Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

We had a magical Christmas up at Mom & Dad Fox's cabin. We have had record breaking snowfall these past few weeks, so getting up to their place was a little scary, but we made it up and spent 2 nights there along with Marj & Mike.
We got to talk to Synthia in Uraguay! She sounds like she is doing wonderful, it was just awesome to hear her voice.

Lizzy had a blast with her cousins. She got so excited about her toys about halfway through opening them that she just abandoned the whole opening presents things and played until evening time, when we finally convinced her to finish opening them.

Baden and I got a new Canon rebel camera for Christmas that I am kind of giddy about. I haven't been much of a blogger in the past, but I think with this new camera I will want a place to post all my pictures.

Claire giving us a thumbs up!

(This is my car which I haven't driven in over 2 weeks!)

Merry Christmas!

So, we didn’t send a Christmas card (again) but we are doing a Christmas post. Here is an update on the Foxy Fam:

Baden: In his free time Baden keeps himself busy reading ancient poetry and looking at spreadsheets. (Not joking.) He rediscovered his love for tennis this summer and joined the Spokane tennis league. Baden opened a new Taco Time on Argonne and Trent this last week. Come try the new Chicken Verde Burrito! Mmmm!

Mary: Every night Mary puts her little darlings in their proper sleeping places. But, invariably by midnight the whole family is in the same bed. Hmmmm. She finished another semester for her Masters in Education at GWC. She enjoys reading and playing with her kids, trying out new recipes on her patient husband, making homeschool plans for 15 years down the road.

Eliza: Eliza is a one man parade. Her favorite things include: reading books, singing sons, helping mommy with the laundry & dishes, playing letters, playing match, taking care of her dollies (and animals, and tomtens, and reindeer) watching her ballet movie, playing with her friends in nursery, and seeing her cousins. But most of all she LOVES being a big sister. She insists on being the first to greet William when he wakes up with an ear- piercing “Hi WILLIAM!” William: William is 5 months old now! William reminds us a lot of Eliza in his love for eating, determined personality, large expressive eyes and desire to be held all the time. He is different in that he has no hair, no tan, and his stomach resembles bread dough. He has a sweet disposition and we love having him in our family. We have had a wonderful year this year and are especially grateful for all of our wonderful friends and family! We are so blessed, and want to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This Made Me Laugh

Grandpa and Little Junior

William got to meet his great- grandpa and namesamke when we went down to Utah recently. We thought it was really neat to have two William Bradfords at our Thanksgiving feast! We had a wonderful time together. Although, it is pretty sad when your great- grandpa has more hair than you!

In memory of Lily Runyan 12/12/2007

"Consider the lilies of the field,how they grow, how they grow."
"Consider the birds in the sky,How they fly, how they fly.
He clothes the lilies of the field.He feeds the birds in the sky.And he will feed those who trust him,And guide them with His eye."
"Consider the sheep of his fold,How they follow where he leads.Though the path may wind across the mountains,He knows the meadows where they feed."
"He clothes the lilies of the field.He feeds the birds in the sky,And he will feed those who trust him,And guide them with his eye."
"Consider the sweet, tender childrenWho must suffer on this earth..."
The pains of all of them he carriedFrom the day of his birth.He clothes the lilies of the field,He feeds the lambs in His fold,And he will heal those who trust him,And make their hearts as gold."

Lily Runyan, Eliza and William's cousin was born today one year ago. Although we did not get to meet her, we have felt her beautiful little spirit blessing our family since that time. Lily, we are thinking about you today.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Top Ten "Off the Top of My Head” Things I Adore About My Mom…
1- Her laugh, it is so contagious and generous. I remember once I was up at college on the Fourth of July and I didn't realize what day it was until I walked right smack into a parade! I called my mom to tell her and she laughed her guts out and told the whole family. Only mom can give fun moments their true appreciation!
2- Mom is and was when I was a teenager, the very best person in the world to go shopping with. Some of my friends couldn’t stand going shopping with their Moms, but I didn’t know how to shop without my mom there. She would gush, like only my mom can, over how cute I looked in everything I tried on (even when it was obviously untrue.) I remember one day one of Shana’s friends stepped out of the dressing room next to us, and said “I came out to see the mother who talked so nice to her daughter!”
3- Her handwriting. I have tried, and failed, to imitate it my whole life. It’s perfect.
4- Her singing voice. Ditto what I said above about her handwriting.
5- Her life lessons. My mom has never really preached to me, when she has an insight she shares it with me like a friend. And whatever her insights have been about- whether it is gratitude, or prayer, or enjoying the small things in life, or letting go of anger when someone hurts you- they have always hit home.
6- Her phrases like: “Faaaaam-ly Meeting!” or “Everyone’s Momming me!” or “Swimm-ing swimm-ing, over the ocean blue” (sung to anyone in any body of water), or “Go my son” or “On your mark get set go” or “run run run like a puppy dog.”
7- Her endless packages in the mail for Eliza and William.
8- Her inexhaustible compassion. Everyone knows she is the person to go to when you need someone to listen. She cries telling me stories about people she doesn’t even know.
9- She is always up for a Dairy Queen Blizzard.
10- Looking back I can honestly never remember her being critical of me. As a grandmother she makes me feel like I am the best mom in the world, even as she subtly teaches me a hundred little tips of the trade. Like most moms, she is so much always there and such a part of me that I take her for granted. But, she is the pillars I stand on. I love you mom!