English Emma Blooms

“Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”

Oren Arnold  (1900 - 1980)

Why am I posting pictures of Joel's Christmas decorations?  Well... it was a bit of an obsession for Joel.  From Thanksgiving to Christmas we made Christmas decorations nearly every day.  We painted tree ornaments, cut out snowflakes, made paper chains... what else... we made Christmas cards. It was insane.

You have been good!

What is most special about Christmas to Joel is TIME WITH DADDY! He craves it and needs it more than anything. I suppose that if I worked all day and we were apart he would crave time with me too, but as it is, I am sure he has more than enough!

Here are some pictures of happy times this month.











As I write, Aaron is wrapping presents for me in the basement. Of course, all I really want for Christmas is play time with him too!

The angel, of course, was Abby. She is the best behaved almost two year old I have ever met!



Katie, Alex, Abby, Joel and I got together for a delicious breakfast at which we were waiting on by prepubescent boys. They brought our food to the table and refilled our drinks religiously.



After breakfast the boys made an angel tree ornament and had their picture taken with an angel.


Then we proceeded outside to see the nativity scene.... Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the three kings and animals out in the snow.








The camel looked rather peeved.









Katie and I are going to try and bring the kids as many time as we can until the boys start protesting.





 Already they would not wear the halo they were given, but Abby was more than happy.



I just can't understand it!

We did not get to visit any Kalinowskis or Barkers this Christmas, nor did they come to see us, but we did get to see the Claflins and the Griffees,


First the Claflins.They spent the night here on their way to Michigan from where they live in Tennessee. Adam is an OHS friend and a good one at that. He moved to Sunfield after tenth grade. I went to my first Metallica concert with him, and we used to spend a lot of time together in 9th and tenth grade. Hanging out with Adam brought back a bunch of old memories that I can't mention. It is wonderful to be back in touch. It is amazing that we still have lots in common and get alone well. What is just as great is that I love his family and so do Joel and Aaron. April is a delight and likes crafty stuff like me, and Lyalka and Mercutio are kind hearted and full of personality and curiosity, just like Joel.

I hope we have lots more visits together!

I have sent out Chanukah/Christmas/New Year's Cards to a select group. The question is... have you been naughty or nice? You will find out when you get your card.

On a wild and rainy December night, Jen and I wound along the Geist roads to reach our destination:

KATIE's house for a yummy mummy get together with Sarah, Toni, Amy, and Molly.


Our official Christmas picture:

Here are the pictures from our MOPS Christmas meeting