One More Celebration

We celebrated Christmas with Drew's fam over the weekend. We woke up to 5 inches of fresh snow so it was nice to finally have a white Christmas.

Papa and Nana with their grand babes.   

Stella received a Surprise Newborn Cabbage Patch.  It was a boy named Jaden George.  Ha.  She was not so convinced it was a boy. She kept saying, "Take hers pjs off."  "Where's hers bottle?"  "Change hers diaper."

It was cold and the wind was blowing but the kids played outside for a little while.  Stella lasted 2 minutes and went in immediately after I snapped this photo.  She couldn't walk in all the snow.  Samuel lasted until he threw a snowball at the window and it bounced off the screen and hit him in the face.  He was mad.  :)

 Always the best part about playing outside in the cold...warming up with hot chocolate.

Snow

Not the blizzard we heard was coming but a fun and beautiful 5 inches to play in.  Hoping for no wind tomorrow so we can go sledding.  I loved having Drew home to help bundle up 4 kids.  It's a big job. 

Grown Up Christmas

This was our first Christmas in our house and the first year we didn't go anywhere on Christmas day.  We have had a few Christmas mornings together but then we would travel to our parents' homes.  It was so wonderful to relax and not pack.  The day felt so long in a really good way.

Christmas morning.  They all slept in until 8 except for Stella who made them all wait another hour to open stockings.

I won a doll from Baby Be Blessed.  I, of course, had to order two so each of the girls could have one.  Isa opened hers first and Stella snatched it out of her hands.  Isa very sweetly let her hold it until Stella opened hers.

Benjamin got his first Calvin and Hobbes book and is loving it.  He has already requested another one for next Christmas.  He said Calvin says the 's' word (stupid) a lot but he just replaces it with 'silly' when he is reading to Sam.

We had a very simple meal for dinner. It's only on special occasions that we fix the world's finest Kraft Mac and Cheese.  The kids anticipated it all day.  So funny. We busted out my mom's china for the first time and the kids thought that was awesome.  Dinner in our PJs eating off of china.  That's the life.

 My little Samshine helping with dinner.

Bingo!

One of my favorite Christmas traditions growing up was playing Bingo at my Grandpa and Grandma Clair's house.  It got to be too much for my grandma and we hadn't played for years.  Last year my mom brought the tradition back for her grand kids and it is a big hit.  It has brought a lot of fun back into what can be a hard time of year.  We miss celebrating Christmas with precious loved ones that live with Jesus and of course those in the frozen tundra of Alaska.  The kids' excitement is contagious.  

 The girls.

 and the boys.

Stella was so funny.  Drew tried to convince her to get a pillow pet, a princess blanket, books, etc. but she would not take anything but silly putty for the first three rounds and play-doh for the fourth round.  She had no interest in anything else for the remaining rounds of Bingo.  It's the simple things that make a girl smile.

Sam, Raja and Isa were thrilled to get pillow pets.  They have been hoping for one for over a year since Benjamin, Jackson and Matea all have them.  They are happily dreaming on them as I type.

 Miss you Johanan, Sofia and Titus!  Would have loved to squeeze you on this couch.

Hex bugs were the toy of the year.  Sam got a little roach and Raja got a crab.  All of the kids sat and watched them run around this tray for most of the evening.  They would cheer and say, "I won!" when the bug made it through the "goal" at the end of the tray.

 Matea is quite the hair dresser   Her dad looks thrilled to be her client.

 "Baby Cawter going night night?"  I love how Stella says his name.  He is such a sweet baby.

From my favorite Christmas Carol "O Holy Night":

"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn...

In His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His Holy name."

May you feel the thrill of hope this Christmas.  We are praying for those families that hurt so deeply this year.  We hurt for heaven with you.

Aching and hoping until Jesus comes again...

Missing Teeth

On Saturday, Isa lost her first tooth that wasn't the result of blunt force trauma.  Today, she lost another tooth at school. She now has a nice, big gap on the bottom.  It is difficult playing the tooth fairy with this girl.  She keeps the tin containing her tooth clutched so tightly in her hand I have to pry her fingers off.  She stirs and I duck down until she goes back to sleep.

(photo taken Saturday before she lost the other wiggly tooth)

Nativity Fun

Our small group got together for our second annual acting out of the nativity story.  It was even more unorganized and chaotic this year.  I didn't think that was possible but we managed to accomplish it.  

Sweet angels.  Isa's blazing crown makes me laugh.

Julian was baby Jesus again.  She did not want to stay in the manger (laundry basket) this year though.  Baby Jesus kept escaping.  Someone (Whitney) needs to have another baby for next year.

