The Opening of the Presents

Santa found us!  It was a great day. 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

One of my favorite traditions is our annual re-enactment of the Nativity.  We read it directly out of Luke and Matthew.  There are always a few moments that are pure Carrell.  (Like when Mary whips the baby doll out from under her shirt.) Here are the characters from 2010. (again- Danny used his iphone to take the pixs- sorry about the quality)

 

The Narrator

 The Shepherd (and little lamb)

Joseph

Mary

The Donkey

The Angel

The Wee Wise Woman

The other Wise Woman

We three queens of orient are...

After we have our play and sing a few songs we always finish off the evening watching "The Nativity."  It is a 5 minute long video of the nativity that it totally accurate.  I always appreciate Mary more when I see her face as she walks into the stable.  (And looks up at Joseph with a look that says, "You're joking...right?")  And I always, always get a bit weepy when I see the wise man who is discouraged because he has been waiting for so long ... and then he looks up and sees THE STAR and his lip starts to quiver.  

I am so very thankful for Jesus Christ and all he has done for me.  I love to remember Him at Christmastime.

Gingerbread Houses

We had to make our annual graham cracker gingerbread houses.  The girls decided it is way more fun with friends.  So I headed to the grocery store and bought loads of candy and the fun began!

  

Shelby and Annagrace are ready with the glue gun!

 

Emery and Abigail are using the frosting to glue on their candy.

 

Madi ate more candy than she put on her house- and loved it!

 

Claire actually is surprised that I'm taking a picture?

The finished products

 

Emery and Abby

Juliet and Claire

 

Annagrace and Shelby with their mansions!

Nativity Celebration

Our Church has a Nativity Celebration every year.  They open up the church for three days and display all of these beautiful nativities.  This year there were over 600.  It was amazing.

This was our contribution.

They also had a Messiah Sing a long and the place was packed!  (Really well done..)

There was so much hard work that went into this!

They had a great kids room where the kids could "be" in Bethlehem.  (Too bad it couldn't help Jake to be kind.)

We had a great time.  We're looking forward to next year!

The Tree and Decorations

Tis the season to get the lights up!

It was Madi's turn to put the angel on the tree

Here she is in action!

Preschool Thanksgiving Feasts

Emery and Madison both had Thanksgiving Feasts on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  It was very fun to be there with them.

Emery the Pilgrim and Madi

Miss Madi with her lovely turkey feather headband

Pilgrim Emery with her cinnamon turkey pine cone.  It smelled so yummy!  I am thankful for many things- and these girls are two of them.

Jake's 12!

 

On November 12th, our Jake turned 12!!!  (As usual- he requested homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast.)

 

I can hardly believe my little boy is now a young man!

 

He had to pose with all the gift givers!-  Miss Claire

 

Jake and Miss Emery

 

Shelby and Miss Madi

 

 Why do I love pictures with these girls and their brother so much?

 

Jake and Kailey

 

We can't forget Stella (with the scary eyes)

 

and I LOVE a good kissing picture 

 

On Thursday, Jake decided to have a party.  Two days later- 5 young boys came over.  It wasn't just any party- it was a MAN PARTY.

 

They shot air soft guns and bows and arrows at this fun target and THEN they shot a few cases of soda.  (This was the major party event.  They would shake up the soda and then shoot it and the soda would go everywhere!)  Of course, Danny provided the adult supervision- but actually he had a great time being 12 again himself!

 

We celebrated with Texas Sheetcake

 

and Jake said he wanted to put his face in it.  (... so I helped...)

 

Happy Birthday buddy!  Sure do love you.