Four days till Christmas

Here is a sweet picture of Chloe with Daddy. She was all dressed up today in her new Christmas dress and I thought she looked just beautiful. So did Daddy and he asked for a picture with her. Then we took one with the whole family and then the kids and Grandma and Grandpa. And then one with Mommy and her girl.

5 days before Christmas

And the King family celebrated. All the King cousins in one house and each with a homemade personalized stocking handmade by Grandma and filled with goodies. Good times. Love it.

6 Days till Christmas

And the two little ones are spending the day on Grandma King's couch huddled under some homemade afghans and sick with the stomach flu. So much for a big happy Christmas weekend. Oh well, at least it didn't hit in the car yesterday (while Daddy was changing the flat!!).

7 days till Christmas

And we spent the day in the car. On the way to the King side of the family in Kansas. And we were making good time getting out of Illinois before the nasty frozen rain was to hit when a car came alongside of ours and started honking. And pointing to our back tire. And I looked in the mirror and saw it was totally flat!! (how could we not feel it??) So in the below freezing temps, my sweet hubby gets on his knees on the wet snow covered shoulder and changed the tire. He's my hero. He also kept his cool as we waited 2 hours for the next Wal-Mart we came upon to put a new tire on (you can't drive all day on the little spare!!). 2 hour wait for a 10 minute service is hard to swallow when you have a day's driving ahead of you and freezing rain you're trying to stay ahead of. Did I mention he's my hero?

I didn't get a photo of the tire-changing event because it wasn't appropriate at the time. But I sure wish I had it now. I was busy praying that the big semis that sped by and rocked the car would not rock it off of the jack; and I was praying Darrin wouldn't have to get under the car to pry the spare loose; and I was praying we would all get out alive and safe. So pictures weren't at the top of my list!!

8 days until Christmas

My kids made the cutest little gingerbread house with Grandma. What fun!! Everyone got involved and I say it was a job well done!!

9 days till Christmas

And I love seeing the stockings hung by the fireplace!!

10 days before Christmas

And I came home from my weekend away to find my car frozen over and no ice scraper inside. What can I say, we never use them in Costa Rica!! :o)

So I waited, and waited, and waited and after 45 minutes, the defroster had done enough of its work I could see to go!!

See look, it's starting to melt already. And I'm still smiling!!

11 days before Christmas

And I think my Christmas cards are actually ready to go!! Didn't think to take a picture of my envelope stuffing assembly line-- but here's the photo we used!!

12 days till Christmas

And I'm having a girls night out!! Yay for good friends!

December

PHOTO A DAY FOR DECEMBER 2008!!

Dec. 1 SNOW!!!! My Central American kiddos were SOOO excited to see big fat fluffy flakes falling from the sky and coating everything in a layer of white!!

Dec. 2 Christmas Dress! Chloe went shopping with Mommy (and Grandma) and picked out the prettiest blue shiny dress to wear over the holidays!!

Dec. 3 Tree!! We are living in a borrowed house and weren't sure how or if we would get a tree. But lo and behold the house we are in used to be a business and they still had a tree stored in the attic with ornaments and lights that we were able to use!! Yay!

To be continued. . . . .