Annual Christmas tree cutting ... (the day after Thanksgiving!)

Here I come ...

What is going on in his mind?

I don't want to take a picture ...

Yes, take with me ...

Daddy, I want you ...

A little Daddy lovin' ...

At last, a picture of father and daughter smiling!

Don't forget one with mom!

Oh, look at me!  I have the power ...

Seriously, Gretchen ... don't be taking my picture now!

Jack and basketball ...

I thought this was kind of a cool picture.  As much as I LOVE basketball and I LOVE watching my kids play basketball, it is a really really really hard sport to try and capture with a camera.  I finally gave up on this game ... mainly because the colors of the two teams and the lighting in the gym were not in favor of getting a good picture!

A little something about Jack ...

I'm ready ... Are you?

Jack received this sweatshirt for his birthday and he has not gone a day without wearing.  So that tells you two things ... he is a creature of habit and likes what he likes, AND I am an amazing mom because I have kept up on the wash enough to have it everyday for him!

New, but old ...

While I was in Dallas, I visited the jewelry store James Avery.  There is not one out this way.  Kyle and I bought our original wedding bands there some 17 years ago.  We also bought our current wedding rings from there.  When I bought mine to match the silver one that Kyle had picked out and worn for a couple of years, I wanted to have the wedding date engraved on the inside.  I also had my initials engraved on the outside.  Well ... those initials had pretty much worn away and I was saddened that you could not see it anymore.  I thought I would inquire into the possibility of having it redone while I was in Dallas.  Well ... success!  It was so easy to do.  They buffed the ring so it was shiny and smooth, then engraved it again.  AND I got to pick out a new font!  I got it in the mail yesterday and it made my day.  It is so very shiny and pretty ... so it is something new, yet old!  (And it did not cost me the price of a new ring!)

A great day to wear ...

I made this scarf a little while ago.  It took me a while to make, and it was my first time to do striping.  It was a lot of fun to make.  I love the colors.  It did turn out to be huge, so I don't wear it all that often.  But, today was a perfect day!  I went to a movie -- this FIRST matinee of the day -- with a friend and it was so cozy and warm in the theater.  I don't often -- or ever -- share my knitting projects but thought this was a good one to put on the blog.  Whenever I do wear it, I think of my mom!  She was the one that gave me the pattern and said ... knit this.  Thanks ... 

Dinner tonight ...

Tonight's dinner is Hearty Navy bean soup.  It is one of our favorites.  It is a perfect night for it because a storm decided to roll in today.  It has been cloudy gray and cold -- a perfect night to stay in and eat some warm soup with a good blanket maybe a book or a new knitting project.

Come on over if you want to eat with us -- we have some to spare!

Jack turned 10 years old ...

I am tired of pictures ...

Can I joke around a bit? ...

A smile ...

If you are going to stick your tongue out ...

A natural face of Jack's ..

I am up to something ...

Never without a ball in hand -- even while blowing out the candles ...

Look at my giant cookie sandwich!

It was Jack's birthday TWO days ago, and I am just now getting the photos up on the blog.  It was a grand day.  Jack requested that we not walk him to school.  Jack requested that I NOT bring the camera to school when I brought his class treats to enjoy at the end of the day in honor of his birthday.  Jack had to wait a really long time to open up presents and handled like a really mature 10 year old.  Jack requested that he be able to stay up until at least 8:09pm so that he could celebrate really turning 10 years old.  Jack once again asked for molasses cookies for his birthday treat this year.  I do believe it is 4 years in a row if not for all of them!  This year he also asked for cream cheese frosting to be in the middle and on top.  I got a little carried away and the sandwiches were HUGE!  Don't worry -- in case you were -- the kids were not able to eat ALL of it in one sitting.

Here is to my 10 year old son!

Jack's turn for memory lane ...

My firstborn baby!  Jack took awhile to decide to come into the world.  He was happy being inside of me, but come he did.  He weighed in at 10 pounds even and were we ever surprised that he was that big.  When I look at his first picture ... you know what I think -- he was born with rolls and look at those shoulders and the size of his hand!  The deadpan face is awesome even covered in poop still.  Can you tell it is Jack?  I can't really.  The second picture is one of my favorite -- so peaceful and serene.  He looks so little in this picture to me -- especially his head.  When I look at this picture ... you know what I think -- he had his calics from the get go.  They run strong in our family.  All four of the grandkids have them in the same spots -- way to go Grammy and Pops!  

My sweet sweet Jack ... happy 10th birthday to you!

Trip down memory lane...

So I was getting ready for the day today and I got to thinking about my kids.  I am one who loves to look at photo albums, and I have not been able to do this since they are still packed in boxes.  I decided in honor of Jack's birthday I would dig some "first" pictures of them both and post them on the blog.  It amazes me to look back at them on their first day of life outside the womb.  They were little chunks!  

