Christmas 2008

Can you believe this is the only picture we got of our Christmas? We played with our new video camera and didn't even think of still photos. Santa was very good to us this year. Jason received a circular saw that he won't have to borrow from friends and family anymore to help with Jill's projects in the future. Josie and JJ are doing a great job of playing with each other's toys. JJ loves the doll accessories as much as Josie does. Jill got her Swedish food on Christmas Eve and loved every bite of it! We spent Christmas Eve through Saturday with Grandma and Grandpa Freeman. Charie's family and Ray's family also came to spend time with them.

We can't forget the real reason for this holiday! I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for the sacrifices He made for me and my family. I am also grateful for prophets that teach us every month in the Ensign and other magazines we receive from the church. We enjoyed their devotional earlier this month. I am most grateful at this time for Temples and the blessing of being sealed to my husband and children for all eternity!

It's another painting with BUTTER kind of day.

It amazes me that I can turn around and when I look up again this is what I can find. They used one of their hats to spread it around. When I caught them...Josie looked up at me with a huge smile and said, "we make JJ room really pretty!".

Only 1 Pasco ward was not cancelled.

Yesterday there was only 1 ward in Pasco that was not cancelled. Yep, it was ours! Choir practice was postponed until 15 minutes before church started, so we were on time...one of the rare times that we are. When we got there, we found out that there was an option of attending...many families were called and told that there would be church, but they could choose if they wanted to attend or stay home. We didn't get that call.



On another subject, there is 8-10 inches of snow outside and my children picked out these outfits to wear.

I'm told it doesn't snow much in the Tri-Cities.

It is 21 degrees outside and I thought the kiddos would like to play a little in the snow. Outside playing lasted about 10 minutes and they came in crying for 5 minutes while their fingers thawed.

It is over 20 degrees outside! Yippee!

It has been so cold outside that we have not done anything. Jason has had the van for a few days at work so today is the first time we are venturing outside since church. Our adventure begins because while I showered yesterday, Josie tied my glasses into a pretzel. The eye doctor awaits!

We allowed a big Christmas present to be opened to keep the energy contained and me sane!

JJ was brave enough to sit on Santa's lap

He wouldn't look at mom though for a photo because the candy cane was much more exciting. Josie wouldn't go near the stage where he was sitting. She began to freak out when the curtain went up and we could see Santa's boots. This was at the end of an entertaining Ward Christmas party.

Never turn your back!

You would think that I would have already learned that I should never turn my

back to curious 2 & 3 year olds. I had the things together for the gifts we are sending to the Johanson families and went to lay down with JJ at nap time. I fell asleep and he went to paint. This is a picture of how he finished his heart.

I then decided that our family home evening board would have to be red instead of blue to showcase JJ's masterpiece and be a reminder that I should never fall asleep before JJ.

Later, as I was fixing dinner, Josie did her painting. She did just as great a job as her brother. Does this mean that it is time to get some washable paints for them to play with? This is a picture of her "I'm sorry, mom" face when she decided that she was in a lot of trouble.

On another subject...JJ untied and pulled out one of his stitches on Wednesday. He was in the process of getting the other one out when we got to the doctor's office. Doc put on some glue and tape that is a type of butterfly band aid. JJ has already removed 2 of the 3 strips and opened the would a bit again. The beautiful small scar that the ER Doc managed to fix up is not going to be the final verdict. It will be interesting to see what kind of healing this eyebrow really gets when all is said and done!

Another trip to the ER

Sacrament meeting was cut short today when JJ fell and cut his head open on the bench. I grabbed him and headed for the hall where the bishop of the 6th ward told me JJ was bleeding. Bishop Leavens is our dentist and recommended that we take JJ to the Emergency Room for stitches. I called Jason from the church (he was at home, sick) and said we were headed to ER...get up and dressed. The entire overflow section was helpful, one of the young men walked us out to the car and I told the Primary President that I was going to leave, but all the activities and my lesson book was in the back row for a sub. Josie's ER visit was just last week and she was having a really hard time. She was screaming and did not want anything to do with the hospital. Jason and Josie waited in the van while I held JJ down for his 2 stitches.

We finally got a nativity scene for outside!! Yippee!!

It is so hard to believe that it is already a week into December. Today we found a nativity scene that I was excited about, but Jason wasn't too into it. (It is a blow up one) We decided that we wanted something outside to decorate, but we wanted a nativity, not a santa or snowman type of a thing. Nativity scenes are really hard to find...it has been 3 years of looking for something and then an hour to talk Jason into it with the help of mom and dad Freeman. I can't wait to see it up in our yard...it is lighted so we can see it after 4pm also!

Freeman Family Photo

Thank you to Tricia for the camera that took the photo of the Freeman Family on Thanksgiving!