It has been a long, long time...

How is it possible that I haven't blogged ANYTHING since June?!?  Um, my only (lame) excuse is starting a new job, working 5 days a week now, and just the busy life we lead....  so I'm not going to play 'catch up', since most of you are also my FB friends... and so you're up to date.  ;)

It is the holiday season and my kids are EX-CITED!  We have our tree up (no decorations on it yet), and a few sparse decorations here and there throughout the house... hoping this weekend will provide the time (and energy) to get those all out and up!  Also planning to bring all three of my kiddos to "Christmas in Kasson" - where they haul Santa from the City Hall to the cinnema in Kasson's finest, shiniest Fire Truck... there are 'reindeer' in a cage by the liquor store and most of the businesses downtown do some kind of cookie decorating / ornament making / coloring contest and at the end, every child is given a small stuffed animal...  I'm sure it will be a great time for the kids... and since we aren't going to be anywhere else, how can we not go?!  *though, honestly -- I am dreading trying to load them all up, get them all in snowpants / mittens / hats / boots / etc... bundled into the stroller -- because Lucy and Lincoln both are getting sick of riding and want to walk (in opposite directions of each other) -- think I'll need to stop in the liquor store, while visiting the reindeer, to purchase some patience.  :)

My Lucy is in LOVE with all the pretty lights... on the trees, in the windows, on the streets - Kasson has them hung on every street light on the main roads... I'm hoping that Brandon will string the lights on the house this weekend too -- so our house can be a part of the "Ooooooo, mama... look!"

Our bell ringer

The downside to this, is she thinks she's big enough to plug in and unplug the lights to our tree and I'm a little stressed about that.... she's quick, so by the time I'm correcting it, she's already plugged in or unplugged.... and oiy.


Lily was ringing the Salvation Army bell ... so proud of the sweet, kind hearted girl she is.

We've been coloring lots of Christmas pictures and hanging them on the cupboards in the kitchen, preparing for a beautiful display of art for Santa, when he comes to deliver all the goodies to our house... I have to say this is probably one of their favorite things to do... they love to sit at the table together and color... and it is a proud moment for me, to watch them together, sharing the crayons, complimenting each other's pictures... ♥

Promise to myself to start blogging again... so much to write, share, and reflect on.