Merry After Christmas

The boys opening their PS3!

They loved it!

Here Tom, Trevor and Andrew watch Gramma Marilyn

opens up her gag gifts

Samson as the littlest reindeer

Me and my Santa Dog

Remembering this very special time

as God became fully human

as a tiny baby,

vulnerable to all,

to save His people from

their sin!

Putting up the Christmas Tree

I have to admit that I was very spoiled this year with helpers.  My boys basically put the tree up all by themselves.  They needed some direction, but overall they did great by themselves.  You can tell when looking at the tree that the boys put the ornaments on.  They have it kinda broken down into sections, since Tyler is taller it seems like he took the top part, Austin took one side, Trevor the other side and Andrew loves to hang all of his at the bottom.  My ornaments are kinda all over the place, but I'm mixed in with everyone.  Kinda like life, they are all seperated with their "activities" but all come together with me (and Tom).  I love to hang all the stockings over the Kitchen fireplace.  In our house we were blessed with 4 fireplaces.  I love them all, we recently just added the one in the family room.  This is the one that gets used the most tho.  The stocking were hand made by Toms sister Donna.  She is very talented and now I need her to make one for our daughter.  Tom HATES, did I just say the H word?  Yes I did, he CAN NOT stand putting up Christmas Lights outside, but he does do it for me.  I love to see the lights shine and I am so thankful that my husband will do a chore even tho he does not like it.  Thank you Baby. 

We have been to the mall to watch Andrew and his choir sing there.  We have been to the school for his Winter performance,  Friday, I will be the room mom in charge of the Christmas Party at school.  Although we can't say Christmas at the public school, we have a Winter Holiday.  Give me a break, it's  Christmas for petes sake.

Trevor is now officially done with Basketball, this year was really hard.  The team didn't do very well.  Trevor has a lot to learn when it comes to Basketball.

Tyler has one more day left of Final Exams at the High School.  He is putting in an application for a job, so I hope he gets it.  He needs money to buy gas, pay a few bills, and pay for his speeding ticket he got.

Austin is now officially on Christmas Vacation, he had his last final today.  Don't know the grades yet, but he thinks he did well.

Andrew is busy with soccer and basketball.  He needs to keep active, otherwise all he wants to do is play Wii.

Tom is out hunting again.  Today he is hunting Deer, tomorrow Pheasant.  Hope you get something baby, the boys are hungry.

I went downtown today for some paperwork to be apistilled.  Boy was it crowded.  It is on State Street, which if you don't live in Chicago you may not know that State Street is where all the shops are.  Macys had there window display and a ton of school children were there.  It must have been a field trip, it was very crowded.  I got the paperwork completed and now it is off to our Adoption Agency.  I think I am done now until after we go on our first trip.  There is more paperwork that needs to be completed within 90 days of court.  Now we just keep waiting for a phone call to let us know when we can travel.  I think I mentioned earlier that it will probably be the end of January for us.

Updates

Wow, where do the weeks go?  Since it has been over a week since I posted let me get you updated:

Tuesday - Austin and I attended an information meeting at his school about a Flight Club.  Austin is definately going to do this.  This club will help him get his flying lessons and license.  Go Austin.

Wednesday - Sally had her mouth surgery (again) for bone implant.  Hopefully this time it won't get infected.  Tom and Tyler leave for hunting.

Thursday - Tom calls to tell me Tyler shot a big deer.  Trevor got braces.  So if your counting Trevor is #5 in our family to have braces.  I think our Ortho loves us.

Friday - Trevor tells me that 3 brackets already came off.

Saturday - Kelly and I went out to lunch to the Claim Jumpers Restaurant.  This is one of my favorite places to eat.  I love how we can sit by the fire and just indulge in awesome food and conversation.  After lunch, we were blessed to be able to attend Candelight Carols at Moody Bible Institute.  If anyone is around in Chicago, in the first full weekend of December, you should definately go to see this production.  This is our annual tradition to go.  It was beautiful, and magnificent.  The voices and orchestra were just heavenly.  It sure gets you in the CHRISTmas spirit.

Well that is pretty much it.

Now it is time to get ready for the annual deer hunting Christmas party we have here every year.

Here is Trevor playing basketball

He gets a lot of penalties

he also, misses A LOT of free throws.

He needs to practice these.

Here he is 2 for 12 - OUCH

Tyler with his big deer! Way to go!

Christmas Preview

Here are the boys!

I LOVE this picture.  I can't believe that they

are all smiling and look great.

The boys call this their male model pose?  Don't ask me!

I look great tho, don't I?  Hee, Hee

Cooper stopped cooperating.  He is actually laying at Toms feet.

He was still recovering from hunting the day before.

Not much else is happening.  I stumbeled upon a great sale at Gymboree the other day.  I found a cute outfit for our daughter.  I had to buy it, and just pray it is the right size.  If not I will have to return it.