 |
 |
 |
Christmas Eve, we watch The
Nativity together as a family. I
usually get a box of
chocolates, but almost didn't
this year. I am glad I went
ahead and got it because the
big ones really loved it.
Nativity together as a family. I
usually get a box of
chocolates, but almost didn't
this year. I am glad I went
ahead and got it because the
big ones really loved it.
Seven stockings all around the tree. I made all their
stockings, and have had to add one each year lately!
Isaac's was the new one this year, as this was his very
first Christmas. He caught on quickly though! His
stocking has "Jinglebell men" on it, as he calls them.
stockings, and have had to add one each year lately!
Isaac's was the new one this year, as this was his very
first Christmas. He caught on quickly though! His
stocking has "Jinglebell men" on it, as he calls them.
Before the little ones went to
bed, they all had a group hug,
with lots of kisses from their
big siblings. Lots of love...
this is what it's all about...
bed, they all had a group hug,
with lots of kisses from their
big siblings. Lots of love...
this is what it's all about...
Christmas morning. All the stockings
are filled, when I had worried they
wouldn't be, thanks to so many. We
are so blessed....
are filled, when I had worried they
wouldn't be, thanks to so many. We
are so blessed....
Eden LOVES her
talking Elmo!
(Thanks Shelli!)
talking Elmo!
(Thanks Shelli!)
The one thing Hannah wanted for
Christmas was nunchuks. Okay, so
she's not the "typical" 18 year old girl...
what can I say? Just look at that smile!
Christmas was nunchuks. Okay, so
she's not the "typical" 18 year old girl...
what can I say? Just look at that smile!
She also got underwear,
and looks pretty happy
about that too, actually...
and looks pretty happy
about that too, actually...
Look at those happy faces...
it's worth it all...
it's worth it all...
Jordan KNITTED
me a scarf!! I
didn't even know
she knew how!!
(These are also
the monkey footie
jammies she got
me for my
birthday.)
me a scarf!! I
didn't even know
she knew how!!
(These are also
the monkey footie
jammies she got
me for my
birthday.)
Hannah painted this picture of Peapod
for Jordan. It is really awesome. (I'll
get better picture of it later.) It is
based on one of our favorite books
"Cats Know Best" with gorgeous
illustrations in it. The painting looks
exactly like Peapod and is so beautiful.
for Jordan. It is really awesome. (I'll
get better picture of it later.) It is
based on one of our favorite books
"Cats Know Best" with gorgeous
illustrations in it. The painting looks
exactly like Peapod and is so beautiful.
Hannah
watching
Jordan open
her gift.
watching
Jordan open
her gift.
My handsome
boy again...
boy again...
Art wearing the Georgia
hat that Canaan got him,
and looking at the Dunkin
Donuts gift cards Jordan
got him... all before his
contacts were put in (he is
blind without his contacts.)
hat that Canaan got him,
and looking at the Dunkin
Donuts gift cards Jordan
got him... all before his
contacts were put in (he is
blind without his contacts.)
Maggie playing with
the new computer art
game that our good
friend Carol sent us...
she LOVES it! Thanks
Carol!!
the new computer art
game that our good
friend Carol sent us...
she LOVES it! Thanks
Carol!!
On the way to
Granny's
house the day
after Christmas.
Granny's
house the day
after Christmas.
Sleeping babies at
Granny's house.
Granny's house.
This was so funny. We came upon
Eden singing her little heart out into
the handle of Pop's oxygen tank
carrier like it was a microphone.
Eden singing her little heart out into
the handle of Pop's oxygen tank
carrier like it was a microphone.
Canaan with his twin cousins. Don't
they all look alike?
they all look alike?
Maggie and Si with one
of the twins and
Trouble the dog.
of the twins and
Trouble the dog.
| Here, Hannah is showing Maggie how to play some games on her DS. |
Ah, how wonderful for family to get together
and sit beside each other on the couch
playing games on their own laptops.
and sit beside each other on the couch
playing games on their own laptops.
All snug in new
jammies from Granny.
jammies from Granny.
