Monday, December 31, 2007

Watching Daddy Scoop Snow


Jack was watching Craig scoop today and was trying really hard to get his attention. We did get daddy to look. Jack watched intently until Craig came back inside to play. So cute!

Beautiful Snowfall




Christmas With the McNeills





My aunt and uncle were here from Colorado for the week. We spent the day with my mom' s family on Thursday after Christmas. My dad and Ann came for the day and had to go back the same day as we were to get snow on Friday. (good thing they left, although we certainly wouldn't have minded having them be snowed in with us for a few days! :)

Christmas Day







We enjoyed Christmas Day with Grandma Patty (Craig's mom), her friend, Henry, and my Grandma.

Christmas Morning





Assembly



Craig assembled Jack's kitchen after Jack went to bed Christmas Eve while I prepared for Christmas Day dinner.

Christmas Eve at Home




Monday, December 24, 2007

Crackhead...


is what Craig is calling me tonight. It is 10:30 and I am trying to hurry around and clean a little for dinner tomorrow with Craig's mom and my grandma. I have a rotten cold and don't feel so well, so I didn't get a lot done today before I went to church to play for two Christmas Eve services. I was trying to superglue a Christmas tree ornament back together that had met Jack, when I discovered my thumb was REALLY stuck to the ornament. I panicked. I could just see myself having to drive to the emergency room with the ornament stuck to my finger. I'm freaking out, and Craig is, as always, TOO CALM!!! He googled "How to unstick skin stuck with superglue." After applying nail polish remover for what seemed like forever, my thumb is now unstuck. Back to cleaning.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

I feel like I accomplished a lot yesterday. We are snowed in today so I am hoping to get more done. It's so nice to have Craig here to help with chores and Jack. We are both so excited for Christmas and can't wait to open presents with Jack. The last few years, I have to admit, I've just kind of gone through the motions. It isn't the same without my mom, but God has also opened my eyes to things that are more important. I was focusing on the decorations, gifts, baking, shopping, etc. that my mom did or we did together, to determine my level of pleasure. I knew in my head that that wasn't what it was about, but it hadn't really made it to my heart. I'm trying to continue some of those unimportant things on my own, but am celebrating this year with Craig and Jack and remembering the real reason for our celebration.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Finished Projects, On To The Next



I finished our stockings at about 10:00 last night. I am pleased with them. I am debating putting some kind of design on the front of each one, but want to think about it and wait until after Christmas. Now it's on to baking, Christmas cards, finishing shopping, wrapping, getting ready for Christmas dinner at our house, cleaning, laundry, etc. Tis the season!

It's Official

I think it is safe to say that Jack is officially walking!!! It is one week before he will be 15 months old. It is SOOO fun to watch. He gets so excited and starts squeeling and waving his hands and then falls down. Then he says, "ah, boom!" He is also turning into quite the climber, so we really have to watch him. We will try to get some pictures or video soon.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Recent Projects




I am trying to finish matching stockings for Jack, Craig and I before Christmas. I finished the tree skirt last week and the stockings are almost done. There is nothing like waiting until the last minute! I decided that if I didn't force myself to get them done now, they would wait and wait and now was just the time. I do really enjoy sewing and want to take some quilting classes this next year. Pictures of stocking to follow soon.

Three Generations of Butlers



We enjoyed a visit from Grandpa Butler over the weekend.

Jack and the Tree




Jack really has done a pretty good job with the Christmas tree. I did end up putting up our big tree as I really didn't want to spend $50 for a small one. Once in a while he will take ornaments off and hand them to us. Yesterday, he kept taking the same ornament off and putting it back on different branches for about 20 minutes.


We are always looking for something to hold Jack's interest on the changing table. It has gotten to be quite a challenge at times to change his diaper. He doesn't want to take time out of his busy schedule to lay there for 2 minutes. Lately the harmonica has been doing the trick.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Jack's Favorites



Jack's two favorite toys are Miss Kitty (a mechanical cat) and Oreo, his rocking horse. He has been giving them both a lot of kisses lately.

Helping Mommy




I was dusting and vaccuuming and Jack really, really wanted the duster. He dusted for a while and then brushed his hair with the duster :)

All Kinds of Fun!




I had a step stool out to hang greenery and Jack just thought is was great!

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Whew!

The musical is over!!! I am relieved and a little sad. I have played for several musicals in high school and college and this performance of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," was one of the best. The directors were amazing. The kids were awesome. There is so much talent at our church. It really was a lot of fun. I know Craig is glad that I will be back at home now in the evenings. I will be too. This week I am trying to get caught up at home. A lot of things were set aside until now. I hope to get our tree up this week. I have wanted matching stockings and a tree skirt since Craig and I were married and never got it done. I am just making the time. Jack and I were at my grandma's yesterday sewing which has gotten a lot more challenging with Jack. He wants to "help" a lot. I am going to have to go over a couple evenings to accomplish anything. My sewing machine is there because we really don't have room for it here or for the mess that accompanies sewing projects. I have two new piano/flute students starting this week. That along with Christmas preparations and the day to day normal stuff is plenty for now. :)