our poopy-croupy-Lord of the Rings-Christmas

I forked over the bucks($8.62 on sale) and bought some Regency baker's twine this year. I know everyone uses it and it's nothing novel, but I just love it for Christmas.


Someone thought the bells were just for her and proceeded to chase them all over the house. Wrapping is quite the adventure with kitties around.






Michaels was out of brown butcher paper(rude, I know), so I bought the next best thing--white banner/sign paper. Pretty affordable option. $2.99 and if you had a 50% off coupon, it could be $1.50.


I was in heaven using my gold sharpie for tags this year.


Mom and Dad came up Christmas Eve and spent the night. Dad is reading Lord of the Rings(LOTR) to Finn.

My parents read the Hobbit and LOTR series to us when we were kids. When my parents were dating, they would happily read these books together in their rooms. How cute are they? So cute .



I love my mama. She's the bestest.


Finn and Cal made them Gandalf and Frodo pictures this year.

And John bought me some LOTR DVDs. See? I told you this Christmas was very Lord of the Rings.

John bought Finn a real bow and arrow. Finn's form was a little...um...off shall we say... so Grandpa Billy had to help him. (Don't worry. Finn's form has proved immensely since then.)

Finn now wants to be the elf Legolas, with his bow and arrow, from LOTR. Ok. I know you are sick of hearing about Lord of the Rings.

I was ridiculously exicted about this little carnival for tabby and tux.

Calvin got some hobbit legos. That is Gollum(bottom left), in case you did not know. I shall stop now. Scout's honor.

We stayed home Christmas day, but then I drove the 3 older boys to sister Lindsay's house for dinner. Twain and daddy had to stay home because Twain had a cough. So sad, but we made the best of it.



This was my Christmas uniform this year.








I look out of it. I mean, because I was...just a minute later I stepped in doggy-doo...my poor toms didn't know what hit them.


Hoodlums, I tell you.
Sister Jessica and her family had to stay home due to the sickies too. We missed them but are hopefully gonna see them for New Years Day.

Twinsies first Christmas! Can't believe they are 6 months old.


Could my hair be messier? I think not. After stepping in dog poop, there is no way one can even pretend to be glamourous.

Then John called around 8pm, and I answered my cell phone uneasily with "Is everything ok?"

"I have to take Twain to the ER", he said. And my heart jumped into my throat.

"Twain has been coughing nonstop for the last hour and a half, no matter what medicine I give him", John continued.

I kind of relaxed...phew just the cough. But still I knew the party was over...

This mama drove home immediately, praying her baby was ok. I just wanted to hug my little round-faced boy.

John and Twain were at the ER for 6 HOURS, mostly waiting around. By the time they saw the physician, Twain had practically stopped coughing.

They gave him Tylenol for a lil fever.
And said he had croup.

And we paid through the nose. The nose people!

Most expensive tylenol to mankind. Well, and they did give us a prescription for a steroid-which I hate using. But will if I have to.

Sometimes that's how it goes. But Twain is on the mend, and I'm so thankful.

Even more thankful that God decided to come down to earth as baby Jesus. He could have stayed up in heaven, but instead chose to humble himself and take on the form of a human, with all of our frailties and weaknesses. Opening himself up to all kinds of pain and sadness...even experiencing a brutal death on the cross, for our sins. And ultimately overpowering sin and death.  I don't know about you, but that is the kind of King that I feel honored to serve.