Celebrating Jesus - Day 1

 The holidays are so much fun!  We had a great Thanksgiving and we are now ready for winter and Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus!

Each day of December we will have the anticipation of Advent:  Advent boxes, books, and devotions, along with a daily art project or craft for the kids when they get up from their naps. 

 Our Advent boxes hold a piece of the nativity scene - and by Dec 25 it will be complete.  Today's box held a camel :-)

I have wrapped Christmas books - stories of the birth of our Christ and labeled each one with a date.  Each morning the kids get to open that day's book. 

 

 Day 1 is "Room for a Little One" and we have already ready it 5 times! 

 Today's craft is making angels that are wrapped around a cardboard tube so that they stand up. Glitter pens, glue, crayons, etc make for some happy kids! While they were decorating them I read Luke 1:26, the story of the angel Gabriel coming to Mary.

My angels with their angels :-)

Gabriel turns 2!

Happy 2nd Birthday Gabriel!!

 On March 30 my Gabriel turned 2! He brings such joy to our family. He's a big talker,  loves tractors and construction vehicles, being outside, and reading books. 

I had a lot of fun making his cake!

being goofy :-)

Grandpa and Grandma joined us via facetime (love love love technology!)

Posing for all the cameras :-)

sweet Hannah

Audra

Talking to Grandpa and Grandma

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you......."

Digging in

Yum!

Hannah turns 5!

As I continue to play catch up on this year I'm going to go back to March! My little princess turned 5 on March 20.  She continues to amaze me each and every day the way she is learning and growing.  At age 5 she can already read, is still doing gymnastics, loves her little brother and all her pets, and she is definitely a "Papa's girl" :-) We had 2 parties this year for her birthday - one with just our family and a "princess" themed party with her friends. 

Family party with pizza and cake!

 

These eyes melt my heart!

 Princess Party!

 

 (played like pin the tail on the cat...)

A castle to color

scavenger hunt for their goodies bags....

Castle full of gifts for the birthday girl

Grandma and Grandpa joined us from Washington State via Facetime!