4th of July Celebration

(scroll down and pause music before viewing)

Here's someone in our home that's definitely excited about his freedom.

Top 9 Reasons I Loved Christmas

9.  Madeline dressed Gabriel for our Christmas Eve festivities. 

(the fact that I have a child old enough to dress another child goes on my Top 9 Reasons I Love My Life)
8. ......and stole a kiss in the process.
7.  Gabriel and I took a carousel ride together at the zoo lights.

(I never tire of watching him say "cheeeeeese!")
6.  Baking and consuming so many you'd think I was eating for 12 Christmas cookies.

Lauren enjoyed every morsel. 
5.  Watching Ron open Madeline's gift.  A quilt of their soccer jerseys of which each stitch was lovingly hand-sewn.
4.  Madeline unveiled that she and Abby had added a handmade stocking for bambino.
3.  Switching up tradition and opening stockings on Christmas Eve after church.
2.  Opening bambino's outfit.  

(this outfit was first unwrapped during Christmas 2000 when our dear friends, Liz and Charlie shipped it to us from the West coast.  We were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first miracle.)  

All five of our miracles will wear it.

1.  Our Savior

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'"- Luke 2:1-14

A Christmas Poem

Madeline wrote a poem in her journal today that made my day even brighter.

(I've lovingly corrected the spelling errors for her ;)

Christmas is coming

Presents are wrapped

Snow is coming

Season galore!

Cold breath

Bundled up

Snow everywhere

I love Christmas

I'm definitely in the Christmas spirit.

(and the presents are definitely not wrapped!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

(craft compliments of Madeline)

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever."  

Psalm 107:1

Christmas Town!

Our fun decorating memories included Gabriel smashing 2 (very old and sentimental) ornaments together like cymbals.  We had a good laugh as there will be many more to replace them.

I managed to capture this photo of Ron putting up the garland and lights. 

(notice Gabe begging/crying, "Up! Up!")