Critter Barn

Waiting for the live nativity to start.

One happy boy.

In Awe!  Love how her face.

Baby in a manger.

Charley, Lewis, Payton, Adi, Tyler & Grant. (Travis was there too but he didn't want his picture taken. :)

Christmas Celebrations 2012

I don't need a lot of words to describe Christmas at our house. It is our favorite time of year. We get to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and get to bask in the joy and hope that comes with it. 

There of course are parties and gifts which are fun as well. I love seeing and hearing the excitement of our kids as they await Santa coming and as they hold a wrapped gift waiting for me to take their picture so they can ripe it open and find out what is inside. P is very into it as she is four. C was into it this year too which was fun. 

I will stop the rant and let the pictures tell the rest.

Before B's work party.

New jammies for Christmas Eve. Ready to snuggle and watch a movie.

Christmas morning.

New Hallmark ornament.

I think he liked it.

So excited about his new garbage truck!

P and Auntie J.

G with GG

Me & my girl. I got a special pair of earrings she picked out. She did a really good job.

Art box from Mimi

Mr. Big Shot in his new chair.

New dinosaur from Auntie J.

Big Wheels = Big time!

Family pic

My parents and the grandkids. Up 3 from last year. :)

Sleepy.

Chirstmas Lights & Visiting Santa

A few of the highlights of the week before Christmas were our traditional drive around town to see the Christmas lights. We got the kids all in their jammies, made some hot chocolate, packed some marshmallows and the buddies and blankies and drove around to a few different neighborhoods to see all the Christmas lights. It is one of my favorite traditions and I know it's one of the kids.
Another tradition is of course going to see Santa. P was excited but said to me, 'Mommy, I'm a little nervous of Santa. I don't remember him'. I reassured her he was a nice guy and all was well. She was able to tell him she wanted a pink haired dolly (Barbie doll that is). Grant had no problem sitting on his lap or course. Charley on the other hand was so excited about going and said he was going to sit on his lap and be brave, which Daddy & I were skeptical of, but when he got up there he freaked and refused to go sit by him. Maybe next year. :) Although he did tell him what he wanted from a far...a truck. 

Christmas Choir

P was able to sing in the church Christmas choir this year. She loves to sing and it was so adorable watching her up in front of church singing those sweet Christmas carols and doing motions right along with it. 

She does makes my heart smile.

Alisa's Baby Shower

 A few weeks ago I had the honor to co-host a baby shower in honor of my dear friend Alisa and her baby boy. I am so excited for her as she journeys into motherhood and can't wait to meet her little man.

11 Months

So VERY late on this post but better late than never. 

Sweet Boy - 

Almost a year. (Smile & tear...as always. :)

Sleep - Morning nap at 10:00 to around 11:30, afternoon nap at 1:30 to 3:30 then to bed by 7:30 or 8. There are nights you still want your bottle at 6 am but you are still teething. You now have 6 teeth and working on more.

 Eating - Baby food is out...thank goodness (I am not a baby food phase person, I find it annoying). You are not disappointed either. You love big boy food so you get what we get. For breakfast you mainly have smoky links, fruit, pancakes/waffles or cereal without milk. Lunch is whatever P & C have and dinner is what we have as a family for the most part. When we have red meat I do give you chicken of some sort or another meat. We started you on whole cow's milk and you really like that as well. You drink it out of both a sippy cup and a bottle. We are going to start eliminating bottles next month...tear...but for now you are still getting 3 bottles a day (before morning nap, before afternoon nap and before bedtime. I know, I know it's a lot for being 11 months but you're my baby. :) 

Diaper Size -4's.

Clothes  -There are a few 9 month outfits that you can still fit into right now but mainly it's all 12 months. Because the 12 month pj's we have are almost all summer I broke out the 18 month jams. They work but are big.

Activities - You are a master crawler. I said a few months ago I thought you would be walking by the time I wrote this but that is not the case and that is ok. You will walk when you are ready. For now crawling makes you a little more 'baby' in my book. :)
Love you much Little Dude.
Always, Mommy

It is hard to to get you to sit still these days.

 (So many tears...)

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA