The Lee Three
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Going Home For Christmas
I've had Steven Curtis Chapman's "The Music of Christmas" CD since college and I love it to this day. In college during finals week, I would play the CD and put our stereo on "repeat" all night while Sheryl and I slept. And when I living in Thailand I played this CD over and over again at Christmas. My roommates during those times, Sheryl and Misty, probably cannot believe the CD still works because I played it so often. And they like to give me a hard time about playing my beloved SCC Christmas CD so much!
I don't listen to it as much now as I did then (pandora.com is a wonderful thing!), but I have to play it a few times during each Christmas season. This year, the song "Going Home for Christmas" has way more meaning than it ever did. It is crazy how closely it describes my grandma's life.
So, in honor of my grandma and how glad I am for her to be with Jesus this Christmas, I thought I would post the lyrics to this song:
Her house was where the family gathered every Christmas eve (in our case, it was Christmas day);
A feast was set on the table and gifts were placed beneath the tree.
Everything was picture perfect, Grandpa would laugh and say,
That woman spends the whole year getting ready for this day. (My grandma LOVED Christmas.)
One year the leaves began to fall and her health began to fade;
We moved her to a place where they could watch her night and day. (Last year at Thanksgiving she went to the nursing home)
But she kept making plans for Christmas from her little room;
She told everyone, I’ll miss you but I’ll be leaving soon. (Grandma hated being in the nursing home. She wanted to be back at home so badly.)
I’m going home for Christmas and I’m going home to stay;
I’m going home for Christmas and nothing’s gonna keep me away.
I’ll be with the ones I love to celebrate the Savior’s birth;
This gift will be worth more to me than anything on earth.
I’m going home, home for Christmas.
All the leaves outside have fallen to be covered by the snow;
The family comes with food and gifts and Grandpa comes alone.
There’s a sadness in our silence as the Christmas story’s read,
And with tears, Grandpa reminds us of the words that Grandma said.
I’m going home for Christmas and I’m going home to stay;
I’m going home for Christmas and nothing’s gonna keep me away.
She’ll be face to face with Jesus as we celebrate His birth,
And this gift will be worth more to her than anything on earth,
‘Cause she’ll be home.
And as we sing ‘Joy to the World’ I can’t help thinking
Of the joy that’s shining in her eyes right now.
And though our hearts still ache, we know that as we celebrate,
She’s singing with the herald angels and heaven’s glowing on her face.
And now she’s home for Christmas and now she’s home to stay;
She’s home for Christmas, and nothin’ could’ve kept her away.
She’ll be face to face with Jesus, as we celebrate His birth,
And this gift will be worth more to her than anything on earth.
She’s home, she’s home for Christmas.
She is home, she’s home for Christmas.
A feast was set on the table and gifts were placed beneath the tree.
Everything was picture perfect, Grandpa would laugh and say,
That woman spends the whole year getting ready for this day. (My grandma LOVED Christmas.)
One year the leaves began to fall and her health began to fade;
We moved her to a place where they could watch her night and day. (Last year at Thanksgiving she went to the nursing home)
But she kept making plans for Christmas from her little room;
She told everyone, I’ll miss you but I’ll be leaving soon. (Grandma hated being in the nursing home. She wanted to be back at home so badly.)
I’m going home for Christmas and I’m going home to stay;
I’m going home for Christmas and nothing’s gonna keep me away.
I’ll be with the ones I love to celebrate the Savior’s birth;
This gift will be worth more to me than anything on earth.
I’m going home, home for Christmas.
All the leaves outside have fallen to be covered by the snow;
The family comes with food and gifts and Grandpa comes alone.
There’s a sadness in our silence as the Christmas story’s read,
And with tears, Grandpa reminds us of the words that Grandma said.
I’m going home for Christmas and I’m going home to stay;
I’m going home for Christmas and nothing’s gonna keep me away.
She’ll be face to face with Jesus as we celebrate His birth,
And this gift will be worth more to her than anything on earth,
‘Cause she’ll be home.
And as we sing ‘Joy to the World’ I can’t help thinking
Of the joy that’s shining in her eyes right now.
And though our hearts still ache, we know that as we celebrate,
She’s singing with the herald angels and heaven’s glowing on her face.
And now she’s home for Christmas and now she’s home to stay;
She’s home for Christmas, and nothin’ could’ve kept her away.
She’ll be face to face with Jesus, as we celebrate His birth,
And this gift will be worth more to her than anything on earth.
She’s home, she’s home for Christmas.
