Stockings, Santa, and Service..

This last week we have had a few knocks/doorbells ring with no visitors-but surprises left on our doorstep. We have been very blessed this year with more than one family playing secret Santa to us and because I can't thank them in person-because everything has been given anonymously, I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to all that have made our Christmas this year special!! It has really helped us to feel less stressed this Christmas season, as Joe still hasn't found a F/T job yet. We have been truly blessed by a member in our ward that offered Joe temporary employment the last few weeks, which has really helped us out financially. The Lord is really taking care of us-and I know your prayers have helped.

Saturday after getting the rest of our tile laid we got to have fun at our Ward Party. Dinner was great-the musical numbers were so much fun. And ofcourse the girls loved lining up to sit on Santa's lap. This is like the first picture ever that I have with them all looking the same direction and Amber smiling too!! Gotta love the tummy bulge Brooke is showing off-she is a well fed little girl. Can those three look any different-can you even tell they are sisters??

Since this was the last week of school-I've been busy making the girls' friends their christmas presents-here is my handiwork finally completed-minus one bow that was already given.

The story of our stockings: My Aunt Pat made each of my sisters and brother stockings for Christmas after I was born, then Arica's after she was born. We have had the same ones ever since, with the exception of Arica-whose got ruined one year and had to have it remade. When we each got married my mother carried on the tradition and made our spouses stockings and one for each of our children. She asked me this year if she could re-do Whitneys to make hers look more like Ambers and Brookes. That is why it looks different in this picture than the previous one. We just got Brooke and Whitney's new stocking in the mail this week. And here is the fun part-each one has a part of the Nativity story on them. Whitney (journey to Bethlehem, Amber-Shepherds visited by the Angel, Brooke-Baby Jesus in lying in the manger). And if we have another child (hopefully a boy), it will have the wise men on it. So much fun. I love it! Thanks mom-you are so wonderful !!