Mowing, Art, Holidays and Trees

I mowed about a month ago.

(Real current I know.

But I haven't blogged for a month.

So bear with me.

Did you miss me?

I missed you all)

The bugs were crazy.

I swallowed two.

One went up my nose.

Another one tried to fly into my ear.

Plus there was a fly.

Buzzing.

Buzzing.

Buzzing.

Around my face.

I'm certain it was all fun for the neighbors to watch.

We went to a pumpkin patch this year.

This picture makes me laugh.

Halloween was fun.

Ryan and the little boys did some painting recently.

Ezzie painted a turkey.

I loved it.

And wanted to hang it up.

But he wanted to give it to a friend

who had broken her arm that night.

So we took it to her.

 Thanksgiving was fun.

Ezzie made a teepee at school.

And gave a speech about it.

His class also had a feast.

He was so excited he invited both grandmas to come too.

Jobie drew a thanksgiving feast.

We usually don't make key lime pie on Thanksgiving.

I did this year.

The house is decorated for Christmas.

Mostly.

I'm still changing a few things.

I let the little boys 

put the ornaments on the real tree this year.

That was hard for me.

Control freak.

Ryan doesn't like our real tree this year.
It's not big enough for his taste.
He likes to let it be known
that I'm the one that chose it.
The kids asked if we could return it.
Alright, so I'll admit it's not the best tree ever.
Next year I'll keep my mouth shut.
We'll see how they do without my input.

We have 4 trees this year.

Stupid?

Yes.

It's a long story...

Before Jobie started school,

he never drew pictures or colored.

Now he will disappear into his room

and come out with pictures like this.

He said this is mommy and daddy.

Daddy says I look hot.

I think we look crazy in love.

Let the Unwrapping Begin

Our Christmases begin tonight.
And every night is full until New Year's Eve.
We're popular people.
Except on New Year's Eve apparently.
No one wants to party with us.
Boo.

The little boys are bouncing off the walls this morning.
Christmas is just too exciting.
But they sure are cute.

Ezzie has been busy making gifts.
And wrapping them.
He uses about twice as much paper as he needs.
Which is just fine.
We have 30,000 rolls of Christmas wrapping paper.
I seem to have turned into my grandma.

And now some pics.
That have absolutely nothing to do with this post.
And are nearly a month old.Before we know it, we will be taking the tree down.
And packing up all the decorations.
I'm going to try to soak up every moment.

Beautiful

Yesterday did not go as I had pictured it.
But then again.
When does it ever?

It all started out great.
We got the Christmas decorations down from the attic.
We found a great tree.
Really quickly.

Jake told me the other day:
Mom, you know what the worst thing is
about the day after Thanksgiving?
Picking out the Christmas tree.
It always takes us too long.

Well, it didn't this year.
I was thinking things were going to be beautiful.
All day.

We got home.
Took some pictures.
Got the tree in the house.
And then things weren't so beautiful anymore.

The kids fought.
Especially the little boys.
Jobie cried a thousand times.
Ryan and I might have gotten a little upset.

One brand new strand of lights.
That worked when we tested them.
Did not work when we got them on the tree.
In the middle of the tree.

I got one of my lights stuck in a village house.
Ryan couldn't find his needle nose pliers to get it out.

Two ornaments were broken.
By me.
One snow globe was broken.
By the little boys.
One ceramic tree was broken.
By Jobe.

I cannot get my mantle right this year.
(I am decorationally challenged.)
Wanted to do something different.
It just isn't working.
Brookie told me to give up.
No way.
I will get it.
Haven't yet.
But I will.

In spite of all that.
As I looked at pictures from yesterday.
All I could do was smile.
And be grateful.Our life may look and feel like a mess sometimes.
But it is beautiful.

Because God is good.

He has richly blessed us.
And it's only the tip of the iceberg.
He has so much more.

Some of it may not seem beautiful initially.
We may not even see the beauty
in some things
until we reach heaven.
But we will.
In its time.

Because God has promised.Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the human heart;
yet no one can fathom
what God has done
from beginning to end.

Turkey and Tree

Well.
The turkey got cooked.
Ryan did a super job carving the bird.
Mom-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt all came
to help with final preparations.
There was lots of other good food.
Everyone contributed something.
And we had a great time visiting with family.
Yesterday we got our tree.
See the broken window back there?
Remember that Monday and Tuesday were not the best days?

Wood splitter, fireplaces...

It didn't get better Wednesday.

Our children.

Playing the Olympics.

Throwing "the hammer" (a skip-it toy).

In our driveway.

Not in any other part of the 1 and 1/2 acres

that makes up our yard.

Bad release.

Crash, tinkle.

Hole in glass.

Fun times.

But we always have reindeer Ezzie
to cheer us up.

In spite of the crazy week,

it's been good.

Nice to have my guy home.

Nice be with family.

Nice to get the Christmas decor out.

Nice to listen to Christmas music.

Nice to smell the tree.

Now, I must finish decorating.

And one more Thanksgiving at my mom and dad's tonight.

More turkey.

Yippee!