Happy New Year from the Rays

Enjoy a look back at 2008 with us...



...and something a bit more fast paced and loud:

Nations's Wealthy Cruelly Deprived of the True Meaning of Christmas

I know this is meant to be humorous (it is from a satirical news website), but there is a little bit of truth buried in all this sarcasm. Let's see if you can find it.


Report: Nation's Wealthy Cruelly Deprived Of True Meaning Of Christmas

How Many Days Until Christmas?

Maria does not like wearing a coat, well none of our kids like clothes very much, but being forced to wear a coat is the ultimate tragedy. So I'll give you the inside scoop one of our kids Christmas presents: Mrs. Campbell made them hooded fleece capes (shhhh, don't spoil the surprise). Up until today we have allowed the kids to carry their coats with them in case "the car breaks down" and they are stranded for a long period in the cold of winter. But today was bitter cold and the wind-chill brought the temp down towards -20F. Maria was sobbing on our way to church that she didn't want to wear a coat. After she calmed down I told her that one of her presents would allow her to stay warm without wearing a coat. She seemed intrigued, and this 4 year-old's Christmas anticipation was raised to a higher grade level. It was 12-noon when she started asking questions to Anna about how many times she had to sleep before Christmas would be here. After going through the pattern of "go to sleep, wake up, go to sleep again, wake up...." she said in her sleepiest voice, "Mom, I am tired, I want to go to sleep."

Nutcracker

We were introducing the nutcracker story to the kids and I asked them if they knew what a nutcracker is.
Maria quickly and confidently replied: a chipmunk.

Nonsense

Samuel has been reprimanded frequently of late for being silly at inappropriate times and during these events has picked up a new phrase...

As I was tickling him, in desperation he cried out, "Mom, you need to stop all this nonsense!!"

Funny Exchange

Papa " I'm going to give a talk to cloistered nuns today. That means they stay in a building and I have to talk them through a screen."
Joshua "Why?"
Papa "Well, they pray all day."
Joshua "that they can get out?"

(I guess the cloistered life isn't very appealing to Joshua who's top two fears are being locked in a room and getting trapped in an elevator.)

Christmas Dance

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

It's a Girl!

The day before Thanksgiving we were very blessed to find out we have a beautiful baby girl! Jesse had claimed a girl from the beginning. Joshua was glad our family would be even. Maria talked all day about her baby sister who she can play "girl" stuff with.  She is also begging us to name her Rose, and although we don't have a name picked I'm not sure Rose Ray will make the cut. Samuel wanted a boy but seems okay with the fact that she is a girl. I'm just so thankful to have a healthy baby. 

The kids were with us for the ultrasound and after a few moments of looking at the screen Joshua exclaimed with delight "I see the baby and she's moving!"