Cora's Christmas Hat

Nolan's Christmas Play

Excellent casting for Nolan in his preschool Christmas play tonight as "the biggest tree of all."  It only took 3 bribes to get him to do it.

It's got a name!

Chronic tracheobronchitis.  All the years of sucking on cough drops, sipping hot tea, gross gunk flying out unexpectedly, and hacking at various times of day and night....I found a pulmonary doctor who listened to me and named it.  I read about it, and there it is.  Just being able to name it helps a lot. 

Scenes from San Diego and Makenna's 3rd birthday celebration

I like the pictures to tell the story, and these do, but for some reason, I can't get them lined up in chronological order tonight.  Blake and his friend Dylan, Cora, Hannah, and I went to Arizona for Makenna's third birthday a few days ago, and as you can see, she was delighted to have her cousins there to share her day.  Just before eating pink cake with pink frosting, us four girls spent a time in the backyard hot tub singing Christmas carols.  We might have thrown in a few other songs....we just had the best time, and I hope we can do it again.

"Come Git It on the Mountain...."

Staying home today.  Got that irpy, yucky feeling and don't want to pass anything to anyone.  I'm listening to the new James Taylor Christmas album including the song, "Go Tell It on the Mountain....Jesus Christ Is Born."  I'm remembering my days in St. Margaret Mary Church in Bullhead City, AZ, when I worked with the preschooler-through Jr. High age choirs.  Had practice with the little ones for a Christmas play.  They were singing "Go Tell It on the Mountain," and I thought they had it down and really knew what they were singing.  Well...that evening, Chris was in the bathtub doing one of his marathon soap-sculpting artworks on his little naked self.  But this time he was accompanying his work with his rendition of the song.  The words, however, came out, "Come, Git It on the Mountain...."  I never did ask him what everyone was supposed to come and git.  I think Mom was there too, maybe Sam also, to hear his concert.  He was about 3 years old.  I've never forgotten how that made us all smile.

I hope some of his co-workers read this story.  :o)

The "Christmas Explosion" has occurred

Over the past three days, I decorated for Christmas.  Most of what I do is for the kids.  But I have to admit, I love it too.  Doesn't everybody!

I hope to post more photos from Makenna's birthday tomorrow.  Today, I went to Nolan's preschool with two friends from church to play music and sing.  I took my box of music-making things (bells, tamborines, etc.), and we must have sung jingle bells a half dozen times.  Had half the kids come up front with us and play while the others sat and watched.  Then switched groups.  It was truly entertaining watching some of the shy, quiet ones let loose and sing and dance and shake those bells after a couple of songs.  I then took Nolan and two of the daycare kids to McDonald's for some fun.  We shared the giant fries, and the kids laughed and climbed and slid down the slides for over an hour.  Whew!  Great day, but Grandma Ginny had to take a nap.

Chuck completed the first day of Addicts Victorious.  The prayers of many have supported him in his struggle.  Thank you all.