Well, here it is, 2009 and I'm just now getting around to sharing all about our wonderful Christmas Day. That's not because I think Christmas is unimportant or that we had a rotten time that is better left way back in the past. Those things couldn't be further from the truth. The fact is, I've simply been so busy playing with my fantastic Christmas gifts that I haven't had time to work on the 'Blog. That, and there is one other thing. You see, Tim and All Those Boys surprised me with a really nice gift this year. I got the Camera Of My Dreams. I was actually afraid to open it for a few minutes for fear that 1) I was dreaming or 2) they had gotten ahold of an empty camera box and put different things inside. And, you see, while I was expressing my excitement over my most excellent gift, Luke was videotaping. It has taken me quite some time to decide that I can actually tolerate this video being posted on the Internet. It is pretty embarrassing, to be frank. But I am nothing if not a good sport. So in the interest of the public's right to know, here is the previously-rumored-to-exist-but-never-substantiated Christmas video.

Now wasn't that fun? My dear husband and children certainly thought so! I'm not the only one who had a great Christmas. Everyone seemed to really enjoy their gifts. The day was spent playing with new games and gadgets. No one had an emotional breakdown. We watched a movie that evening and wrapped up a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

What A Wonderful Christmas It Was!

I have to say, the 2008 holiday season was just excellent. We enjoyed very much all the get- togethers with our families, the delicious once-a-year type foods we ate, the generous presents, everything! We started our festivities the Sunday before the Big Day.....

My (Donna's) family descended upon our house with all the boisterous frivolity for which we're so well known. We ate, drank eggnog and made very loud merry. Paula discovered some of her reindeer had somehow migrated to our house. (That'll teach her to move and leave stuff like that in her shed!) We celebrated Communion and read the Scripture as a family. (The Lucan account of Christ's birth, no less.) And we listened to Sandy read a very moving Christmas story. Of course, there were presents! Lots of presents! Everyone loved what they got, but best of all was being together. We missed those who couldn't be here, certainly, but we were so glad for those who could be.

Then on Christmas Eve, Tim's family came over to celebrate. This was a very special time because every single member of the family was here. I can't think of the last time we were all together...nor when we will be again. We had several different kinds of soup along with sandwiches and LOTS of deliciously divine desserts. Indeed. We also shared Communion as a family, and it was beautiful.

We are all very thankful for our families and so glad we got to spend some time with everyone at Christmas! Merry Christmas! We love you!

Chip's Big Non-Sledding Adventure

I feel it is my responsibility to update you on previously run stories here on the 'Blog. After all, Dr. Phil and Oprah do the same thing on special shows several times per year. You'll recall that all the boys really enjoyed the rogue snowstorm last week and had a good time sledding. Well, apparently not everyone in the family realizes that snow or ice is required for successful sledding. Roll tape, please. Let's take a look.

I think the funniest part of the whole thing is the look of pure astonishment on Chip's face when he doesn't go anywhere. Let's hope we get some more winter weather soon so the sledding can recommence.

What a wonderful surprise last week when we received a couple inches of snow! Of course we also received freakishly cold temperatures and biting winds, but when snow is involved and you're in the youth/child department, you've got to make hay while the sun shines. In other words, you bundle up in as many layers as you possibly can, then hit the slopes. Unless you live on a piece of property with no real slopes. Then you slowly inch down the gentle incline in the backyard.

The kids made some pretty nice ramps during this snowfest. They actually got some air at some points.

One thing I'll say is that playing in the arctic like that sure does wear a fella out. Not to mention making double the laundry for the Mom.

Today I, along with three other adults, had the privilege of escorting 13 fine young Awana kids on a shopping trip. So? What's so special about shopping? We all do it. Especially this time of year! Well, it was special because they weren't buying things for themselves or their families or even their friends. They were buying very carefully selected items for complete strangers: children who might not get Christmas presents otherwise.

Each year, in early November, our Awana group prepares for, serves then cleans up a delicious baked potato dinner. Everyone comes, enjoys a great meal and fellowship, and if they would like, makes a free-will donation. All proceeds go towards adopting 'Angels' from the Salvation Army Angel Tree Project. This year we had enough money to buy presents for six kids.

Preparations for the Potato Bake: Here we see some hard-working kids cleaning vegetables and tearing lettuce for salad. Yes, they all washed their hands.

See the hungry people lining up? It was really tasty, as usual! We had ice cream sundaes for dessert. It took a whole lot of scooping to serve everyone!

So this brings us to today. We left right after church and headed for Taco Bell. Besides being obscenely slow, we enjoyed lunch. Then, off to the stores. To be honest, I would have loved to have followed the groups around while they were shopping and snapped pictures of them making their choices. However, I do have three kids in the mix and I knew that wouldn't go over well at all. Suffice to say, I was quite proud of each and every kid at how much thought and discussion they put into each item they chose. Never has an envelope of money been more cautiously spent. They each wanted their 'Angel' to have the best Christmas ever. They carefully considered whether one jacket would be warmer than another. They debated over whether to get the blue shirt or the brown one. And they certainly didn't forget the batteries! At no time during the entire day did I see them think of themselves. I am so glad I was able to go and see the love of Jesus so plainly through them. So, while I don't have very many pictures of our trip to show you, it was a very beautiful thing to see.

