A few more sneak peeks....

The Opening Scene...Bryn plays a poor farm girl whose father has been away looking for work...he surprises them by showing up on Christmas Eve...

Christmas Play practice..

Bryn and Wyatt narrate throughout the whole play...

Paying taxes...

A "snoring" shepherd keeping everyone awake...

Wisemen following the star to Bethlehem..

Picking out a Christmas Tree!

We headed out on black friday..after the crowds...like at 9 am...to do a little Christmas shopping...we did get in on a few deals before they ended! It is tradition to stop at Atwoods on the way home...the day after Thanksgiving...to get our tree! We did talk about maybe just getting a tree at HyVee this year, but tradition won out! I love going there...Jeremy and Angie are so kind and friendly and the whole experience is a memory maker! we have to check out all the trees before we pick...

Jeff was pretty excited to find this tree....the "perfect"tree! However, we let Bryn pick and this is NOT the tree we got...after all that excitement!!!

They have a little gift shop with ornaments and gorgeous decorations that you can buy...I asked Angie if I could take a picture to use as my blog header and she very graciously said I was welcome to take pictures!! She is an incredible decorator, as you can tell from the picture below...they always have hot spiced cider and cookies for you!!...and that is part of the tradition for me!

This was my favorite...a little white artificial tree with a frosty the snowman hat on top!

Thanksgiving Day

We had a quiet relaxing Thanksgiving Day at home with just us...it seemed a little strange to fix such a big yummy dinner for just the four of us...but life has been so crazy lately, that we were really looking forward to this day! The pictures are compliments of Bryn this time....

I got up and made pumpkin pie and then Jeff helped put in the turkey and make the side dishes....its been a while since he was home and had time to help cook...

I made homemade stuffing for the first time...it wasn't too bad, but I know a few things I will do differently next time!!!

Poor little turkey!! BUT boy was he good! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

16 more days as of Wednesday!!!

The fall has flown by and the day I thought would never come is almost here!!! My college boys will be back for a long Christmas break! It seems like such a short time ago that I took this picture..but it was ten or eleven years ago...I can't wait to have the house all ready for Christmas...the tree up and decorated...presents wrapped and waiting underneath...candles burning..cookies on the table...and the whole family back home for the holidays!

Thanksgiving Blessings

As I was outside watching Bryn and Alex hang up Christmas lights this afternoon...I looked down at my flower bed.......



...and saw that some of my flowers were blooming....again....in the midwest...at the end of November!!! Hasn't God been good to us? We have had a beautiful fall this year... a little heavy on the rain.....but it is better than snow and cold!!!

Lucy

Lucy has been a bad kitty all day....she has been TEARING through the house and causing all sorts of trouble...

She finally got the idea that I was NOT happy with her and put herself in timeout...!!!!

Live Animal Christmas Play

Once again it is time for our annual LIVE ANIMAL CHRISTMAS PLAY at Marion Avenue Baptist Church!!
We would like to extend a formal invitation for all of you to attend...it is worth the drive! You won't want to miss the LIVE animals INSIDE the church auditorium...camels walking down the aisle..cows, sheep, chickens in the manger scene...Mary riding a mule down the aisle to Bethlehem..

We look forward to the play as it is a big part of our Christmas tradition each year...the recordings, practices, and actual showings are something we eagerly anticipate, and then talk about all year! This year, Bryn has a pretty big part and is excited about learning all her lines and acting the part of a poor farm girl learning the TRUE meaning of Christmas... The opening scene is going to be incredible...sledding and snowball fights!!! You will have to see it to believe it!!!

Come early to get a good seat...I just found out the 2 oclock showing is already full, so plan to come at 11am or 5pm on Saturday or 1030am on Sunday. Please call 319 653 4113 for questions or leave me a comment and I will get back to you!!

Click on the pictures to enlarge them so you can read them!!

Alex is the little beggar boy from last year in the bottom picture...He gets to be the little beggar boy again this year, so come see him!

Saturday

Good morning....I have been noticing that I have turned into a weekend blogger!! Seems like the week flies by with so many activities that I don't seem to find time to take too many pictures to blog with! I am thinking that with Thanksgiving and Christmas Play practices coming up, I should be able to find MUCH to blog!!
Today I am watching the girls(hoping to sneak in a few pictures!!) and cleaning and making some pumpkin pies for the buses tomorrow...we have our first official walk through play practice this afternoon! So looking forward to a fun filled busy Saturday!

For Wilson

Some pictures of The Princess...who didn't play the part very well today...

Fall riding

Jeff and I decided to go riding today..we have been taking advantage of a little bit of free time and some nice fall days...Jeff offered to go over and pick up his sister and her horse so she could ride the trails with us..he dropped our horses off at Brinton with me and Alex...then headed over to pick her up.

Alex had a wonderful time exploring around the camping area... imagining that he was Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett...out forging some new trails....hunting for Indians....climbing trees...

Fall days

While we were waiting for Jeff to get back with Suz and glory, Alex and I walked around and took pictures..

It was a little chilly and misting, but very enjoyable to be outside in the fresh air!

Freedom and Shy waiting to go on the trails...

A relaxing moment in the woods...watching Alex play daniel boone.