it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Around here we are feelin' it. Christmas and all the memories now and in the past. Stories of Baby Jesus- our Savior. Decorations everywhere. Spirits that are well, brighter. Excitement.


we started off with the annual gingerbread decorating but mostly eating candy activity.


then it was the find the perfect live Christmas tree excursion with lots of free cider and cocoa. always a favorite time for this bunch!

warm cups, warm hearts while we search for the perfect one.

next- off to the Christmas parade. we rode a float this year thanks to wonderful friends in our SS class. and boy oh boy- we had a blast throwing candy at strangers.

home again to light and decorate our tree we named "judy garland". fun stuff. i think i've finally rearranged the bottom half enough so she won't tip over from the weigft of all her ornaments front and center. the kids motto- find a good spot (the very front) and hang 'em all there:)

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the first presents of the year were given out- Christmas PJs. you would think by now they would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that PJs were wrapped in those boxes. Nope.

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after the annual get the tree, decorate it, and open the first present (pjs) we watch a Christmas movie. it varies every year. this year it was The Nativity Story.

if you haven't seen it- DO. God loves us so much He sent His Son. amazing.

didn't make the cut..

obviously these pics didn't make the Christmas card.

can you guess why?

not sure how we will do next year when we add our Ethiopian beauty to the mix.

it's hard to get 5 people looking halfway decent for a shot. can't imagine 6!

some things you could have heard had you been around our "photo session"...

quit picking your nose. open your eyes. cross your legs. do you want candy? get out of the street. shhh- they are having church. wait. cchhheeesssseee! one more, come on- one more...

a gazillion shots later i did finally give in,

and we picked the best we could from what we had.

not too bad. not too bad.

but, not posting the winner now...

a birthday date

it's not often we get to celebrate with just the 2 of us. a date to sambuca. i recommend the place to all. i love you joe. hope your birthday was wonderful!

precious

i discovered this treasure by briley while on the hunt for a fresh white paper for someone to color on. look closely and read below...

i need not say more.

Happy Thanksgiving

what do you do on Thanksgiving?

carve and sneak a taste of the bird.


put the crumb snatchers at the kid table.

gather round the table for fellowship and food, of course.

can you tell who didn't get the memo we were taking a picture to hold this memory forever?

love on grandparents and enjoy special treats.

wrestle mania with cousins. this can never start too young.

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remember to tell those around you that you are thankful for them.

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my Thanksgiving verse this year...

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire". Hebrews 12:28

getting started...

nonni got us started off early celebrating the holidays with...
a family 3D viewing of A Christmas Carol.
though reviews said it was scary, and that was true, the 3 oldest kiddos that attended survived without a glitch.
i thought the movie was wonderfully spectacular!
and in the words of braxton (our very own movie critc) ... "it was a blast"!

here's to the holidays!!! some of my favorite times with so many memories to be made!

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oh, and check out this... my sis-in-law dana started a blog!

thankfulness

because 1 week from today is Thanksgiving.

top 10 things i am thankful for...

1. my husband whose strength, faith, adventurous spirit, love, patience and more are apparent every day.

2. my 3 beautiful children. what gifts from God they are. each so different in personality. each bringing something so special and perfect to our family.

3. bristol. i can not wait to met you and hold you in my arms sweet baby girl. i pray every single day for you.

4. God. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your love for us, for blessings, for guidance, strength, hope, peace, joy, and so much more. how can we ever thank God enough? just the fact we are alive at this moment is a gift from Him.

5. health. i never want to take it for granted. we are a family of 5 healthy people. what a blessing.

6. extended family. to have the relationships we do with our extended bunch is quite a gift.

7. food, finances, shelter. i have come to realize that we are the exception. most people in our great big world do not have these life sustaining things.

8.love. i am learning about something i thought i knew all about. truly loving. (read Crazy Love book if you haven't yet)

9. sunny days. enough said.

10. photographs. i treasure all the memories captured forever in a picture. i have more albums than 1 girl needs. the joy they bring as we look back on them- priceless.

i could keep rolling right along. but... you must stop somewhere.