The Christmas program at church was last Sunday evening. The whole night was just fantastic! Dinner was first so Tim, Tyler, Chip and I were comfortably seated and waited on hand and foot by the teens. As it should be, I like to say.

Nick loves it when I take pictures of him in front of his friends.

After dinner, we retired to the sanctuary for the actual program. It was so beautiful! The older boys sang with their Sunday School classes. And, just for you, I have included a video of each group singing. It's just like you were there, except you were home! WOW! There is nothing you can't do on the Internet.
Tyler and his class singing 'Silent Night.'

Below, is a picture and video of Luke and Nick singing a lovely Christmas carol with their Sunday School group. They are getting so big! It shocks me when I see things like this because it seems to me that they should still be little bitty.

The Lighting Ceremony

Each year, shortly after The Feast, we all enjoy the annual Lighting Ceremony here at the Thomasson residence. Tim and All Those Boys work really hard at lighting up our corner of the world, using only Christmas lights. This year, Tim got a wild hair and headed out to Wal-Mart. When he returned bearing a moving reindeer and spiral Christmas tree yard ornaments, we were all pretty excited. Until the star fell off the Christmas tree and the reindeer was found to be missing his ears. Obviously not made by American workers! I hated to see his mouth get tighter and tighter as these 'easy to assembly' holiday must-haves, just wouldn't go together. Or it could have been the fact that I insisted on getting pictures of this unfolding drama.

Well, as Ma Ingalls always said, 'All's well that ends well.' Indeed, after a little go-around with the customer service folks, we were all set. The Lighting Ceremony could go on as usual.
Whew! That was a close one.

We love our little reindeer as he bobs his head at our spiral Christmas trees. So much so that we took some pictures right in front of them! Merry Christmas, everyone!
Early maybe, but nonetheless, heartfelt.

The Season Begins

This time of year is just made for traditions. And for a person that resists change as aggressively as I do, traditions are what it's all about. Every year, the same thing. Nothing ever differs. To some, that sounds boring and monotonous. To me, that sounds perfectly wonderful. One of our traditions that has evolved (not in THAT way) over time is our annual Feast. I like to capitalize it that way. Actually, I prefer to call it The Feast because I figure that if I cook multiple pans of starchy food all day long, serenely watch everyone overeat for 15 minutes, then slave over a sink of hot water for an hour while cleaning up, the darned event needs to have a full-fledged title. This year's Feast was yummy. I believe this picture of Tyler speaks volumes.

Mothers around the country agree: all the work is worth it when everyone is sitting around the table together!

I would be remiss if I didn't add this postscript. I actually have some pretty darn good help in the kitchen these days. As these pictures atest, Nick, Tyler and Chip can whip up a mighty nice looking pie or two. Thanks, Boys! I love to have All Those Boys help me in the kitchen...now we've just got to get the washing the dishes part drilled into their lovely young heads.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Time Doesn't Fly...It ZOOMS!

As I have said before, we are rather overloaded when it comes to fall birthdays around here. Just in our house alone, we celebrate four birthdays during October and November. And that's not counting our extended families! But each one is very important to us, because each one is for a special person. The latest Thomasson birthday belongs to Chip who recently turned two. Chip has brought a great deal of fun to our family, fun that we didn't even know we were missing. Isn't it something how God gives us wonderful gifts that we didn't even ask for? And isn't it something how those gifts turn out to be just right for us?

Chip really enjoyed his birthday. He loves to blow out candles and practices all the time, so he was definitely up to the task of extinguishing the birthday candles, especially considering there were only two of them.

And he's figured out the fun of opening presents.

But we didn't count on this one thing: we gave him the little cars first. That was a bad thing to do because as soon as he saw those, he was completely content and "all done."

Tim thought that was actually a pretty good deal and was ready to sack up the rest of the packages and "recycle" them at Christmas. Luke was getting agitated because he had oh, so carefully, chosen all of Chip's gifts and wanted to see him open them. And Nick and Ty wanted cake.

Eventually we got him to open the rest of them...quickly, so he could get back to his cars.

Happy Birthday, Chip!!

Please Be Patient...

We seem to be experiencing some technical difficulties that are preventing me from working on our desktop. In a nutshell, our PC is not feeling well. Nor acting well. So I am stuck with the laptop. Now, that last sentence may make you think I'm not grateful for the laptop, but that just isn't so. I am overcome with gratefulness. But, you see, I cannot access any of my pictures on the laptop. That makes me very discouraged because I have some beautiful new photos I am dying to show you! And I know you're excited to see them. That's where the plea for patience comes in. We both have to wait....So we shall. Please know, though, that I will have a respectable post for you, replete with lovely pictures, just as soon as I can figure out how to give a Tylenol to the computer.

Trick or Treat!

Halloween was really fun this year. First of all, the kids looked adorable. I mean, half of them looked adorable, the other half looked suitably cool. You decide which half falls into which category.

Luke and Nick decided that they were now far too old for such childish pursuits as Trick or Treating. Of course, then they were mad that they didn't have any candy and proceeded to plunder Chip's loot. Good thing Tyler and Chip made out like bandits.

Look at those people. They don't even look scared! An obviously benevolent ghost is hovering about as Darth Vader is just waiting for his chance to attack. What's wrong with this country?