Merry Christmas!

We've been so busy between Christmas and Thanksgiving (as I'm sure everyone has!) I didn't get anywhere near as much done as I would have liked to and we still haven't done Christmas with the Henning side yet. But, we do have some pictures from Christmas, playing in the snow! (it wasn't a white Christmas, but a white day after Christmas) and Ryder on his trusty steed Cookie. Hope your Christmas was merry and best wishes for 2009.

Getting to know me - Christmas edition

Ok - I've gotten this email twice so I'm taking care of it here so everybody can get to know me Christmas edition. And you are tagged to do it, but if you don't I totally understand (but you should still email me with your answers because it would make me happy).

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper
2. Real tree or ....Artificial? Real - there HAS to be Christmas tree smell in the house
3. When do you put up the tree? About 2 weeks before Christmas I guess
4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day
5. Do you like eggnog? yes - as Dad always quotes from the "Santa Clause" "it's a traditional holiday favorite" or something like that
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I'm not sure there were a lot of great ones
7. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad and Husband
8. Easiest person to buy for? Ryder
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes - 2
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail - but I might have to be an emailer this year - sorry!
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I had the flu one year and that is the worst present you can get
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? A while before, but I always do projects so I am scrambling all the way up to the day of.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I honestly cannot remember right now
15.Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Egg Dish, Sticky Buns, and all of Christmas Dinner (Wilson side wins on that one!)
16. Lights on the tree? Duh
17. Favorite Christmas songs? I love them all - EXCEPT the MOST annoying one EVER - "simply having a wonderful Christmas time" - yes Amanda and Mom it is the worst
18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? both
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Sing it with me, "you know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you know the most famous reindeer of all? . . . Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Bow
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? too commercial and people seem to think it starts right after Halloween.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? homemade and country/vintage looking
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Didn't I already answer this one
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? For me to be better, our marriage to be healthy, Ryder to be healthy, our lives back to "normal"
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Oh, who knows
27. Who is least likely to respond to this? Jeremy, of course
28. Favorite thing about Christmas? getting together with family, buying/making gifts special for each person, wrapping presents, watching the joy Christmas brings to others, the lights, the peace of Christmas day, singing Christmas hymns in church, and remembering that all of the wonderfulness is because our Savior was born.

Where Did Thanksgiving Go?

This is my favorite time of year and also in a way I dislike it because everything becomes so rushed and I get more anxious than I already am. I wonder if the doctor can prescribe anything for holiday stress. If they have something for that I'll let you all know. Thankfully though a lot of the things going on are fun. This week alone we are going to the zoo with playgroup from church and then I am going to my Grandma's to make some Christmas cookies with her and my Aunt. And Sunday we are going to the Temple lights to hear a women's trio group, which I have heard before but not at the Temple lights. They have the most amazing voices and I am excited that they are finally scheduled for a weekend night so we can go listen to them. Things are busy, busy, busy!

What I've been listening to

I'll be your candle on the water

My love for you will always burn

I know you're lost and drifting

But the clouds are lifting

Don't give up you'll have somewhere to turn

I'll be your candle on the water

'Till ev'ry wave is warm and bright

My soul is there beside you

Let this candle guide you

Soon you'll see a golden stream of light

A cold and friendless tide has found you

Don't let the stormy darkness pull you down

I'll paint a ray of hope around you

Circling in the air

Lighted by a prayer

I'll be your candle on the water

This flame inside of me will grow

Keep holding on you'll make it

Here's my hand so take it

Look for me reaching out to show

As sure as rivers flow

I'll never let you go

I'll never let you go

I'll never let you go...

Candle on the Water, Disney's Pete's Dragon

Yeah yeah, it's a Disney song. Listening to it the other day (I'm a mom and we listen to some Disney in the car) it took on a new perspective for me. I love how music can do that. It seemed to be words coming from Jesus as if he was reassuring me in this most difficult time of my life thus far. I think they should add it to the hymn book!

Happy Halloween!

We had a fun Halloween. Ryder wasn't too sure about the idea at first, but once he realized people were giving him candy he was all in.

October has been a busy month for us. Besides my many trips to the doctor we have been out and about. I've been working part time at the Community Center & HOA. First it was helping set up the Haunted House, then working in the Haunted House, and now working in the office. Its kind of nice to earn some money and be able to interact with adults for a couple hours a week.

My elk hunt obviously wasn't successful. I had a limited amount of time that I was able to go out and hunt, and it was on the days that nothing was out. We still saw one each day, but the first was too far and in too thick of trees, the second was a bull (tag is good for anterless only), and the third ditched me - twice. Ryder loved camping and hunting. It is a little difficult to try and sneak up on animals when he is singing the ABC's in his backpack. Everyone had a good time relaxing , enjoying the cool weather and scenery. I wanted to get more hunting (and serious hunting) time in, but maybe another year.

Ryder and I had the opportunity to be on TV a week ago. We got tickets to attend a taping of Sonoran Living (local show) at the Phoenix Zoo. We were on camera a couple of times. They wanted kids in costume in the audience so Ryder got to get dressed up twice this year.

We also spent time with the Haynes families before they went back to Thailand and New York. Ryder liked taking care of the babies - whether it was his cousin or her baby doll.

And the newest member of the family arrived! Welcome Seth! We won't get to officially meet him since he is in South Korea right now, but we are anxiously looking forward to meeting him.

Check out our photo album to see some of our October highlights!