A Christmas Miracle

Madeline and Amanda have been one of the few of their little friends who still didn't know how to ride a two-wheel bike without training wheels. They were scared, of course, and would only practice with Mike in the grass field at the school. This afternoon, I needed a nap, so I strongly suggested they go outside with their dad and practice in our cul de sac. Mike said he helped them out for maybe 5 minutes, then left them alone, and they did it themselves. We are so proud of them. And, they are so proud of themselves.

Target Practice

Papa set up a target, and The Gals got to spend some time shooting yesterday with his BB Gun.

Christmas Memories

We are all recovering from a wonderful holiday. Mike's folks spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us, and then Saturday we headed for North Carolina and my family. It was really a great and busy few days.

Merry Christmas

Cookie Monsters

The Onofry Girls came over this afternoon to play and decorate cookies. You never saw such a flurry of sugar crystals in your life. They all seemed to have fun - and they all got to eat some of their artwork.

Olivia decorated her cookie, her sweater, her face and her hands

Madeline wants to be one of Santa's reindeer

Emily spent a lot of time building sugar crystal mountains on each of her cookies

Amanda and Megan hard at work

The Christmas Pageant

Last night was our church's Christmas pageant. The Gals are in the Children's Choir, so they had a song to sing in it - "Away In A Manger". They did a great job. And they did a really good job of sitting through the hour long production that came after they sang. (As you can see, they are not dressed alike or even similar. It is part of my "letting go" resolution. I have to admit, though, it was killing me.)

The Big Apple

We are back from Logan's Birthday Trip to New York. We had so much fun! Best part of . . .

Thursday - Bryant Park and ESPN Zone
Friday - Lord & Taylor Christmas windows and Rockettes Christmas Show
Saturday - Dinner at the revolving restaurant (The View) and shopping

I think it was a time Logan will never forget.

The Carolers

Tonight, I had a special surprise. The beautiful ladies from my home MOPS group did some Christmas Caroling on my front porch. They did an awesome job, and I will carry their voices with me all through the season.

The Yellow Butterfly

This morning I walked out on to my back deck to watch my neighbor, Earl, tackle the leaves that have fallen on his grass yet again (he does this every day, and I have become obsessed with watching him). As I was looking (some would say spying), a yellow butterfly came out of nowhere and flew around me for about 30 seconds and left. A yellow butterfly - in December. I have wondered all day what that meant. I looked online, and one of the things I found is that it symbolizes rebirth and resurrection. Our family has had such a hard time the past couple of years as most of you know. I am hoping that it was God's way of letting me know the end is in sight. Whatever message it was meant to give me, it has given me hope.

Thanks A Lot, Kyle

As if the day wasn't bad enough with Mike getting ready to leave for a couple of weeks, our Christmas Tree fell over. We knew it was probably time to get a new one, but we couldn't decide if we really needed to, or if we could wait a couple more years. Well, the decision was made for us. Looks like The Gals and I will get to decorate this tree a second time tonight. Here's hoping it lasts through this Christmas season. Mike swears he has actually fixed it. Course, he's leaving in a couple of hours, so he won't have to deal with it if it happens again.

We Are The Champions

It has been a great day in the Riddle household. ECU won the Conference USA Championship beating Tulsa, and Virginia Tech won the ACC Championship beating Boston College. It was a good way for us to end the regular college football season.

Jill's Elves

I had the family hopping tonight. We had all the decorating done except for the downstairs tree. Mike and Logan finally got it straight, and then they all had fun putting on the ornaments. Mike and I have a tree in our bedroom that has all the ornaments the kids have made and that we have picked up on our many adventures. The downstairs tree is great because it has ornaments that both of Mike's grandmothers made. There are stuffed birds and bells, plus these great crocheted snowflakes. I am going to figure out how to make those one day.

But I'm Still Thankful

So, you already know I have been dealing with Mono. But, I wasn't going to let that affect my Thanksgiving. We went to Ma's house and had a good day. Bright and early the next morning, Logan, Ma and I got up at 3:45 to head over to the mall to start our day of shopping. This year, Madeline said she wanted to go. When I got up, she was already dressed and downstairs with Logan waiting for me. Well, we were walking through Belk's, and Madeline says "my stomach hurts - you need to get me to a bathroom." As we're running and I'm yelling to everyone around me asking where the bathroom is, Madeline throws up in the shoe department. And she throws up 3 more times before we can get her back to Ma's house. But, I wasn't going to let that affect our day of shopping. Mike took her and Amanda home (as previously planned), and Ma and I headed back out with Jenny to do some more shopping. The next day, as Logan and I were driving back home, my eye started hurting. By that night, it was starting to get puffy. Sunday morning, I woke up with pink eye. But, I wasn't going to let that affect my time decorating. We spent all day putting up trees and other decorations. Madeline went to school today. And I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon.



You can throw what you want to at me, but I'm still standing. And, I'm still thankful.