The Stockings were all HUNG....

Man life can sure get away from you, then you realize you haven't blogged for a long time. I cannot believe that there is only two weeks till Christmas. I have not bought any gifts. Actually, I take that back. One of the reasons I haven't blogged is because I have been working feverishly trying to get the kids & Shawn's photo books done, so that I could get them ordered in time to get back before Christmas. I finished them and ordered them Friday. Whew! For some reason they seemed to take forever this year. It has become a tradition to give these personalized photo books each Christmas. I think these this year are going to be awesome. So one gift down, lots to go. We are really downsizing this year because of finances, which really scares me because I looked at pictures from the tree with the gifts under it last year and it seemed so bare. We downsized last year also, & this year even more. It does make a difference though with older kids. They want bigger more expensive gifts for Christmas so they get fewer & fewer, which makes for less under the tree Christmas morning. Last Monday we spent the evening for Family Home Evening drawing names for our homemade gifts, making Christmas lists & decorating the tree & house. It looks so pretty & Christmasy (I don't know if that is a word). I told the kids what the dollar limit on presents was this year, so that helped with their lists being within the budget.

Shawn cleaning up after we put up all the decorations.

Aspen thinks the nativity animals are hers. She has them named & trained to follow her on a leash. I have to watch her or she will drag them all over the house. I think I have convince her that she can't do that.

For the Boice Family all of Shawn's brothers & sisters & families are coming home for Christmas. It has been so long since they have been together at once. We are so excited to see everyone. Bob & Roberta have reserved a lodge for the whole family to spend Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. The kids are soooo excited. They keep asking to make sure no one has backed out. They sure love to spend time with family. Especially Shade, every Sunday he asks if we can go up to Grandma & Grandpas or over to Jenaee & Neals. Any time family is visiting he wants to spend time with them.