merry christmas to me!

This is my new table and chairs I got myself for Christmas!

I absolutely love the antique look. Its amazing what a little primer, paint and sandpaper can do. I started refinishing these tables and chairs around Thanksgiving with my parents help.
This "little" project became a "big" project and I didn't finish until Christmas Eve.
(actually I still am not finished, I need to put on a coat of polyurethane, then I can claim, I'm finished!)

Steve helped paint and recover the seats. He did a beautiful job!

This table is about 60 years old. It was purchased by my Grandpa and Grandma Beck when my dad was a little boy. Somehow when she passed, I inherited the table and 6 chairs.

We moved the table to Iowa with us but only used it for a month because it was so ugly. It sat in the basement of a friends house for two years. Then during the move to Michigan we lost a chair and the table became our computer desk. I couldn't bear to get rid of it because of sentimental value and because it makes into a HUGE table with only 5 chairs. I have 3 leaves that can be used, making it into a 100 inch (8ft) table.

It doesn't go with the rest of the furniture in the house, but I love it so much I can't place it back in the computer room. Atleast not yet!

It seems to be sneaking up on me, how fast Cannon is growing up. He got dressed up in his suit for our Christmas Program at church on Sunday.

He told us he looks just like the missionaries.

Counting down the days until Christmas!
These pictures just don't do him justice. This kid is really getting tall.

Saturday the kids woke up to the first snow of the season for us. They were so excited to get outside and play before it melted. So at 8:30am they were outside enjoying the snow. I finally had to drag them in to eat lunch and for Karlee to take a nap but after they headed back outside.

Up until last week I had my fall mums in my flower garden blooming. I also had kept a pumpkin out front because with out snow it didn't quite feel like Christmas. This brave squirrel was caught on camera STEALING my pumpkin. At first I didn't know if it was a huge rat, beaver, cat or some other small animal because this is all I saw. A large butt hanging outside our pumpkin.

Finally he/she decided to take a breath. I seriously can't believe how fat this squirrel is. This pumpkin is huge. I guess its not the first pumpkin this squirrel has stolen!He/She entertained Karlee and I for quite a while. We've never been so close to a squirrel before.

santa came early this year!

Last week while trying to put up the christmas tree and other decorations, Cannon decided Karlee needed to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. A few minutes later, Santa came down the stairs. Karlee got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. (Too bad Cannon didn't make it!)

Santa telling Karlee all about the Christmas tree and what to expect on Christmas morning if she is a good little girl.

This is the funniest picture I took the other day. For those of you who know our family, we love to tease.

Machine gun!
(uuuuuhhhh, uuuuhhhhh, uuuuuuhhhhhh!)
-our kids learn early-

watching a Christmas movie with my girls.

~relaxin in the tub~

the many wonderful uses of the bumbo chair, or as Karlee would say "the DUMBO chair"

November was a crazy month.

Here are a few highlights:

We had some great friends from Iowa (colby & jason) come stay with us for the month while here on rotations.

Steve turned the big 30.

The YW had there Night of Excellence.

My mom and dad visited for a week.

Thanksgiving with our family, mom and dad, missionaries and the Hammonds.

Black Friday- my mom woke up at 3:30 to venture out with me.

YW Girls Camp fundraiser.

Steve had 3 residency interviews

now on to December!

Merry Christmas!