O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Another Christmas Story

Our church had a Christmas program on Sunday night. It was a really sweet program. The kids did almost everything themselves. Not only did they sing and act out the first Christmas, we had pianists, violinists, organists, and even a bell choir!

Dylan helped out as the director's assistant. She also played in the bell choir and was the "scene change" girl.

Katherine played the part of Mary, Mother of Jesus. Besides acting and playing the bells, she also had a solo performance singing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Of course, I think she did an outstanding job!

This was a simple, sweet program. A good reminder of what Christmas is really all about.

A Christmas Story

Isaac has so been excited about his Christmas program. But, as soon as his teacher put his little lamb ears on, he started bawling his eyes out. He was a sad little sheep. I just knew he wasn't going to go up on stage.



But Daddy did some mighty heavy coaxing.



And Isaac began to reconsider.




He made it up on stage and, once there, became quite comfortable. And...he was mesmerized by the star on the nativity scene.




He may not have stolen the show. But he tried to steal the star.

Once the music started, he was in his element and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Singing "Mary Had a Baby" and rocking the baby. So sweet.

Our sweet little lamb chop pulled it off. When the final verse of "Go Tell It On the Mountain" was over, he didn't want to leave the stage. And, of course, we celebrated with ice cream!

An Artistic Girl

We were excited when Dylan's art project was one of three chosen from the middle school to be displayed at the board of education!

She was also great at her band concert on Monday night, which gave us an excuse to celebrate with a trip to get ice cream and milkshakes. Hooray Dylan!!

Yes, Virginia, There is a Scary Man

I love Christmas! Everything about it is great! And this year has been even more fun experiencing it through the eyes of a 3 year old. From the time the first lights were up (not ours, but some more efficient neighbors), Isaac has been pointing and squealing and laughing. This weekend we did finally manage to do some decorating of our own, and Isaac is in heaven. His favorites are the train around the tree and the "cracker nut" soldiers! His least favorite? That creepy old man in the white suit who looks fun on a 4x6 inch Christmas card, but is a nightmare come to life as a 6 foot tall white bearded "elf". I have to admit, I kinda see his point.

This picture was taken with Santa at Macys in New York City. Isaac is trying really hard to be a big boy and not cry.

All I Want for Christmas...

Katherine has developed a strange phobia about losing her baby teeth. When she gets a lose tooth, she freaks out. You can't touch it or look at it or even discuss it. She was so upset when the last one fell out that she wouldn't even put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy.

Because of this, she has somehow developed an ability to will them to stay in her mouth. No joke! Teeth that are lose one day will be stuck like glue again the next time I check. It has became such a problem that the dentist had to actually pull 4 of them today. Oh the drama there. If she had just wiggled them out the normal way, she could have avoided shots and pliers and all sorts of unpleasantness. But that would be too easy, wouldn't it?

Thanksgiving 2008

Steve, Lisa, Elizabeth and Emme came for a visit the week of Thanksgiving. They left behind 80 degree Texas weather to be greeted with our freezing temperatures! For weeks, Steve kept saying he wanted cold weather when they came. Well, he got his wish, and then some! (Note the ice in the water behind them. This is at the park by our house.)




Despite the cold weather, we spent the week touring the area. This picture was taken when we walked around Princeton University just before we stopped to get coffee and hot cocoa to thaw out.



We saw some of the sights in Philadelphia. This was particularly interesting to Elizabeth because she has been studying Benjamin Franklin in school.

For some reason, New York City always colder than New Jersey. In this picture, the kids are standing in front of the New York Public Library.

We saw A Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall and then walked to Rockefeller Center. These crazy girls actually wanted to get out on the ice and skate!

This is the view of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan Skyline from aboard the Staten Island Ferry.

On Thanksgiving Day, our friends Brian, Stacye, Amy and Alex joined us for dinner as well. When we were too full to move, the gals enjoyed beating the guys in Catch Phrase. (Even their cheating didn't help them win. Ha!)

And, to kick off the Christmas season, we continued our tradition of going to Palmer Square in Princeton for caroling and the lighting of the big Christmas tree! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Celebrating Katherine

Katherine. Our sweet girl. Special in so many ways. Kindhearted, funny, fun. There are many sides to her, and I love them all! It's especially funny to see how she pulls it all together. She loves to cook, and she loves to accessorize, so it's not uncommon to have her helping me in the kitchen with her oven mitt on one arm and purse on the other. But she makes it work. She leaves me little notes on my pillow and makes me cards "just because". One day, she may outgrow those little notes and pictures, but I hope not. They make me so happy. But for today, we're celebrating her as she is. 9 years old. Full of love and fully loved.

For her party back in November, she wanted a spa themed sleepover. And it has taken me 2 weeks to recuperate. The energy level of a bunch of 8 and 9 year old girls is something to be feared!