JK)

Soon it will be Christmas Day...

What happens when you try to take a group photo of children at our house when they would rather be running around?

THIS....

Devin and his sisters "goof" for the camera

Emmalie has been asking for me to take her on a carriage ride for Christmas "like Belle and Cinderella" do in their prospective Christmas princess specials. She started asking about the time the giant Christmas tree went up at Bradley Fair. So last night while my Dad had the boys enthrawled in a KU basketball game in good ol' KC, Tony and I took the girls out to dinner and on to their first carriage ride. Bethie and Em were both REALLY excited and the weather held up pretty well for mid-December. Emmalie told me this morning that she "felt like a princess" and "dreamt of riding the horse carriage all night!".

The Christmas tree at Bradley Fair...
and carriage waiting line, too!

Emmalie all smiles sitting on that velvet seat!

Bethanie making a holiday wish in the fountain

Em and Bethie were so happy, they asked to ride again!

Can you believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away?! I've been trying very hard to make sure that the kids all know the true meaning of the season. They have all picked out a gift to purchase for a child or teen in need and ask for change to put into every holiday collection basket they encounter. Devin and Dalton even said when they are older they'd like to be someone similar to the "Secret Santa" in Kansas City. We are so very lucky to have four children who have big hearts... especially at this time of year.

Hope everyone is managing to stay warm and remember the great things about the holiday season. And, for those of you still braving the stores, I'm kind of glad I'm not in your shoes:) Until next time...

Time Goes By... (Fast these days!)

Thanksgiving came and went... As did my first attempt to truly experience shopping on Black Friday and Dalton's first middle school basketball game (and second, too). It seems like we're all so busy living and running and working and playing that my blog time is dwindling down even more these days. (I'm sure some of you know well what I mean!).

Thanksgiving was great! We went over to the Haag home for some wonderful food and fun. Then I went to work at the hospital for a while! It was actually a good way to work off the pumpkin pie I just ate... NO! I didn't eat the whole thing!

Uncle Joe playing with the girls

One handsome Daddy!

Dalton and Grandpa Larry "just chillin'!"

Dalton had his first and second basketball games last week. He's starting in the "power forward" position on the 7th grade "A" team and working really hard. For those of you who don't already know, the hardest sport for Dalton to play has always been basketball. It seems to be the one sport he isn't a natural at. He hasn't fouled out, has scored in both games and played at least three quarters each game... so I guess he's coming along well!

The remainder of our "free time" the past four weeks has been spent taking the girls to birthday parties. I swear everyone was born in November or early December:) I didn't realize there were so many play places to have a birthday party around this town either. The girls have had a blast!

Emmalie exiting the "king of the hill" bouncer

Bethanie... she would NOT get out of this thing!

Our little "Snow Princesses"....

They LOVED having their faces painted

(Thought Tony would freak with his girls all made up!)

Probably the best event of the past week or so... December 1 arrived. That may mean nothing to anyone else, but around these parts it means Devin finally has a clean shaven face! The high school boys decided NOT to shave from November 1 thru November 30 for some odd reason. They referred to it as... get this.... "NO SHAVE NOVEMBER!". (How fitting!).

The next couple of weeks are bound to be even busier. I have so many business trips coming up, too. I'm actually embarrassed to admit that for the first time since Tony and I have been married... I don't even have my holiday cards in the mail yet:o (Makes you feel better knowing I didn't just forget you, huh?!?!).

Until next time...