Christmas, Christmas time is here!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we almost always get our tree. Our house in Elkhorn had a high ceiling in the great room (12 Ft) and it wasn't until our LAST Christmas there that we realized we could get a BIG tree (newsflash to the Barlows!!). Soooo, new house...18 ft ceiling! We could go NUTS. The only problem, we didn't think about the fact that the room itself isn't huge. So, the tree has plenty of horizontal space, but it's overtaking the room a bit. So what if we can't watch TV until 2008. Next year, TALL AND SKINNY!

Me and my elves

ok, another funny story. WE COULD NOT GET THE ANGEL ON TOP! This is our highest ladder, and I made a couple of attempts. Here's Ted, with Barbeque tongs smashing the beautiful angel face, trying to get her up there. As Anna describes her, because she's slumped over on top, looking like she had too much egg-nog, "she's just sleepy."

Lots of stories about this tree...last one: the morning after we put it in the stand (not decorated yet, thankfully), our HUGE tree TIPS OVER, IN THE STAND, DUMPING ALL OF THE WATER OUT ON MY NEW CARPET! I was laying on the floor, gingerly moving the tray the stand sits on, to expose the most beautiful side. All I can do is yell, "help! help!" So here is Ted's solution--WE HAVE STRAPPED OUR TREE TO 20 LB DUMBELLS! This bad boy ain't goin' nowhere no more.

Okay, I have one last story. I always do the lights on the outside of the house, besides for the years I was prego. Note to self: These gutters are much higher, and our driveway is much steeper. I was sure they would find me unconscious, rolling down one of the hills we have around here. Ted took pity on me and finished the job after he saw my tactics. Safety Bob would NOT have been pleased.

I hope I've given you some holiday cheer. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Giving Thanks!

We woke up to our first snow on Thanksgiving morning!

The guys in our front yard. Anna was not very happy when I realized we didn't have snowpants for her!

We went to my stepsister Marcy and husband Ty's house. Here is the partial girl shot--Shaylyn, Judy, Keely, Marcy, Autumn andMindy (girls are Mindy's)

And the other girl shot, plus a couple of guys --Bronson in back (Mindy's), Lainey (Marcy's), Karina (Mindy's), Will and Anna, Morgan (Mindy's). Even though it looks that way, Will is NOT strangling Anna!

And perhaps a new family tradition? Arm wrestling tourney? Ty was the ref. Will first beat me, then Keely beat me, then Keely beat Marcy.

Although they weren't pictured, Kaleb, Ted, Shaun (Mindy's husband), my Dad and Judy's mom were also there. Good times, good times!

The Portland MACs!

Bob and Julie (Ted's brother) and their FIVE boys were home for a visit. What a fabulous past four days we had. What did we do, you ask? Here's a recap:

Our outing to The Cave of the Mounds

Waiting for our tour...

The "boy club" working on wood projects off our porch (wood collected from "The Secret Lair")

Their favorite activity, playing PS2 in the basement.

What might the brothers be discussing? Biking? Computers? The structural integrity of an elevated commerical building, specifying the size and gauge of the steel for all major steel-framing members? (Perhaps?)

What a fun Aunt! Julie does THE BEST hairdos!

And even lets Anna, Jeff and Steve do her make-up!

The gang's all here (well, almost....we miss the Shanghai Klugs! )

We wish they were closer, but are thankful for the great times we always have together. Love you guys!!

Calling all Blog Stalkers!

People! We are dangerously close to striking on this blog! You will notice comments posted have been dwindling.....my regular commenters are Ted's faithful and fantastic cousins, Aleca, Cassie and Cheri. They, too, have their own blogs and know HOW GREAT it is to get comments. Sooo, if you are one who checks in regularly with "The MAC 5" but quietly slip in and out, COME ON! MAKE MY DAY! Just click on "comments" at the bottom of each post, and it's pretty easy from there. It's a give and take relationship people. I mean it. I'm not kidding. I'm watching you.....

Costumed Kids

Here is our Ninja Warrior(in the shadow, sorry, I guess that makes him more mysterious!), the mummy, and GB Packer cheerleader (Daddy had to carry the pom-pons during the trick or treating portion of the evening)

Next the boys went to "Hallowana" (AWANA Club) where they were encouraged to dress up as bible characters. Kaleb changed into Joseph (as in Mary and Joseph) and Will's mummy was actually Lazarus! Ted donned his wig from the last post and went as Samson! heeheehee