News with N

The traditional Christmas breakfast with our family was moved to this weekend (actually we had one last weekend also) - but this weekend all our kids were home. Grandparents came and Aunt Christine, Heather and Jenna were also present. This is our tradition - to have a morning of opening presents - including the story book life savors that Santa always leaves in the stocking. No one appreciates it but I hope that they will realize that its a symbol of tradition just as mother put it in our stocking and we had the same "Santa head" to place on the tree every year and various other traditions that made Holiday's special and about looking forward to things that brought memories of family and happiness. Note: next year Jenna and David will have gravy! Then we open the doors to anyone who will come to have breakfast with us - everyone is cooking in the kitchen and helping and visiting and just having a great morning! Christmas music is playing, the dogs are waiting eagerly for food droppings on the floor and when all the smells are heightening, we sit down and indulge. The mood is good the food is filling and the family is present to all. We try to include the traditional Hale family punch also. Mike makes this so easy for me as he cooks everything and cleans up. David and Adam helped a lot also with filling up glasses of requested drink.

Easton was clicking pictures of everyone with his new digital camera. Papa Hale was amazed at the new "high-tech" toys that a almost 2 year old has in this new modern age! Although he had a rough morning and didn't feel well (had to go to the ER later today) About 65 pics were snapped by this photographer-to-be.

Then the boys shed their shirts for a "Hot" game on the Nintendo. Pa is so lucky to have a "little buddy" to play nintendo with. Ok, to play hellicopter with, play train with, play with tools, and much more.

Concentration........concentration.....until
Easton starts pinching Pa! Owwwww!

Who cares if he won.......he had fun getting Pa to scream!

Cousin Heather playing with Adalie and her new Dolly! We're glad Heather is back from her journey to China and Australia and other exotic places. We all enjoyed opening her gifts of china tea sets, wooden delicate fans, and beautiful cloth wrapped chop sticks.

Thank you to my wonderful family for another glorious and memorable holiday season!

I love you all and hope the traditions continue on and on and on!

I can't wait for Christmas! here's some of my favorite pre Christmas pics of our new little elf!

It was a wonderland of sweets, candy and petit fours galore! We had gone there to get some good treats for Christmas and it was truly a land of enchantment, with reindeer suckers, red and white chocolate covered malt balls, pralines, divinity, truffles, and every assortment of cakes,pastries and petit fours that looked dainty and lovely.

And there she sat in the corner crying, sobbing with the baby in her lap (the bottle still being held in shaking hands). I ran over to her and asked what is it? What is wrong? She couldn't speak, she cried heavy meaningful big tears that streamed pain all down her face. My thoughts were racing in her look of sorrow. She still couldn't speak. I hugged her head and stroked her cheek trying to calm her and get out of her what had happened.

She finally opened her mouth and spoke "Micah, was killed in Iraq."

There, in our world, a world of safety and surrounded by sweets, we were thrown into reality. The reality that God gives us time with people who come into our lives for just a small time and leave giant footprints on our hearts. There isn't anything sweeter than that. Thank you God for that sweet, sweet Micah!
For Micah and his friends and family (thank you Karen for sending this to me after reading Kim's blog): http://www.iwo.com/heroes.htm