Merry Christmas!

December 21, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
In this day of technology and convenience we are blessed with an “easy way out.” Today Dan and I realized that there is a fundamental difference in the way that we do things. We learned this after a conversation with Dane about why he is so slow at his schoolwork (it was the only negative thing his teacher had to say about him). His answer was, “I guess I just want to get A’s.” He is his mother’s son. Dan, on the other hand, mentioned that when he was a kid he just wanted to get it done. And in his mind, “whatever I had done deserved an A.” (He still thinks that way.) Me, I have always wanted things done well. Yesterday after about four hours of hand-making bridal shower invitations, I asked myself, “Why do I do this to myself?” Now we all know…I don’t want to just get it done, I want people to think I did a good job.

Well…as time is running out before Christmas and I have just ended a busy week of all kinds of stuff. I have decided to take the “easy way out” and adopt Dan’s way of thinking. So here is our family Christmas Greeting. It comes to you by way of "the blog." My goal is to not be stressed these last days before my favorite holiday. I am hoping to spend more time enjoying it with my kids and less time worrying about what others will think about our Christmas card (or lack thereof). Maybe next year I will manage my time a little better and you will get something a bit more personal…and you will think, “Wow, she deserves an A for this!” :0) But this year, I hope you will understand that I just needed to “get it done.” (Not to mention the fact that my printer is broken and I probably already spent too much on Christmas).

Please know that we don’t love you any less. We are so thankful for your place in our life, whether it be daily, weekly, monthly or even just yearly (with your much anticipated Christmas cards). We are also thankful for the invention of the “blog” which allows us to see updates on your lives as time quickly passes.

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. We always love guests…our door is always open if you ever need a place to stay in Las Vegas.

Love,
The Jenkins Family

P.S. Not much has changed in the past year. We still live in Las Vegas. Summer didn’t seem so hot this year. And so far winter has been one for the record books. Tiffany still hopes to move back to California but fears our time here is getting longer due to Dan’s new love. He now works for the Public Defender’s office where he has the opportunity to be in a courtroom almost everyday arguing his own cases. Dane is in 1st grade, Brice is loving preschool and Mackenzie mastered walking almost two months ago (despite the fact that just turned one).

Bad haircut..or maybe I should say fur-cut

Here is a "before" picture:

Dan decided he didn't want to have to pay to have Lexie's fur cut. So he started doing it himself. He bought some cheap (like $10) clippers which of course wouldn't cut her long, thick fur. Then he resorted to cutting it with scissors. He made it about 2/3 of the way through and the scissors were too dull to finish. So he bought scissor sharpeners. Both times the poor dog looked like a stray dog that had been in a fight. It was sad! So, Dan is getting slightly more expensive clippers for Christmas. But in the meantime, Lexie really needed a haircut. She likes to hang out under Mackenzie's chair at mealtime and she had food matted in her fur. So we gave in and figured we'd get her a good grooming just in time for Christmas.

But when the lady at Pawsh Wash said she would try to leave Lexie's fur a little longer than a summer cut (do to the matting) and I said short was okay (because if I am paying $45 for dog grooming, I want it to last!) I had no idea what "short" meant. My poor fluffy dog has even more reason to be a "snuggle puppy" (as we call her, she sometimes resembles a cat). Of course two days later it snows and the poor dog (who looks naked) is shivering and constantly trying to sit on my lap to keep warm. I was left with one option...buy her a dog sweater. We had to shop around a bit to find something warmer than a t-shirt or ballet dress, but not a winter coat with a hood, and not something with the name brand "Hannah Montana" (geesh, are you kidding?!) So here is our poor cold puppy with her winter sweater, just in time for the second round of snow.

First Snow Day...

...in 30 years. These are pictures from yesterday. This is MY backyard. We ended up with almost 3 inches of snow, at MY house. Crazy!! School was cancelled today due to the record snowfall. Thanks Tutu for the great snowy weather sweaters!

Snow in Vegas

Snow in Vegas does happen...but not often. It snowed all day on Monday at our house but it didn't stick. We drove about 10 minutes north/west and there was enough snow to make snow balls and attempt to slide down the hills. Dane was in heaven (not my kind of heaven). Brice and Mackenzie and even the dog, Lexie, enjoyed it until they were cold. If its going to snow in Vegas, I am happy that it is just before Christmas. It is even snowing again today. In fact, it is starting to stick on our "grass." The boys are out playing in it again. Mackenzie is taking a nap, otherwise she would be out with them. She was even excited about the strange white stuff falling outside.

3-year-old Lies

Brice: "Mom, will you play with me?"
Me: "Yes, after I mop the floor."
Brice: "Why?"
Mom: "Because someone peed on the floor." (noticing the different pants Brice is wearing)
Brice: "It wasn't me...it was the ghost."
Mom: "I didn't know ghosts could pee."
Brice: "He just lifts up the blanket and pees....It wasn't me, it wasn't anybody...it was the ghost." (note: if you pretend to be a ghost, what do you wear?)

Happy 1st Birthday Mackenzie

I can't believe my baby is already a year old. I have had tears come to my eyes several times as I have thought about this day a year ago. She is such a joy...my little girl. I hate that this time flies by so quickly. I really, really love the baby stages. I don't think I want another baby...I just want HER to still be my baby.

We celebrated her birthday a few days early so that family could be there. Dan's parents, his sister, Liz and her family drove out to my parents house the day after Thanksgiving. Thank you mom for a yummy dinner. Thank You Anne, for bringing bread and "goodie bags". It is so much better to celebrate with family.