Merry Christmas from Missouri!

     We can't believe it's Christmas time already!  The season has really snuck up on us this year.  The weather has been pretty good (so far......)  Last Saturday I finished putting up the garland and lights on the front porch and didn't need to wear a jacket - it was 60 degrees!  We've had a few days of waking up to some snow flurries - the kids run outside to try to catch a flake or two on their tongues, then it warms up to about 45 degrees.  So far, so good.

We've spent the last couple weekends decorating for Christmas - we thought that we owned a lot of extension cords..... now we have more.  It takes many, many cords to get the lights out here.  We put a lighted horse and carriage out in the field - that alone took about 250 feet.  Every time we try to put up some lights we realize that we need to go to the store and buy some more cords.  Now we have a lot of extension cords.

Brennan thinks it's time to concentrate on putting presents under the tree (notice his little stocking filled with Hot Wheels cars).  Jim, however, thinks it's time to tear apart out family room....  Last weekend he installed 10 (yes, TEN!) speakers in the walls and ceiling.  (Hopefully it won't be too long before we post the after pictures of that project.)  As stressful as all that sounds, we really haven't given ourselves any deadlines, so we're enjoying the whole process. 

We hope that everyone has a very wonderful (and stress-free) Christmas.