Christmas Time is HERE!!

Yay! Our favorite time of the year is here - CHRISTMAS! We got together and decorated our house last night. It was a blast. The kids helped as well, they loved all the lights! Kaleb is talking about all the things he wants from Santa non stop, Cameron has no idea whats going on but likes the tree ornaments (or to take them and run rather)! Joe got us a classic christmas cd with all the best songs sung by folks like Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong! It is awesome! I love the christmas atmosphere, there is something magical about walking into a house full of christmas spirit. Christmas lights, yummy candles or scents, santa clauses, snow mans, everything just brightens the mood! Anywho, I am sure that there will be lots of opportunities to bring out the camera this December so I will keep this short and just throw up some pictures!! Once more - YAY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

After all the wreaths, the tree, the lights, the ornaments...then we had some dinner - this is not usually a photographic moment - BUT I said "its time for prayer" and Cameron folded her arms and closed her eyes...soI had to jump up and find the camera and snap a picture - this is my littlest one getting ready for her prayer... Then after dinner - we all sat on the couch being silly...we played, jumped around, sang christmas carols, etc...It was a beautiful Sunday evening in the Whitney house. Church was great, the evening was great - and we made it to made early enough to be ready for Monday! GREAT!!!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Last week we got our very first snow fall of the winter. It lasted about half a day, so I was unable to get out there in time to get the kids pictures in the snow! BUT - It snowed Satruday night and there was still enough to play today. So all three of us (Me, Kaleb, Cameron) dressed up in our snow gear (resembling large marshmellows!) and went out played in the snow. We made snow angels, we made "whitney family snowmen" (a daddy, mommy, big brother, and little sister snowman!) Then just had a good old fashioned snow ball fight - which consisted more of me running and Kaleb throwing!! Cameron really loved it. She would stomp through it, then stop, sit down, and shove her hands in it to her wrists! It was great watching both of them play and get a little bit more prepared for a long, cold, snowy winter!!

Here are some pics of our day today...

The Giving Tree

In light of Thanksgiving and service being the main subject of both primary and joy school this month, I thought I would share one of my all time favorite Shel Silverstein masterpieces! (Not that ALL of his work isn't amazing!)

THE GIVING TREE

Shel Silverstein

Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy.

And everyday the boy would come to play

Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade

Laughing all the summer’s hours away.

And so they love,

Oh, the tree was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon the boy grew older and one day he came and said,

"Can you give me some money, tree, to buy something I’ve found?"

"I have no money," said the tree,

"Just apples, twigs and leaves."

"But you can take my apples, boy,

and sell them in the town."

And so he did and

Oh, the tree was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree,

"I’m now a man and I must have a house that’s all my home."

"I can’t give you a house" he said,

"The forest is my house."

"But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home"

And so he did.

Oh, the tree was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.

And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes.

"My life has turned so cold," he says, "and I need sunny days."

"I’ve nothing but my trunk," he says, "But you can cut it down

And build yourself a boat and sail away.

"And so he did and

Oh, the tree was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.

And after years the boy came back, both of them were old.

"I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift."

"I’m nothing but an old stump now.

I’m sorry but I’ve nothing more to give"

"I do not need very much now, just a quiet place to rest,"

The boy, he whispered, with a weary smile.

"Well", said the tree, "An old stump is still good for that."

"Come, boy", he said, "Sit down, sit down and rest a while."

And so he did and

Oh, the trees was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.

Trick or Treat

This Halloween was fantastic. Joe and I had a great time taking our "kitties" out for a few hours, Kaleb was a tiger, Cameron was a kitty cat. They had a great time and were EXTREMELY excited to see the candy stashes they had when they were home!! We walked all around a great neighborhood. The kids loved to see all the decorations and costumes around them. Kaleb got a little scared about a few houses, but we talked him into realizing everything was just makeup and decorations! He did a great job, our big brave boy!