Christmas Traditions..

A couple of days ago, I woke up and make the kids a typical breakfast of pancakes and sausage, and then made the decision, that we were going to decorate the tree.

I streamed in some Christmas Music off the computer, a great station that plays all kinds of Christmas songs, old and new, and then intermixes stories in there.

And I watched...

I watched each child take out their ornament from previous years and react in utter excitement to see it again. They talked about it, why the liked it or what it means to them.
I listed to them share stories with eachother about the ornaments.

I watched Matt intently put the candy garland around the tree, and I watched Anna try to eat it.

The tree is heavily ornamented in certain areas, that would be at Jake and Emma height. And well the bottom of the tree has nothing due to Anna and Mr. Darcy being able to get it.

We are only doing one tree this year, so it has two trees worth of ornaments on it. Yet it still looks beautiful.

A few ornaments were broken during the process, but it was easily cleaned up.

That night I watched 4 little bodies stick their heads under the tree and look up from the bottom, at the reflections of light off the ornaments. It was almost serile~for about 30 seconds! :)

One of our traditions is that each year, each child gets an ornament from mom and dad, that will go with them someday when they leave home, so they will have thier ornaments for thier first christmas tree as a new family.

Another tradition is that one night we will load up in the surburban and drive around neighborhoods looking at the light displays that other families have done. Usually we do a impromtu trip to Mickey D's or Wendy for an icy treat.

Of course Christmas Eve dinner with the family is always a blast.

Wayne and I save all our wrapping for Christmas Eve, we are usually up till 2-3am wrapping gifts. :)

Last year we went to Washingtons Crossing and watched the presentation they do. We will be doing that again this year, except we will be having an outdoor lunch in the park.

Oh yeah, and lets not forget the matching jammies on Christmas eve.

What are some of your traditions??

Some pics..

Bread..

So yesterday was National Bread Making Day..

After a long day, Ash and I deceide to make some bread after all the littles went to bed.

It was a 3 hour process, but the bread turned out delicious.

Jacob turns 9!!

Psalm 127:3Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
It's funny to think that 9 years ago, at 3:05pm on a Sunday, I gave birth to this 11 pound baby boy!! My delivery with Jacob was the easiest delivery I have ever had. God answered prayers by giving me this healthy, blond haired, blue eyed baby boy. Yes, I did pray specifically for all of those things.
I know the Lord has good works in store for Jacob! I love you son!!! :)

gift from mom and dad..

grandma & pop-pop special!! A new bike!!!

precious!!

the yummy cake!

Big Brother and HIS little sis!

My party girls!!! Jessica shared in Jacob's birth, and hopefully will someday have children of her own, If I didn't ruin it for her!

Columbus Weekend

After a long 4 day weekend away, we are home recuperating from our family time out in Pa. We had a wonderful time with family and friends, a great time of fellowship and enjoying God's beauty.
There is something about the sweet air in Pa. that just makes my heart melt, I love viewing all the clothes lines, that are full of dresses, shirts, and slacks from the Amish men and women.
The clothesline seems to be a reminder to me of how grateful I am of the family that God has blessed me with. To hang each item and be reminded of whose it is, and flooded with memories of what happened when they were wearing it.

I am so grateful to my Lord for my family. He has blessed me with five beautiful, rambunctious children who love him and seek him in their lives daily.

Is my life busy, yes it is! Is it stressful? At times Oh yeah! But am I ever so grateful to be the stay at home mommy to my blessings, I sure am.

Friends remind me of that when I'm whining about the loads of laundry or the floor being scattered with toys. All too soon this season of my life will pass, and I will once again have a spotless and quiet home. But for now, I am blessed by messes, and chaos!
Praising God for the opportunity to be the parent of His children!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Puddle Fun..

So after 3 days of rain last week, we had an Indian Summer day.
Emma and her bff from next door were enjoying this lovely day..by... puddle hoping. This was the last pic before baths that afternoon. Don't they look like they had some fun!
What I love about puddles...the are so inviting to children..it normally starts off as a "walk in the puddle" usually very slowly and they enjoy watching the water flow around their feet. And then it becomes a jump and some giggles, cause now were getting a little wet, Oh wait Mommy hasn't stopped me yet..Now it's an all out puddle war!!! The girls had a blast. They were completely soaked by the end, and needed tubs, but the smilies and laughter were so worth it!! Emma's denim skirt was so heavy that when she turned around we saw her plumber's crack! :)

Brianna sat first, Emma is trying to deciede if she wants to sit too!

This is the one who started it all!!!!