Happy New Year's Eve!

A lot has happened this past year!

-Gracie was born

-Daddy got the job at Azure

-Our move

-The summer working on the house

-Hunca Munca and Sin'kin joined the family

-Betty was born

...a few of the big highlights of 2011! What were some of yours?

'Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house...

...not a floor was uncovered - no place to slouch!

Time to get to work cleaning up! Hope all your Christmasses were merry!

To all our dear blog readers...

Today...

...after cooking and packing, we are going to head to Grandpa and Grandma Scoville's for our second Christmas this year. We'll spend the night, and have the party Christmas Eve. We're disappointed the Sarah and Stephen and Gracie can't make it, but are looking forward to seeing Jon, Kelsie, Betty, and Phil. We'll come home that night and then it will be...Christmas!! =)

Are you all ready for it? =) Merry Christmas!

17...

Our First Christmas This Year

I'll start from the beginning. =) On Thursday, Momma, Sarah, Laura, Matthew, Lydia, Gracie, and I headed up to Lynden so we girls could go to the chiropractor. We got to the Lynden house at two-thirty a.m. Friday morning and headed straight for bed. The next morning, we slept in late, then rushed around, trying to get ready for our appointment at ten. After the appointment, we came home, laid down for a while, then went to Second Chance...and bumped into the Van Cleves! It was so good to see them again! The next day, we cleaned up the house while Momma and Matthew did gardening outside.

When we finally pulled away from the curb, it was mid afternoon. We stopped at Little Caesars for lunch, then drove the Bothell for the extended Criss family Christmas.  We got there as they were finishing up dinner. After eating, they cleared away the tables, and opening gifts began! Each of the children fifteen and younger got a "stocking" (stockings got too small...now it's gift bags.) Then, the older ones had a white elephant gift exchange. I ended up with a pretty tea cup, chocolate hazelnut tea, and a devotional. We visited for a couple hours, then packed up the stuffed van. Since Daddy, Hannah, Rebekah, and Joe had come later in Stephen's car, we hadn't noticed that  the van had only eight seats (two missing benches), so I ended up riding in Sarah and Stephen's car. We went as far as Grandma and Grandpa's house in Lacy where we spent the night.

The next morning, after a delicious breakfast and visiting, S&S&G and I headed back home. We made a couple stops, then arrived at our house a few minutes before the rest of my family. When they got here, we unloaded the van, unpacked ice chests, and made Daddy's lunch, then headed to bed.

Let's see...one birthday party (Bekah's, celebrated on Tuesday instead of on her birthday), two actual birthdays, and the Criss Christmas; this week - celebrate Daddy's birthday (tonight), my birthday (Wednesday), Pastor and Mrs. Keeny come for lunch (Thursday), leave for Grandma and and Grandpa Scoville's house (Friday), the extended Scoville Christmas (Saturday), and our Christmas (Sunday) with the possibility of Phil coming sometime this week. Phew! We're going to be busy!

A Little Belated...

Happy birthday, Daddy!

Happy 19th Birthday, Bekah!

A Few of My Favorite Things

The towel drawer packed with fresh, clean towels and washrags, giving you a choice between the nasty polyester fiber ones (hair towels) and cotton.

Trees covered with frost (snow is even better, though) and when the mercury in the thermometer shrinks down to the 20s.

My birthday in 10 days!!  And Christmas in 14 days!

An Email From Grandma Criss on December 7th

Strange how you younger ones are only reading about Pearl Harbor in your history books, yet Grandpa and I lived during that event.  I must confess that, being a young country girl without hearing much news via radio (none by tv at that time), I was far from knowing what actually was going on politically, esp. overseas.  P.H. bombing happened on a Sunday morning and I remember going to school (9^th grade in Houston) Monday morning and the teachers were talking about the possibility of our country going to war.  There were lots of questions in my mind (and others) as to what that would mean, who would fight, etc.  The principal called an all-school assembly and as we sat in the gymnasium, we listened to President Roosevelt’s speech, and that war would be declared.  There was a sadness over all the school, mostly because we had no idea what this meant, and how it would affect us.  As you know, everyone was very patriotic in those days, lots of the high school boys were enlisting in the service, as well as our football coach.  Most of our after-school and evening activities were cancelled (or limited) as busses couldn’t run these extra trips (gas shortage, later rationing).  Throughout the war, the pins, banners, and slogans read, “REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR.”  That’s just history now; back then, it was reality!

December 7th...70 Years Ago

...the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack against the United States naval base on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed, 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded.

Every year, a tradition started years ago by the four oldest in our family, we older ones have seen "Tora! Tora! Tora!" in memory of this historic attack. This year will be my second time seeing this movie.

"Tora! Tora! Tora!" (the Japanese code for "the attack is on" [or something to that affect. ;-P]) is a thoroughly dramatic account of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Unlike a lot of '40s war movies, the Japanese are portrayed as smart, good-looking, and civilized. I love how they actually speak Japanese, making it more historical. I can't remember it too well since it's been a year since I've last seen it. =) (fyi, there is a scene where the Japanese are worshiping their gods which we fast forward.)

Just Watched...

...a Super dramatic documentary on the life of Eric Liddel. He was an amazing man - a life totally submitted to Christ, humble, loved life, and gave his life serving the Lord in China.  I now want to learn a lot more about him!

She wanted in!

The First Day of December!

 December is our busiest month! 

"Pearl Harbor Day" - December 7th. Time to blow the dust of "Tora Tora Tora"! 

Rebekah's 19th birthday - December 15th; Daddy's birthday - December 17th; and my 17th  birthday - December 21st (that sounds old! =P.) 

Christmas with the extended Criss family December 17th, Christmas with the extended Scoville family Decemeber 24th, and then our first Christmas in Wasco with (hopefully!) Jon, Kelsie, Betty, Phil, Stephen, Sarah, and Gracie! 

 New Year! 

Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson

FINISHED!!! Yesterday, after about three months of reading, I completed this everything-you-need-to-know-about-house-keeping packed book! I have learned a lot and am very glad I took the time to read this thick book! (I won't write up a review about this book, since I've already posted that here.)