Christmas video

Jason is so good about putting together little videos of our major life events. He put together this one about our Christmas day. I love it!

(Oh, and obviously, it's supposed to say 2013, not 2012!)

Breakfast with Mary and Joseph!

As a family who doesn’t do Santa, we are struck by how the whole Christmas season is inundated with it. We don’t mind our kids reading Santa books and watching Santa movies, as they know that he is a character just like Mickey Mouse and the Chick-Fil-A cow. However, we want that character to be in the shadows, and Jesus to be at the forefront. We were very excited to go to a breakfast with Mary and Joseph at a church right down the street on Dec. 14th!

There were plenty of crafts to do. Meredith chose to color.

Both the big kids really liked painting some faux stained glass ornaments.

There was also a dress-up station. Russell really wanted to dress up like a chicken (because he loves the real chickens at our children’s museum), and Meredith wanted to be an angel (with just the wings – no dress or halo).

One of the church members told the Christmas story. Meredith and I sat up front to listen. (I’m not really sure what the other 3 were doing! These photos are from the church’s website.)

Of course, the main attraction for the event – Mary, Joseph, and the Bethlehem scene! Our chicken, angel, and baby took a few pictures with them.

They also had a little petting zoo outside next to a manger set: a donkey, sheep, etc.

The kids enjoyed all of it so much that they asked if we could do it again a few days later! It was a great Christmas activity!

Paige’s Church Dedication

As we’ve done with all of our children, we dedicated Paige to the Lord at our church on December 8th. Our church (and our family) believes that the Bible does not lend support to actually baptizing children; baptism is a believer’s sacrament. Instead, we bring children in front of the congregation and promise to raise them by Biblical principles, with God’s help.

We dedicated Paige at the 11 am service. Pops and Mimi, Paw Paw and Kacki, and Nanny and Grandmother came to show their support and love!

It was a cold, sleeting, yucky day. We took photos inside the church before the dedication started.

Pastor Don called us up on stage. He talked a bit, and told the verse we chose for Paige’s life verse: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, both now and forever." ~ 2 Peter 3:18. (Side note: Russell and Meredith actually have this verse memorized! They were excited that we chose a verse they know.)

We came back home for a little family lunch:

Paige Emily, we are so blessed by your cheerful spirit and sweet personality. We truly do pray that you grow in His grace and knowledge!

Christmas Tree and Happy Birthday Jesus

The Monday after we came back from our Thanksgiving travels, we went to pick out a Christmas tree!

For the past 3 years, we have gone to the same Christmas tree sellers, who sell cut trees in front of a little church. There’s nothing to it but the kids still enjoy it.

(Our tree was behind me and to the left.)

The kids really enjoyed “trimming the tree” this year! (Not decorating – they insisted on calling it “trimming.” I think it was in one of their Christmas shows we have.)

They were so proud of themselves! There are multiple ornaments on several low branches, and most ornaments are on the bottom half of the tree, but look at those smiles.

Secondly: Recently, I took Meredith to our church’s birthday party for Jesus. I had planned to take the other kids too, but Russell had a fever so he stayed home with Jason, and it was just easier to leave Paige at home also. I think Meredith enjoyed the one-on-one time – she is such a mommy’s girl.

Ready to go!

After hearing the Christmas story, the kids got to experience several different craft centers. Meredith wanted to write a thank you note to Jesus first. She instructed me to write “Dear Jesus, Thank you for my mommy and kitty cats.” If you throw in princesses (and potentially baby Charlie), that would basically sum up Meredith’s favorite things!

Other crafts included gluing a nativity scene together, a play-doh station, and dress up. And then the big attraction for all the kids: the birthday cake!

We are making the most of all of our favorite Christmas traditions!

Paige: 5 months old!

That is one precious little baby!

Paige is 5 months old!

• Wearing size 2 diapers, size 3-6 mo, 6 mo, and some 9 mo clothes
• Still nursing 7-8 times a day
• Bed time between 6:45 – 7:45 pm, nursing 1-2 times during the night, waking up for the day around 6:30 am
• Taking 3-4 naps per day; trying to get on a 8:30 am/12:30 pm/4:30 pm nap schedule

After I was positive her eyes would be brown, they have turned a pretty gray-green and I am now really doubting they will be brown.

Paige is really growing, changing, and learning! She rolls over from tummy to back frequently and can roll onto her side from her back, but can’t go all the way from back to tummy yet. If you put her on her tummy, she can turn/scoot herself around a full 360 degrees.

She now enjoys sitting and playing in her Johnny jump-up, and we’re planning to get her an exersaucer too, as she loves the ones at church and friends’ houses.

Paige is a people-person like her brother and dad. Even if she’s past bed time/nap time, she’s always happy if she’s in a group or has a crowd of people to watch – preferably from the vantage point of her Baby Bjorn or Becco.

Happy 5 months, baby girl!

More funnies

(As we are talking about football):

Me: Russell, did you know that when you are 5, you can play on a real football team?

Russell: Great! I’m going to play for the Wolfpack.

Me:…Well, you have to be 18 to play for the Wolfpack.

Russell: If I can’t play for the Wolfpack, I’m going to play for the Steelers.

____________________

(Discussing his day at preschool):

Russell: Mom, me and Egypt played house together, and Egypt’s heart fell in love!

_____________________

(Seeing a photo of Jason from his college graduation):

Meredith: Daddy, you had a table on your head!

Thankful.

We had a wonderful family Thanksgiving! How could we not be grateful for all God has done – and is currently doing – for us?

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Paw Paw and Kacki’s house, and my parents and Jon, Meghan, and Ella came also. We are blessed that our families get along so well and get to see each other often. Apparently most in-laws only see each other at the wedding; our parents see each other every few months. Jon and Meghan even visit Mike and Kathy when we aren’t there – I love that!

Anyway, these three little turkeys had a great time last week. This is what they wore on Thanksgiving day. We were about to go to Jason’s aunt Nancy’s house to visit when I took this picture.

Jason’s aunt and uncle were hosting Jason’s cousins for Thanksgiving, so we got to crash their party for a while! Uncle Bart loves babies – he held Paige for quite a while!

Russell is such a boy. As you can see below, he was climbing on and jumping off of just about everything in the house. I finally had to ask Jason to take him outside and burn off some energy. (The girls – Anna, Renee, and Meredith – were quietly snacking and making a turkey craft. Russell would have none of it!)

We came back to Paw Paw and Kacki’s house for Meredith’s nap. Everyone came over around 4 for dinner.

I should have gotten a picture of just Ella – she is 5 months old and amazing! Already sitting on her own and crawling; a true genius! (I feel like it’s not wrong of me to brag since I’m her aunt, not her parent – right?)

After the kids went to sleep, we played games – so fun! My family loves to play games and so does Kathy, but she usually can’t get Jason and Mike to play with her, so I’m pretty sure she was in heaven

On Friday we went over to Jon and Meghan’s house for a bit. This was Paige’s first time in an exersaucer – she really enjoyed it! (So did Meredith!)

The kids were so happy to see Bogie. Russell told me, “He’s not Pops and Mimi’s dog. He’s our family dog.”

We had a nice weekend of visiting. Bring on Christmas!