lego my lager.

This is Lucy's idea of humor, I guess. Josh was a bit surprised, but he just fished mr. lego man out of his beer and kept on drinking.

serious static electricity

for Margaret and Sharon

I did get two trees for Christmas this year, but I wasn't all that keen on decorating them. It was a very emotional season for me and I was glad that I even had the energy to put the trees up at all. I must admit that our upstairs tree stood naked for most of December until I finally put a strand of lights on it and a couple ornaments appeared on it at some point...probably because of Hunts. Anyway, my friend Sharon requested pictures of my house as it was decorated for Christmas, but I didn't have a good opportunity this year with the exception of these few. The sweater ornament is one of my favorites. Something about it is very comforting to me and I am love the color combination. It's bold and fun. I think I put it on my blog last year, too. The hearts that hung with our stockings are from my friend Margaret. These hearts were the most thoughtful and meaningful gift I think I have ever received. They are so beautiful in their simplicity because they remind me of the fact that the God I believe in is truly a God of restoration and reconciliation and He is the only Surgeon who can mend the brokenness of my heart. Margaret, thank you. These hearts will hang with our stockings every year for the Advent season. My friend Brooke wrote these words on her blog last year and I understand them this year more than ever: "I say this every year during advent, but josh once told me that advent reminds us that some tears don't get wiped away until heaven." Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come.

anticipating Santa

"I think you've really got to stop believing in Santa, Josh."


I love the anticipation of these children.

Christmas Eve

The older babes, still waiting for Santa's arrival: Katelyn, Karsten, and the Hunts, sporting her new haircut!



Karsten and Hunts


Maren, eating a crayon


Please notice how awesome this picture is. I didn't even intend to snap this photo....it kind of happened by accident and I am so glad it did! Attack of the crazy cat! Lucy somehow managed to get away....


Rudolph the red-nosed Huntleigh


I love this picture


Seriously....do you think Santa would want to eat these?! These are the scariest gingerbread men I have ever seen.

a Kentucky Christmas

We spent Christmas this year with our dear friends, the Halvorsons, in their new home in Louisville, Kentucky. This was a major first for us, seeing as when we lived in Hong Kong, we flew home for Christmas the years that we lived there. Neither Josh nor I had ever spent Christmas without our nuclear families, so it was a fairly big decision for us, but being with the Halvorsons was like being with family for us. It was a whirlwind trip, considering that we had only gotten back from London a few short days before we drove off to Louisville, but it was well worth every bit of it. Our kids play really well together....well, except for maybe the babies....Maren was determined to attack Lucy, even though Lucy can walk and Maren wasn't walking at Christmas. Here are some shots from Christmas Eve, while we were waiting the arrival of "Santa."

Sweet Katelyn


Maren

Lucy, who my mom says is finally beginning to look like me when I was a baby

Daddies and their second daughters' first Christmases

Katelyn and Lucy

Coldplay.

Seriously. This is the end of the London trip. This was the only Coldplay picture I got because they confiscated my camera. It was considered "professional grade," so it wasn't allowed in the O2 Arena. I was super bummed, but trust me, I did not need a picture of the concert to remember it. It was i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.e. I was so glad that my crazy notion to get us to London actualized itself and that we stood in that arena on December 15th. Chris Martin is an excellent entertainer and made a crowd of our size feel somewhat intimate. This was our setlist for the evening. Lovers in Japan was my favorite. Everything was my favorite. And Chris Martin is my new crush. I'm completely infatuated. And the first band that opened for them...Eugene Francis Jnr...check them out. I'm totally in love with them, too. The lead singer is welsh and walked on stage with an indian headdress. I loved it. Check out Poor Me and Mistakes I Have Made.

doors of London and Oxford

Oxford.

I mean, it's been so long. Well, hold your horses as you wait for pictures of my sweet children. I'm in a totally obsessive organizational vortex. (This is Josh....PLEASE RESCUE ME AS THE VORTEX HAS SUCKED ME IN!!!!) I have been to the Container Store four times in the past seven days and have delivered about 20 large bags to Goodwill. And if you know anything about me, then you know I have to post my pictures in chronological order, so here I am.

I went to Oxford in the spring of 1997. It was one of the most shaping experiences of my life, other than marrying Josh, living in Hong Kong, and becoming a mother. Josh made certain that while we were in London, we take a day trip to Oxford so he could see where I lived (the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies on Shoe Lane), where I went to school (Keble College) and all of my favorite little places throughout the city.



Here am I at Keble College, almost 12 years later.


The dining hall where I ate many a dinner.


The Keble crest.


Broad Street, Oxford, England

piccadilly circus and knightsbridge

Dad, I thought this was totally up your alley.


Piccadilly Circus


Harrod's was a zoo. We walked in with all the other thousands of tourists and bought a teddy bear for Huntleigh and Lucy just like every other person there. And now they're just sitting in a plastic bag because of those damn bugs that have invaded my house.

telefon

Isn't it typical? I don't know who goes to London and doesn't get at least one picture of these phone booths. Maybe you're out there...so good for you. I know it's so cliche, but it is so fun. Josh and I were just laughing because it didn't matter what language people were speaking, they were taking the same picture as us. I just love it.

city shots

Big Ben


the Houses of Parliament


Westminster Abbey