Decemeber Photo Dump

Our Christmas tree almost delivery service from previous years moved to Farmville this summer, so we were on our own to hunt down another 7 ft frazier fir....b/c nothing else will do!  I will admit that I'm a Christmas Tree snob.  A cute little farm in Greene County came through for us!

Margaret has become quite the helper at the Dentist.  I love the team effort!

We still visit JJ weekly. Thinking our lesson was over this particular day, Margaret went potty, then bolted out for her clothes.  But she wasn't done with the pool and hopped back in on top of the tarp, which JJ used to help enforce the floating sensation.  This WILL be the last time she skinny dips, right??? 

Already working on his bday party invitations..."Kristopher Kirkeide you are invited to my birthday party.  It is March 12.  Love Andrew."

Viewing Christmas on the calendar, decked out in Emily's Scottish outfit for her.

Candle making at the Waldorf Holiday Bazaar.  Such great activities for the kids at this event!  And even better to spend the morning with a childhood camp friend.  Looking forward to reconnecting with Celeste sans kids!

Caleb's bday party at The Big Room

At Anne's on Thanksgiving, I taught Matthew how to shimmy down the stairs backwards, on his belly.  I showed him once and he's been like a mastered pro ever since.  He's now got full reign of the house and we all enjoy his freedom.  Emily asked when she was visiting, "so who watches Matthew when you're each dealing with Andrew and Margaret?" Uh, no one?  We don't believe in baby gates, either.  Hopefully we'll get through Matthew's wobbling stage without regretting that.     

After four years back East, I finally made it to my high school's pageant again in which I sang for 5 years---a unique, beautiful, music-only, 4-part harmony experience that words cannot describe...and I remembered all of my harmonies.  Thanks to Dody and Granddaddy for watching Margaret and Matthew (and snuggling with her on their new back deck) before the stomach bug set in all night:(

Matthew is so proud of his chair from Dody and Granddaddy and crawls into every day and night to chew on a DVD or take a rest from the action.

"The firetrucks are coming...with Santa on top!!!"

 

After 10 years of hearing about the Lights on 34th St. in Baltimore, we FINALLY made it!  There have been several misfires in the past, but I now know it's because we needed to wait for our family to be complete.  We arrived early to get a parking spot, enjoyed barely-lukewarm-"hot" chocolate at a local pizzeria (with slices as big as a pie) and enjoyed the street where homeowners commit to 6 weeks of public invasion every year, traffic helicopter included.

 

Snowmen sculpted from bike wheels

Three stories high and across the street the lights ascend.

The hubcap tree

Grandma came through with the Karaoke machine - Margaret couldn't get enough of serenading Steve. 

Happy Grandma.

Holiday dinner party with the Bronsons (including Andrew and Becky in from Thailand) and Vogels.  What an amazing evening.  Secret Santa "no gag gifts" got interesting:)  Can't wait for next year's rebuttal!

 

ADORE Julie and Erin.  SO thankful for our friendship, and the 30+ years our husbands have shared.

 

Our Little Man picks up on things SOO quickly!  First time on his new ride and he gets it!

 
Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve & Day 2013

As I sit in the quiet of our home listening to nothing more than the crackling of the fire place, I am eternally grateful for countless things.

• A 5 1/2-year-old who enjoys assembling legos on his own, proud that he can now follow the instructions himself
• A 3-year-old who appreciates her beauty sleep, willingly pausing to rest with her new friends cradled tightly under her arms
• An 11-month-old whose patience exceeds all other's as he allows himself to be schlepped around all day until he is finally afforded a long awaited afternoon nap
• A loving husband who physically provides the comforts and joys of our daily lives
• A faithful God who always keeps ALL of His promises, regardless of my level of focus on Him.
• A Savior, who was born on this day for ME, who died so that I may never die

Behind the ribbons and bows, underneath the colorful paper and tape, today is more than I can process when I stop to ponder the wonder of it.  Why me?? 



Our church's family service last night included a 25-minute pageant performed by the children of the church.  Matthew was asked to be Jesus, while Margaret would be an angel and Andrew a shepherd.  I graciously told the director that I would be happy to contribute him, but that another family's 3-month-old might be a more appropriate option.  Predictably, I ended up viewing the pageant alone as Michael allowed Matthew his freedom to crawl back and forth across the Fellowship Hall.  I sat in our empty pew and watched our beautiful Mary cradle a tiny Jesus.  His precious demeanor filled me with tears as I sat there, without typical distraction, and pondered the unimaginable gift that we would celebrate in the morning.  And I thought, "why me?". 



Among the legos, books, and figurines, Andrew paused to hug me after opening his new Bible, "It has verses!  I LOVE it Mom and I love you.  Thank you.".  The sincerity blew me away.  He honestly was touched by his non-storybook Bible, complete with his name engraved on the front. 


Andrew and Margaret joined us in the dining room for dinner tonight for the first time.  Andrew prayed for us a more compassionate prayer than I could scripted.  "Dear God, thank you for the Christmas season and for sending Jesus to save us from our sins.  Thank you for this food and please help those people that don't have any."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfxl2QufjI8&feature=youtu.be

Ready for the Christmas Pageant.

Ah, Christmas Eve dinner.

Reading The Grinch Who Stole Christmas at bedtime on Christmas Eve, just like Dody used to do (and I imagine still does!).

Our first Wii! Purchased last January on sale, it's been a long wait for Mommy and Daddy!

Christmas Dinner, the little guys joined us in the dining room. Andrew devoured his requested salmon and shrimp.

The girls were delighted with their tools for Christmas!  Margaret had asked for a tape measure and someone knew that Mommy wanted her own power drill:)

 

Handsome Little Man

Matthew's present was (and still is) a hit with Margaret.

But at least she was willing to share it with him and help teach him to ride.