Shelby Christmas Parade 12/21/08

Merry Christmas!

Through the Years

The church I grew up in, confirmed, married, first born baptized here - St. John, Forest Park, Illinois



Gethsemane Lutheran, Keyport, NJ, Jake's First Communion - Christmas 2000



This year - Zach and Max after the Youth had coffee hour - with their delightful punch mustaches - Ascension Lutheran, Shelby, NC

School Parties

Friday I had the pleasure of visiting both Max and Zach's rooms for their Christmas parties. In Mrs. Putnam's class, she divided the kids into 4 groups and they went from center to center to do different things. I was in charge of the snack, along with Monserrat's Mom. We had apples, peanut butter, crackers and cheese.



In the afternoon I had to go to Zach's class, and there, I am the room mother, so I didn't really get to take any pictures. Ms. Wall, had the kids make necklaces, play bingo and read a story, while they ate chips and juice, and Dairy Queen ice cream cake, care of Halle's mom. It is a bonus to be able to work the night, and spend the day with the kids at school.

Christmas Party #3?

I don't know if you count the one at church a party - so we'll go with this. My staff came over after work on Tuesday. Joe bailed - he was in Gastonia, Mike was sick - again, and Meghan (who doesn't work for me) was stuck at her job. So it was Jason, Mark, Matt and John. Jake stayed up too, and we nibbled on taco dip, pigs in blankets and pinwheel thingies, and exchanged grab bag gifts - I got chocolate. Here the "boys" are playing with one of toys received.

Filling in Saint Nick

Santa was at the church dinner after the Christmas play on Sunday. This time Zach came prepared, and Max, well, I think because he already saw Santa once, all he wanted was the goodie bag.

Shepards!

Would you let these two watch your flock?

Christmas Party #2

Saturday night Tim and I went to a party where you didn't bring the kids!! Wow, what a change. It was nice not to have to keep track of what someone else was doing, or if they needed help with food or drink, and you didn't have to watch what you said.........I think everyone had a good time, and thanks to our friends Clarann and Larry for inviting us. I think one of the most interesting pictures we took, was when our friend Kelly jumped up on a chair to give Tim a hug good bye.

Mother Son Party

So, Thursday, Jake and I had our Annual Mother and Son Christmas Party. We all eat dinner, have a grab bag and exchange some cookies. This is the 6th year we've done it, and I thought probably the last - but everyone gave me some grief over saying it was last, so Maybe.........we'll do it again. Besides, for the "last" of something, these are the only 2 shots I got. Pathetic.

Cards Received

Last week - when I did my last post, Max was making candy cane poems to put on top of the church members Christmas cards. We hung most of what we got around the 1/2 tree in the hall, the rest go over the entryway to the kitchen.

My Little Elf

Our congregation exchanges Christmas cards every year with the help from the Youth Group. We sort the cards, and then hand them out, usually at the covered dish the night of the Christmas play. This weekend we will be sorting cards so that they are ready for next weekend, we can hand some out in church in the morning and the remaining at the dinner, etc. So, I thought it would be good to have a little greeting from the youth to top the bundles, and I found a the Christian Candy Cane poem and we attached the candy canes to a like a business size card. Well, while I got ready for work, Max attached the candy canes to the cards in the box you see in the picture. It's so nice to get good help!

Seeing Santa

Ok, so I took off last night to go into town to see Santa in his little house. We have done this since Zach was one, and we stand in the cold, or the rain as we did one year and we wait for and hour or more for our 5 minutes in the house. However, this year, I was having none of the running around the grassy area while MOM stands in line for Santa, so after a 1/2 hour, we left Santa and went through the toyland. (See above photos) and then headed to the mall where the Santa isn't as pretty, his beard is more grey, and not white with glitter, but the line was really short. So Max went up and told him all he really wanted was Lego Indiana Jones. Zach who stood a distance away, was beckoned by Santa to come tell him what he wanted. To which my 7 year old son replied "I'll write you a letter." With that we headed to McDonalds and took them to Walmart to shop for their cousins. I miss the windows in downtown Chicago, and the lavishness of all the lights and finery at Oakbrook. It's just not the same.

Dinner

Thursday night Tim's boss Chris took us and the other Sales Manager Doug out to dinner. We hit the Old Stone Steakhouse in Belmont, NC. The food was great and the company - enjoyable as always. I had the Shrimp and cheese grits, it was really good, and they had some green Tabasco on it, which made even eating with my cold enjoyable, because that stuff can clear your head.