A Family Adventure

We started out the day with Princess's dance, and this was her little foot prints so happily carrying her water bottle and dance bag all by herself to the suburban...because she kept saying, "Mommy, dance cwass!" (dance class) My batteries died before we got to the dance studio...so maybe next week!After dance we changed clothes and got all dressed up in warm winter gear for the adventure of cutting down our own Christmas Tree. Handsome and I did this childless last year, as some of you may remember we had a 3 yr, 2 yr, 1 yr, 10 month, and a 6 month old ~ so we had gotten a sitter. We actually went with our friends last year, but this year decided the kids were old enough to go and we didn't want to hold up the other family with two kids, an ax, and a Christmas tree! It wasn't the fastest process ever, but it was a memory making one!

Here the kids are still happy and excited to be going to get our CWISMAST TWEE!Here is the one, it all of its natural glory!And my wonderfully handsome husband chopping away as the kids and I wait in anticipation, or at least I was...the kids were kind of tired of tromping through the snow at this point

This is after I hauled Princess and the ax and Jason had Sunshine and the tree for part way out, I fell because the snow caved under me, I sat with both kids on my lap IN THE SNOW (right where I fell), Handsome carried the tree out, came back got Princess and the ax, and I carried Sunshine the rest of the way! Mommy and the kiddos, see how Princess is so HAPPY to be back at the 'burban' and Sunshine is still wondering what is going on!Mommy and Daddy managed to get the massive thing on top of the suburban, Princess kept saying, "Cwismas twee up woof!" (Christmas Tree is up on the roof)I just love the beauty of the hills...you all are missing out!

The finished product..BEAU-TI-FUL!My hubby surprised me with the trimmings from the tree on my arbor along with my favorite RED lights from our house in Huron...you can see our tree glowing in the window of the doorThe view of our house as you pull onto our street ~ festive!From the outside looking in...cozy!
View from the church side of the house

All in all we had a great day! Many things accomplished, learned new things about each other as a couple, had many memories from years past as we took out decorations, and most importantly remembered how blessed and thankful we are to be a family of four! While this isn't Sunshine's first Christmas it is his first Christmas as our official child...only in the states eyes though, he was officially ours the minute I held him in the hospital on January 2nd of 2007.

As you all start celebrating in various ways; Christmas programs and church & school, work get togethers, shopping for the special people in your lives, family gatherings, sending Christmas cards, and whatever other tradition you have at this time of year...Please do not forget what it is all about.

Christmas is not about the gifts or the cards,

it isn't just the lighted snowmen in the yards.

Not a time for seasons.greetings,

Or holiday.meetings.

Christmas is about Christ Jesus our Lord,

Mary & Joseph, only a manger could afford.

Their sweet baby boy born in hay,

Long ago in Bethlehem one day.

It saddens me everywhere I go. Children get excited for Christmas because of S.anta and the toys they will be unwrapping from under the tree. While Grandpas and Grandmas are very good at allowing our children wonderful gifts all through out the year (especially Christmas) we as parents have made a commitment to teach Princess and Sunshine why we have Christmas. Because if we leave out baby Jesus being born, it is very hard to explain how He was able to die on the cross for our salvation.

We pray each and every one of you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!