McKinley's Razzle Dazzle

We opened Christmas with my side of the family so I can finally show off a completed block of the month. She turns 13 in the Spring so her baby quilt is now replaced with this one for her remodeled bedroom.

Too bad they don't live closer as I would have a great babysitter for Wade. She is going to help me make his scrapbook for his 100 good wishes quilt.

Banjo loves the pack house

From this vantage point he can watch both driveways and keep tabs on all the other critters that come and go! He will be diss appointed once GP replaces this missing glass.

Christmas 2012

This may very well be our last time to spend such a low key and quiet Christmas Day. Next year there will be a two year old in the mix!

Can you sing along with the youngest nephew....All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. They are actually coming in but on top of one another. Hope he gets used to the orthodontist's chair.

We decorated a train cake again with their neighbors and then had dinner at the cabin. We gave them straws that could be taken apart and rebuilt (kind of like Legos) so that kept them entertained a while.

I have making Wade a quilted stocking on next year's to do list and look what Santa found for me! A light saber tooth brush that glows red for a minute while you brush!

I will have to wait to post the Brendle family picture as its not on my camera. We were even able to talk a few minutes with Joe in Afghanistan albeit not a great connection. Skype was probably getting a work out on Christmas Day. Maybe next year both Joe and Wade will be with us on Christmas.

Care package ready to go!

Daddy is putting labels on our pictures in Chinese so the Nannies can show Wade his new family. We are also sending a toy truck, a warm fleece outfit, and a quilt that will match the ones in his room when he gets home. I took a Sharpie and wrote his Chinese name on the back corner. We were warned that it may not make it to him or back to us but that's ok. We will also send a disposable camera so maybe they can take some photos for us.

This will be the orphanages first indication that he has a family and explains it may still be several months before we can travel to get him. Our next box will also include something for his Nannies. I know they are spread thin but pray they can give each child there just a little affection each day. We will pick him up in the capital city of Henan so won't get to actually see where he spent his first 16 months of his life. That may actually be better for me....

Old Salem Candle Tea

I always question while in line if the wait is worth it......but listening to the carols played on the organ, sipping love feast coffee, and hearing the story from Luke about the birth of my Savior always confirms....Yes!

Sis and I took the boys...they helped these two little Moravian girls sing Away in the Manger and Alden had his first sip of coffee.

Go Postal and I also saw the 5th grade chorus present the Christmas program at SW elementary. Next year he is off to middle school. Wow

Banjo on the mend

Banjo got beat up again by the neighborhood bully cat so it's another week of antibiotics while his face heals. I told him he can sit on the couch if he stays on the quilt....and just like a defiant child he got "under" the quilt.

Last night he was "helping" Go Postal go through old files.

We are no longer leaving any food outside so maybe the other cat will loose interest in coming over. Or we need to develop a water gun backpack for Banjo because he obviously is not a good fighter.