But cold weather makes it nice to snuggle inside at night by the tree and watch a Christmas movie. One thing I have done this year with the Chickens is an Advent calendar. It’s just a small one but I have been giving the Chickens a little gift everyday. They have been so excited each morning to see what is in their box. I told Chicken to not be disappointed if their was not a toy everyday. On Saturday I put Christmas shaped cookie cutters in their boxes. They looked a little disappointed but after we made the cookies and cut them out Chicken said, “Mommy this was really fun.”

So the fun part has been to finding little things to give them, Christmas pencils, Christmas erasers, tiny Christmas books and Christmas puzzles. I plan to take them downtown one day and take them to see the festival of trees. And a special visit to the O.P. Taylor toy store.

I want to make the days leading up to Christmas special, but I also want to teach them the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. They are both to the age where they understand it a little more. I want them to understand that Christmas is not all about getting but it’s about giving too.

We are all antsy waiting to find out what the outcome will be. I was able to take lunch over to the cousins house. This was a much needed distraction and the Chicken enjoyed playing with the younger kids. It was so quite. I think we are all a bit pensive.

Waiting is the hardest part….

” We’re married.”

I asked them how long they had been married?

“Five days. But we are waiting for kids.” Chicken said.

Then he explained how they lived in a little house in the middle of the forest and it was all “covered” in bricks and had a chain on the door. I told them to let me take their wedding picture since they were newly weds. And I got this pic.

I am enjoying all this sweetness between them now because I know it won’t last. But this picture will be great blackmail material when they are teenagers. =-)

This was Boo on Saturday morning… She was still in her pajamas but she reminds me of something from the 80′s.

And my Chicken well dang he is just handsome!

I will always remember 9/11. The horror of it. The bravery of the New York fire fighters as they went into those two doomed buildings.   I remember congress singing on the front steps of the capital building in a show of unity.

I think of our brave service men and women who are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq defending our freedom. And I think of the families of the people killed on 9/11 and of the families of the service men and women who have been killed.  And my thoughts and prayers are with them all.

I had the news on this morning and they were showing the memorial services for 9/11 and Chicken asked what it was for and I told him.  I think it’s important that we always remember.

So here is Kyboo with the big Girls! Here are three of my nieces from left to right, Abbi, Ansley & Reed.   They were all hanging out at Reed’s party and she climbed up she wanted to be one of the girls too!