The Pictures of Christmas Past and Present

This time of year comes around and I become Clark Griswold, sitting in his attic looking at old movies on movie reels.  Except that I'm not sitting in my attic...on the door.  And I'm not looking at moving pictures.  I'm looking through photographs.

Here are the ones I'm "ooohhhhhing" and "aaahhhhhing" over this Christmas season...

Matthew

(8 months old)

December 2008 

 Carrie (9 years old), William (7 years old), and Joshua (4 months old)

after the children's Christmas program at church.

December 2005

 Carrie and William

after the children's program at church.

Maybe 2004?

I love this one.  Carrie hurt her toe and William is sympathizing.

And here are Carrie (18 years old), William (16 years old), Josh (9 years old), and Matthew (6 years old) just a few weeks ago up at Dad's house.

And Charlie.  She just celebrated her fourth birthday this summer.

Time does fly.  Looking at pictures reminds me to enjoy every single minute.  And to take plenty of pictures so that I can remember all the ages and stages and fun times that we have already enjoyed.

I'm looking forward to a brand new year.  I always do.  It's so much fun to put up the new calendar and see a fresh year spread out in front of me.  Brand new!  And yet traditions will make this coming year all very familiar.  I am thankful for that.

Playing Favorites

When everyone gets up from the dinner table and leaves me alone with Matthew, this is what we talk about...

Matthew (in a very matter-of-fact manner):  Go ahead.  Tell me that I'm your favorite.

Me:  I can't tell you that!

Matthew:  Why?  Because we're all your favorite.  Or maybe it's 'cause you really have one and you just don't want to say it.

Me:  You're all my favorite.  How did God know to give me my four most favorite kids in the whole entire world?

Matthew:  He just knows how to match us up right!

He sure does.
I have the best "job" in the world.

Pretty High Heels

Matthew's reaction to the warthog at the zoo?

"Those pretty high heels don't match that face!"

He had me doubled over!

And then I really looked at the feet and realized 

that it was a pretty good observation.

Funny boy.

Summer is Coming to a Close

This morning I saw the big yellow bus drive past our home.  Our local school system is collecting kids for their first day of school.  The school district where our church is located went back last Wednesday.  The tiger lilies are long gone.  The zinnias are almost spent.  And I think that I have seen the last of the overabundance of zucchini from the garden.  Tonight is my first planning meeting for our homeschool group's fall semester.  Yes.  Summer is coming to a close.

This year Josh and Matthew were in the last full session of swimming lessons.  Two weeks of splishing and splashing in the cool morning breezes.  It was unseasonably cool this year for swimming, but that made it more enjoyable for William and me as we waited during lesson time.

Here are Josh and Matthew on Fun Day...the last day of swim lessons when they can show off what they've have learned.

Paul took off the day and the weekend so that he could see the boys swim and we could go camping!

My swim lesson buddy.  He drove the boys and me to swim lessons every morning.

 I started at Josh's pool this year and watched all of his newly acquired strokes...

I was able to peek across the pool to see Matthew with his class...

 After their class time, they had free time.  Matthew wanted to give Josh's big pool a try.

 I think I was trying to talk Matthew into dipping his head under the water here.  He's still pretty hesitant.

But he showed me all kinds of other tricks!

The audience...

I cannot remember what Matthew was explaining to me here, but he looks pretty serious.  Just look at those eyebrows!

Paul enjoying the start of his three-day weekend...

Matthew and his very patient, very knowledgeable teacher, Anna...

Josh and his super-sweet, high-fiving teacher, Adrienne...

I really enjoyed this summer, as short as it was.  I had no transcript worries, a thriving garden, and a happy, content family.  The Lord has been good to us through sunshine and rain.  We are happy to be enjoying the sunshine right now and are looking forward to the adventures that await.

And fall.
Did I mention that I am looking forward to fall?
It's my favorite!

Vice President Dick Cheney...The Younger Years

I'm off Facebook.

I've never been much for tweeting.

I'm a little bored with Pinterest.

I get too much junk mail in my email inbox.

My favorite online activity is still blogging, but I have so much to catch up on.  So...why don't I make some real headway and post some pictures of Matthew in the eternally belly-laugh producing Dick Cheney mask?  

Yes, the part about making real headway by posting about something other than what I really "should" be posting about was sarcasm.

But still, you have to admit that the Dick Cheney mask is blog post worthy...

Its original purpose was for trick-or-treating.  William was the first to dress as Dick Cheney, all dressed up in his hunting attire.  He was referencing Mr. Cheney's not-so-successful hunting trip with a friend.

Since then, the mask has made its occasional appearances when least expected.  One of my favorites was at one of our garage sales several years ago...

Josh went from laughing to not being so sure...

Matthew seems to appreciate Mr. Cheney's smile.

Always funny on little shoulders!

Once again, the Dick Cheney mask is safe.  When going through the boys' room last week in search of things that they are all done playing with, the Dick Cheney mask was returned to its place of honor in the dress-up box for future laughs, reminding me that I really never know where Dick Cheney may be lurking.