Merry Christmas!

We opened our gifts on Christmas Eve morning, because we were going to church on Christmas morning early and didn't want to be rushed. We enjoyed a quiet day at home on Christmas Eve, opening gifts and having a big breakfast.
On Christmas, we went to church in the morning. The service was really nice, mostly singing carols and a short message. Afterwards, we had two friends, Charnelle and Vino over for lunch. We made mousaka, a Greek dish similar to lasanga, for lunch. We had chocolate pie and apple pie for dessert afterwards.
We had a really nice, and quiet Christmas.
Merry Christmas all!

Christmas cookies

Today we baked Christmas cookies and then had an "icing party".

Roasting marshmellows

One of our family traditions is to roast marshmellows at Christmastime. We had to borrow the BBQ pit, but it was worth it. We had alot of fun having a marshmellow roast.

Family Pictures

Today we took family pictures! It's so nice having family at Christmas time.

Cupcakes

Grandma DeLaughter made cupcakes with the girls today.

Skype Time

Today, we talked with my Dad on Skype. I miss my parents this Christmas, but am happy to know that I'll be seeing them in January.

movie

Today, Bill is taking me out, so the girls will be watching a movie with Grandma and Grandpa.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is Bill and my 10th wedding anniversary! I can't believe 10 years have gone by already. It seems like yesterday we were dating, at St. Louis Christian College, going to class together, and eating lunch together in the cafeteria, spending every moment together. We still are together most of each day... and we still get along!! We have spent the last 5 years on the mission field in Tanzania, and have three beautiful children. I thank God everyday for Bill, and I look forward to the next 10 years together with him.

Heather

Yesterday, Bill decided to take a nap instead of come down to lunch. The day before he had been out when we had lunch. Heather must have thought this was becoming a pattern, because she said forlornly, "Another meal without Daddy..." Little does she know that not everyone eats breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week with their Daddy!! I thought it was so cute.

A Christmas Tree

Can you tell I like doing art projects? Today's project, I drew an outline of a Christmas tree, and the girls colored and decorted it with "ornaments".

Teeth!

This has nothing to do with Christmas, but I had to put it in.

Jonathan has gotten 4 more teeth- all on the top, for a total of 6 teeth now. I hope they show up in the picture okay.

Katrina's 2nd front tooth is FINALLY coming in, but only after she lost the tooth next to it! I guess the other tooth was in the way. Now you can't tell the other tooth is even lost. I am afraid she has the same crowded teeth that I had. I forsee braces in the future!!

Another Movie Night

Bill and I are going on a date tonight (Yea!) So, the girls are going to watch Santa Clause 3, with Grandma and Grandpa. That is their Christmas activity of the day.

On another note, Niki and I finished book three of discipleship today! So exciting! We are going to take a break while I am traveling back to the States, and start book three in March.

Another Art project

Today's activity was another craft, we made some more ornaments.

Cocoa

Today, we didn't have a car since it's in the shop. We did something easy at home. We had hot cocoa with peppermints for a "Christmasy" taste.

Car Accident, and....

Today was a bit scary! On the way to church, a huge rock hit the windshield! We are all fine, we will just need a new windshield.

Our activity today was something simple, we read a book about the nativity, with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus dolls to act out the scenes.

Jonathan chewing on Baby Jesus.

Apple Pie

Today, we made an apple pie from scratch... Yum! We took it with us to a Christmas party we went to today. Fun, and very tasty!

Katrina peeled the apples and Heather helped me roll out the dough.

Movie Night

Every weekend, we watch a movie together as a family... so we watched "Home Alone 2". It's a Christmas movie, and its cute.

Nativity Set!

Sorry, Eastview... we opened *one* of the gifts early... the nativity set. I wanted the kids to be able to play with it before Christmas. They love it! Thanks, Eastview Christian Church! We love you!

Grandma and Grandpa arrive!

Today's *very* special thing was that Grandma and Grandpa DeLaughter arrived! We made welcome signs, and went to pick them up at the bus in the afternoon. It was so good to see them! We had some friends over for dinner to introduce them tonight at well.

Kids' Cookie Party

Cookies, cookies and more cookies!!!

Today, we had so much fun at a friend's house making ginger bread cookies. There were about 15 kids total there, so lots to do! After the baking, they all played in a wading pool, and there were about 10 in there at once! Very crowded, but they didn't seem to mind. :-]
Katrina cutting out some cookies.





Heather is showing a "thumb-print cookie" she made, although you can barely see it here!






The wading pool was a bit croweded! The girls are on the right, can you find them? Where's Waldo?








Jonathan and the other babies hung out at the side of the pool.

Today's art project

Katrina made a bell and Heather made a bear in a stocking for today's art activity. It was a part of the craft activities in their homeschooling curriculum, so really easy!

E-cards

We sent some e-cards today as our activity.

Ornaments

Today we made some ornaments... yeah craft time! The only problem was that Jonathan started crying because he was being left out...

Cookies

Today we made cookies... Yum! I'm sure they won't last very long.

Christmas Cards

Today we made Christmas cards, lots of fun.

Snowflakes

Today's activity was making snowflakes. Simple, but fun.

Our Activity Advent...

Every day from Dec. 1st through Christmas, we do something special for Christmas.

Dec. 1st, we put up the tree. It is only 3 feet high, so even Heather can reach the top. We got it our first Christmas here in 2005, and it's been with us every year we have had Christmas here. None of the decorations are breakable, so I let the girls rearrange them at will. They love it!

We had the tree in the bay window so Jonathan wouldn't pull it down, but Romeo kept messing with the ornaments. So, sadly, we've had to move it to a cabinet even higher up! We'll bring it down to ground level for Christmas!