"Yes!"

These two chicks are having a "Spend the Night" playdate.  They are currently in the kitchen making their lunch and I am enjoying their conversation from two rooms away.  Caroline just yelled...

"Mommy!  Can we have a root beer?"

I yell back, "Yes!"

She says to her friend about me, "I love her!  She said yes."

Wow.  The things that get a mom some love.

This Holiday Season we...

Decorated a tree

And celebrated this handsome young man

with a Pancake Breakfast

 where Santa came!

And Caroline giggled as she enjoyed our Holiday Albums from years past.

We went caroling with our home group

And sang for the sweetest of peoples

And for the sweetness of donuts!

And we went to our annual McRee Christmas Celebration where Granddaddy-Grinch laughed

And all the cousins smiled for the annual picture.

Then raced back for the our church's Children's Christmas Concert

Where Caroline sang a solo... and I cried.

We had a scrumptious brunch with some dear sweet friends

Where we all shared a "talent"

 And enjoyed each other's company.

We caroled AGAIN with our neighbors.... so much fun!

And made a Gingerbread House.

I wrapped some presents (all by myself because I am obnoxious about the wrapping...among other things)

And tucked some Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix into a cute polka-dotted hand towel!

And we had a Birthday Party for Jesus...because He, of course, is the reason for all the above!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

The Tiny Tots (with their eyes all aglow) came to our house today for a birthday party!

 

Rebecca shared the story of the First Christmas and Caroline helped everyone hang an ornament 

(telling the story of Jesus' birth) on the tree.

We did a little "tiny" craft...

...and sang "Happy Birthday" to the King of Kings!

While no one was looking, some little someone shared his cupcake with this cutie patootie!

The party horns were a big hit!

And we played "Pin the Tail" on Mary's Donkey!

And of course no one left without a tiny present!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

My MIL

See this chick?  She is one of the sweetest things that has ever happened to me.  She is the mother of my husband and loves me like her very own.  I am looking forward to the holidays with her.... she makes everything so warm, and festive, and fun!

And Fit Us for Heaven

Be near me Lord Jesus

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children 

In Thy tender care

And fit us for heaven 

To live with Thee there.

It is my favorite verse of my favorite carol...

 and hearing this young man sing it just made my whole Christmas.

(Photo courtesy of Miss Casey Boyte)

I have learned that stopping to think about HIM just makes everything feel peaceful.

So, I do it alot.... like all the time.

Grinch-feet

 We sit in a circle every morning and they tell me their thoughts and I think, "Who would want to miss this?"  They each have their own little personality and I just feel so blessed that I get to enjoy it for one year of their lives. 

 

 

Yesterday, my little "whos down in whoville" did a fabulous job in our annual Third Grade Christmas Presentation in chapel.  It was a "Grinch-y Celebration"!

 

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  ~Dr Seuss