She is home, she’s home for Christmas.
Monday, December 21, 2009
What I've Been Up To
Sticking my tongue out a lot...
Eating everything mom feeds me . . . and a lot of it!
Hanging out with Jaida (and Callen Stenberg) last Friday while our moms made cookies...
Hanging out in Aunt Kate's kitchen while mom and Sydney made cookies...
Sydney is such a cute chef!
Mom put me in this clothes basket while she baked. I actually liked it!
Hanging out on the counter with Grey... 
Standing up in my crib (okay, I had a little help getting there). But, I really like standing up!
Having fun at mom and dad's connection group Christmas party.
Dad really wanted to take a picture of my two teeth (that I got right after Thanksgiving). But, I didn't want to play his game. 
Okay, fine...so you can see them, but I'm not happy about it.
Leave me alone already.
Lately I've decided that standing up is much more fun than sitting down. Dad was trying to get me to sit down tonight, but I insisted on trying to stand up.
Eating everything mom feeds me . . . and a lot of it!Hanging out with Jaida (and Callen Stenberg) last Friday while our moms made cookies... Hanging out in Aunt Kate's kitchen while mom and Sydney made cookies...Sydney is such a cute chef!Mom put me in this clothes basket while she baked. I actually liked it! Hanging out on the counter with Grey... Standing up in my crib (okay, I had a little help getting there). But, I really like standing up!
Having fun at mom and dad's connection group Christmas party. 
Dad really wanted to take a picture of my two teeth (that I got right after Thanksgiving). But, I didn't want to play his game. 
Okay, fine...so you can see them, but I'm not happy about it.
Leave me alone already.
Lately I've decided that standing up is much more fun than sitting down. Dad was trying to get me to sit down tonight, but I insisted on trying to stand up.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Fun with Friends
Abram's friends, that is!
Today I got to watch Reese and Jaida. This is what Jaida did most of the time!
Reese and Abram, on the other hand, played together for a long time.
Reese moves around WAY more than Abram.
This is my favorite!
Reese moved on . . . and Abram is still where he was to begin with!
But he got her shoe off of her foot.
I moved Abram to this position. Can you tell who likes being on their tummy better?
Then Reese started rolling again. Oh, these two cracked me up today! It was so fun to watch them play. Abram played way longer sitting in his room than he ever would have if Reese was not there. We are going to have to do this more often!
And finally, the long-awaited OREO picture...two brown babies on the outside and a white one in the middle! Allie, Jill and I have been talking about doing this since the day Jaida came home.
Reese and Abram, on the other hand, played together for a long time.
Reese moves around WAY more than Abram.
This is my favorite!
Reese moved on . . . and Abram is still where he was to begin with!
But he got her shoe off of her foot.
I moved Abram to this position. Can you tell who likes being on their tummy better?Then Reese started rolling again. Oh, these two cracked me up today! It was so fun to watch them play. Abram played way longer sitting in his room than he ever would have if Reese was not there. We are going to have to do this more often!
And finally, the long-awaited OREO picture...two brown babies on the outside and a white one in the middle! Allie, Jill and I have been talking about doing this since the day Jaida came home.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Snowed In . . .
At the Ehresman's. That's right . . . Tuesday evening we made a last minute decision to drive out to Huxley to watch the Biggest Loser Finale with Mark and Kate. We packed our bag to stay one night. But, we ended up staying TWO.
But, first, a couple pictures before Brady and Mya's school Christmas program on Monday night.
I curled Mya's hair. I like to get my "little girl" fixes in in case we never have girls. And it brings back so many memories of my mom doing the same thing to Kate and I when we were this age, getting ready for Christmas programs.
Here is why we didn't go anywhere on Day Two at Mark and Kate's. This was at about 3:00p. There was no road to be found in front of their house.
This is right in front of their front door.
The indention in the snow closest to the door is where I scooped up a bowl full of snow . . . 
To make snow ice cream! You just add 1/2 cup milk, some sugar and a little vanilla to the snow.
Mark, Jason and Brady ventured out to scoop the entrance to the door.
When we woke up the second morning, the kids (and Jason) were ready to go play in the snow.
They didn't need to find any hills nearby . . . the snowdrifts made great little hills.
Mya came in after only a few minutes. Syd lasted a little longer.
But she ran out of steam, too!
Jason and Brady moved across the street to tackle the moutainous piles of snow.
Brady was pretty stinkin' cold by the time he and Jason finally came in. But a little hot chocolate and toe-soakin' and he was good to go.
