Merry Christmas -- 4 more days!

He had the biggest grin ever.

A few weeks back, the kids and I got a package together to send the troops for Thanksgiving. It was part of a massive effort headed up by my friend, Michelle, to get Thanksgiving dinner to her husband and the rest of the troops where he is stationed in Afghanistan.

Michelle got some pictures from Joe of the Thanksgiving day effort ...

It really gives you an idea of what roughing it means ... don't you think?

And seeing them all lined up ... taking part in this feast while serving our country ... it just warms my heart to no end.

Thank you so much to Joe for taking time out to do this ...

I cried when I saw it ... and Mason had the biggest grin ever.

Then he said, "Remember how you had to help me make the stars, because I didn't know how?"

And ... "I got to stay up late that night!"

Yes son, you did get to stay up late that night so we could get our package packed and you could finish your drawing. Ahh, the things that kids remember.

Snowflakes keep fallin' on my head ...

It's a blizzard out there. The sixth largest in the history of this area ... or so they say.


I think so far we have about 2 feet of snow that has fallen. However, the drifting is so bad, that in some places it is 3-4 feet deep ... maybe more. Our deck chairs were almost buried at noon today (sans drifting) ... and it hasn't stopped snowing since.



Kyle built a snow fort for the kids ... using his pile of shoveled snow in the driveway. Mason was so excited!

And although we were a little more prepared for snow than last time ... we still were not completely there. Thus ... Payton wore her brother's old hat to give her some chin coverage ...



... and Mason wore my size 9 Columbia boots.

And Nika ... well, she just smiled in her thrown-together-unmatching digs.

If I didn't know better ... I'd think Payton was a cute little boy, wearing that hat.



Speaking of ... does she not look just like Mason?! Talk about looking like a boy! Oh, my poor sweet girl.

Nika ... yep, she is still smiling.

I -- Bethany -- hereby vow to never procrastinate buying boots and snowpants ever again.

I'm so sorry children. We may not get another snow storm for 18 years ... but by golly, we will be prepared!

My baby girl -- Payton ... contemplated revenge.

Darn you for making me wear this hat! But ain't I cute?



Shocker. Baby girl still smiling.



Ha. I can't help but look at her and smile. She cracks me up.

And even though she is smiling in all these pictures ... our little Russian princess was really less than thrilled with the snow. I'm pretty sure she never got the chance to play in the snow in Russia.

So exciting ... maybe we will finally have a white Christmas this year! That never happens around here.

A prayer. And thanks.

Remember Polly?

This sweet, little girl had the first of her brain surgeries yesterday after being diagnosed with Moyamoya Disease not long ago. She is recovering nicely, but seriously ... it is breaking my heart that she has to go through this.

Please hop on over to her mom's blog to show her some love.

Continuing to pray for you, Polly!

**************

It is snowing. And I'm pretty sure it isn't supposed to stop anytime soon.

One problem ... Kyle and I are supposed to go to the Vikings vs. Panthers football game Sunday night in North Carolina.

I wonder if we will be able to get out of town?

They are talking many, many, many inches of snow. And people here freeze when it comes to snow.

Sigh. They better clear the dang roads! Hello ... do they not realize my husband needs his Brett Favre fix ... IRL!? For those of you saying, "What in the heck is IRL?!!" That stands for IN REAL LIFE peeps.

Ha.

**************

Thank you again to everyone who contributed for Zhora. Lisa also wanted to thank you ...

I wanted to thank everyone for their overwhelming generosity!! This giveaway was a huge success and hopefully Zhora is one step closer to finding his forever family. A huge thank you to Bethany as well for hosting this on her blog!! Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!!!

By the way ... this picture shows just how much Zhora and Daniel (Lisa's son) really do look alike! Crazy, eh?

And yes, I totally ganked this picture from my friend, Kristen ... shhh, don't tell her. Ha.

PS ... I will have the pictures from the drawing posted on that post soon ... got my laptop back!

Thank you. Oh ... and the winners!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

With the help of many of you, Lisa was able to fundraise $1,050 for Zhora! Amazing. I am praying that this sweet boy is that much closer to finding his forever family.

Moving on to the drawing for the iPod Touch and the quilt ...

Vanna White Nika and I just sat down to do the drawing for Lisa.

Hello Vanna ... I mean Nika.



Drum roll please ...

The winner of the quilt is ---> Raymond and Kim Robinson

And ...

The winner of the iPod Touch is --->

Debbie Bosman!

Yes, that is my mother. Lucky duck. Since this is Lisa's contest, I did not exclude anyone but myself from the drawing. As much as I wanted to include myself, I decided not to since I was doing the drawing for Lisa. So ... everyone else was fair game.

Think she'll let me borrow it? Yeah right. I just called her to tell her she won and she offered me her crappy, old, scratched up iPod. Ha.