Christmas Pictures

Christmas Eve

Twirly Dress

Handsome Boy

Smile!

Meghan singing at the Christmas Eve service.

Awe.

Charlie Brown's snow globe

Teacher Meghan

Merry Christmas!

As you celebrate the incredible love of God, sending his own Son for us, I hope your Christmas is wonderfully blessed.

Merry Christmas!

♥ Derek, Annette, Meghan, and Evan

Two Firsts

What a day we had!  This morning Meghan had her Christmas party and "sing" where the kids sing several songs for the parents.  I am pleased to share that not only did Meghan remain on the stage, but she did not cry.  AND she sung several songs!  The only song she didn't sing was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."  When I asked her why, she said she didn't know it.  Though we've heard her sing it several times, we could not convince her of the correct words.  I am so proud of her for singing all the other songs!  (I don't have permission from the other parents to share video, so I won't be posting.)

(This will be the first of many Christmases over several days.  Shall we count?)
1. School
2. Christmas Eve Service (where we hope Meghan will sing on stage again.)
3. Christmas at home
4. Derek's family
5. Derek's immediate family
6. My dad's side
7. My mom's side

Since it was a balmy 34 degrees today, the children and I went outside to play for a while.  (I was thankful for the sun since it was a bit windy.)  It has been such a cold December for southeastern PA.

For the first time ever, Evan enjoyed a moving swing!  We did not keep the baby swing up since he hated it.  Today he was willing to try the red Bronco Rider.  He and Meghan enjoyed it!  Together!  It makes this mom's heart happy.

I am so thankful that Derek built us this swing set. 

What a smile!  It's good to get out and play!  

Of course, Evan needed to remove his mittens to play properly with the cars.  Brr.

I need to make an effort to get us outside more often, even on cold days.  It does us all good to get some fresh air and sunshine.  The nice thing is that the children are cold enough that they don't complain when after just 15 minutes, it is time to go inside.

(I will share that when we first went outside, fully bundled with mittens and hats, Evan made it down a step before I noticed his socks.  I had forgotten his shoes!  I'm happy to say that is the first time for that, too.)

Choo Choo Barn

Last December I got to meet Krista, my blogging friend, for the first time at the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA-a central location for us.  She is just as sweet as can be, and has become a true friend!

  We decided to take advantage of the canned food drive admission again this year, and got together again!

Meghan and Natalia too busy to look up!

Adam, Evan, Krista, and Natalia

(Yes, our coats were in the car.  Yes, it was cold.)

Once we were inside, we enjoyed the models.  It is really quite amazing what they have created!

Evan.  In Awe.

This is my favorite scene.  This house has a fire.  Suddenly you hear the alarm bells.  The firehouse's doors open, the fire trucks come out, and the men actually get out of the truck to spray the fire!  See the smoke??

We had a great time, though it was so, so short!  We went through the Choo-Choo Barn and then we went to the Creamery for lunch. We sincerely appreciate our time with these friends!  Adam and Evan are very close in age, as are Meghan and Natalia.

Check out our visit from last year here.  I was shocked to see how tiny Meghan looked last year!  Natalia is tall, and Meghan is short, but Meghan is catching up!

A Little Prayer...

I am so thankful for smiling faces.  Some days are much more smiley than others, but each day is a blessing.

The other morning I sat down to the table with Evan for my bowl of cereal.  Derek and Meghan had already eaten, but Evan and I were eating together.

He looks at me and asked, "Pray?"  

I had to think for a moment since his speech is still difficult to understand.  Play or pray?  Then I realized we had not said grace, and he wanted  to pray!

He bowed his head and clasped his hands.  Then he said something in his jargon and finished with a hearty, "Amen!"

Wow.  I am greatly blessed!  He has also done this several times since then, too!  

(This story and others are included in the "What They Say" tab at the top of the page.  I had to share this one as a regular post, too.)

A Brave Man

I just love that Derek recognizes that Meghan loves to help him.  She adores her father!

Friday night Meghan was watching Derek paint the upstairs bathroom that the children use.  (It's the same blue as the downstairs bathroom, though one gallon did not stretch to two bathrooms.)  She came downstairs and told me that she needed her paint shirt.  I was a little surprised, but quickly got it for her.  Meghan helped paint a section of a wall, as you can see!  I may let her get a bit messy with washable tempera paints, but this is a whole different story!  I never would have been so brave or trusting!

While they were painting, I made sure Evan was downstairs with me staying busy.  They are not quite ready for his help yet.

Our Little House

Neither Derek nor I had ever made a gingerbread house before, but Meghan was so excited to do it, how could we say no?

This year we bought a kit.  Next year we will make our own since we have the appropriate cookie cutters.

This year, the gingerbread house was an adult-directed project with the assistance of Meghan.  Evan helped by asking for "big balls" to eat.  He also liked the gum drops, as did Meghan.  Meghan was incredibly patient and helpful.  I was completely amazed.  That roof took a long time to decorate!

Derek was a pro with the glue  frosting.  Look at those lines!  He gets it from his mom, you know!  (You can see our wedding cake that she made here.)

The house lasted perfectly for three days-then the kids got hungry when I was upstairs.

It was fun...sometimes stressful with little fingers wanting to eat everything.  The roof was done almost all by Derek and me.  Meghan helped with just about everything else though.

The "gingerbread" was harder than a rock.  The frosting was really like glue.   Not very appealing, but Meghan is desperate to eat it!

We completed the house on Saturday morning.  Afterwards, we went downtown to the feed and lumber store that invites customers to to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  They have a photographer there, too!

Sunday we decorated the tree.  We've been using our Jesse Tree and advent calendar (with manger) all in preparation for Jesus' birth celebration.  Meghan has also been acting out the story of Joseph and Mary a lot.  She is always Mary.  I tend to be Gabriel first, and then Joseph.  (She likes me to use my "boy" voice, too.)

We're glad Christmas is upon us!

All in all, we are relaxing a bit, but really trying to focus on Jesus this month.

Snug As a Bug...

...in a rug.

This is just one of the ways that Meghan and Evan play together these days.  Apparently, Meghan takes to heart rhyming phrases that she is learning to read.

(Notice these were taken on two different occasions.)

For a Good Laugh...

Derek has had a beard for a few weeks now.  He does it less than once a year, and I don't mind.

However, he cracked me up to the point of snorting when he came downstairs tonight with a mustache.  I laughed and laughed.  He didn't take offense...and promised that the mustache on his face would only stick around for a few days.  (Thankfully!)

Derek's dad often wears a mustache.  Boy did I see the resemblance tonight!  

Yes, I tend to snort when things are really funny.  Call it a fault if you like!  I don't mind.