Our Family Tree

Today I got to see a Christmas tree decorated beautifully. Every ornament was in the same two color families. There were red wooden beads hanging from the branches. It looked like something out of a Pottery Barn catalog.

This evening we gathered as a family to decorate our tree. We each have our own box of ornaments collected over the years. We all have ornaments that have been handmade. I'm talking the over-sized, hang in the back of the tree variety. We also ornaments from all the places we've traveled, ornaments that represent every hobby we've ever tried, ornaments noting pregnancies, ornaments with our names plastered on them.

In short, what I realized tonight as I gazed at my family's faces glowing in the tree lights is that that tree is our history. It shows me who we are, how we've grown, where we've been. And that is why I think our tree is the most beautiful of all.

As You Wish

Today Max bumped his head on the corner of the counter and began to cry.

"Come here buddy," I said, "let me kiss it for you."

"Okay," he said in a way only he can.

I kissed his head and stood back up. He pointed to the spot that hurt and said, "Mo peas."

I kissed him again but again he said, "Mo peas."

This went on until I finally bent over picked him up and planted about twenty kisses in a row on his sweet little head. "Okay," was his response. "Down peas."

Happy Advent!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I'm counting my blessings, among the most important of which are in this picture (besides my brother, Kevin, who is all the way in Kansas City now). I'm thankful for Fr. Zack, from Africa, who has lived with my parents for the past month. I'm thankful for a beautiful home big enough to host family gatherings. And the list goes on and on and on.

I hope you spend today counting your blessings too.

Added to the Rule Book a Little Sooner than Planned

The boys and I were delivering dinner to a friend this evening when her young daughter ran across the room in nothing but her underwear. Before I knew it the boys were chasing after her.

"Boys," I said in a stern voice, "do not chase naked girls!"

My friend laughed and said, "I can see it now: Rule 1 for Parris boys is no chasing naked girls."

Fall Fun

The leaves have been falling for some time around here. As you can see by the way the kids are dressed, the temperatures have not.The kids had hours of fun today "raking the yard". What they did was create an elaborate town with rooms, pools and a beach.
They were busy most of the day. And they were very proud of their creation.
I love that they spent a day outside playing with each other. I love that they are so physically active. No couch potatoes here!

We Train 'Em Young Around Here