Christmas 2007

COUSINS!!


opening presents at Nana Papa's house~

All smiles~

Making memories with Daddy ~

Stockings!

Playing games with daddy...

Mimi and Grandpa~

special visit with Great Grandma~

Cuddling close with Nana~

"Happy birthday Jesus!" cake

Playing with Papa~

enjoying a new ride from Daddy...

sticker from big sister...

We had such a fun Christmas filled with 2 days of festivities. It is always a reminder of how truly blessed we are when we gather together with family. I love watching our kids enjoy the people around them that love them so much. Last night after we put the kids to bed and everything was done (OK except for the dishes) I sat and fed the baby just feeling overwhelmed with all that the Lord has blessed us with. Just sitting and playing with the baby I was also overwhelmed with such joy that our Lord and Savior entered into the world for us as a tiny baby. I wonder how it was to hold the Savior of the world in your arms, how it was to hear His tiny cry and what it was like to watch Him sleep, see Him smile for the first time and hear those cooing sounds that babies always make. It is amazing to think how tiny and perfect He was.

It is also such a blessing to talk about baby Jesus with our kids. Even though I know that Cassidy does not fully understand the story I love how she says His name..."baby Jesus." Those words are powerful words, words that are written on her mind and in her heart...words that she will never forget. I also love the way Micah asks so many questions about the Christmas story...he wants to have every detail just right; and Caitlyn doesn't care too much about the details she just loves the story and loves to sing "Away in a Manger." I think our kids love the story so much because they just love babies and baby Jesus is the most amazing of them all. This Christmas is one that I wish I could just freeze-frame and experience all over again. It is so fun to see our kids experience the excitement and love of the Christmas season. Micah is an amazing kid to me. He isn't really all too excited about opening gifts. He will get just one and be completely content with that. When you take him to the store and point out something exciting, whether it is a toy or something else his response is, "that's neat but it is just too expensive." I love how content he is and pray that he would continue life with such a heart. I also love to see the excitement and joy in Caitlyn's eyes...She is filled with such a contagious joy and she can always light up a room with her smile. Cassidy enjoyed getting her gifts and she just kept saying over and over again, "mine." I think she loves just having something that belongs to her after having so many hand-me downs from her sister and brother. Dakota's first Christmas was filled with extra naps with all the excitement and noise that filled our house...but when she was awake she was so happy and she definitely loves to smile.

I made a huge mistake...I forgot to get a picture of just me and Greg which is something that i specifically thought about before hand. There is something extra special about this time of year when you get to spend it with your best friend. Greg is an amazing husband and father and I love the late nights we spend together wrapping our kids presents and talking about the excitement we will get to share with them. He helps me more than anyone knows...wrapping the presents and making sure they were put under the Christmas tree. We always seem to spend late nights talking with each other and just being with each other during the Christmas season. I am so thankful to have the best husband and the best father to my kids. He is definitely willing to take those special moments to spend with each one of them.

I could not be more thankful for all of the Lord has blessed us with and pray that we would bring glory to HIS name~