The Holidays

Our official holiday celebrations began the Sunday before Christmas with Libby's baptism. Most parents do this when their children are babies, but it took us a while longer to find our home with our father. She looked like an angel, and understood that she was becoming marked as Christ's own child. My one hope is that she always keeps these beliefs in here life. Growing up I did, but when my mom became sick, and then died, I really struggled with my faith, to my very core. Not every one who reads my prose is religious, or cares to be, so I am not going to preach about how everyone should go to church. I will say that growing closer to God is helping us grow as a family and as a couple.

A rare family picture.... I am looking a little, okay, a lot chunky these days. Time to make time for fitness!
Libby and Father Bill

We had a few people over after church for a light lunch, and then we relaxed!

Monday and Tuesday we finished our shopping, baked many cookies, and watched movies. On Wednesday we made cookie deliveries to neighbors, went to early church service, and then to my dads for dinner. The holidays are the most difficult for him, but we had a nice evening. I had to chuckle when looking back through pictures. My dad has worn the same worn out Ohio State sweat pants for at least 20 Christmas. These pants are so worn. I guess they can be added to our list of Christmas traditions!

"American Girl Boxes! You knew just what I wanted Papaw!"

"My own pink I pod, it says Libby!"

We then came home to see if the elves had came. Each year if Libby has been a good girl the elves leave a surprise showing that Santa really is going to come. They leave pj's so we can look nice in our Christmas morning pictures. Those elves really thing ahead.

Libby made and left the sweetest note for Santa to thank him. I must brag... check out that stellar handwriting. This is the same kid who got a S- the first nine weeks in this very subject, she has made a huge turn a round.

The elves hit a mid summer AG clearance sale and were able to pick up jammies for Libby and her doll.

Christmas was beautiful. What a nice quiet and peaceful day to celebrate the birth of Christ and to share gifts with each other. I mentioned before Santa brings three gifts. Santa did bring one extra this year, I think it was more for Mike....

This sums the joy of my Christmas in one moment.

On Friday we played some more and on Saturday we headed over to the greater Z ville area for the Garbrandt Christmas. Check out our cutie pie nieces and nephews.

Those darn teeth just did not make it in time for Christmas!

Libby-5, Maia-6, Kelsey-7

Christopher-2

I think that is enough Christmas overload for tonight! Happy New to All..... may 2009 be filled richly for each and everyone of you.

The List

Things that have gone all wrong since May 16, 2008...

1. Mike lost his job.
2. The air conditioner broke. We had to buy a new one
3. Our older car broke down. The engine blew. We only have one car.
4. A kitchen window spontaneously broke. They only sent us the glass, not a sash. Who knows how to take a window apart to install glass in a sealed sash.
5. The smoker caught on fire. We had to throw it away.
6. The car one good car we have needed repaired. It cost a lot!
7. We argue weekly about what has gone wrong and who is at fault.
8. The hard drive of the computer with everything all important to life in general took a dive. It is still at the shop.
9. Today when we went to Mike's parents house... the driveway was icy.... we had to slam on the breaks.... a LOUD pop.... the transmission went out on our car... we think.
10.????? What could possibly be next??? Check back for updates. Never mind, we came up with 10. b The furnace broke, but Mike was able to fix it for $25. Could that be a positive too?
11. Also, Mike discovered a hole in the roof, but he and his dad were able to fix it for free.
12. There was also a two month period were Mike's dad called us everyday about things he found on Craig's list. We have be the go between for several of the questionably needed items. After some comments were made about a "problem" at a family get together this has slowed down!

Our car is sitting in their driveway. The only thing stopping it from crashing into their garage is the parking break and one of those cement geese.

Trying to give life a positive spin... good things that have happened...

1. We have spent a lot of quality time together as a family.
2. Mike put the swing set together.
3. We became members of a church, Mike was baptised, I was confirmed, and we attend regularly. A long time goal of ours.
4. I made dean's list for fall quarter.
5. Lib is doing very well in school.
6. We have not killed each other, yet.
7. We made it home safe in Mike's dad's truck in all of this horrible snow. I prayed a lot on the ride home.

For tonight I am going to pray that our car is still under warranty like we think it is. There must be a silver lining somewhere.

I am also go to pray for help in being a better wife. I really stink in this department these days. I know it and I do not like it. I am trying. A few bad months out of seven years of bad wifing (is that a word) is not that bad.

Tomorrow is a new day!

Halloween Pictures!

Mike's parents and the anniversary cake I made for them. We could not find a 40th anniversary topper so we improvised. The before are the parents from the Loving family dollhouse, and the now is Mr. and Mrs. Noah Little People. The cake is right on from their wedding pictures. Probably the best cake I have ever done for a decorating dabbler.


We are borrowing my dad's computer for a few days... our hard drive crashed. I will blame it on Mike, I blame everything on him these days, including the downturn of American economics. I digress, that is a post for another day.
Our SD drive was not working and I have been unable to post pictures. Maybe I will get caught up this weekend.

My pretty girl missing her two front teeth. This is at the Fairfield County fair. We look so forward to this each year. I am proud too, she does not eat "fair food" She will only eat chicken and noodles!

If you look in the archives you will find pictures that look just like this from 2006. She is almost 4 feet tall! I will miss these kinds of things if we move away....

My little Alice! She was so polite correcting those who called her a princess, or Cinderella.

Are we really these people?

Last night I was in bed reading. My bible. I was given a new one when I was confirmed two weeks ago. It is the nicest Bible I have ever owned. Not in looks, but in content. It is not the sayeth, thereth, youeth, type, but one that is full of side notes and more importantly real world context that can help you relate the ideas to your life. I am to the end of the story about Noah in Genesis, if you really wanted to know.

So Mike ventures upstairs, and I pause in my reading to tell him I am concerned about the amount of rampant crime going on in our town. "I think maybe we should load the gun." Yes, yes, we have a gun or home. Not a popular decision for most. After a home a block away was robbed a knife point I gave the okay. The sad thing is, that for the most part we live in a VERY safe community. I have no problem going for a walk at night. I think I just more aware of the crime that does occur. And before you get concerned, yes Libby does know about the gun. I strongly feel that if you are going to have firearms in your home that your children must know that people kill, not guns. She knows that it is not a toy, and should never be touched.

Needless to say I continued reading while Mike fiddled around with it for a while. Then the humor of the scenario took over. Wife in bed reading Bible, husband sitting on the end of the bed in his jammies loading gun. It was like a twisted Lifetime movie...

We decided not load the gun, not a good idea for right now. But if you had plans of breaking into my home I can have it load and ready to shoot through the floor in seconds! Beware...