Christmas 2019: Happy Birthday Jesus

We did all the Christmas things, and as my recently retired pastor would say every Christmas Eve: "It's time to stop. There is nothing more that you can do. The stores are all closed. Let's focus and celebrate".  Mila sang her little heart out during Silent Night and Isaac got to blow out Jesus's birthday candle <3

We continued our tradition of the kids making gifts for others. It is important to me that they learn how to sacrifice themselves--their time, their skills and their passions for other people; the gift is in the sacrifice. THAT is how Christ loved us.   Isaac made an Elsa fleece blanket for his sister and Mila painted a Green Bay Packer piggy bank for her brother (among the other things they made for extended family).  What made me smile the most was their thank yous to each other were in earnest. A gift means more when you understand the passion behind it. <3 

'Twas the year of Frozen for Mila and music for Isaac.  We know my kids well!

Santa stopped by with stockings for everyone.  Boy he sure knows what my kids like! 

After a visit with the cousins, the best was saved for last...

 Princess dress up!!

 ...because when you get a nasa helmet AND a bike, things are about to happen!

The house is a mess. Our bellies are full.  My heart is fuller.  The presents and food is fun but my kids get it...it's Jesus's birthday and we are the blessed recipients of all His birthday gifts because He loves us more than we could ever imagine loving each other. 

Happy Birthday Jesus.  Thank you. 

Christmas 2019 Part 2

Continued...

7. Christmas photos

 (She wanted to pose some of her own...*wink*)

 I love the way he gazes at her <3

 Guess who was blasting the Frozen 2 soundtrack behind the camera to get some smiles?!

8. Fantasy Lights
We donned matching FROZEN pajamas (Mila = Elsa, Isaac = Kristoff, Momma = Olaf), piled in the van with hot cocoa and enjoyed the area light displays.

9. School Parties Shenanigans

10. Christmas crafts

Christmas is almost here...

Christmas 2019 Part 1

We are building our holiday bucket list as we go this year and making some good memories along the way:

1. Thanksgiving

After waking up early on Thanksgiving day last year to bake pies THEN breakfast, I declared that process one of the dumber events of my life and we ate the pies for breakfast.  I have since deemed that event a stroke of GENIUS (why am making two major meals and SAVING room for pie?!) and we celebrated our Second Annual Pie for Breakfast Thanksgiving Extravaganza this year. Everyone got involved with: lemon sour cream, cherry cream cheese, apple cider custard, pumpkin praline ice cream pie and Mila's mini chocolate pudding pies.  DELISH.    I was particularly excited to add two more embroidered hands to our table runner this year---I love seeing how much the kids have grown from year to year. <3 

 Chef Isaac getting to work!

2. Christmas Tree Farm

I attempted to cut down a tree and schlep it home with a ninja toddler on my shoulders several years ago---again, I declared that experience was NOT to be repeated. (There is a difference between adventurous and stupid). So now, we go to our favorite tree farm, ride the train, drink the cocoa, walk through the trees, then go home and put up our artificial tree. Everybody wins!

3. Decking the Halls

Isaac petered out pretty quick in the decoration department (stacking all the donkeys from the various nativities took up most of his time), but Mila held out for the long haul--pulling out each ornament, asking about it and lovingly placing it on the tree (on the same three branches *wink*). She was excited to put a little tree in her room...but then asked where Santa was going to go with two trees in the house.  #solidquestion  We are now writing him a note so he doesn't get confused...

 A sweet adoption family was making and selling handmade ornaments this year to fund their adoption. They very kindly designed an Albanian girl and China boy to add to our family tree <3 

4. Pneumonia
No pictures for this one, but Isaac's annual pneumonia hit early and took me down with him. While I'm sad that this is still a battle we fight with his little body, I'm thankful we caught it early and got it out of the way. We ended up having to cancel a couple of outdoor events we were scheduled to attend but made up for it in the Christmas movie department.

5. Jolly Old Elf
Elsa & bluesteel <3

6. Homemade gifts

We are continuing our tradition of at least one homemade gift going to each person. Although, it is a bit of extra work for me, I am enjoying the process of teaching the kids to think deeply about what each person would really value and how they can use their skills to give to them.  No spoilers, but Mila has done particularly well in this department this year. Plus she can now write everyone's names on their gifts, which is a new skill since 2018!

To be continued...