It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

The snow has fallen, the tree is up, the stockings are hung, and the gifts are bought and wrapped.  This is the first time since Danny died that I put up our big tree, and it feels really good.  The ornaments hold so many memories for all of us.  I am so blessed to have my family, so full of love, so united.  Let us not forget the real reason we are to be celebrating Christmas.  The birth of Jesus.  Because of this act, God's intense love for us, knowing full well that this child of His would one day be hung on a cross, beaten, bloodied, spat upon, knowing the suffering He would endure, He did it anyway.  So that you and I can live forever.  No, this world is not our home.  Lord we are just passin through!  ( do you know that song?)  So as we celebrate with family, our loved ones, and keep memories of those who have gone before tucked safely in our hearts, let's also not lose sight of the real reason, the beautiful story of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Gosh, once again, its been so long since I've posted.  I guess time just has a way of slipping by quickly.  Emily is doing great in 7th grade, making the A honor roll.  Caleb is doing awesome as well, and Jon is sick to death of school, just waiting for his Senior year to be over!  The kids went as Little Red Riding Hood and a Zombie Football player for Halloween this year.  They went with Kirk, Dane, Abby, and Kaitlyn this year.  We painted our pumpkins instead of carving this year.  It was so much cleaner!  Heh heh....think we'll do that again next year!

More random pics

More football, more kids, more dogs, a little Gramma Sandy, some pics of the yard I took on a particularly beautiful day.  Enjoy!

Chickens

Well, our chickens are growing up fast!!  No eggs as of yet, but it really should be any time now.  Troy added a heater to keep them warm in the winter, and a new water thingy so it won't freeze in the cold winter months.

They are actually quite amusing.  They love following me around the yard, and squawking and running, flying, etc...  They love Cinnamon Life Cereal, and get along nicely with Juno!  She doesn't have a high prey drive, so she can hang out in the back yard with them, and they aren't scared of her at all.  They actually will go right up to her, and her to them.  She doesn't chase them, although I've caught her tasting their poop...Gross....