We Had a Ball This Christmas. . .

. . . Actually more like hundreds of balls :) . It was a sweet, old-fashioned Christmas, with cups of mulled cider, homemade cookies and kolaches (from an old family recipe), lots of singing,

Dressing up to go to church,

And even a little snow thrown in for good measure!

The older girls gave us their annual performance of dances from The Nutcracker,

And Frankie and Evangeline dreamed up some summer-time camping adventures in their new ladybug tent!

Grandma Graham made matching nightgowns (or pajamas) and pillow cases for everyone in the family (That's a whole lot of sewing!),

 And Santa Claus brought a roomy new abode for the small dolls.

The weather has been cloudy and cold lately, so when the sun came out today, we did some exploring just up the street from us. . .

. . .and found a little stream flowing under the ice!

How wonderful to have a little bit of nature to escape to, and to look forward to lots of frog, lizard, toad, snake, and turtle-hunting come spring!

May the Lord bless and keep you this week, and may you have fully recovered from Christmas by the week's end! :)

Love,

Marqueta