Forgive me, but that title might be a bit off. I’m rather behind in updating, so you will find a couple pictures even from November!
Lowell’s parents came out for about a week right before Thanksgiving. Grandma was Dallas’ special friend that whole time!
Thanksgiving dinner! My children couldn’t get over how good the food was . . . they claimed it was the first I had made them a turkey. Oh dear. What they probably don’t remember much is us having a whole Thanksgiving just to ourselves, around the table with all the fixin’s! Usually we have a house full of company or we are invited out.
It was a special Thanksgiving.
The children help write out the Christmas photo cards to go in the mailboxes on Lowell’s route. It’s actually fun – a little bit. As the mom, I enjoy them all around me. Being relatively quiet. And working on a project together – talking and laughing. I tuck these memories away inside for when I am old and grey.
Terrel shot his first deer! He was so excited and we are enjoying grilled venison burgers.
Megan baked her first layered cake! Actually, may be her first cake . . . however, it was out of a box, but she put strawberry filling on the inside. With mom’s help.
This was not a good day, folks. I had an up-close and personal encounter with the mud and chicken manure in the chicken pen right before church one Sunday morning. This picture doesn’t even show how far down all the mud and manure went. Let’s just say I learned to never again wear flip-flops into the chicken pen after it has been raining a couple days! I took one step, slipped, and landed so hard I might have blacked out a second. The chiropractor had some rearranging to do to put me back where I was supposed to be!
If I could put a huge grin here without it blowing up the page, I would. I love this! Maybe partly because it’s not me gritting my teeth – although I did try it and got properly beaten. But I love these people in my life and how they interact with each other.
It makes the mama side of me happy.
We pretty much went through the whole family to see who was the strongest.
It’s a beautiful land here today. Our fourth child, Logan, who is in fifth grade has been faithfully watching the forecast for the past several weeks. If it contained no snow within the week’s forecast, you would see his face and shoulders droop a little.
But he is one happy young man today!
Our little kid picnic table is supposed to be under there somewhere. We received roughly 17 inches in about 36 hours! This looks rather like the winter we had last year . . .
I personally was hoping the snow would wait until right before Christmas, and I pretty much got my wish. The children got out of school for vacation yesterday afternoon. So now they have all kinds of snow to play in – and all kinds of time to do it with!
One reason I didn’t mind the snow holding off a little is because of the Christmas mail rush – and how this affects Lowell in the month of December. This month is the hardest for all mail carriers and parcel delivery companies. If you think about it, maybe give them an extra smile and heartfelt “thank you”! They work hard to deliver everyone’s presents and parcels to their doors . . . whether it’s in sunny Florida or snowy Idaho.
I have learned over the last few years to set aside my December for helping Lowell with Christmas mail. Some days the parcel load is so heavy, that I run packages for him up to the a parcel depot on the Canadian/U.S. border. I remember doing this about five winters ago, when I was newly pregnant with Dallas. It was, um . . . let’s say “interesting”. I was badly sick with morning sickness, but yet I distinctly remember eating string cheese and Chicken in a Biscuit crackers on the drive up there and back! Then the next winter, there was a baby crying in the back seat . . . But anymore, I actually enjoy helping him out with extra parcel delivery and even in the post office itself. It’s my excuse to get a peppermint mocha!
The school children had their Christmas program last evening. They did a Walk-Through-Bethlehem tour and it was so very special! This was the angel choir.
The townspeople in the marketplace.
This is Terrel as a carpenter. We got beards for both he and Derek – which helped to make the costume more authentic!
And here is Derek – I believe he was a townsperson in Bethlehem. Although to me he looks like a sage . . . especially with that white beard!
Herod’s Court. I kept looking for Megan since I knew she was supposed to be a royal slave. Lo and behold, I had walked right past her! Sometimes it took scrutiny to see who was who in those costumes!
Here she is!
Aw. And here is my little shepherd boy! I remember helping in a Christmas program about his age, and I was an angel. That memory was so special and is still so vivid that I can almost picture where I was standing on stage!
And this poor little punky had to miss the program altogether. He decided to come down with stomach flu about 30 minutes before we needed to leave! So Dad stayed home with him, bless his heart – because he knew how special the Christmas program is to me. But we made it through the long night of catching vomit, and the little tyke is feeling perkier already.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas holding your little (and big) ones close! Tell them the story of Jesus . . . again. It needs to be told. It needs to be loved. For it is a precious story above all others!
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
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betsythesimplelifeofaqueen says
I so enjoyed seeing all of your photos and catching up with your family. And the chicken coop encounter! Yuck! We received so much rain in Spokane on Monday and Tuesday that it washed most of our snow away. We still have enough for a white Christmas, but not nearly the amounts you got just north of us. It looks so peaceful and serene, unless you have to drive in it. Our son and grandchildren are making the drive from Helena to Spokane this weekend so we’re praying for clear roads although it is supposed to be COLD! Many blessings on your Christmas Kendra.
Betsy
Kendra says
And blessings to you, Betsy! I hope your children make it okay and you all have a wonderful time!
Bridget says
Wow. You had a lot going on. Falling in mud and manure before church sounds like something I would do. Loved the beautiful pictures of the snow. It hasn’t snowed much here in Reading, PA. I hope no one else gets sick in your family. 😞
Kendra says
Thanks! So far a couple of us have had a bellyache, but nothing major . . . so we will see what Christmas brings. Hope you get some snow soon!!
Regina S says
Oh Kendra! That’s just aweful! I’m glad you didn’t hit your head on anything! On the a positive side the pictures are pretty and I love the snow pictures. No snow for us this month! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Kendra says
Yeah, it was a nasty fall, but I have recovered!! You have a good Christmas, too!
Sherilyn says
Loved the pictures! The 3-4″ of snow we were silly with delight over a couple weeks ago is a far cry from what yall are enjoying! But as much as we enjoyed our day of snow we were glad to see it leave and to get back to our 60 degree days. 🙂 60 degree days just aren’t quite as pretty. As for the suggestion to give our mailman an extra thanks, I think I will do just that since I love internet christmas shopping!
Kendra says
I will honestly say that 17″ of snow is a trifle more than I appreciate! However, I am thankful for a white Christmas and that cozy feeling inside with my kids….when they are quiet. 😉
Diana J. says
Thank you for the lovely pictures! Merry Christmas!
Kendra says
And the same to you!