Jessicarrot

Sadly, I didn’t even think to take pictures of Christmas morning. I think BJay might have gotten some video. But I’ll have to post pictures of our two big projects. The train table for Gabers (redeux) and a dress-up wardrobe and armoire for Hila from me and BJay. It turned out rather nice, and we fit it into the girls room. I felt guilty not making Asher anything so he got a LOT of legos. We still haven’t opened all of them. The past few days at our house have been a little yucky. A stomach virus got us all down, excpet BJay. I think its because he magically slept through all the clean-up detail. But its just as well, men can be such babies when they are sick! I got an under-counter mount cd/radio an BJay got r/c helicopters. We have really enjoyed having my brother and his wife and baby here this Christmas. Little Jakers is an adorable 2 month old. And its nice to have the missing peice in place in our family for a little while. I’m hoping everyone stays well so we can party tonight at my mom’s house!

How Silently, how silently

The wonderous gift is giv’n!

So God impoarts to human hearts

The blessings of his heav’n.

No ear may hear His coming;

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear Christ enters in.

I was fixing my neice Opal and Hila some chocolate milk this morning. The chocolate syrup is almost gone so it made *that* sound. Opal laughs and says, “Ha. It farted!” Hila said quickly, “It tooted.”

Opal, “It farted, farty fart fart!”

Hila talking over her cousin loudly, “It tooted! It tooted! Toot!”

Then Hila got frustrated that Opal wasn’t taking the hint. “No! Opal, it tooted!”

Opal, “Oh. It tooted.”

Chocolate milk in hands, they went off to play dolls.

I escaped the house last night to do some last minute stocking stuffer shopping. I brought Hannah with me because Hila’s best friend/cousin was spending the night and I didn’t want BJay to feel too overwhelmed. So I was wandering the isles looking for some baking cups that I knew wouldn’t be there when out of the corner of my eye I spied a woman who was looking for something. She saw the baby carrier on my cart and came toward me. I was expecting her to ask me a baby related question. She quickly handed me an envelope and said Merry Christmas! I was a little taken aback and said thank you. And before I could comprehend what just happened, she was gone. I looked at the envelope in my hand and the words “Merry Christmas” were written on it in red ink. I opened it and there was $50 cash inside. I may not be the most needy person in the world, but $50 is a big deal to me. I stood there in the isle and cried a second. I don’t know why. Nothing like that has ever happened to me. Maybe the fact that someone was going out of their way to make the world a Merrier place at Christmas struck me as wonderful. I LOVE giving gifts. I am absolutely giddy this time of year because I love to give people things that I think they would like. I love to make and buy things that I know my children will love. I’m not trying to brag but I honestly don’t ever think about getting anything for Christmas. So I guess that is what struck me when the anonymous woman gave me that gift. How nice it is to recieve things that are joyfully given. So I thought I’d pass on the Merry Christmas! Sorry, I’m keeping the cash!

BJay and I were asked to be Mary and Joseph for our ward Christmas party. Hannah played Baby Jesus. She is a terrific actress. I laid her down in that scratchy hay and wire halo and she didn’t make a fuss. I was thinking about how old Mary must have been and it made me feel really old. Technically I think I could play Mary’s mother. If she was around 15 when she was married. Strange. I thought BJay was a very cool looking Joseph in the Kurta Pajama I got him in India. Well its probably the first and last time we ever get to be a nativity!

So the house across the street is getting a new roof put on. When we were coming home from picking up Asher from school I pointed out to the kids that there were men on the roof across the street putting on a new roof. Asher said, “I think they are flipping it.” I said, “Really?” He says, “Yeah, they are the real flips.” Then he gets out of the van to play in the front yard and waves at the men working on the roof saying, “Hi flips!” Later that night when BJay got home from work Asher reported that he had seen the real flips across the street putting on a new roof. TLC anyone?

I gave the boys haircuts today.

Gabe with Hannah

BJay spent all last Saturday putting up new lights

Before

After

After a year with shoplights in the family room, these new ceiling fans are really nice!