Elsie (Mary) to Livia (Joseph): Hurry up! King Herod is going to kill all of the baby boys!

Of all the parts of the story to retain.

Today, my brother, Matt, graduated from Army Boot Camp at Fort Benning, Georgia, where my Grandpa McBroom was stationed in 1952. Yesterday, my Grandpa, my mother’s father, pinned Matt’s blue ribbon on him.

I bought a TUBE of sugar cookie dough and let the kids go to town.

Pete said that it was the best day of his life.

My job just got a whole lot easier!

Baby, it’s cold outside.

This is the window right by my computer desk.

The Christmas Program went off without a hitch.

Thanks to everyone who helped me. Couldn’t have done it without you!

Pete loved being on stage. He did a great job. You know that kid that stands in the front row and sings obnoxiously loud? That was Pete. He knew those songs and he wanted everyone else to know it, too!

Mike’s mom took us, his brothers, his brother’s wife, and the older two to a fancy dinner in Omaha and then to the Air Force Band concert at the Holland Center.

Dinner was so delicious (The Cheesecake Factory), and the concert was incredible. We had an excellent babysitter. I didn’t worry about Tess in the slightest. All in all, a great evening!

When Santa came in during “Zat You, Santa Claus”, he walked right by us and patted Elsie on the head. So, with a spotlight and all eyes on her, she scrunched up her nose and cocked her head to the side. Her eyes then got wide and her mouth gaped open at all of us. She was a riot.

Mrs. Claus invited all the children up on stage to listen to a story, and Elsie ran up there, found an elf, stole the elf’s candy cane and sat on her lap. Then Pete went up once his sister had blazed a trail. They sat on Santa’s lap afterwards and told him that they would be in Dallas for Christmas. He said that he knew where that was so he would be happy to drop off their presents there. Pete asked for Hot Wheels and Elsie for baby dolls – in case you have some last minute shopping to do! )

She gets cuter every day. Love this kid!

Elsie told me that this is a picture of everyone that she knows. Also, there is the Scarecrow.

(Don’t worry if you can’t find him! I wouldn’t be able to tell except that she showed me!)

I miss my friends.

Happy 5th Birthday to my sweet boy, Pete.