The Advent Calendars. This year I made each
of the little kids their own Christmas tree, and
each day they would add an ornament to their
tree. I had looked for mini ornaments, but
couldn't find anything I liked that was cheap
enough, so I made them all, and it was a big hit.
of the little kids their own Christmas tree, and
each day they would add an ornament to their
tree. I had looked for mini ornaments, but
couldn't find anything I liked that was cheap
enough, so I made them all, and it was a big hit.
The weather has been beautiful. Here Daddy is blowing big
bubbles, and the kids are shooting them with the rubber band guns
that he made for them. (There are some benefits for being
unemployed, especially when you are little, and Daddy is around to
play with all the time...)
bubbles, and the kids are shooting them with the rubber band guns
that he made for them. (There are some benefits for being
unemployed, especially when you are little, and Daddy is around to
play with all the time...)
Then Daddy made some really cool
paper airplanes and helicopters, and
we spent a long time outside sailing
them in the sky and running after
them. It was the funnest day...
paper airplanes and helicopters, and
we spent a long time outside sailing
them in the sky and running after
them. It was the funnest day...
Gosh, I love
this little
boy...
this little
boy...
Oh my sweet goodness! Have
you ever seen such a gorgeous
child? Maggie is breathless and
laughing and rosy cheeked. She
is just so lovely.
you ever seen such a gorgeous
child? Maggie is breathless and
laughing and rosy cheeked. She
is just so lovely.
Update 12-31-08
It is a beautiful, chilly day, as we near the end of 2008. There are so many reflections I could make upon the year. But for
now, we simply pray that each of you may look back upon the year with few regrets and much thanks, and look forward to
the new year with joy and anticipation for all God is going to do in our lives. May God bring peace in our relationships, in our
families, neighborhoods, churches and nations. May we all truly search for what is true and right and good, and find what
we are called to do, even if it is hard.
The pictures above show some of the fun from an afternoon in our backyard yesterday. I get overwhelmed when I see these
healthy, happy, beautiful faces. Seeing any child breathless with fun and rosy-cheeked is a true delight, but knowing these
children's stories makes it all the more remarkable. You can see more pictures from the day, and from our Christmas, on
the Christmas 2008 page.
Happy New Year to all!!
It is a beautiful, chilly day, as we near the end of 2008. There are so many reflections I could make upon the year. But for
now, we simply pray that each of you may look back upon the year with few regrets and much thanks, and look forward to
the new year with joy and anticipation for all God is going to do in our lives. May God bring peace in our relationships, in our
families, neighborhoods, churches and nations. May we all truly search for what is true and right and good, and find what
we are called to do, even if it is hard.
The pictures above show some of the fun from an afternoon in our backyard yesterday. I get overwhelmed when I see these
healthy, happy, beautiful faces. Seeing any child breathless with fun and rosy-cheeked is a true delight, but knowing these
children's stories makes it all the more remarkable. You can see more pictures from the day, and from our Christmas, on
the Christmas 2008 page.
Happy New Year to all!!
| Welcome New Year He rises and heads towards the door As many times he's done before He pauses to set down his cup While each head in the room looks up Some gasp and fly across the room And plead, "Why must you part so soon? You leave with things we've held so dear, Loved ones, and health, and youth and cheer." Others gladly push him out "Good riddance!" Off with you!" they shout. Out with the old, on to the new; So much to earn and learn and do. A few of us but calmly stand Reach out and firmly clasp his hand. "You've brought me grief and struggles, tears, Brought me to my knees with fears, "Yet through it all have taught me much Of faith and mercy, strength and love, What truly counts, who truly cares, That wheat can grow amidst the tares. "You take with you, I must resign, Nothing that was really mine. In turn I've found, with gratitude, Joy is not to be pursued, "But when we forfeit our demands Slips gently by, and takes our hand, And opens up our eyes to see There's so much more to life than me." We nod our heads, the door pulls to. A silence settles cross the room. And then a knock, the door swings wide A new foot cross the threshold strides. We greet him each in our own way, Some greedily, some with disdain. I smile and murmur, as he draws near "Stranger, you are welcome here...." -- Alynn Baker, New Year's Eve, 2008 |
Silas's gift this Christmas
was a Lego set with rescue
vehicles. Here he and
Daddy are putting it
together.
was a Lego set with rescue
vehicles. Here he and
Daddy are putting it
together.
| You're too little for Legos Isaac, but you can watch. |