'tis the season

What compelled me to get him a pipe for Christmas? Memories. I have always associated pipes with good dad's and loving grandpa's...and this right here is the best man I know, so naturally he needs one too. 

No matter how old they get we will always love the Christmas tree hunt and James Taylor will forever be the soundtrack to our Christmas traditions. 

These two starring in the Evergreen Christmas play...a modern rendition of  A Christmas Carol. We were so proud of them.  Ben had to memorize over 90 lines! Now he has no excuse for forgetting his homework. 

This little angel was totally committed to her two parts, an angel and a mouse, in the Eugene Ballet Nutcracker performed at the Elsinore Theatre in Salem. She didn't miss one practice and the performances were exhausting even for me...but to watch her doing what she loves and to see her overcoming her obstacles of being shy and making new friends made it all worth while. 

Sweet AbbySue played her second season of basketball and loved it. She tells us that she looks forward to trying out for the freshmen team next year. Freshman! High School! sigh. 

Daddy could not wait to give Ben his Christmas present...and of course this boy loves it. He tells us it's his new favorite sport. We aren't surprised he's good at it...he's been pretending to shoot with a bow since he was only four years old. And it had to be a recurve bow...old soul you know. 

One Sunday, on the way home from church, December sunlight streaming in, and us...singing Christmas Carols at the top of our lungs...photo op worthy in my book.

Daddy and Ben up on the Mountain. I think this will be the first of many "father & son" ski trips. Daddy was impressed with how Ben "attacked" the slopes...kinda of a surprise from our most cautious child. 

She was just there...sitting on the couch next to me, and I couldn't believe my eyes...my daughter is taller than me and more beautiful than I ever imagined. What a treasure she is. 

I will say that this daughter is most like her mama. If you say, "smile Zibby", this is what she does. And I just look at her and know exactly what she's thinking, "I'll smile if I want to, but not because you told me to." And I love her for it. 

Something about this one almost makes me cry...it's like they are all walking ahead of Daddy and I in life right now and we are watching them grow more independent and individual and closer to testing out their wings. AbbySue and Ben, just a step ahead in life. And Zibby with that walking stick looking just fine in her place too...rounding things out with her spunk and determination. It's so hard to imagine that our time with these three all under one roof is coming closer and closer to an end...and it's very hard for my mama heart to let them go. But I will of course...
because I can't wait to see them soar.