rockin around the Christmas tree.

This picture is of Alli about a year ago. It is amazing to see how much she has grown since last year!!!! It is fun to see things from a fresh child-like perspective, and Christmas-time is no different.

Our apartment complex turned on all the christmas lights. They have lit up all the trunks of the trees down the main road that goes through the complex. We'll take a picture to show it to all ya'll (see, I'm from texas for sure now). We went on a stroll as a family last night down to see the lights, and Alli enjoyed it a lot. Not knowing just quite what the lights are for, she started singing "Happy birthday to you" over and over and over again. Then she tried to blow out all the lights. I guess she thought they were all just candles.

Alli loves our Christmas tree, and loves to dance to Christmas music by the tree. She doesn't really know about the commercial side of Christmas yet, or at least she doesn't seem to. It's nice to see the joy on her face when she sees a picture of a snowman, or and angel, and that she gets excited over the festivities and family-togetherness-time without having to associate it all with commercialism and new toys. I'm sure that we will try to keep teaching her over time that this is the case.


ok- I'm guilty of shopping all day friday... but I'm done shopping now, and it feels great to know I don't have to brave the stores and the crowds anymore.

Actually we did most our shopping before thanksgiving so it wouldn't have to be distracting in this christmas season.


We love you all, and feel grateful that you are our family-
Love- JED