Sunday, December 26, 2010

Happy Yuletide!

Here are the kiddos on Christmas eve, just after we got home from mass, and just before we ate dinner and put them to bed. Needless to say, we snapped about one of these happy pics



for every five of these fussy pics.




We didn't travel this year, the first time since we've been married, which was a huge load off. Thanks to family who came to us and made the holiday much less stressful and much more enjoyable! It really was a fabulous Christmas, pink tutus and all.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Smile at Christmas!

Christmas decorating at our house is late and slow this year. We've been busy raising little ones and going out of town so the decorating has taken a back seat until the past few days. We started the process on Saturday by picking out a tree with the kids and setting it up. On Saturday night Kevin and I (mostly Kevin) put up stockings, holly boughs, nativity scenes and the like.

While I totally dropped the ball on the advent wreath, I muddled my way through making a Jesse Tree, which Monica understood and enjoyed more than I thought she would. Each ornament is a piece of salvation history and Scripture from creation to the birth of Christ. There are many different sequences and I'll probably tweek some of the ornaments for next year. But for a first try, it has been great!




I think the best part of the Advent season is watching Monica really experience the Advent season - snow, decorations, advent traditions and carols. A few mornings ago she walked out of her room and saw the tree all lit up and exclaimed, "Monica smile! Monica smile at Christmas!"

I hope you all have the chance to "smile at Christmas" and bask in the wonder of God's coming to earth as a babe.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Jimbo


Quite possibly the cutest baby eva.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Why do two year olds...

Finger paint with their food?

Spoon yogurt onto their eyelids?

Wipe their noses on furniture, clothing, and babies?

Get off the potty just to poo on the floor?


These are the mysteries of toddler-dom.