Our stockings

A picture

The videos loaded well so I tried a picture.  Here is one of an ornament that Lucy made in school.  It has a really stong cinnamon smell that fills the room.  She was excited to paint it.

Liza's button

Liza has trouble eating certain foods.  David would take over and hold her head still with his finger then get her to open her mouth for the bite.  It looked like he was pushing a button because it was so automatic for her.  She has been doing it for a little while now and the other night she decided to push her own button.  Sorry its sideways.  I forgot you can't flip it.

Christmas Eve

Well I have tried and tried to post pictures but it says "server rejected".  I don't know whats going on.  Here's a story though...

David and I spent a good part of the day doing some last minute shopping.  We took Liza with us the first half of the day.  While at Costco we met a precious lady in the cooler area where the milk is stored.  We were curiously comparing prices of chocolate milk.  An older black lady was standing with us doing the same.  After a minute she said, "So which is a better deal?  I'm following your lead on this."  We laugh and then ask her what she needs it for because one of the packages was a half gallon and the other was individual bottles sold in a set of 10.  She then said, "My husband needs to gain some weight and my daughter told me to get some chocolate milk hoping he'll drink it." So we tell her the half gallon is a better deal.  She goes on to tell us that ealier this month she and her husband celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and ealier this year her husband was diagnosed with cancer.  She asked through tears that if we are Christian please pray for Edward, her husband.  With more tears from her and me, she said to cherish each other.  To love each other.  It goes so fast.  I hugged her and said we would pray.  Her name is Erlene.  Then reality set back in and she apologized for crying and making me cry.  I was just thankful to have met her.    

Another funny

Running out the door to run some errands I commented aloud on how I didn't get myself ready like I wanted.  Carson says, "Don't worry Mom.  You look fine.  People aren't that shallow."

Ginger

Ginger says matter-of-factly, "Dad, I know your whole name.  David Albert Pettijohn"

We all laugh(because she has the middle name wrong, but it rhymes with it)

David responds "Hey, hey, hey"  (As in Fat Albert)

We all laugh again.

Lil' funny Lu!

Lucy just woke up from a nap a little bit ago.  I said, while hugging her, "You took a nap.  Did it feel good?"  She laughs and says, "I don't know, I was asleep." 

Lucy laying on the couch earlier, playing like she was asleep, she rolls off the couch.  She lands and fakes sleeping so well, she takes an hour and a half nap. 

Liza Jane

When Carson was a baby, my brother Nick told me that he could tell Carson was our first.  That was because of the pictures we took and videos.  Well now you can tell Liza is our baby.  Here's another couple for you.  She just got ready for our Christmas dinner at church.  We invited our neighbors to go with us and they went.

Some yummy shortbread!

Ginger's culture bag

Ginger's class at school shared paper bags filled with things that represent their culture.  This assignment stumped me.  Ginger did really well though.  As I sat and listened to the other children's presentations I thought of all the other things she could have brought.  She turned it in a week before the presentation and with it I made some shorbread to share with her class.  Ms. Lewis, her teacher, loved it.  She has been a really good teacher for Ginger. 

And we bought and put up a "grand fir" Christmas tree tonight.

Stylin' Callie

A cool thing around here is taking the lens out of 3D glasses and wear them.  She painted hers with nail polish.  Some of the older girls(16-17 year olds) were wearing them at girls camp. 

Silly girl

I couldn't resist.  I was trying to take of picture of her dress when she gave me this look.  She LOVES to make different faces.  She likes to say "yucky" and give that face that says yucky.  What a joy she is!

Sunday night

Sunday night our church had a choral program and a live nativity scene.  Well, it being Washington, it rained.  So they moved the scene right up close to the building under the over hang.  The kids were excited to see the live animals.  Ginger loves animals.  She would have ridden those animals if I let her.  There was an alpaca, a lamb, and a donkey.  Way cool.

the drive

The drive down to Oregon was so nice.  Liza was an angel.  The drive back was a different story.  She was not going to stay in that carseat another minute.  So one of the remedies I tried was a spoonful of peanut butter.  She loves it at home.  So she had fun with it for about 5 minutes.  At this point we had an hour of driving left.  I jumped in the back and cleaned her up as much as wipes can do.  We then sang Christmas carols the rest of the way which seemed to calm her.  She doesn't travel as much as the older children had at her age.  She'll get more use to it.

Sippin' hot chocolate

This was Saturday morning before we left to drive home.  We all love to go to Grandma and Grandpa's bakery. 

In-laws

I love my mother-in-law. 

Super cool grandparents

George vs. 6 hot wings

Aunt Nichole and Uncle Tony challenged George to eat 6 SPICY hot wings.  George, loving spicy hot wings, took that challenge.  He wasn't sure if he could finish them after feeling the burn of the spiciness, but he did it!  Way to go George!  He followed them with a nice glass of milk to calm the fire.

Thanksgiving 2010

While in Grants Pass over Thanksgiving we went to Wildlife Images.  We thought it was the kind of parks that you drive through and look at the animals.  It wasn't.  We had to walk around the park.  I didn't mind the walking but we were not prepared.  No stroller and we could have dressed warmer.

I am having trouble with getting the pictures right but here are some bears.  The brown bear is from Alaska.  It made its way down here and because of paper work is still here.  Its always paper work isn't it?

Santa Claus made a surprise visit.  What a treat! 

 Liza was such a cutie.  She was not afraid at all.  I guess she could tell by the excitement of the other kids that Santa wasn't scary. 

 Lucy

 Ginger

 George

 Callie

Carson did it!  He sat on Santa's lap.  He claims that I threatened to ground him if he didn't.  Maybe I did or maybe I didn't.  The important thing is that he did it.  He must really want something special for Christmas.

 This is a young female bald eagle that can't fly yet. 

Say cheese!

Ginger, Lexi, Lucy, George, Callie, Carson, and Liza in the front.

Here is a white squirrel that if left in the wild would not survive because it is different.

Pretty cool!

We had a great time in Oregon!  I have more pictures that I'll share later.



Stormy weather

Some stormy weather we had driving back from Oregon after Thanksgiving.

Yummy treats!

Our little librarian

They grow up so fast!

Liza

Liza's blessing day, June 7th 2009.

Last week

This was the beginning of last week for us.  This little bit of snow canceled 2 days of school.  The temperature was really low too.  Our neighbors are in the picture as well.

Anya, Lucy, Aaron, George, Ginger, and Makayla