Merry Christmas

Last night we celebrated Christmas with Jeremy's family.

It was a nice time shared together.

It seems like each Christmas there is a little bit more to celebrate with each other.

One year it was praying for Gail and her fight with breast cancer.

Then it was rejoicing at the birth of Emma.

And this year it was celebrating the fact that Dewayne's skin cancer was found and was able to be removed.

Please pray for him as he is facing another reconstruction surgery here in the new year.

Each year spent with loved ones is something to celebrate. For you never know what a year may bring.

We will be spending the rest of today with my family.

I hope you have a blessed Christmas.

(I couldn't decide which picture to use. I liked both of them....I think that by this last picture, Emma was done and ready for a nap.)

Christmas Eve Eve

Today we went to my parents church. Everyone but Joanna came. She went to her church this morning.

It is always nice to find any excuse to get together.

I think we have the next Mozart in the family.

After church we went to Janelle's for lunch.

We wanted to get some pictures with all the cousins.

They of course hated the idea, but....well.....we won. ;)

9 Grand kids.

9 cousins.

Grandma and Grandpa with the grand kids.

I LOL'D when I saw Elisa's face in this picture.

Then we thought why let the fun stop with the grandkids??

There might have been some who hated the idea.

But well..... I won. ;)

And I am so glad that I did.

I love each and every one of my siblings so very much.

 

This is a picture of the best Aunt known to mankind. She loves all her nieces and nephews. She spends time with them. She goes out of her way to make them feel welcome. She encourages them. She prays for them. She loves them.

 

They are so very very lucky.

 

 

instagram

I am addicted to instagram.

Love it love it Love it.

1. "Emma" made this during nursery time at my Tuesday Morning Bible Study. I LoVe it!! Perfect gift for this Mommy.

2. Mandy stopped by this week with a gift for Emma. Perfect little gift. I LOVE handmade things. Thanks so much Mandy!

3. Now Emma matches the rest of us. And if you notice.....we don't have another peg on the shelf. Guess that means we can't have anymore kids!

4. Joanna and I went shopping last weekend.

we had fun

5. We brought up 2 boxes of toys that I had kept from the older kids. Christmas came early for Emma.

and I'm thinking....what are we gonna do with all these toys.

Our living room looks like a daycare.

 We had our annual shopping trip a couple weeks ago. Jessica was sick and couldn't make it. I was so sad! :( I was looking forward to all the girls being together.

6. Janelle asked us if she had anything in her teeth after lunch.

Nope

7. After probably the 4th time in Bergners, Janelle and I were revolting.

8. This was the 1st time our daughters could come along.

They loved it.

(we did miss Michaela as well who was with her Dad that weekend.)

9. Mom found a new coat.

10. I found new gloves.

11. After probably the 8th time in Bergners. We finally just found a bed.

12. Joy and Mom getting warmed up for their long day of walking around.

13. Finally.....dinner.

Olive Garden.

Yum.

Need I say more?

Of friends and Luminaries

 Look who came to visit his favorite Aunt Julie???

 Jon and Mel are in town for Christmas.

How I love it when they are home.

Jonas needed a special hug from Daddy. ;)

I think Jonas was a little apprehensive of all these crazy people at first.

 

Little Madelyn.

 

What a cutie!!

 

Look at those eyes!

 

The girls are paying a little more attention to each other now.

And the Mommy's have decided that all they need for Christmas are bags and boxes. No toys.

Hear that Grandma?? ;)

 We tried to get a group picture.....but well our photographer wasn't quite cooperating with us.

Thanks Maddie.

I love my babies.

 Maddie was having fun with the sled tonight.

Tonight was our first luminary night in the neighborhood. It's something I have wanted to do for years. I am glad we took the time to do it this year. I am even more thankful for good neighbors to do it with.

Maybe next year we can get the rest of the neighbors into it. It's such a great opportunity to meet the neighbors.

 

 

 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas Season.

It seems a little less hectic this year then past years. I am so thankful for that.

 

A night for cookies

I have wanted....for a while to make cookies with the kids. But we'll....with life happening, well it's been hard to find the time.

Finally I decided that I would just have to make the time.

I had to shut my eyes to the dishes in the sink, the laundry that needed to be folded, and the house that needed to be picked up. I don't know about you....but I like to cook and bake in relative cleanliness.

Anyway.... I am glad that I made the time and if you read my Facebook status....well.... I didn't even fall asleep in the cookie dough. Bonus!!! ;)

This is what baby girl decided to do while we were making cookies. I wonder if she will pull an Uncle Jeff and open up all the presents??

Anyway.... Take some time this year to spend with the ones you love. Make memories.

Happy December

Maddie had her "Holiday Concert" the other night.

The band did a good job. Maddie is one of the only 6th graders in the advanced band. I am pretty proud of her.

Maddie's new friend Madison. :)

Maddie's teachers all told me how much these 2 have in common. They are becoming fast friends.

Guess who is throwing tantrum's these days??

This one was because I wouldn't let her play with my nativity. Poor baby.

Jeremy put her in this chair the other night and Emma girl thought she was big stuff.

She sat their forever, just talking to everyone.

So cute.

Look at those eyes!!

She likes to play in my makeup when I am trying to get ready in the morning.

We have just come out of a rough week. I started out last week with the flu. And then Emma got it. And then Nathan got it. Not fun!

I think Emma is now fighting a cold.

Hopefully it won't last long.