Easter Pictures

Before church on Saturday evening.

Emily's black shoes grew too tight - ooops! Silver will have to do. :)

Sunday was over at the BIL/SIL house.

(Again, I'd show pictures of the cousins, but hesitate to without permission)

On the hunt...

Ta Da!

Happy Easter! Jesus is Risen Indeed!

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here!... He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned... After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Mark 16 : 6,15-16,19-20

Emily's Belated Birthday

Well, late again.... since Emily's birthday was almost a week ago!

I really can't believe that I live with an offical 2 year old. Emily amazes me with all of the things she's learning and doing. And it's not like I'm a new Mom -- I've been through this all before. I guess that it's just that Emily acts so advanced for her age that I've thought of her as "two" for quite some time. But, even so, the fact that there are no babies in our house anymore is hitting me hard.

She is such a big girl!

I love Chris' look of amazement in this picture! I can't even remember what she opened that got this reaction, either!

Waiting patiently for her Blue's Clues cake.

Yummy.

Happy Birthday, Dear Chriiii -iiiis!

My baby is now 5 years old. WOW.

Happy Birthday dear Chris.

May the Lord bless you this coming year.

May you grow in wisdom and stature.

Love, Mommy

Christmas Picture Montage

Here's a glimpse of some of our Christmas holiday this year.

We had a really great Christmas this year. My Mom and Pop were here with us which we all loved. The whole family (both sides - 16 total!) gathered here on Christmas day for the feasting and gift chaos. And now we're still in the post-holiday stupor of laziness and clutter. How's that for short and sweet?

Chris must have been really good this year. Besides the huge can of TinkerToys, he got a Leapster LMax, 5 (we have foam "bullets" all over our house!) guns, and an electric guitar!!

Emily's big hits were her Little People doll house, tea set and plastic food and a baby doll. Strangely, I don't have any pics of her with any of it.

Most of the time I get caught up in the fun and only remember to grab the camera after all of the action has taken place.

Final shot: Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without lots and lots of CHOCOLATE!

Edited to add: You know the whole "Bobby and Jenny are downplaying Santa with our kids" thing that I mentioned below? Well, Emily loves Santa.

"Sa-ta, sa-ta, sa-ta..." Every time we see anyone that even resembles him.

So, Santa is alive and well in the our household. No worries.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"

Luke 2:10-12

A post for the day when I have nothing to post....

All about the Holidays

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Both! But holy cow, the calories in eggnog is outrageous!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? When I was little, the gifts from Santa were in and around the stocking - unwrapped. Bobby and I are really downplaying Santa with our kids, so we haven't ever done gifts specifically from him. They just have some small trinkets in the stocking.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Multicolored on the tree. None on the house ....yet. I'm working on him.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Yep - a fake bunch of it. Right in our entrance. Most people don't even notice it though.

5. When do you put your decorations up? A couple of weeks before Christmas (this weekend), but we leave them up a long time! har har.6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Gosh, I love almost all of it. Probably the green bean casserole and stuffing are my faves.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: When I was 7 or 8, I was starting to have doubts about Santa, so my parents staged a Santa "break-in". They woke me up to spy on Santa coming in our back door and leaving presents. I remember peeking around the corner of the hallway at him and counting all the grown up relatives that were "hiding" from him and realizing that all of them were accounted for.... so, Santa really did exist! That lasted for about 2 more years.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Oh, a couple of years later, I just kind of knew. Parents kind of confirmed - I guess they gave up trying to convince me. They said something about the "spirit" of Santa and giving to others.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I used to be able to open one present on Christmas Eve.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Tons of colored lights and then ornaments.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love it for looking at and playing in and skiing on. Driving... not so much.

12. Can you ice skate? I could when I was 13. Haven't since.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I've gotten some really great ones. But, there isn't any ONE that stands out. Maybe the trips from my parents - those are hard to beat. Of course, now, it's all about my kids.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ with my family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Christmas cookies!!!!!! I LOVE them.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to church on Christmas Eve and doing the whole candle thing while singing Silent Night.

17. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Well, I'll NEVER turn down a gift. But, I do like finding the perfect thing for someone and then watching them open it up. : )

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Joy to the World, Carol of the Bells, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,

20. Candy Canes? Eh, my kids don't care for them so much... I do hang some on the tree.

Join in the fun and let me know what your Christmas is like.