A New Tradition Has Begun

Dollar store Christmas was so fun!!!! I am so amazed at the gifts that the little boys picked out for family members. They were right on target. We are known as a family that has less-than-popular-traditions in some areas (See "Our Thanksgiving") and this I think will be our newest. We had so many laughs that we are going to have a Christmas in July celebration just because. The rules were that each of the 8 members of the family bought a gift from the dollar store for the other 7. In school last week the kids made personalized Christmas cards with really funny couplets in them. Many gifts that were opened were greeted with the statement, "Oh wow, I wanted/needed one of these!" I got lots of lavender smelling lotions (lavender is my favorite) and lots of dental hygiene products, (as I kind of obsess about good tooth care.) My 7 year old got a bottled water and you would have thought he hit the jackpot! He carefully refrigerated it so it could be cold and ready.



Our little tree with many little gifts (some little gifts in really great big bags)

Tunneling Out

This is an old picture of our Rottweiler and the fun she would have after every big snow.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Peace,
:)De

Happy 1 Year to Blogging

I just realized that yesterday, December 22 was my 1 year anniversary for blogging. How about that. What a year of great fun and many bloggy friends.

:)De

This Christmas

I brought my son home in 1996 and for his first Christmas and we went WILD!!! He had so many gifts that we could hardly get into the living room on Christmas morning. He was my "first born" and the first grandchild, nephew, Godchild...you get the picture. Two years later, when I brought home a 2nd baby, we over-indulged again. His reign as the only child was ending.

About 5 years ago, we decided to not buy gifts for family exchange, but adopted an area family and bought gifts for them. That was such a blessing and the kids loved it. We had planned on that being our family tradition, but then I re-opened my home for foster care and that created this whole other situation. I had great foster care workers that were very diligent in getting gifts for the kids placed in my home. They also got gifts for my kids and not just a few trinkets... our cup over, overflowed. So much so, that we could not possibly open them all on Christmas. When kids left our home to go to new families, we were able to send huge boxes of new clothes and toys with them.

Last year, we were able to provide gifts again for an area family and the children are asking to do it this year as well. We are also doing something different for ourselves. We are doing, "dollar store Christmas." The 8 of us are buying gifts for the other 7 from the dollar store only. While the quality of the gifts may not be high, the value of the giving ranks way up there. As always, we sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and enjoy good food and family fun.

Merry Christmas to all who read this. We here at MHS wish you love, happiness and contentment.

Peace,
:)De

Snow Day!

5 Fingers

On Monday we started a unit in 1st grades History and Geography titled: "I Live In A Family." On one page, he was required to draw a picture of his family. Let me just say we have all come a long way from just a round head and 1 stick bodies. But today another first happened... people now have 5 fingers on each hand. LOL! And they are counted twice to be sure everyone has 5. I know...I know...fingers. But it is these developmental growths that just thrill my heart from this child that they said would not be able to learn.

Various numbers of fingers....


5 fingers on each hand!