Monday Morning Coming Down....

All the weeks spent preparing for Christmas and it flew past.  Now, the presents are put away, the tree is down, and the fudge is gone.  The rush is over and I am thinking ahead to new beginnings.  It seems after coming down off Christmas, I always feel the sense of what now?  I'm somewhat torn between the old and the new. 

I am thankful for memories made.  I think Christmas feels extra special with the kids, just the wonder of it all.  Riley's favorite Bible story has always been the birth of baby Jesus.  Christmas is her favorite holiday!  All the children were very precious this year making gifts and keeping secret surprises for each other.

I enjoyed watching It's a Wonderful Life together with the kids.  I had never taken the time to sit through the full movie, but this year I made a point of it and it was good.  

As you may have noticed, I also love to take photos  It's my way of capturing those special moments that I hope not to forget.   I try to get Christmas pictures each year of the kids by the tree.  This year, Levi was not real cooperative.  I made several attempts, but usually they looked something like this.....

The little punkin just doesn't like getting his picture taken!  We all tried some coaxing....

In the big picture, it's really not that important.  It's just part of the fun.  In the end, I managed this photo...

Today, the kids are back working on their lessons.  The washing machine is humming and it was -22 degrees here this morning on Drywood Creek.....Yup, that's right twenty-two degrees below zero!!