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...

Christmas Pageant 2019

This was our second year to be invited to participate in the Adventist Christmas Pageant. We have been actively pursued by our sweet friends there despite being in different towns, counties and denominations. I can't tell you what it is to know your family and special needs are not only welcomed but proactively sought out. <3  Last year I had a drummer boy and a beautiful angel...

This year, I had a shepherd boy and..wait for it...Mary!  Oh for my little catholic girl's heart to get to be the mother of Jesus.  (So much so, that we had to have a little chat that she was indeed NOT the real Mary nor was she was holding the REAL Baby Jesus...his name is Kevin and you are still Mila. Let's not get our theology all tied up in knots). 

Each year the directors seek out families who would like to participate and develop the pageant around those special passions.  Nonverbal but loves to rock out on a paw patrol guitar?  Excellent. Solo to Oh Come All Ye Faithful.   Cerebral Palsy and in a wheelchair?  Awesome. We'll design camels around your chair so you can be a wiseman.  On the autism spectrum, gets overwhelmed easily but has a stellar memory. Super. Here are some noise canceling headphones and a key scripture to recite to the audience.  Sign language? Perfect. Lead a hearing group in signing Silent Night.  Every person, skill and passion is stamped valuable in this most beautiful of pageants. 

Mary being told of the coming King, followed by 'Mary Did You Know'. This was the only song she knew from Albania and gets SO excited to hear it, but then they sang it to HER! She sang right along and thankfully I got video to send to the Sisters back 'home'.

Baby Jesus was a BEAUTIFUL 7 month old rocking an extra chromosome. "Joseph"'s mother sat next to me and we awwwed "Look, a perfect down syndrome family!"   My girl was clearly smitten <3 

Then it was my shepherd boy's turn:

He was supposed to go and bow to the newborn king, but since Joseph was performing a banjo solo, Isaac checked in on the baby <3

I'm so proud of my kiddos and I am so very thankful for those tender-hearted servants who are quietly seeking out the ones in the margins and clearing the way for them to the throne of God.  I started to cry as I was telling my friend about it all..."I can just see Jesus sitting in the front row, elbowing God the Father in the ribs: 'look Dad, look!  It's Mila & Isaac!  It's their turn to worship me!  Oh my goodness, they are singing...just listen to how beautiful that is. It's a perfect birthday present".  THAT, is what Christmas is all about. <3