Our one sheep.  He didn't trust his shepherds to protect him so he was armed with a light saber most of the evening.

 Shepherds.

 Benjamin played Gabriel.  He was very expressive.

 Somehow Dillers coffee table became the stage.  It was surprising how many kids fit on it at one time.

 Shepherds coming to see the baby King.

 Wise men bringing their gifts.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus 

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, 

Let us find our rest in Thee. 

Israel’s Strength and Consolation, 

Hope of all the earth Thou art; 

Dear Desire of every nation, 

Joy of every longing heart. 

Born Thy people to deliver, 

Born a child and yet a King, 

Born to reign in us forever, 

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. 

By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; 

By Thine all sufficient merit, 

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Lamentations

I could barely form the words to answer Benjamin's questions regarding the tragedy in Connecticut.  Such immense grief.  Come, Lord Jesus.

I read this on Jen Hatmaker's blog today and was thankful for people that are much better at words than I am.

"I am begging for morning, praying for the dawn. I am truly in a season of Advent, waiting. Jesus, when are you going to come and make all things new? When will you redeem these losses and heal this land? When will children be safe? When are you coming? We are waiting, a groaning earth. We are aliens and strangers, reaching toward the kingdom, gasping. The hope torch is so heavy.
 
My only answer in the face of all this madness is Jesus. I literally have no other words, no better narrative. I believe Him. Just like He came the first time, in the margins, and the earth received her King, I know He is still here, ruling the world with truth and grace. I know He cares and He sees and He will be found. I know He is the light of the world, even though the night is so dark, so pitch black."

Growing

I have tried twice now to get an updated photo of the 4 kids to put on a canvas upstairs.  I decided after those two attempts that I need to wait until the boys get haircuts to try again.  Scraggly hair or not, they are cute.

Celebrating Grandma Pam

The kids had a Santa Shoppe at school last week.  Benjamin and Isa both took their own money and picked out Christmas gifts for their siblings.  They also picked out a birthday present for Grandma Pam.  They have been so excited to give her something they picked out and bought with their own money.  It is such a good idea to do that for the kids.  We are all very excited to see what they picked out for our stockings.  

 We tried a new chocolate cake recipe with coffee in it.  Yum!

 We ended the evening with an Elf showing.

Isa really wanted to paint my mom's nails as a "gift" to her.  Hilarious.  They looked fabulous.  :)  Her nails and skin were a lovely red.

Upcycled!

We wanted a coffee table for the fireplace room and I saw this idea (below) on Pinterest.  We observed an old pallet sitting by a dumpster yesterday so in the van it went.  We had some glass sitting unused in the attic from an old desk so on the top it went.  Drew attached the wheels to the bottom and voila!  I love how it turned out and it completes our cozy room.   Yay yay upcycling.  

New Tradition

To celebrate St. Nicholas day yesterday, we started a new tradition.  Drew and I read to them about St. Nicholas and then filled a basket of goodies for a neighbor.  I found lots of different ideas HERE but thought this one sounded fun.  The kids got really into it and loved learning about St. Nick.  

The neighbors we picked have a really long drive way.  We waited until it was dark and then we walked up quietly. The plan was for Drew and I to hold the younger two a little ways back while Benjamin rang the doorbell and then we would all sprint away.  Well, as we are tearing down their driveway, someone pulls in and heads up the driveway.  We dove off into the yard and headed towards some trees. "To the trees!" (Robin Hood, anyone?) Next thing we know we are sprinting through soggy, muddy ground in our effort to stay covered.  Stella thought this whole experience was absolutely hilarious.  

I was laughing so hard, running with a toddler, and fighting a cold so by the time we got home I collapsed.  Love new traditions!

Small Group Christmas

We had a little gift exchange with our small group last night.  The two most disturbing gifts are pictured below.  Kevin opened up a bag that looked like vomit.  Don't worry it was just expired condiments with an itunes gift card hidden inside.  

My gift was the creepiest doll ever.  Drew took it from me and exposed a big burn mark on the underwear. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.  So disturbing.  Whitney, this doll will show up in your bed at some point.

We are so thankful for such good friends that we live life with here.  This is the fourth location we have lived in our married life and the Lord continues to provide incredible friends everywhere we go.

 What's a group picture without fake laughter?

First Snow

We had our first snow a couple of weeks ago.  The kids were jumping up and down with excitement.  Sam and Stella saw Benjamin and Isa playing in it as they left for school.  They were immediately digging through the winter clothes to find their outerwear.  I finally conceded that summer is over and put away our outdoor table, chairs and swing while they played.   Sam said he wished it snowed every day.  It was pretty.