Chris continues to lose his hair and very strange he is also loosing his toe nails!!!! He says that it doesn't hurt - which is good. He has also had cramping and swelling in his right foot. We are curious to see what will happen next:) He took Meg out shopping Friday afternoon, went to Uncle Bud's party (which we had a great time at - fun to see all the relatives). Saturday Tay's bball game was at 8 am. Chris didn't make it, he was very sick all night (didn't get a lot of sleep) thanks to all the good food he ate Friday night (taco soup HATES him). He went to the ward Christmas party Saturday night (fun to see and talk with ward members), played Dungeons and Dragons with the boys - who had been begging and begging to play. Tithing settlement and church Sunday and we celebrated Jacob's 10th birthday with cake, presents and family. Monday, for Family Home Evening we drove around and saw the Christmas lights. Went to two streets that are known for their lights and having Twas the Night Before Christmas story boards in each yard. Saw a reeallllyyy cool house that was decorated and had music to it. You tuned your radio to the station it had posted in its yard and then watched the lights dance with the music. Soooo cool. We then headed to get scones at Winder Dairy but we were to late so we are going to go tonight after school.

Jacob was suppose to get his braces off yesterday but the dentist decided that the front teeth weren't close enough together. 3 more weeks and lots of pain. They put bands on to pull them closer. Poor boy! He was sooo sad. When we got there he ran into the dentists office yelling that he was going to have a Twix bar soon and he stood by a poster on the wall that said "bye, bye braces Jacob" to get his picture taken (without complaining:). Are tradition is to take the child out to lunch to have ribs after they get their braces off. Jacob was sooo sad and in so much pain that we took him to get noodles for lunch before returning him to school.

A couple of times during the day I thought about all that happened three years ago and how are family has changed. What's important and what's not. How we've grown and how grateful I am that Chris is still with us. How nice this time of year feels thanks to him being here.

They changed the city that Megan is going to in China. she is now going to Changzhou. She is still verrrryyy excited. Changzhou is bigger and is closer to a lot of other cities so she will be able to travel more. It is also warmer. Most of the year it stays around 60 degrees. We are now in the process of getting her her physical and extra shots:) she's not worried she gives blood all the time. She has five finals this week and then will move back home and start working again so she has spending money in China.

We again have a busy week. Right now I have two sick kids. Tonight is bball practice for Tay (which Chris will help out with). Wednesday, orchestra for Jacob, scouts, and Tay has his band concert. He loves playing the trumpet and he is doing a great job.

Thursday, Jacob has three orchestra concerts. 9am, 2pm and 7pm and Tay has CAP. At 4pm Chris and Katie are having a "Hot Chocolate Party" with 9 girls from the ward. Chris made invitations and he and Katie delivered them yesterday to each of their homes. Hot chocolate, food, watching the Grinch movie and a craft. What a fuuuuunnnn dad:)

Friday, we get to breath:)

Saturday, we have a Jr. Jazz game at 11am and 7pm. And are family won tickets to see the movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks." Chris, Tay, Meg and Rye aren't going. Jacob is going under protest so I told him we'd find some friends of his to take. Hey, we never win anything!! I'm all about a free movie and free popcorn. Then if the movie is lame I don't feel bad - I didn't pay for it.

Hope ya all are almost done shopping.:):)

Love ya, Ricki