Christmas Cookies, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day

Picture-heavy post today.

The Saturday before Christmas we decorated cookies at Honey and Poppa's. JJ and Annie really got into all the icing and sprinkles this year. Sophie just wanted to eat hers plain and was very distressed when I put icing on one. Poor baby.

opening their aprons before the decorating began










We spent Christmas with Mama Rita and Papa Gene and Poppa's side of the family this year. Annie, JJ, and Sophie had a fabulous time with presents, stockings, playing with the nativity, reading Christmas books, sprinkling reindeer food, etc. The kids did well at the church's Christmas Eve service until the end. I handed out dry cereal one piece at a time as everyone went to the altar for communion. JJ loved his candle but the hot wax dripping on his hand not so much. I've never been so tempted to laugh during Silent Night as I was this year, reflecting on my sweet but silly bunch and how we're adding one more baby and oh someday they'll be teenagers and we will go to a midnight service and I won't have to hand out cereal or supervise the candles anymore and I will miss these days of them being little. Maybe. ;)

Christmas Eve photos, beginning with stockings from Honey and Poppa




reindeer food




choosing just the right cookies for Santa Claus


reading Twas the Night Before Christmas


Santa ate his cookies but he left a few crumbs


Christmas morning. The stockings and gifts await!










Snuggling with Daddy. Her big-girl water bottle was her favorite thing.




JJ's favorite gift: a leaf blower from Uncle Tyler and Aunt Kayla


Aunt Kayla


Uncle Tyler


Poppa and the princess


opening her baby doll (that used to be Mama's--she's getting ready to be a big sister!)


our wonderful host and hostess!


happy and tired girl

One Thousand Gifts, 121-125

121. Rainy, winter days--even if our basement floods
122. Extra time with the Gent as work slows down a little during the holiday season
123. A joyous Christmas spent with my grandparents, parents, and family
124. Attending Christmas Eve service as a family, even if I did end up feeding the kids Cheerios during communion
125. Making plans for baby's arrival and looking forward to meeting Munchkin in a few weeks!

One Thousand Gifts, 116-120 (and an announcement!)

116. This season of advent--of anticipation, of preparation, of remembrance of who Jesus is and why He came. Emmanuel, God is here with us!
117. The prayers of the saints poured out over our family and JJ these past years, months, and weeks.
118. The faithful hand of God seen throughout JJ's story.
119. That God is always true to His nature. He does not change.
120. That we are finally on a path to JJ being our legal son!

An Early Family Christmas

Last Saturday we hosted Honey's side of the family for an early Christmas get-together. We so enjoyed having (almost) everyone gathered in one place!

Baby presents for Tyler and Kayla


Sophie and Uncle Brian


YaYa and NeNe


Dillon


Santa...Poppa? The big kids have about figured this one out. ;)


Still not sure about Santa.


Nana


family photo blanket with lots of Papaw memories


Steph, Dwight, and baby Mac's first (early) Christmas!


Reading Fancy Nancy's Splendiferous Christmas to Nana


the gift-giving begins


Annie played the only game of the day and she won

Family Fun Day

The first Saturday in December we found ourselves in town with no specific plans, wow! We made a family fun day of it. We started off at the children's museum to see the train display. Then we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch and the kids ate baskets and baskets of chips. They took a great nap and the Gent and I did yard work and assorted house projects. Then it was off to the zoo to see the Christmas lights! We had a great time just being together with no specific agenda. Hurray for the holiday season!

One Thousand Gifts, 111-115

111. reminders of the perfect atoning work Jesus did on our behalf
112. time to study God's Word even when life is busy being life!
113. early family Christmas with Honey's side of the family
114. hosting said family gathering at this old house that's perfect for Christmas
115. sound financial decisions for our family paying off

Happy Birthday, Little Saint Nick

Nick celebrated his birthday just after Thanksgiving. He was so wriggly and excited I couldn't get him to pose for a picture! He gobbled up his treats in about 1.6 seconds. :)

Munchkin: Eight Months

A little late but here we are! Baby is growing well and I have reached the point where I have to sit down to put my shoes on--no more balancing on one foot while I tie gym shoe laces. I've been having lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions for the past couple of months, but I think we're still several weeks away from the real thing (33 1/2 weeks now). We'll set up the double nursery for baby and Sophie to share after Christmas, get the car seat down from the attic, and buy some diapers. I think we'll be ready after that! Another baby girl--what a sweet blessing from the Lord!

One Thousand Gifts, 108-110

108. My kids. Even when they're brats. Like now. :)
109. So many prayers being said on our behalf this week (JJ has a big court date on Thursday)
110. An almost perfect family weekend.

Sophie: 18 Months

the cutest 18 month old ever


her tongue, of course


dancing!


Annie wanted her picture taken, too.


Sophie was so not into Annie's cheese grin.


Eighteen months and Miss Personality! Sophie loves to dance and practice going up and down stairs and play dress-up. She is very interested in books (her current favorite is Pat the Bunny) and baby dolls. She is starting to practice using a fork and we are working on not throwing her plate and cup on the floor. :) Sophie likes to explore and is very interested in our Christmas tree, but thankfully does not have the mischievous streak her brother did at this age. She likes to clean up her toys and JJ and Annie often con her into helping them. Sophie still loves to snuggle and give hugs and has learned to blow kisses. Some new words this month are "moo" and "baa" and "all done." She weighs 20 lbs, 1 oz--exactly what Annie weighed at this age. So thankful to the Lord for this sweet girl!