Jason and I came home yesterday, late morning.
My car is buried . . . still today. But, I'm happy to not have to go anywhere.
But, first, a couple pictures before Brady and Mya's school Christmas program on Monday night.
I curled Mya's hair. I like to get my "little girl" fixes in in case we never have girls. And it brings back so many memories of my mom doing the same thing to Kate and I when we were this age, getting ready for Christmas programs.
Here is why we didn't go anywhere on Day Two at Mark and Kate's. This was at about 3:00p. There was no road to be found in front of their house.
This is right in front of their front door.The indention in the snow closest to the door is where I scooped up a bowl full of snow . . . To make snow ice cream! You just add 1/2 cup milk, some sugar and a little vanilla to the snow.
Mark, Jason and Brady ventured out to scoop the entrance to the door.
When we woke up the second morning, the kids (and Jason) were ready to go play in the snow.
They didn't need to find any hills nearby . . . the snowdrifts made great little hills.Mya came in after only a few minutes. Syd lasted a little longer.
But she ran out of steam, too!
Jason and Brady moved across the street to tackle the moutainous piles of snow.
Brady was pretty stinkin' cold by the time he and Jason finally came in. But a little hot chocolate and toe-soakin' and he was good to go.
Jason and I came home yesterday, late morning.
My car is buried . . . still today. But, I'm happy to not have to go anywhere.
Friday, December 4, 2009
14 Days
That is the number of days we were not home in November . . . half of the month!
10 Days: Texas
2 Days: Eastern Iowa for Thanksgiving
2 Days: Western Iowa for my Grandma Gammell's funeral
And three of the days we were home between Texas and Thanksgiving, I was out of commission completely because my back went out. It has been an interesting month!
Here are some random pictures from November.
Abram is ready for some BALL.
Sydney Jen lounging with Abram on the kitchen floor!
Abram watching his very first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Abram got a lot of loving from his Great Grandma Jan the day after Thanksgiving.
Abram and Greysen hanging out at the hotel for my grandma's funeral in Red Oak, Iowa.
Mark, Kate and the kids all went swimming after the visitation. My dad, brother and even my grandpa came along for the fun. 
The only person who didn't like the pool room was Abram. The echo in the room freaked him out. So, he snuggled with Grammy outside the door the whole time.
Brady loved getting to help take care of his little buddy.
Mya and Sydney had a great time playing with their roses from Grandma's funeral. Each great grand child got a rose. It was very hard and sad to say goodbye to my grandma. She was absolutely the most wonderful grandma any child could dream of having. My mind has been running a slide show this past week of hundreds upon hundreds of beautiful, wonderful memories with my grandma. I miss her dearly. But, I am so thrilled that she is in her eternal home with Jesus, experiencing the fullness of His glory and love. 
My mom rode home from the funeral with us and she and I spent the day at Kate's this past Tuesday. Sydney helped me make Christmas cookies for Jason's work party.
Today Abram and I got to hang out with Jaida. We loved having her come over!
10 Days: Texas
2 Days: Eastern Iowa for Thanksgiving
2 Days: Western Iowa for my Grandma Gammell's funeral
And three of the days we were home between Texas and Thanksgiving, I was out of commission completely because my back went out. It has been an interesting month!
Here are some random pictures from November.
Abram is ready for some BALL.
Sydney Jen lounging with Abram on the kitchen floor!
Abram watching his very first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Abram got a lot of loving from his Great Grandma Jan the day after Thanksgiving.
Abram and Greysen hanging out at the hotel for my grandma's funeral in Red Oak, Iowa.
Mark, Kate and the kids all went swimming after the visitation. My dad, brother and even my grandpa came along for the fun. 
The only person who didn't like the pool room was Abram. The echo in the room freaked him out. So, he snuggled with Grammy outside the door the whole time.Brady loved getting to help take care of his little buddy.Mya and Sydney had a great time playing with their roses from Grandma's funeral. Each great grand child got a rose. It was very hard and sad to say goodbye to my grandma. She was absolutely the most wonderful grandma any child could dream of having. My mind has been running a slide show this past week of hundreds upon hundreds of beautiful, wonderful memories with my grandma. I miss her dearly. But, I am so thrilled that she is in her eternal home with Jesus, experiencing the fullness of His glory and love. 
My mom rode home from the funeral with us and she and I spent the day at Kate's this past Tuesday. Sydney helped me make Christmas cookies for Jason's work party.
Today Abram and I got to hang out with Jaida. We loved having her come over!
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