Christmas Lights!

Don't tell Jacob that he is in my blog. He hates that. In fact, I can only get photos from his back side. As soon as he discovers that the camera is pointed at him he gets all huffy. I am grateful however, for all of the ways he helps me. If it were left to me no lights would get up.

Decorating the tree.

Belen and Joshua help to decorate Grandma's tree.

A Great Week-end!

As I mentioned in my last update, I spent nearly a week with Chris, Kara, and the kids. We had a great time! Audrey and Kate were so excited when I arrived on Tuesday night before Thanksgiving. We colored (a lot), watched movies together (including a trip to the movie theater to see Madagascar II), took a walk to Audrey's school, had impromptu dance concerts, shopped, decorated the Christmas tree, made a gingerbread house, played computer games on Kara and Chris's new computer, ate Thanksgiving Dinner (of course!), and just sat back and relaxed. Chris, Kara, and I got a little scrabble in. This morning I caught a very early flight home. I got home in time to go to work. I wouldn't want to make that commute every morning!

Snowy Fun in Colorado!

I have spent the week with Chris, Kara, and the girls in Colorado. This morning we woke to a white surprise. Chris gets to pull out the snow blower, the girls also talk him in to sledding and snow man building. Kara and Grandma watched out the window. When everyone was good and cold, Kara provided hot chocolate. More on the Colorado trip later.

Eagle!

Jacob won't let me take his picture so I will use the next most recent photo - as a bonus you get to see Audrey's smiling face. On Tuesday evening Jacob had his Eagle Board of Review and is now officially an Eagle Scout.

How stressful is YOUR job?

Saw this on Marcus and Elizabeth's blog and had to pass it on.

Fall day with the grandkids.

Monday I go back to work but I have had a great time with the grandkids while I have been off for intersession. Lyla was born by c-section on Sunday after my final school day so my off track time has been spent largely in helping out with Lyla's siblings. Belen and Joshua spent a lot of time with grandma either at their own home, at grandma's house, and on this lucky day - at Aunt Jenn's place. This was a perfect fall day and the kids all loved playing in the yard - raking leaves, jumping in the leaves, riding three wheeled vehicles, etc. Such a lot of fun. Even baby Hunter got in on the leaf action and rather enjoyed it. Mom is getting better - she has had a bit of a rough recovery - first a reaction to the tapes and glues that became infected and then a reaction to the antibiotics. We hope all of that is behind her now.