Family Love

Aunt Karen and Uncle Don come to visit. What a treat to get hugs, have a few giggles and share stories. We love you Karen and Don!

Traditions

Each December, we meet our friends (Steve and Odile) at the Madeira Brueggers. We bagel it up and catch up on life. Then we head to the live nativity in Indian Hill to say hello to our barnyard friends. It has become a Christmas tradition, something we all look forward to doing together. Simple, and perfect.

Finding Mommies and Daddies

Howie: "We should pray that all the orphans find Mommies and Daddies."

Making Memories

What do you get when you mix together markers, picture ornaments, graham crackers, sprinkles, Charlie Brown music and lots of giggles? Fun with Georgia! Celebrating the holidays with neighbors is the best.

A One-Year-Old Misunderstanding

Johnny has been pestering Howie so Howie sits down to make some artwork. He gives Johnny a paper with some scribbles on it and says, "Johnny, this is your naughty list." He explains that he is giving this to Johnny because he is on the naughty list and won't get presents. Johnny smiles a great big grin and says, "Tank too." Translated: "Thank You."

Howie Sings

We attended the annual preschool Christmas musical. Howie sang his heart out and did lots of waving to us.

Johnny Breaks the Angel of the Lord

Is this a cardinal sin?

Thank goodness for super glue.

Howie Counts

Advent Begins

Advent begins at the dawn of tomorrow. We are very excited to start the Christmas season. Howie is giddy about it this year since he is old enough to know what is coming. With the help of my amazingly creative friend, I have created some advent traditions that will hopefully be fond memories for the boys in years to come.
This ribboned structure houses 25 devotionals for our little ones. Inside each bag is a different activity. For example, The first day prompts them to read the beginning part of the Christmas story in their Children's Bible and add Mary, Joseph and Jesus to the manger scene (the manger resides under the bags when Johnny isn't chewing on the camel). Some of the activities are service related, like how Mary and Joseph were probably cold so the boys have to find an old article of clothing to donate to someone in need of a warmth this season. I made sure to leave a few items sticking out of the bags to provoke interest and excitement. I am looking forward to helping the boys reflect on the true meaning of Christmas this month.

Of course, we have a few other fun activities about to start too... Our Elf on the Shelf (Zeke) is coming back, the branch in the kitchen has been decorated with tinsel in hopes of new ornaments to be made and hung, and we are counting down Santa's arrival with our candy cane that moves each day.










Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving 2011

We had a great Thanksgiving celebration with Nonnie and Paw Paw. Nonnie taught me how to make my first turkey dinner, that was a learning experience that was long overdue! The grown-ups feasted on the traditional yummies while the boys ate rolls. All of this yummy food and they only wanted the pre-made frozen bread. Oh well.
The Christmas decorations were brought up from the basement and the house decorating lasted all day. Johnny has been enjoying the ornaments that he can reach; bringing them to us as he gets them off the tree. Howie is loving the holiday themed books and he spent many moments wrapped up in someone's lap with a read aloud time.

Trick-Or-Treat

Did someone say "Candy"? The boys were so excited to go trick-or-treating this year. Howie was excited about the candy, Johnny was excited because Howie was excited. There was lots of rolling around in the grass prior to the knocking on doors. Our sweet friend Georgia joined us and our first knock was Miss Sandy's door. In this last picture, Johnny has his little hand in the candy dish, grabbing away...

Warm November Days

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