TIS THE SEASON

Del has always loved decorating for Christmas and this year is no exception. Nora is very aware of what is happening this year. She asks me to tell her "The Christmas Story" several times a day. She loves to hear about baby Jesus. I am not usually enthusiastic about decorating because the house is such a mess while the decorating is going on but Nora's enthusiasm has me enjoying decorating this year. The house is looking pretty good and I'm finally showing pictures.

I have posted pictures for the past two months. We have been so busy that I was very behind on my blogging but now we are caught up to date. I hope you have time to see all the pictures.

CHRISTMAS DECORATING CONTINUED

Nora's tree in her room (Daddy did this without consulting Mom)

ENJOYING THE SEASON

Nora loves the ribbons

Trying to tell Dad to come look at the decorations

THANKSGIVING

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year at our house. I didn't have time to take many pictures because we had 21 people to feed. These are the only pictures Del took. While I was busy getting things ready for dinner Nora put black olives on her fingers. Everyone got a laugh out of that. We had to get pictures of my Mom and Dad with their great-grandchild.

CHURCH WALLS

I painted the cinder block walls at church to look like marble blocks (kind of)

FAMILY OUTING

Several weeks ago my family rented a 15 passenger van and took a trip. The van was filled to capacity and we had great time. Daddy had wanted to visit the place he grew up with all his children and we were able to find a time for us all to go at the same time. My parents and all five children and some of the grandchildren. Here are a few pictures.

Nora and I after a picnic lunch

The church Daddy attended with his grandparents

Cemitary where Daddy's grandparents are burried

Where Daddy went to school


The store where Daddy and his family bought everything they needed

BUNNY SUIT

Nora has been telling me for a couple of months she wanted a bunny suit. I knew Halloween was coming and said "Sure you can have a bunny suit". Then I couldn't find one in her size. I thought a bunny would be easy to find but it wasn't. It took me about 12 hours of hard labor to make this. The girls were asked to wear their Halloween costumes to dance class today so I only had two days to get it finished. My sister, Angie came and entertained Nora while I sewed. Nora loves her bunny suit but keeps trying to pull the ears down so she can see them and believe me it wasn't easy to get bunny ears to stand up like that. They keep going back up even when she pulls on them.

MOM'S BIRTHDAY FUN

My birthday was on the 22nd. and my Dad's was on the 23rd. and Del said he was going to give us a birthday party. He was planning the whole thing and didn't want me to do anything. He and Nora decorated the dining room with Sponge Bob and we had a Halloween cake. Nora loved it. You can tell by the gifts that Del did one stop shopping. My Dad had wanted a pistol to carry with him while he is feeding animals and checking fences. He was very happy with his gift. Del got me a cute little see through number and the number is 45 caliber. I think he worries about us living away from the masses but I feel safer here than I did in the city.

Daddy's and Pistol

Me and my 45 caliber something

I also got a Garmin navigation system. It's great and I love it.

SEA WORLD IN OCTOBER

Nora was fascinated with these two skeletons on the gates. They would talk to each other and she for some reason continued to say she wanted to see the skeletons. There were skeletons all over the park but these were the her favorites. I think it was because they were high enough that she could get close and still feel safe.

SEA WORLD

FEEDING THE DOLPHINS

COW-TASTROPHE AND BIG GIRL PANTIES

Anyone who knows Nora well knows MOO. He is a little cow cuddle blanket with a cow head in the middle and a hoof on each of the four corners. Nora received this blanket as a shower gift and it immediately became her bedtime favorite. Well, last night she had her pajamas on and had brushed her teeth and we were off to bed and NO COW. We looked everywhere and no cow. She always takes it to church so finally at almost ten o'clock we go to look at church to find Moo. I go in the sanctuary and no cow. I go back to the car and told Del and Nora it wasn't there. Del said "What about the Sunday school class". I told him I never saw it in Sunday school but as long as we were there we may as well look. He got out of the car and Nora asked "Where's Daddy going". I told her and she said "I put him on a chair". I asked if it was a yellow chair in her class and she said "Yes". Del returned with Moo and said it was on a chair on the far side of the table against the wall. We got a late start but did sleep last night.

Several months ago I bought Nora some cute training pants with pretty flowers on them. She was so excited about the panties until I said "When you go Tee Tee in the potty you can wear the panties". She threw up her arms, turned around and went screaming down the hall "NO PANTIES, NO PANTIES, NO PANTIES". Potty training is the one thing she has been behind on. She has wanted nothing to do with a potty. Last night Nora said her diaper was scratchy. I told her that until she could go potty like a big girl she would have to wear the diapers and this morning, guess what. She went to the potty. She is now in her training pants and is very comfortable. I hope this is a trend.

DANCE

Nora started ballet and tap classes yesterday. She loved the dancing but was much more interested in talking with the other students. There are eight little girls in the class right now and the instructor would leave the group at one end and dance with each student to the other end of the room. The girls were supposed to sit and wait their turn. Nora had a hard time waiting. She would either get up and start dancing too soon or she would be laying in the floor or talking to anyone that would listen. It was so funny. I couldn't hear what was being said because I was looking through a glass window (Nora couldn't see me)but several time the instructor had her attention and was pointing to the floor so I know she was asked to sit down. I was very surprised when the class started. The instructor came and told the waiting girls to come in and Nora took off running through the door and never looked back. I was afraid she would be a little upset when she saw that I wasn't going to be inside with her but it didn't bother her one bit. She got a sticker at the end of class and she showed it to Del and I all night last night. I can't believe this is the same child that has been so afraid of being away from me. She is so comfortable now it's truly a miracle. God has blessed us so much in the last few months and to think we were afraid Nora would experience a setback when we moved. The move was the best thing that could have happened to her.

We now have two more little girls at church and have started a new Sunday school class. Nora is loving that also. I am teaching that class right now because there isn't anyone else to do it. I found the best material for small children. It's the whole bible in coloring pages with a bible story on the back. I print them on card stock so the kids can keep them. The book I'm using is called "Really Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages". I hope the children will keep the pages. It starts with Genesis and goes right through to Revelation. The stories are perfectly written for small children.

THE MENAGERIE

When I called Nora to breakfast on Wednesday morning this is what I found. I don't know exactly how long it took for her to gather all these animals but I was amazed at how little time it took. She asked to leave them in the chair until Daddy got home to see them. She was very proud of her accomplishment. When he arrived she ran and climbed under the pile of stuffed toys. When she got up this morning she asked where all her animals were. I think we will be seeing the zoo return from time to time.

NORA HAS A NEW COUSIN

This is Isaac and his new son JAMES MARCUS. He was born at 2:04 a.m., September 7, 2009. We were at the hospital all afternoon and night and got home about 4:00 a.m. this morning. We asked a very tired Nora if it was worth being at the hospital so long to see her new cousin and she said "Yes". Yulianna and James are both doing great. Yuli had to have a C-section after a very long labor. James weighed 9 pounds and 2 ounces. He is 22 inches long. Nora can hardly wait until he is home so she can hold him. We all can hardly wait to hold him.

LONG WAIT

This is Nora sleeping at the hospital while we wait for the baby. The nurses were very kind and brought Nora a pillow and blanket. Nora was able to stay awake for a long time but couldn't hold out until 2:04 a.m. when the baby arrived. That was just a bit too long. When they brought the baby out for us to see at 2:30 in the morning Nora was awake and ready to say hello. She did great for having to wait so long.