Last week of 2010!

Here are some random glimpes of how we spent the last week of 2010!

It was a fun week with daddy home some and no wake up time! Big sis discovered her new Easy Bake oven.


I just LOVE this picture of lil sis. We celebrated a good buddies birthday and look what his mom captured! This is so lil sis...silly and sweet!

Yeah for books...yes she is finally interested!!!!!!

We have played the Wii a lot... mostly Mario kart!

The guys have enjoys the football while

the girls just colored!

What a great week as a family to end as wonderful year!

Fun at the Museum!

After being at home enjoying Christmas and snow...it was time to get out today! We all went to one of our favorite locations...The Museum of Life and Science in Durham.

It was a rare treat to all 5 be there together! Big is LOVES to build!
Lil sis LOVES to love her brother!


We all LOVE to explore!

As we were leaving, we briefly walked outside...

only mommy could resist the snow!

Lil sis watching, observes and often repeats everything the older two do!

Which makes me very grateful they are excellent role models!

It was a fun family day!

White Christmas!

A first for us all - A White Christmas!

It started falling as the children went to bed on Christmas night and continued until noon the next day. Brother could not wait to get out there but the girls were pretty content to watch from inside!
Their snowballs were impressive...

until they started coming our way!

Sweet girl this is how mommy prefers snow too!

By night fall we all needed a little fresh air...well I should say the girls did because the boys played outside a lot with neighbors!

I've been secretly planning a way to get rid of these two trees blocking the sidewalk out front but they did make a nice snowy entrance!

This is how lil sis prefered to see the snow...from the safety of daddy's arms!

We could not believe none of them had any interested in building a snowman. The snow was perfect for this but as you can see they were not there!

Big sis very sweetly cleared off the nativity.

We didn't stay long...in fact they were going to just touch it so they didn't even wear coats!

But it was such nice snow that we did stay a while to enjoy its wonder!

Christmas Day Fun!

For the first time since brother was a newborn, we had family visit us on Christmas day!

The children couldn't wait to eat when the "adult" (prime rib roast, collards, potatos...) food was going to be ready but still wanted to eat in the dining room. I can't believe I didn't get a full room shot. Only those of you that have been to 0ur house in the past 20 months can truly appreciate its current state. ( It was storage for our attic project that began in March of 2009 and made room for lil sis!)

More presents? Oh yes!

I hontestly think this straw purse from Uncle Lewis and Aunt Jennie was her favorite!

Brother gave granddaddy a chest bump after jumping around with excitement for his new Pirate #17 football jersey!

The girls helping daddy...too sweet!

Brother loved sticking Uncle Lewis and daddy!

Even the girls got in on the tackling!

We were so glad my parents, my brother and Jennie were able to come today!

It was the first Christmas in 20 years I spent the day with my brother!

A Merry Christms for sure!!!!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is such a wonderful time!

Ours begins with the Christmas story. Then each child recieves three gifts just as Jesus himself did on the first Christmas.

Lil sis was getting the point to gift wrapping by this point!



Ok, again I tried and failed!

Their favorite part of the morning was looking through their stockings. I seriously think that would be enough...especially since the grandparents do so much!

This hug was so heart felt and warm!

As are daddy's arms!

Lil sis got an extra Pinky...she can not sleep without one. It is just precious how she holds and loves this little pink hamster!

We had an awesome morning celebrating our dear Saviours birth.

I love seeing the children's excitement for this wonderful time without all the worldly and commerical ideas taking away from the joy and magic of JESUS!!

Christmas Eve

We spent most of Christmas Eve resting and enjoying being home again.

The children and I made Christmas cookies. This was something I've wanted to do before but always got scared away by the icing. Who knew you can buy the prefect icing ready to squeeze out...Betty Crocker did! It was fun and not two are alike!

A good Christmas Eve service is so important to keep our hearts and minds in the right place. Our home church fills up too quickly so we have found another one close by to attend on Christmas Eve. We loaded up and got there 15 mins before it started...or when we thought it started. We had the time wrong and went to plan B. This lead us to a new church and another wonderful Christmas Eve experience!


The older children chose the front row. Not my first choice but it did give lil sis some room to move around.



I tried not to take pictures but lil sis was just so adorable towards the end giving brother and big sis huge hugs. She is so loving!!!