This is Molly.  Can you tell?  I can't!  She weighed in at 10 pounds 1 ounce.  When I look at the first picture ... you know what I think -- look at that long slender body, and she was born with rolls.  I was so worried that she would come out at 5 pounds and I would not know what to do with that little of a baby.  She didn't, and I knew what to do with a baby that had some weight to her.  When I look at the second picture ... you know what I think -- even back then she was sleeping with intensity.  She was a great baby but "bear" became her nickname pretty quick, so when I look back at this picture I think to myself she was intense from the get go!

Molly's birthday PARTY ...

Molly wanted to have a small birthday party at the house making crafts.  Well, I am not always the best with parties but leave it to my mom to get the ball rolling with "pins" from Pintrest for me.  I discovered these two great ideas and Molly was on board.  Let the party begin -- and the crafting fun too!

Supplies ready to go ...

Girls hard at work ... 

Lunch plates set ... 

Group shot!

Finish products -- with a pose to boot!

Finish products on display for me to capture before they leave the party.

The projects were to have each girl paint their initial then mosaic a canvas board with tissue paper then adhere the initial for a new picture to hang on the wall.  The other craft was along the same thing -- take a vase and adhere the tissue paper to the vase to give a colorful translucent feel.  The girls had a good time doing it and didn't lose interest, which is what I always worry about.  Molly would like to go on and do her whole name and hang them on the wall, which I am all on aboard for doing!

My birthday ...

Flowers from Jack 

Self-portrait taken WITHOUT lipstick

Self-portrait taken WITH lipstick (just for you Dad!) 

A little grainy and far away, but a picture of us which we don't often get!

So ... it was my birthday a couple days ago.  I decided to snap a picture or two of myself because I have this grand plan of putting together a book of the family with only birthday pictures over the years.  I have yet to work on it, but I have to have the pictures to do it someday - right?!  I think I am looking older, but thought these were some good ones.  I have more that we took that made me laugh but you get the idea.

My two new ...

...faces of Jack.

Aren't you in love with that smile?

Not quite a smile, but he looks so old and handsome.

I captured these two pictures of Jack on Molly's birthday, and fell in love with my son all over again.  Now, I know you are not supposed to covet but God has truly given us a blessing with Jack.  His heart is so tender and beautiful and then you mix it with his love of sports and all things "guy" -- I think of the future and know that he is going to make some woman feel loved well!  I am thankful for the blessing of his life and the things that He teaches me everyday by being Jack Parker's mom!

The rest of Molly's day ...

Cupcakes at school ... chocolate chocolate chip with light green cream cheese frosting - no sprinkles! 

Cupcake at home with candle and song and blowing out

Present time.  Notice the face - love it!  Notice the opening tool - a knife!

Daddy and daughter

Mommy and daughter

Molly had a great day.  She loved being at school.  Got to enjoy homemade cupcakes.  Ate dinner out complete with a free birthday sundae.  Went to sleep really tired but full of smiles - not to mention filled to the brim with sugar!

Happy 8th Birthday to my Molly Bear ...

Molly posing for Mom's "I have to get a birthday picture before you go to school" smile!

Molly wanted Kyle and I to walk her to school this morning.  She decided to turn around and throw a snowball ... perfect capture on my part.

There was just something about the expression on her face in this one that I liked.

There will be more pictures as the day unfolds, but I thought I would put a few up this morning.  Molly was so very excited for this day to come.  She was in rare form this morning.  Kyle and I were praying for her teacher today!  We are having a low key evening with just family and then she is having a small birthday party this Saturday ... she can't wait!

Day 2 of the remodel ...

This is the little alcove for our bed, which will also have the fuse box in it.  So ... there is a new framed wall to "hide" it that will have a pretty cabinet door for access.

The framed wall for the bed alcove.

By golly, there is a new hole in the wall!  Our new closet door access from the bedroom.

Yesterday was a day of rest, so no work was done on the basement remodel.  These pictures are from Saturday's work.  It was a good day with good work.  Framing takes a long time!  I did not want to bore you all with the little pictures of the rest of the framing and just gave you a couple of the bigger areas.  Kyle finished up some wiring and more lights ... and it is wonderful!  Hopefully, today the framing will be done, some insulation put up, and some more demo on the the bathroom.  Oh yeah, the boys did take out the nasty nasty nasty shower stall to see what they were dealing with in the drain last night.  It looked good, but we have to let go of the nice tiled walk in shower with no door or shower curtain ... the space is too small and the drain is in the wrong place.  But as silver lining Jack would say ... yeah, but at least you can still have a shower down there in the bathroom!