It's Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas everyone!! It is just a few minutes past midnight here. Kids and Kevin are still up playing with new toys received from Kevin's family at our gift exchange tonight. We had such a good time tonight with friends and family, eating and playing. And now it is Christmas Day. The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior. A day focused on spending time with those we love, friends and family alike. We have a whole day of fun and fellowship to look forward to. But for now I will wish you a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Spelling Bee Slide Show

Spelling Bee Champion!

On November 17, 2009, Delaney was able to participate in her school spelling bee for grades 3-6. They had a list of 275 words, which she had about 9 days to study. After 17 rounds, Delaney became the first 3rd grader to win the school championship! She did such an awesome job, so poised and confident. And she was so surprised and excited to win!
Here are some of the words she had to spell: Celebration, commentary, miraculous, burdensome, theory, lobbyist, pandemic, elevator, unsentimental, curfew, eclipse, candelabra, musquitoey, pilgramage, scalpel, and oncologist. I think I missed a couple of words, but that gives you a general idea.

She is now eligible for the Sac Bee Spelling Bee, which is the stepping stone for the National Spelling Bee. So now we are studying over 1100 words, the defintions, the roots and origions, and all kinds of rules to get ready for that. It is pretty interesting.

And, on this past Tuesday, Dec 1, Delaney celebrated her 9th birtday! She just finished her first set of piano books, which she started in Mid September. She is doing a great job learning to play. And she has really stepped up with studying her quizzing, doing quite a bit of it on her own. Her grades at school are great: straight A's! We always receive glowing reports from her teachers about how helpful she is and what a great learner she is. Now if we could only get her to keep her room clean and to stop fighting with her siblings! lol Really,we are so proud of our princess, and so glad God blessed us with such an amazing oldest daughter. And I'll brag on my other kids for their b-day, but this post is just hers! lol Darilyn's post will be coming up on just a few weeks as her b-day is at the end of Dec!

'Tis the season to be jolly . . .

Fa la la la la la la la la! Christmas music is playing in the background. Christmas lights are twinkling from the tree, and garland, and snow village. Christmas smells fill the air. Yes, it is that season! I love Christams and all that it brings. I love finding presents for friends and family. I love wrapping them. I love decorating the house and making those scrumptious Christmas treats. I love the parties, the colors, the hustle and bustle. It is just a fun, joyful, exciting time of year. And it is all in celebration of the Our Lord and Savior. When I keep Him, the real 'reason for the season' in focus, all the hustle and bustle brings me feelings of love and joy and yes, even peace.

So enjoy this wonderful time of year. Get together with family and friends, drink hot chocolate and eggnog, go look at Christmas lights, turn on the Christmas Carols and decorate the house, make goodies for eating and giving, shop for presents for loved ones, Say 'Merry Christmas' to those you pass in the stores, and above all, keep Jesus close in your heart. This will be the best Christmas Ever!!