wax on a fur coat?

wax on a fur coat?  I know that seems like a funny title for this time of the year, right?  but as I sat in church on Christmas Eve - that was the first thing that came to my mind as we lit the candles during the song Silent Night at church.  Growing up part of my life in the south, there was one time of year when the fur coats came out - Christmas Eve!  I can remember my mom saying to us at the midnight Christmas Eve candlelight service ... "be careful of the fur coats on the pew in front of you - Do not drip any candle wax on them!".  At our church here on Christmas Eve, there weren't any fur coats, but I carefully helped my fiercely independent Jillian hold her candle so that she would not get wax on her arm, dress, or carpet of the church.... although she tried to wave her candle around like she was at a Jimmy Hendrix concert  and did NOT want my assistance --- we managed to survive the service ... wax-free :)

 a few swim team boys came over for a party just before Christmas --- boys broke a team record in the 200 medley relay and we told them they could have a party.  they wanted honey buns, whip cream, and chocolate chips.  we added pizza, chips, and some treats to the mix too.  honey buns seem like a funny motivator for a record to me :)

 some tree-decorating egg nog

 decorating the tree --- the Saturday before Christmas... a little late this year!

everyone wanted to put the angel on the top of the tree - so we had to resort to drawing strays.  Helen also kept calling the angel a fairy.  She wanted to put the fairy on the top of the tree :)  daddy going over the rules for "drawing straws"

 guess who is the winner?

 we quickly realized that Jayden was too big to be lifted up to place the angel on the tree..... so

 Ross had to put him up on his shoulders :)

 making spritz cookies

 and of course --- tasting the cookies!

 Very behind in getting the presents wrapped this year  --- sent Ross and the kids out to get some eggs on Christmas Eve (in the afternoon) so I could wrap some presents... and finish baking some more cookies -- multi- tasking for sure!

 this year we got Helen and the boys a warm-up suit for their swim meets and quickly realized that the newest member of the swim team (Jilly) should have received a warm-up suit too!  will get that ordered in January for sure! 

 Christmas Eve family photo

 our newest Stingray sporting her team shirt

 my Care Bear lady saw this blanket fabric at Walmart and really wanted it - so I bought the panel and sewed on a binding the day before Christmas

 every athletes dream..... the STICK    -- see the smile on his face :)

 reading the Night Before Christmas Story

 getting some cookies ready for Santa

 writing Santa a note....

 Santa writes them back -- this year we have a lot of skepticism about Santa in our house --- I just hope this is not the last year for Santa --- lots of questions about Santa and the little kid inside of me hopes that they continue to Believe. 

 Christmas morning

my present from Jillian -- love that she wrote Mommy about 4 times at the top of the card --- my baby girl is growing up so fast!

swim, bike, run - spritz cookies

THE Race

Now that Jillian earned her official spot on the swim team - she decided to challenge one of the oldest and fastest swimmers on the team.  She talked about the race for almost a week - telling her preschool teacher, the guy at the coffee shop, someone standing in line at Walmart... basically everyone she saw during the week :) 

The race took place last Friday night and here are some photos and a video of the race.  He was such a good sport to "race" her.  I love how he rolls over on his back and floats when she does :)

 just before the race

 coach talking to her about how to start

 swimmers take your mark......

 smiling because she won :)

 .... and a hug

 after her big "race" on Friday, she was invited to swim at the Michiana Y on Sunday for her FIRST official swim meet!!   here she is waiting for her event with the coaches.

 she's almost done....

 ... resting on her back for a few seconds.....

 most of her team is standing there cheering her on 

 ... and she made it!!!!!  her first 25 freestyle

Good Job, Jilly!  We are so proud of you!

 http://youtu.be/dIUJP07sbds

Thankful Thanksgiving.....

..... well Christmas is almost here so I better get out my Thankful Thanksgiving post.

boy's race bling from the Grand Rapids Invitational. Jayden was the high point winner for 8&under boys.

 kids decided to circle a "few" items for their Christmas list.  Even selected a sewing machine and underwear for mom --- how thoughtful :)

 our Thanksgiving dinner

 we took turns lighting a candle and telling eachother what we were thankful for

 girls playing a game of Headbands together

 jillian's preschool sang during the 2 church services -- at the 2nd service they needed a few more voices so Helen helped them.  she remembered the words from when she attended preschool

 

 Helen and Graham reading together

 2nd female overall in the Elkhart Turkey Trot 10k - time 40:30 - a personal best for me.  must say that I was in the lead for about half of the race, then got passed - was catching back up to her when we joined the turn around for the 5k route... where everyone and their DOG (literally) were taking up the ENTIRE road.  I could not pass them and I lost her in the sea of people... ended up finishing a few seconds behind the 1st female :)  Got a gravy boat as my prize and FREE entry to next year's race!  yay!  I actually had a free entry to this race this year because I won it at the Warsaw Triathlon!

 yummy snacks for Jillian's preschool

my swimmers and my swim bag - LOVE

 I had 3 of my race bibs made into necklace pendants and the finish times put on the back of the pendant.  the background of the pendant is the race shirt.  A great way to remember my races :)

Ironman Louisville (red), Boston (yellow), NYC marathon (blue)