The last posted pictures are me having a hay-day with my new posting discovery. The ice storm pictures at the end are duplicated (I was having computer issues). The pics in-between are my damaged swing (which insurance compensated us for) and us at Brian's high school in Frewsburg, NY, for the Christmas Parade. That day was a warm one for November.
I plan to do better with updates now that I've figured it out.
Jen

This is the dog stuffed animal Isaac saw first when he came down the stairs instead of the train.

Isaac's first xylophone!

Here it is again... by the way, the dates and times are wrong! It's Christmas day!

Do I hear Santa coming?! I love my new train! (Geotrax- stays together well)



Here I am being cute the week before Christmas! (If you look real close, you can see that I am coming down with a cold... don't worry, it was gone by Christmas day.)

I can make this train go with the remote control.

Here I am again before Christmas, these pictures are out of order, mom! I put this funny Santa hat on myself.

Here I am running the windmill switch before the train gets here.

Frosty won't keep his hat on like mine.

This picture is when mom figured out she could post after about an hour.

Yes, it's true! I finally figured out how to post pictures. It's not so hard, and the diagram Andrea sent was helpful. Soon I will post pictures of the ice storm. Have a happy day!

Jen

I got it! Here is the halloween Cardinal! More to come!

Jen's page
Christmas! We started by celebrating at the 5:00 pm children's program at church. Isaac loved the kids! "Kids...ba-bee..jeeshus," he said that night. It was great to celebrate with family and friends before Christmas and on Christmas day. Traditions hold true, it was a holiday to remember.
Isaac news: He didn't really get it. He said, "Preshens, open," but he couldn't get the paper off. It was more fun for Brian and me to watch him. He came down the stairs, and he didn't even see the train we had set up the night before. Oh, well. Next year will probably be even better. We had a great time.

I visited with visiting friends from Colorado (yes-her flight was cancelled and she had to drive), Champaign and California. Old friends are gold.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Resolutions: 1. "Stretches," as Isaac says, 6 days per week. 2. Keep in better touch with my sis, Em (she's going to have another baby!). 3. Eat better.

I love teaching F3 so I'm really looking forward to helping out in 2007. My students will be starting confirmation stuff so I'm anxious to see if I can help out.

I'm looking forward to having next week off of school.

Jen

Jen's page
Santa Train:
On Saturday, amidst the ice and snow, mom and I went to the Santa Train in Monticello. It was the most fun I've had in a long time!
Santa talked to Isaac, and Isaac talked to Santa. He said he wanted a train set. He also told Santa that he couldn't have any of the sack lunch provided because he's allergic to peanuts (and it was pbj, chips and cookies- made in sunflower oil which is still questionable).
Santa told him he'll be sure to stop by Christmas Eve, since he's such a good boy.
The snow-covered countryside was beautiful! Trees are still covered in ice, but the sun was shining brightly and the trees were glistening! The train itself was like going back in time (it must be from the 40's or 50's). Imagine the Polar Express!
Before the train ride, Isaac went to his 3rd Santa parade. He's 3 for 3 in losing it when the bands come by. The loud drums and trumpets throw him for a loop, and he screams for everyone! Unfortunately, he can't have any of the candy thrown from the floats either. Tootsie-pops are a no-no. We will survive.
This morning we visited an allergist and had blood work done so we can know for sure exactly what he is allergic to. No more guessing games after he ate a seemingly harmless did t.v. dinner and broke out it hives last Wednesday night.
We have some of our Christmas decorations up. Isaac loves the lights and the baby Jesus (he says baby Jesus in a sweet little way). I plan to finish up when I stop blogging.
Have a happy day!

Jen's page
The last five days have been very trying at the Hair household! On Thursday night, the ice storm the forcasters had been warning about hit Decatur hard. We had no idea it was going to be as serious as it has been. Our power flickered, and then finally it went out. We waited... but it did not come back. After notifying my parents, my dad came and rescued us. I packed as quickly as I could, and when my dad picked us up, we were drove very close to downed power lines. Yikes! We got over to my mom and dad's where we thought we would be safe from the cold-- they still had power, but in the middle of the night they lost power, too. I had plugged in Isaac's night-light and when I woke up in the dark, I knew we were in trouble! We were going to stay Friday night at Pam and Barry's because they still had power, but my parents power came back around 6 pm, so we just stayed there since all of our stuff was already there.
We went over to Pam and Barry's just to visit and when we left, we went by our house to check again-- still no power. The hotels for miles around have been sold out since early Friday morning. We are so thankful to have family nearby that would take us in.
Sunday after church we went out to eat with my parents and their friends (who don't have power), and I saw a friend from school. She lives in Warrensburg, where I teach, and she still does not have power. Her daughter whose kids go to Warrensburg lives in the country near Warrensburg and they don't expect to get it back until Thursday. They are very cold, considering the temperature is in the teen digits. Staying with friends, and even family, is never quite as good as home sweet home. Back in my own bed last night, I slept soundly! I feel bad for all the people who don't have power yet! One little girl who's in first grade had a fire from a candle in her home, and the whole house burned down! People have purchased generators, but they run on a lot of gasoline, and they can only run one thing, such as the heater, for a short amount of time.
It is a blessing that we only have tree limbs down and a broken fence. Oh, I nearly cried when I found out about the other damage we have. My yard swing was crushed by a fallen tree limb, and it may be ruined. We have to wait to assess the damage until it gets a little warmer. I can't imagine having structural damage to your home. We are praying for Decatur families. We haven't had school since Thursday, but I expect we will have it tomorrow.
It will be a better day!