Home again

After another trip to see more family, we are safely home and ready to start back into our routine again! I must say I've enjoyed the week break from schooling :) I feel refreshed and ready to begin with the kids again.

Baby is getting really active! Lots of visable kicks and squirms. I have another ultrasound next visit...yay! 15 weeks to go still seems like such a long way off (especially since I'm already feeling so tired and out of breath!!)

We've also got a birthday this week....9 years old for our girl. So hard to believe that she is blossoming into such a young lady!

Well, I think it will be off to bed early tonight....need to catch up on some naps I missed over the holdiays :)

Update

We have been enjoying our holidays so far!! It was great seeing family and spending time with cousins and grandparents. We even got to see some snow. Today I'm off for my glucose test and a checkup for baby. She has been quite active lately which has been fun!! The kids love feeling her squirm around in there :) Hope everyone has a very blessed new year!

Christmas photo

I don't know why I attempt this alone! I should learn from year's past to wait for hubby to get home to help me take our Christmas photo of the kids!! But anyway, last week I lined them up and between our 2 yr old wanting to do some rather elaborate posing, our 6 year old squinting, our 4 year old not liking to smile for pictures....well, I think we will have to try again when daddy is around to help :) Here is one good shot I got though.

Quick update

Not much new going on around here. We did get the Christmas tree up. Our little miss has already been into the tree and broke one non-glass ornament. Our 4 yr old is not happy that his zebra now only has one leg!!
The kids were also able to feel baby sister move last night for the first time. I love how their eyes got so big when a kick was felt.
I've also been enjoying cooking and baking. I have made homemade chicken noodle soup twice now and it was delicious!!! I think we'll be making more banana bread today :)
I've done a little Christmas shopping online....I love that I don't need to be at the malls, just wait for the package to arrive at the door!
Here's a pic of the kids after they finished decorating the tree.....

Some pics

Here are just a few pics from our weekend down south. I should have gotten my camera out alot more but kept forgetting about it :) We visited one set of great grandparents on Thursday and the other great grandparents on Saturday. Here are some pics from Saturday......

Wait for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





feeding the ducks........

this is what happens when you get TOO close to feeding the ducks....mud!!


father-daughter moment


kids with great grandparents

this one is for Nana and Grandpa....she finally likes it!!

Happy 88th!

A very special Happy Birthday to my Grandpa N. Wish we were there to help you celebrate. Continuing to pray for you and thinking of you often! Love you :)
Grandpa with his great granddaughter

Birthday boy

Our boy is 6 today!! I know the saying gets old but "it goes by so fast!!!!" He is turning into quite the young gentleman. He loves to be helpful, hold doors open for the ladies, will go up and shake hands of the gentlemen, has the sweetest smile....I pray God will use him mightily as he grows up! Happy Birthday my son. You are such a blessing to us. I love you.

Birthday photos

Here is our early morning birthday photos.
Happy 8th birthday sweetheart!!

camel charm for her charm bracelet...

getting her magnetic dolls and house....

Flower basket cake without the handle yet....

WHITE Christmas!

So hubby says this is his first white Christmas here in the south! How exciting for him and the kids (this Northerner has had her fill of snow!!) Here are some pictures of this evening and some from our afternoon Christmas get together.

Christmas

We read the Christmas story....

We sing to Jesus (we are looking a little tired!)

We open presents....

Merry Christmas

Here's our cake for tomorrow!! It is made of all buttercream and the pine cones are chocolate fondant (they taste like tootsie rolls!!) I had alot of fun with this cake :)
Can't wait to celebrate tomorrow........looking forward to a great day.
Thank you Father for sending us your son.
Merry Christmas everyone!!

Christmas Eve

Today we started off the day making a nativity scene out of cut outs. The kids enjoyed that and played with the figures for awhile afterwards! It will be used tomorrow as we read the Christmas story.
Traditions around our home during the Christmas holidays continue to grow. This year the kids really wanted to have a birthday cake for Jesus....so today we are busy baking a cake and I always get excited about decorating!! Just a hint for you....I made edible pine cones!!! I LOVE them :) We'll post the picture when it is finished.
Christmas Eve we let the kids open one small present in the evening. This year the 2 older kids used their own money to buy each other a gift (the 2 younger ones are swapping gifts too). They are soooo excited to give each other what they have chosen for them.
Christmas morning we read the Christmas story, sing 'Happy Birthday to Jesus' (from the CD Peanut Butter Christmas by Ron Hamilton), they open their stockings and then their presents. We will be enjoying the afternoon with family for dinner. I don't think there will be a white Christmas here this year....the kids will just have to keep praying for some snow :)