Snow?

A couple nights ago, we had crazy storms and hail at the house. The hail looked like snow and stuck around until the morning.

The boys loved the "snow" and John helped them catch and eat it.

So, I'm not really a crafty person...

James is 3. Nate is 2. They got to color with markers for the first time ever the other day. Yeah, first time ever. I'm that mom.

They decorated wooden ornaments for the Christmas tree.

I've given up on buying them an ornament every year. (Well, actually, I never started doing it. I just thought I needed to buy them a special and symbolic ornament every year to be a great mom. But in reality, it's way too much pressure to come up with a "symbolic" ornament every year... And let's be honest, it would probably be like a baby book - First kid would get a cool ornament and I would forget the rest!)

Nate was more interested in hanging his ornament on his "spy car" than taking a picture.

John:  "Hey Nate, show us your belly!"

James so proud of his ornament: "Mom, I'm the man!"

A Hug:

Wrestling:

I can't tell the difference...

2012 Masterpieces:

Ronk Christmas 2012

Last Saturday we celebrated Christmas with the big Ronk family.

It was a busy day - after we had a quick breakfast with Tonia, Teirsa and their families, John and I headed to Anacortes for a memorial service for a dear family friend. She passed away after just 6 weeks of being diagnosed with lung cancer... Another reminder of how precious life is.

We spent the afternoon with family and that evening a lot of Dad's family came over for the usual Christmas antics - food, gift exchange, and the dreaded pictures in every grouping possible.... Yes, this year, they even took a picture of John (30), Heidi (40), Scott (50), and my mom (60). Because they are all 10 years apart. Lol!

I'll spare you all those pictures, but here are some highlights -

Opening presents

Carruthers - and a belly. 

Ronks

It wouldn't be a party without a little baby throwing. I didn't get other pictures, but all the kids took their turns being thrown and loving it.

Stud muffin.

Mama and Dad

James and Kenley love each other

Cousins!

Gift exchange

Sweetie pie Claire turned 2 yesterday - I can hardly believe it. What a doll!

Super Nate!

Poor kid really wants to be potty trained so he can wear big guy underoos!

Christmas Lights

John and I have been married 7 1/2 wonderful years. We have lived in a house for about 5 of those years and I have wanted Christmas lights on my house for about 7 1/2 years - give or take.

With our last house, the roof lines were crazy tall and after a couple frustrating hours of 32-foot-ladder-climbing in the wind and rain.... let's just say that the lights never got up.... And I didn't ask for them again.  :-)

Well this year, the boys LOVE looking at all the Christmas lights, so John decided to attempt them again. (Thank you children, I will pay you later.)

Our first try was with icicle lights - it was a no go. And we gave them away immediately.

Next try was red and white bulbs.... with great success! So, while our Christmas lights aren't entirely fun and whimsical, and our roof line isn't the greatest ever - Christmas lights are up and they were well worth the wait!!

A Finished Playroom

I'm not much of a crafter or decorator - so when I finish a room, it's a pretty big deal. If you haven't been to our house, the playroom is actually the formal dining room off of the kitchen. I've never done anything to the room so it's been an eye sore in the downstairs for quite a while!

I (of course) didn't take any "before" pictures, but this was the closest I could fine - just plain old tan with nice wainscoting on the bottom.

Ta-Da - Some paint, some pictures, and some rearranging. (Sorry about the lighting. We haven't replaced the awesome 90's chandelier... isn't it sweet!)

My favorite part of the room is the artwork display. I got the idea of using cheap Target curtain rods and clips from Pinterest. The rods are already pretty filled up with Preschool and Sunday School art, but at least it looks like it's supposed to be there!

Next project (after the kids' rooms) is turning the awkward/non-functional "formal living room" into a movie room.... But that's John's deal. :-)

Christmas Tree Weekend

Saturday and Sunday we picked, set up, and decorated our tree.

We started out Saturday morning at a bakery in downtown Snohomish.

Don't worry - we shared that!

And then off to the tree farm.

But first, some attitude adjustments.....   :-)

The boys were super excited about the candy canes they got from the tree farm.

Setting up the tree -

Sunday night the boys opened their PJ's. Then Uncle Matt, Auntie Becca, and Dexter came over and we decorated the tree.

Poor Dexter!

All done.... and tired!