Making Memories

The other day we decided Captain definitely needed some grooming attention. Rachael was my assistant and I think she ended up with more hair on her than Captain!

Gramma Jackson arrived December 26th for a week's visit. She had a special surprise for the two little guys...2 fire truck toys, complete with sirens, lights, and other lovely sound effects. We tell her they are definitely "grandparent gifts" because no parent in their right mind would willingly give their children such noisy toys! We may not treasure the noise, but the happy faces of our little guys as they play with them are worth it.

All our snow had been washed away by the time Gramma arrived. This morning we woke up to heavy snow fall and the ground covered. We told her that we had put in a special order for snow just for her. She took the opportunity to go play in the snow with the youngest four.

Holiday pics

Wednesday evening we had a great Christmas Eve program at the church. One of the best gifts of the evening was having our pastor deliver the devotional during the service. Now that may not seem unusual, but as many of you know, our pastor has been very ill for the past four months. In September he was on a respirator after suffering 2 heart attacks, a kidney stone, and pneumonia (on top of diabetes). The fact that he was able to be at the service was a special blessing, but having him able to give the devotional was extra special.

The older kids were up very early Christmas a.m. and were busily completing chores when I came downstairs around 6:30. I thought the incentive was the presents, but Matthew quickly corrected me...he wanted the cinnamon rolls!
The boys love to dress up for paint ball in the back field. We found a surplus military company that sold grab bags of at least 10 military clothing items for a very low price. The boys were thrilled with their 'treasure chest'.

Rachael loves a good mystery and goes around talking about Sherlock Holmes almost constantly. A family from our church surprised our family with a tree full of gifts. They found a very special hat for Rachael. I bet you can guess what Rachael's favorite gift was!

The same family gave Jonathan this giggling gorilla. He's enjoyed making the gorilla giggle and shake.


Yes, Katelyn made sure Captain got a present. She found an ear warmer in the winter hat basket and thought it would make a good neck warmer for Captain. He was a very tolerant pup and wore it for most of the morning.

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas!

The stockings are hung...

The lights are strung...

And the gingerbread cookie baking has begun...

Each year there are certain traditions that take place in the Jackson household. The children's Christmas stockings are special in that all but the last three have been handmade by Wayne. (I made Wayne's the first year we were married.) Katelyn's stocking project has become a multi-year project. It's a very complex counted cross-stitch pattern and this year he passed the major milestone of completing her name. He tells me that after completing this stocking, he thinks I should tackle the next two. I tell him that I can't break the tradition of his making the stockings for each child. All in all, the youngest 3 are very patient with their 'store bought' stockings. The older ones are the most vocal about the 'poor little guys' not having a handmade stocking yet.

Next year we hope to have the front steps rebuilt, but for now the snow is beginning to do a good job of hiding the piles of stones waiting for that project.

It's not Christmas for Matthew until we do gingerbread cookie baking. This afternoon I came home from work to find Matthew and Ian busy in the kitchen trying to correct a very sticky batch of cookie dough. They soon had the problem solved with additional flour. Soon gingerbread men, trees, stars, and just about every other cookie cutter shape, were coming out of the oven and being protected from 'starving' children. Each of the other kids had their turn helping Matthew in the process, but I wasn't quick enough with the camera to catch them.

Tomorrow brings bread baking and cinnamon roll preparation for Christmas morning and then the Christmas Eve church service. I love the sights, smells, and sounds of Christmas and each year our time together as a family is more and more precious.

Mid-December!

I can't believe that it's already the middle of December...and I still haven't got my packages out! I got the cards out this morning, and hopefully, the packages will go tomorrow (or the next day!). It's a good thing I have an understanding family!


The little guys are so excited about Christmas. We set up the tree Sunday and they had a great time decorating it. This year we have a train going around the base of the tree so 2 little boys are very happy about that.

Our family has been dealing with the stomach bug--5 down; 4 to go. Nothing like a good stomach bug to force you to rest when you least want to.

I did finish the back and front of Wayne's sweater...hmmm...I wonder if he'd settle for a vest this Christmas. He's not pressuring me to finish the sweater by the 25th, but I sure would like to have it finished by then. I also have to spin up some yarn to go with someone's gift....and make some goat's milk fudge...and do the baking. Maybe the sweater will be a Happy 2009 gift.

Thanksgiving every day

You don't realize how much you take for granted until you find yourself in a position where your whole life may be turned upside down. This a.m. Wayne told me he was having chest pain with it radiating down his left arm. Matthew was quickly told he had 'child duty' and we were on our way to the hospital. The road to the hospital never seemed so long and all the 'what ifs' were bouncing around in my brain. We arrived at the ER and they hurried Wayne right in and hooked him up for an EKG. After many tests the doctor determined that Wayne was not having a heart attack and that there seems to be a nerve being pinched in his upper chest/arm causing the symptoms. Today's adventure made me think about how much we tend to worry about 'little' things, but when something 'big' happens, you realize just how 'little' those other things are. How thankful I am that Wayne is home and doing okay...still in a bit of discomfort, but nothing like earlier this a.m. It's another Thanksgiving day in the Jackson home.

Long neglected blog...

The days have been filled with busyness. For Thanksgiving I baked 12 dozen crescent rolls--selling 7 dozen and somehow the rest disappeared. Wayne set up this picture on thanksgiving day. The gourds, pumpkin, and yarn are 'fruits of the farm'. We had a nice, quiet Thanksgiving dinner.

This is Ian 'horsing around' in a costume Gramma Jackson found for the kids.

I very rarely get a close-up picture of Marc without farm animals involved--not that there is anything wrong with farm animals though!