My sweet, sweet Hannah! I remember calculating that you would graduate in 2008 and thought what a long time it would be getting there! Well, I was incredibly wrong...it didn't take long at all. I love you!!!

I'm on my last day of Christmas vacation. Of course, I have the weekend, but that doesn't count as a vacation. On Monday morning, I start my first day as an employee rather than a consultant. In the meantime, here's another layout. Although the pics look almost the same, they were a couple of months apart. I think that it's Zeb's favorite way to greet Shaun, no matter when! My favorite part of this page is Sarah's horrified face in the background.

This was my best Christmas ever! On Christmas Eve, we went to Mom & Dad's (about 3 miles up the road). We ate and opened gifts. Then we all went to church. My two oldest nieces rode with us. My nephew drove my parents car with his learner's permit. My brother and sister brought their youngest two. We took up three pews at church.

And when the pastor asked for testimony about your best Christmas ever, I stood and said that this was mine! To have our son home for his first Chirstmas, to have our daughter here, to have all of my nieces and nephew who have so richly blessed my life. I am incredibly blessed!

Then yesterday, Shaun and Sydney were both so excited each time that they opened a gift! You should have seen their faces! Then all of my family came back and we had a big dinner!And I've tucked these memories into the corners of my mind. And I'll cherish them forever. Because I won't have all of these people with me forever. But now I'll have this precious memory that I can take out each year and replay. Now, to get these three Christmas trees down and out of my house! Yippee!!!

Well, I'm getting close to being ready for Christmas. Yesterday, after church, Mom and Dad took the kids so that we could finish some shopping and wrap some gifts. Mom said that as they were pulling into the driveway, Sydney began singing "Happy birthday to You, happy birthday to You, happy birthday to Jesus, happy birthday to You." Then she proceeded to tell Mom all about the three wise men and how they followed the star to find baby Jesus! What better Christmas gift could I have than that?

And to think that this is really Shaun's first Christmas. It seems impossible. It seems like he has been here forever! What gifts God has given me.

I've got a few pages scrapped. I don't have my 2007 Shutterfly book done. I would have given it for Christmas, but it isn't done! And I don't have my calendars done yet either. But, they are for 2008, so I still have a little bit of time.

And I've got to get the groceries for Christmas dinner. But, I've got the list done so that is positive! And, on that note, I'll post this layout and be on my way! Credits are on in my oscrap gallery.

I am so far behind...but I'll catch up...somehow! Anyway, I am freaking out but I thought I'd leave you with this cute conversation with my 3 1/2 year old.

Set the stage---Sydney walking around the house with her toy cell phone tucked under her ear and talking; she stops talking on the phone, walks over to me and tilts her head to the side with a twinkle in her eye and smiles so cute

Sydney: Mommy, I was talking to my boyfriendMommy: Really, I didn't know that you had a boyfriendSydney: YesMommy: What's his nameSydney: (She told me a name but it was 3 made up words that I've forgotten)Mommy: Really? Where did you get him?Sydney: Hannah (her 17 year old cousin who has a very sweet boyfriend) gave him to meMommy: She did?Sydney: Yes. He's 6 (going after the older men) and he comes to here (points to her shoulder which would make him about 26 inches tall...a little bit short for a 6 year old)Mommy: Wow!Sydney: (tilting her head to the side and giving me a 1000-watt smile) I'm going to tell my dad---he's going to freak!!

No wonder I'm not ready for Christmas!

Sydney actually asked that I take pictures of her in front of the Christmas tree. Then she and Shaun nearly knocked each other down getting in front of the camera. I hope this phase lasts for awhile. Anyway, here is a photo from tonight! I thought the journaling fit Syd.

I have a couple of new layouts. We've had snow and freezing rain in Iowa this weekend. We went to a basketball game Friday night at Pella Christian. Then last night should have been Ballard but the weather caused a cancellation. Fortunately, I still got the treat of taking Hannah to get her hair recolored. While they were stripping the brown from her hair, I borrowed her book and read. It was "One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich. I finished it last night and now I'm hooked on Stephanie Plum books. I'd always heard that they were wonderful. Now I know!

The Christmas cards came in the mail Friday. I need to get started with the addressing. We've had two of the three Christmas trees fall down. At this point, we may never get more than garland and lights on these trees.