Christmas Eve

And before we knew it, Christmas Eve was upon us.

His look pretty much says it all.

My sweet boy.

My sweet girl.

Okay, the others are sweet too, but this boy wanted to get this show on the road.  (We let them open their stockings on Christmas Eve).

Discovering the joy of red envelopes.  Especially when they're from Ah-ma.

Daddy was in charge of stockings.  Looks like he didn't disappoint.

M, A, and J each got a minion.

"IT'S SO FLUFFY I COULD DIIIIIIIIIE!!!"  (She got the fluffy unicorn in case you couldn't tell).

Then we tucked the little critters into bed and because Ah-ma and Uncle Richard were staying with us over Christmas, Phil and I slipped out afterward to attend the Christmas Eve service at church.  This was the very first year we've been able to go since it's held at 11 pm.  Such a blessing to be able to step away from the busyness, to refocus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas, to dwell on Emanuel God With Us, and in the quiet be so thankful for this precious baby who was born to die so that we could have eternal life with Him.  My cup overflows.  Thank you, Jesus.

The Class Parties

And then it was the last day of school before winter break.  Thankfully, Phil's vacation had started that day, so he was able to come see the kids do their class parties, too.

Lauren's class was our first stop.

Then we dropped by Mikey's class as just as they were doing their gift book exchange.  Careful deliberation...

Before settling on the chevron striped one.

And then we popped over to Allie's class just as they were finishing cookie decorating.

Little brother looooves visiting the kids' classrooms.  Why?  Because he only comes to visit on class party days so he thinks this is what they do every day they're at school.  I foresee a bit of a letdown in his future...

Plus he gets all the extra leftover goodies.

Getting ready for their gift book exchange.  (I had run back over to Mikey's class to see him again, but they were watching Charlie Brown's Christmas and he was fine with me leaving again when I asked him).

They played a fun little game first where they had to pass their gift to the left every time the teacher said "Santa" as she read aloud.

Meanwhile, Phil had gone over to see the rest of Lauren's party and bring her and her cute lil reindeer over once her party was done.

From her class book exchange.

She got what ended up being the most wanted book in her class.  Her classmates kept asking her if she wanted to trade but she held on tight to that one.

Oddly enough?  My usually-always-into-crafts-and-making-things girl is not at all interested in making rainbow loom bracelets.  Odder still?  Mikey totally is.  Go figure.  Cuz this one's got me stumped.


And then, VACATION WAS UPON US!  WOO HOO!!!

The Mustang

So after driving our Forester for twelve years, the husband went and got himself a shiny new car last month.  We're hanging on to the Forester for the time being- that faithful old car has been with us since very nearly the beginning of our married life together and has seen us through quite a lot.

Most notably, the birth of each of our kids.

All four were born in different hospitals, delivered by different doctors, in two different states, and went home in different infant car seats.  The only thing that's been the same (aside from having the same mom and dad, not a small thing in itself I suppose) has been the little gray Forester that Phil and I would get into on our way to the hospital and that brought each new little one home.

So no, we haven't said goodbye to it just yet.

But we did say hello to a new car in the driveway.

For as hard and as faithfully as this dear man has worked to provide for our family, I'm just really happy he's now able to do something nice for himself.  That I get to tool around town in the seat next to him is the icing on the cake.

As for the kids?

They each think Daddy's new ride is pretty cool. (Daddy took her to dance class in his new ride).

Especially when the top's down.

So when he says, "hey, wanna go for a ride?"

The answer is pretty much always yes.  Especially when there are built-in babysitters (Phil's mom and brother who stayed with us over Christmas) at the house.

We slipped out for a bit on Christmas day just us two.  Plus the Mustang.

Oh and he had ten days of vacation which always brings that smile back.

Cannot ever get the goofy outta this guy.

As close to normal as I'm gonna get.

Thinking deep thoughts.

Or maybe just wondering when I'll be done so he can jump back in to that car.

Happy for you, honey.  Love you.

The Ballet Performance

Ahh.  So behind.  But now looking back on all the December pics, I remember why I'm so behind.  It was a crazy month.  Full of fun.  Busy.  Thankful for a slower pace now.

So Allie's taken a ballet class this fall.

Here's our girl.  And yes, that would be another little ballerina climbing the pole behind her.  This is a very serious ballet class, in case you couldn't tell.

And here's our girl with the reindeer antlers I had no idea she was supposed to have.  Thankfully another mom had an extra pair.  (What mom has extra pairs of antlers on her??  Not me, that's for sure.)  I depend on the kindness of other moms, is all I have to say about that.  (And why yes, that would be the ballet teacher's son perched atop that punching bag looking thing behind her.)

Comparing antlers.

She loved her antlers.  Or maybe was so relieved to have antlers on her head, rather than be the only one antler-less.  In any case, she didn't mind a bit that they were brown.

Allie's enthralled audience.

One more rehearsal.

With her game face on.

Dancing to the Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick".

The Christmas Recital

Then it was time for the kids' second piano recital.

He played "Joy to the World".

His look of sheer relief.

She played "Holly Jolly Christmas".  She worked really, really hard to learn this song and pulled through in the eleventh hour.

This is how we make it through long periods of having to sit quietly.

Group shot.

So, so proud of her.  Of them both.

Daddy slipped out and bought her flowers.  Because that's what her daddy does.

And because Mikey wasn't really into getting flowers, this little sister got flowers too.

Thanks, Uncle Tim for teaching piano to these two.  And more importantly, for teaching these two about God's love through His gift of music.  So thankful for you!