Last day of Christmas Vacation

White Day-After-Christmas

Feliz Navidad!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa at the Farm House making cookies and clearing fence line! We left at about 4 to get ready for our annual Christmas Eve Dodd Gathering.
 
Overall, Christmas was a rather dreary day. It rained all day and the temperature dropped steadily. By 5 o'clock, it had turned into snow. Our first ever White Christmas! Which we didn't really get to see because it was dark! Cate picked out this necklace and earring set and according to Ben, she picked out several more pieces of jewelery for me as well. Cate got her first bike from Grandma and Grandpa. She got on it and rode circles all day long. It was a different Christmas being cooped up in the house all day, but we had a fire going, lots of Christmas treats, and some new games to pass the time.

December 21, 2012: Dallas Zoo & Gilmer's State Championship Game

On Saturday December 21st we headed to Dallas for the Gilmer game which began at 4. We hit the zoo before the game. None of us had been to the Dallas Zoo and it was quite nice. My favorite was watching the gorillas--it's really like watching a human in a costume! They have such human-like mannerisms, I can kind of see why people get into the evolution thing. There was a lot of climbing and posing with statues as you can see. I have to say my favorite picture of the day is the one of Caleb on that chimpanzee statue. Connor though he'd be funny and spank Caleb right as I took the picture--his expression cracked me up for a while!

The football game was a bust. We got spanked, but it was a fun experience, especially for the kids. After the game we went to Babe's Chicken and waited for an hour with 7 kids! It was definitely worth it though!

End of November & Most of December

Clockwise-ish fashion starting in top left: Ben and I were able to go see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Bossier City with the youth group from church. Our bishop graciously let us drive his Corvette over! The concert was quite rocker-psychedelic--very loud and tons of flashing lights.; Cate being silly.; Santa Land with Joe's family; class Christmas parties-We did pancakes for Connor's and Caleb is playing the quiet game in this pic at the end of his party.; Connor participated in his First Grade play. He was a Jingle Bear and they did a pretty cool rap-ish song. He also said a line! I was so scared for him because as soon as we started getting ready to go up to the school he started crying and didn't stop. I dropped him in the cafeteria and he was still in tears. Sometime between then and coming onto stage he toughened up.; We kept Penne for two weeks while Chris and Taylor were in Hawaii/Vegas for Christmas.; Playing games with Cate.; I had more zinnias pop up from stray seeds and this one was holding on. Soon after I took this, we had our first freeze and it is no longer.

This week I will be playing catch up...

November 13-19, 2012

Top pictures: Before and after pressure washing. You can see the cedar shakes were getting very weathered looking.

Bottom: Before and after staining. I began staining at the top of the gable.; The lift that was my perch for a week; The boys catching a ride.

Left side: Before staining and repainting the trim.

Right side: After.

I really love the look of cedar but don't love the look as it get ages. It was a lot of work getting it back to original and then staining, but I think the look is worth it.