Day 286- 27 Weeks

27 Weeks

Day 285- Mom's Favorite

I LOVE this outfit. I kept her in it all day. :)

Day 284- Happy Birthday, Jesus!

We had our Parents' Night Out/Christmas VBS this past Friday night.

The kids had chicken nuggets,

played some games,

sang some Christmas songs,

played,

learned about Jesus' birth and celebrated with some birthday cake!

Day 283- A little tree

When Dan was in his senior year at the SEM, we lived in a small apartment, and had no room for a real tree. We HAD to have a Christmas tree, so I got a smaller one to get us by that year. Now we set it up in our office every year.

The ornaments on the tree are very special. They were a gift from good friends of Dan's family. They are hand-made and beautiful!

I debated whether to put this tree up this year or not. Keeping Anna's hands off one tree seemed like it would  be enough to worry about. Plus, I didn't want any of these ornaments to get broken. Anna has done really well so far with our regular tree, so I decided to go ahead and do this one as well. She has done well so far... but I don't let her come into the office alone! I'm glad I put it up. I love looking at it as I sit at my computer!

Day 282- 26 Weeks

26 Weeks

Day 281- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

This week has been dedicated to decorating our house for Christmas. It's quite a process, and add a toddler to the mix, it takes even longer. I've also had to be more creative about where I put them, so they stay out of curious hands! We have more Christmas decorations than we even know what to do with. I still have a large tote full of things that I have no room for. I inherited most of them. So we have a large mix. 

There are new decorations that I have picked up. 

Of course we each needed our own Christmas stockings. I can't wait to add a fourth one next year!

This beautiful painting was a gift from some members of our church. She painted it. I love that Joseph is holding Jesus while Mary rests in the background. It definitely reminds us that Christ was truly man, born to a sinful, human being, who had to endure a hard, natural labor. What a humble birth!

Of course there are many hand-made things that my mom crafted over the years. Many good friends of hers own Christmas mice, just like this...

...or a NOEL like this.  

We have three nativities. Two were my parents. One we got as a wedding gift. We usually have room for two.

Some of the decorations are very old. I believe these mice belonged to my Grandma. 

I also inherited all the ornaments, so I have my first Christmas ornaments on our tree. 

(How cute is that baby? :) ) 

And Anna has her first Christmas ornaments as well.

Many Mickey ornaments that my parents collected from our friends, the Feiocks. Anna, especially love these.

An ornament from my preschool years. I was a bit stingy with the macaroni. 

 And a pickle hidden deep with in the tree. Anyone else hide a pickle in their tree?

I love the way all these wonderful things make our home feel warm and cozy. It makes all the hard work worth it! 

Day 280- 25 Weeks

25 Weeks