enjoying the sunshine!

snow flake

It's freezing outside but the kids are enjoying the snow. Caught this snowflake on film before it melted in the sunshine. I love the zoom on my new camera!

Year end summary

Well I didn't quite finish the DPP. It was a busy season. So here are a few pics to sum up the rest.

Christmas day:

 

 All the fam:

 

 Just the siblings with Mom and Dad:

 

Ansley's 5th birthday and the traditional pancake in the shape of their age (in case you were wondering what that was on her plate):

 

 Celebrating the New Year with the cousins:

Day 20

Such fun times at Silver Dollar City. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful!

Day 19

Beautiful sunset behind our cabin!

Day 18

On our way to Branson with Mimi and Papa!

Day 17

Chicken in the snow...not something you see everyday.

Day 16

Beautiful winter sunset...

Day 15

Christmas card preview. Jude took this one.

Day 14

More snow...about 3 inches this time.

Day 13

Chocolate Haupia Pie for small group tonight!

Day 12

Do you ever get a library book for your kids and find it way more funny than they do? My kids kept asking "why are you laughing?" Then once I explained it they still didn't know why it was funny. A couple of them gave me a courtesy laugh. I'm pretty sure this book was written with my hubby in mind because the humor is dry as can be...and my children give him the same blank stare like they did when I was reading it to them.

Day 11

The cone of shame.

Day 10

There is no room at the inn...or the stable. Lainey turned it into a parking lot.

Day 9

Advent tree with our devotional book and homemade ornaments.

Day 8

Christmas performance at church...

 Jude - Wise Man/Joseph of Egypt

Ethan - Joseph

Day 7

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Day 6

Happy St. Nicholas Day! This is the only celebrating time he gets in our house...on Dec. 6th (apparently celebrating this day originated in Europe). He was a generous man and for that we want to be reminded to be generous as well...with our time, friendship, gifts, and other ways of thinking and taking care of others. But he did not invent generosity, so therefore our Christmas season is not about him (or the fictional character based on his life) but the one who was the most generous of all...the greatest gift we could/will ever receive!

Children, in some European counties, would set their shoes out the night before St. Nicholas Day and in the morning it would be filled with coins and other small treats. So my kids put their shoes out and woke up to chocolate gold coins filling their shoes.