Anna Came to Visit

My Attempt at a Christmas Card Picture

On the way to Christmas Eve service with Trinity Fellowship Church

We ate take-out Chinese food afterward. I think this might become a new tradition; I loved it! Unique, memorable and tasty (and I didn't have cook after a 5:30 p.m. service).

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day at our home, just the four of us.

Delving into the stocking.

Our kind neighbor gave this to us. It's sort of a music box with a train the goes around in the middle. Both the boys love it. Micah plays it and dances to the music. I might put it away except it occupies the boys so well!

With one of his gifts: Finn McMissle from Cars 2 that transforms into a spy car, submarine or hydrofoil.

Our children's nativity at the end of the season. Josiah was really into setting it up in different ways when we first brought it out. My favorite set-up he did was baby Jesus in the middle with everyone else with their backs toward us, facing Jesus. As it should be.

One of Micah's favorites: a Little People fire engine. He loves the boat he has in the bathtub that's similar. He's really good at stacking the blocks and sticking them in the holes. Blocks and puzzles are two things I perceive him doing better than Josiah at this age.

Micah wanted to go outside barefoot in his pajamas in the cold. And here he is regretting his decision. Aren't we awesome parents?

Our Christmas feast: homemade chicken fingers, mac & cheese, sweet potatoes, homemade honey mustard. Since it was just the four of us, why would I bust out a ham or turkey? My family was much happier with this meal, and I rarely do homemade chicken fingers because they're time-intensive.

And we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus with apple crisp. Because I was tired of throwing away 3/4 of a cake each year. I think Jesus would be pleased with apple crisp (and so was the rest of the family).

We started a new tradition this year, a Jesse tree. Each ornament has a symbol of an Old Testament foreshadowing of Christ. Josiah really got into it. Some of the stories were easier to connect than others. What I learned from this was that Josiah can handle long readings directly from the Bible, as opposed to storybook Bibles. I think we'll have to start incorporating more direct readings this year. I don't know if absorbed as much, but he seemed to listen intently.

More Christmas in Atlanta

Being silly with Aunt Rachel

Too much Christmas fun=tuckered little boy

Tuckered out boy #2

Gabriella and Deana came for a visit and gave Josiah and Micah these cute critter hats. My favorite moment was when Josiah came up to Gabriella as she was leaving and said "Feliz Navidad" and scampered away bashfully. We'd heard the song on the radio, and I told him if he met someone who spoke Spanish he could say that to them. I prompted him, but it was still really cute.

Loves dogs. Allergic to dogs.

Loves yogurt. Wears yogurt.

Wind chimes

Wagon ride with Pa and Sandy

My favorite memory of our time there was at dinner on Thursday night. Ryan, Susan and Davis came over, and it was time to say the blessing. Josiah requested to sing his preschool blessing, as usual (it's the Johnny Appleseed song). We said he could after Nana said the blessing. Nana started, "Dear Lord..." and got choked up and paused for a while trying to continue. After about 10 seconds, Josiah bursts into " "Oh the Lord's been good to me, and so I thank the Lord..." It's really what Mom wanted to say anyway, right?

Cutie Abigail

Just before Christmas we got to spend a few day in Atlanta with Mom and Dad, Parker and Rachel, and of course - Abigail!

I wooed her with my funky glasses.

Josiah giving Abigail a kiss.

With her pretty Mama.

I think her Dad is pretty great too.

Baking with Nana

Josiah asked to "help" Nana with what she was baking. Read: I see something delicious that I want to lick while I help you cook. Micah wanted in on the action too.

They were making "chocolate stuff" that my Grandma Louise used to make.

At David and Amy's

The week before Christmas, we visited with the Moseleys and exchanged some gifts. It's always such a crazy time with four boys that I forget to document the situation. Josiah is playing his Cootie bugs game with Daddy. His preschool teachers commented on how much he loves Cootie bugs, but he'd never played it as a real game before.

This is a bathtub basketball set I got for Jacob (though Micah received one too later). Both of the little boys love balls. Sammy is holding the net for them; David and Amy were babysitting him over the weekend, and he was so sweet. Josiah asked if he would be there the next time we saw them!

How to be a Great Mom, Part 1

Back to Bethlehem

We went back to Bethlehem this year for the live nativity, this time with Daddy and the Morgans.

Josiah was really excited and remembered a lot from last year.

Josiah told the ladies he wanted to dress up like a shepherd.

Micah had a complete breakdown at costume time. First we sat him down away from mom. Then strangers tried to dress him funny and put a hat on him. Then Daddy came up wearing a really funny hat, and it scared the poor little guy something frightful.

Happy shepherds

"Get this ridiculous thing off your head, Mom!"

The Morgan family, bundled up and ready to go!

King Herod

The Bethlehem town blacksmith

Getting treats from the marketplace. They had fruit, bread, doughnuts, and leather bracelets. One man was weaving baskets and showed Josiah the chickens. Josiah claimed, "I don't like chicken." The man protested, "I bet you gobble down chicken nuggets all the time. Where do you think they come from?" Josiah said, "What? They come from Chick-fil-A!"

Overall we had a great experience again (except I got the time wrong!). I love the effort this community puts into this event.