Locks of Love

Annabelle decided several months ago that she wanted to grow her hair out so she could donate it to the Locks of Love program. Many times I threatened to chop it all off before it was ready but ...WE FINALLY MADE IT!!!! She was so nervous getting it cut but she was a trooper. Who am I kidding? I was nervous too!!! When the first cut happened I'm pretty sure my heart stopped. After we were all done I asked her if she liked it and she said kinda...her head felt too light, but other than that yes because she looked fantastic....I'm so proud of her for wanting to help others in need. She already said she's not getting it cut again until it's long enough to be donated. She looks so stinking adorable...I hardly recognize her. Her biggest fear was that she was going to look like a boy. I have assured her that is not the case! She is so grown up now...yikes!

Best Present EVER!

I've been dreading this Christmas like never before. It would have been the first time ever that I would not have had Annabelle on Christmas day. I can't imagine what that would have been like. I realize that she is only 6 and I spent 24 Christmas' before that without her, but once you have a child they're suppose to be with you on the holidays! Thankfully, at least for me, Dane messed up! He thought he was suppose to have her today, so he scheduled his whole day around that. In reality I was suppose to have her today and he was to have her tomorrow. Needless to say he wanted to keep her. So, that means I get her tomorrow--yea!!!! I told him that the only way we could switch was if Greg and I could keep her overnight and all day Friday because we had already planned to go to Carson. Dane's "mess up" turned out to be the BEST Christmas present for me ever!

Drinking Bowl?

Oliver discovered a new bowl for drinking out of.....

Standing the tree up

Standing our tree up is always an adventure! If I was a normal person I would settle for a normal size tree, but I always want the tallest and fattest I can find. This year we actually got the tree wrapped so it was a little easier to get in the house. But the trunk is very very crooked, so getting it to stand was a bit of a challenge. Greg tied fishing line to the wall and to our corn burner...oops so it isn't the best tree we have ever had. Annabelle went crazy taking pictures while Greg, my mom, and I worked on the tree. (All complaints about the quality of the picture should be directed to her Susan: )

Semi standing...

Standing...

A little crooked...(note the 2 tops)

Tying on some fishing line...

Tree Cutting

On Friday night Greg, Annie, and I went to our normal place of cutting down a tree only to find out that they are closed this year. So, we tried a new tree farm, Cramer's in Haslett. Every tree I liked split and was two trees at the top...not so great for placing an angel on. Unfortunately, we arrived there right as they were closing so Greg hurried me along. Our tree is not exactly perfect, but it's ours just the same.

Annie trying to jump in the picture as Greg cut the tree down!

Loaded in the truck to take back up to the front of the farm.

All wrapped up!

The man who owns the tree farm was ill on Friday so Greg had the pleasure of holding the tree while it was on the shaker, wrenching it into the wrapper thingy and then cranking it through! Aside from having to load it the first time, unload to measure it (10 ft.) and wrap it and then load it again! He definitely got his work out! Good thing he loves us :)

Annie and Ollie

Annie and Ollie having a rare moment of liking each other....

A,B, C, 's of Thanksgiving

This week in the devotional I am doing it challenged me to write a list of things I am thankful for using the alphabet. It was actually a little more difficult then I thought it would be, but at the same time, it was a lot of fun. So here is what I came up with:

A-Annabelle, my daughter
B-the availability of Books
C-Children in the daycare
D-God's provision of Deer Meet
E-the ability to Exercise
F-my Family & Friends
G-Gregory, my husband
H-Hugs & Kisses
I-my In-laws
J-birth of Jesus
K-Kyle, my brother
L-being Loved
M-my Mom
N-being a Newlywed
O-Oliver, our dog
P-Mrs. Proctor, Annie's teacher
Q-Quality time with Greg and/or Annabelle
R-ability to Read
S-Scrapbooking
T-opportunity to Teach preschool
U-Unbelievable husband and daughter
V-my Volleyball team
W-our Wood burner
X-my "X"cellent boss, Suzi Slater
Y-Youthfulness
Z-Zillions of everyday moments