Happy Birthday, Emily!

Today is Emily's 4th Birthday! My baby girl is growing up!

"Happy Birthday to You!"

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

Jack, Emily, & Sam have a Christmas message for you!!

The Ice Storm

The electricity went out at about 6:15 AM. The kids must have been awake because we heard commotion in their room and several minutes later, the commotion ended up in our bed with us.

So, we got out our candles and had an "adventure".

Once it was light enough for us to make our way around the house without electricity we ventured outside and this is what we saw. It was absolutely beautiful!

We decided to not risk the drive to church, and bundled everyone up for a walk (or an ice skate) instead. Sam took a few falls,but recovered quite quickly.

Several trees were down in our neighborhood, but no real damage was done.

Electricity came on at 11 o' clock...just in time to cook a nice warm lunch!!

Our Trees!

We actually have 2 trees in our house! The kids have always had their own tree. Over the last several years, during the time of advent the kids and I have decorated a little tree of their own with some sort of theme. This year our tree is called "Loving our Neighbors." We have talked a lot about giving gifts to Jesus by loving our neighbors, so everytime the kids do something to love someone else they get to put an ornament on their tree. They have thought of the ideas themselves, some of which have included taking cookies to neighbors, having friends over for lunch or dinner, or even letting a sibling play with a toy they wanted. I'm hoping the goodwill towards others will last past the Christmas season!!!



This past weekend, we also ventured out to a tree farm in search for the perfect Christmas tree! The first field we came to was filled with baby Christmas trees. The kids found one immediately! They said they wanted to have a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree!! Once I showed the the field with the bigger trees they dropped that idea rather quickly. After finding the tree, Daddy cut it down and we took it home. Of course I forgot to take the camera, so there are no pictures of the tree farm:(





Here are some pictures once we got it home. Before the decorating could begin, Jack had to take care of his hat head hair!













And here is the finished product!

As many of you know I have a bah humbug husband. Even as a kid, he never really liked Christmas. I have to say that he did not complain in the process of putting up the tree this year! Maybe he is just granting my request to not show his dislike for Christmas, or maybe the kids Christmas excitement is rubbing off on him. Who knows? Maybe I'll even get to put ornaments on the tree next year!!