Ahhh...

Whoosh - and Christmas is all packed away! It feels so good to put everything away. I may be a semi-grinch, but I don't care.

There is not much in life I dread more than packing up the Christmas each year. So every day after Christmas I look at everything with a sneer.

Happiness is everything gone!

Merry Christmas

May the miracle of this child's birth

bring you peace.

Looking for shelter

Traveling to fulfill the prophets promise is still riding an ass while nine months pregnant. I can't imagine how much discomfort there must have been.

And then giving birth in a strange land at the back of an inn where the animals have to be moved to make room.

Having your husband help you deliver the baby - the women in your family, St. Anne and St. Elizabeth, far away.

Christmas Concerts

What a nice day. The Carrollton music teacher, Mrs. Williamson really did a great job of picking great music and the kids had fun. This is what they will remember.

Ayva and Grandma Caroline Visit

We had such fun. We were surprised at church when only Caroline and Ayva came in. Javier spent the night with a friend. Romeo had a sore throat.

After church we all came to our condo. The snow was coming down real good. I made pancakes and Papa warmed up the bacon. Ayva declared they were the best pancakes ever. (I used a Jiffy cornbread box, a heaping cup of Bisquick, two eggs, 3/4 cup pumpkin Coffeemate and enough milk to make it the right consistency. )

Then they went out to play. It was so much fun watching Ayva and her Grandma.

Christmas at Fandangles'

A small group of us had lunch at Fandangles'. A nice time to reconnect with my Lock. That is Celia, the person I shared a locker with from 1st through 12th grade. Alphabetically Schrems and Shea forever linked.

Museum Fun

Romeo's 2nd time and Tino's 1st time at the Children's Museum. We had such fun. Never had any problems. They loved playing and sharing.

The tubes were the favorite. But trying on glasses was a close second.

New Home

This is our 2nd Christmas in our condo, but we moved in a week before Christmas so we didn't decorate. Today was our first time to get the Christmas decorations out. I forgot I bought a couple more angels at an estate sale a few years ago.

Fran, one of your Mom's camels is hiding on the left. (And I got a card but saving it for my birthday.)

Family!

We went to a baby shower yesterday for a cousin's daughter. It was shocking to me that only two other cousins were present. That family is feuding with each other.

I don't know what I would do if my brothers and sisters took sides against each other. I depend on their love and they depend on mine.

I love my cousins - on both sides of that feud. I won't take sides. I'll love each and every one of them. I'll pray they get over this because I know they need each other as much as I need my family.

Favorite Salad

We both love the berry pecan salad from Meijer. I usually get one every time we go shopping. Always fresh and always delicious.