Ideas About...

Our home during remodeling, without the porch railing . . . Still, isn't it a cutie?

Yesterday afternoon, Megan and her children, and Sara and TJ's Alyssa, came over to decorate for Christmas. The kids played on the little table in the family room, we played Christmas music, and we basked in the warmth of the gas fireplace. Yay! They also watched My Neighbor Totoro, a Myazaki(sp?) animated movie that is so gentle - it's a little gem! And then they half-way watched part of the Wizard of Oz. By that evening, the tree was up (not quite finished - pics later) and the place was Christmas-y and toasty warm! After some French toast, courtesy of Grandpa Doc, we used Megan's projector to watch Get Smart. It was immediately obvious that the kids were too tired and fussy by that juncture, so we sent the movie home with Megan and called it a night. While they were here, I couldn't help thinking about the fact that this house actually has 500 sq. feet more on one floor than our last home (there, the second floor was inaccessible to me). You can be in one part of this house and never know that the other parts exist. I love that! Also, we have a bigger yard, an apple tree, a fenced pasture, and a quiet, country-atmosphere neighborhood, with goats and horses and cows all around us. People grow gardens with huge pumpkins, and no one bothers your stuff here. That's important! We also have 2 full bathrooms, an extra bedroom, a craft room, and a big front porch. It's a relatively small house; it's just planned well. Oh, and it has so much southern sunshine and light, and a great view of the mountains! I just want to express my gratitude for our little, snug, older home. It has its quirks and its mysteries. It has a history. It's in an older neighborhood - and that's part of its charm (even if the basement was leaking yesterday, due to some little rubber hose from nowhere that is no longer being used...yes, we're crossing our fingers that it's not important!). I'm really grateful that this house holds our kids, grandkids, family, and friends. It gives us a place to have Family Home Evenings. It gives us a place to have fun and talk to each other while the kids play, Or...To play with the kids while the grownups talk! ;) And it gives us a place to gather at the table and give thanks. And I think that's something wondrous to be thankful for. P.S. I'm so grateful for Megan's help. I can't believe how much she got done, and how magical it makes the house feel. Thanks, Megan and Little Elf-Helpers! You did a great job!

Sunday Past, with the Peeps

So, Last Sunday:

"The Campbell Kids Embark on a Wild Adventure at the Circus!"

Grandpa Doc, do you see that?! It's a circus!

Hey, Tristan already found the ferocious sleeping tiger!

Leto is very afraid!

"Don't Look. Just tell me, is she still taking pictures?" Oh, that's what he's afraid of...that he'll have to pose. Now why would he worry about that?

Oh...

The famous circus tattoo artist at work! Lanie inspects a docile-seeming panther...She fearlessly grabs hold of her tail!

Uh oh...docile-seeming, but Moody! Drat that tricky panther! She embarrassed me in front of all my fans!

Oh well, let's go see what's over here... Hey! It's Melinda the Ballerina! And look behind her - That's Tristan taking Leto for a three-foot walk! Carefully, Alex soothes the unpredictable she-cat. He goes through a repertoire of tricks.

And then he tops it off with the death-defying 'Lips to the Forehead' trick! Ta Daaa!

Back to Tristan and Leto... They make it to the couch just before Leto collapses from exhaustion

Good time for a Tootsie Pop Break

Hmm...this looks like a good seat...

Does it seem to you like this seat's getting higher?

No words It's time to move on...

At Last, Lanie finds her true calling and decides to join the circus Wild West act!

"Happy Trails to You..."

Happiness Is...

Snuggling under the covers, Farm animals next door, Sitting in the sunlight doing crossword puzzles, At least two grandchildren on my lap, Watching old movies and smelling spray starch, Learning something new, Captain Moroni's letter to Pahoran, President and Sister Hinckley, together forever, The crackling of a wood fire in the night, Family, Rocks, old houses, stories, And stretching.