Low-key Christmas

Earlier in December we had read an article that convicted us both to do things differently this Christmas.  The article talked about how much emphasis was being put on material things and how the focus had really shifted away from Jesus' birth and the real meaning and celebration of Christmas.  This year, we did not put out our Elf on a shelf--that has become a toy for the boys to play with.  We did not set out cookies for Santa, we did not label any gifts from Santa.  We talked more about Jesus' birth than we had any other year.  We also went very low-key on gifts.  In the past, we would charge gifts on credit cards and end up with huge bills the following months.  This year, we took what the article said and toned it all down!  For each of the boys, we bought "Something you want, something you need, something you wear, and something you read."  They each got a game (want) (Operation for Jonathan, Sorry for Joshua, and a model helicopter for Jackson).  They all got new toothbrushes (need) in their stockings.  On Christmas Eve, they all got new pajamas (wear) and then Christmas morning, they each got new books!  It was wonderful!!  And we have no credit card bill to dread in January!  I love this new way of taking the focus off gifts! 

He was SO excited to get Sorry

J3 was so happy to have two gifts that were for him

Jackson couldn't wait to start building his model

We are so blessed, not because of any material gift we have, but because we have Jesus!  That's the biggest blessing of all!!  Thank you, Jesus, for being born and coming to save us!

Christmas Eve

We have the tradition of opening stockings on Christmas Eve. We came back from church and after seeing the lights around our neighborhood, opened our stockings.

Not a great picture, but it shows just a small part of the lights of this house in our neighborhood

Stockings hung by the chimney with care...

Jackson

Jonathan

Joshua

This was the best shot I got on Christmas Eve

When can I see what's inside?

If I smile cute, can I dig in??

I'm grumpy and don't want my picture taken!

Daddy gets a stocking, too!

Our three little hams!

Love that chocolate coins make him happy!

Christmas with Family 2011

We celebrated Christmas three times this year~~~first with Krista and her family, then with my extended family, and then with just our family of five!  It's so good to be with family!  Our boys loved spending time with their cousins and were really good!  I didn't have my camera at Krista's house, but it was a fun day filled with yummy food, nice gifts, and even a bit of playing in the snow!

We always celebrate Christmas with my family on Christmas Eve since that is also my dad's birthday.  It's so nice to go back home~~feels so comfortable and such yummy food!  :)  We are certainly blessed by our family!

Ice skating adventures

Last winter, Jackson and I went skating for the first time.  He had a great time and wanted to go again this year.  I took all three boys this time around, which made for quite an adventure!  Jackson was great and went ahead of us, while I stayed back and tried to help Joshua and Jonathan, who were holding on to the wall for dear life.  We only made it once around the ice because Joshua had had enough, but Jackson skated a few times out on his own.  It was a fun afternoon, but we may have to wait till the boys get a bit bigger before we try again...or maybe we'll just have to talk AW into coming with us so I have another person to help me!

All smiles before going out on the ice!  Love that they're all pretty steady on their skates...at this point!

That face says it all---he was so afraid to let go of the wall!

An old pro at this skating stuff!  :) 

Poor little guy spent a lot of time down on the ice!

They look so cute!  Jonathan had a fun time, despite his falls. 

We watched as Jackson went out on his own!  So proud of my little man!

This was as close as Joshua wanted to get to the ice after the first (and only) lap!

Ready to go home! 

Three??

How is it possible that our baby is THREE??  I can't believe Jonathan turned three last week!  We had a fun friend and family party to celebrate his third birthday.  It's hard to have a birthday so close to Christmas, but it was a great time!

The birthday boy showing that he's THREE!!  (I made his birthday banner from Disney paint samples from Home Depot--love how it turned out!)

Jonathan's Mickey theme was easy to work with and he loved his cupcakes!

Being cheesy with Grandma and Grandpa!

The cookies are usually the first thing to go at our parties!  YUMMY!!

The last Santa hat cookie---had to get a picture before someone snatched it up!

Happy Birthday to you, sweet boy!!!

That present is for you!  "For me?!" 

Having pancakes on  his actual birthday. 

We are so blessed by Jonathan!  He has such a funny and sweet personality.  We love you to the moon and back, J3!  XOXO

First Snow!

We had a small dusting of snow yesterday and our boys loved it!!  We got ready for school and went outside for about 15 minutes before Jackson's bus came.  It's going to be really fun when the big snow comes!!  I think our boys are finally at an age where they can really play and enjoy the snow!  Can't wait!!! 


Shovels in hand, ready to work and play!  Such a fun morning!!

I wanted to write this down so I won't forget...We have never really used Advent calendars, but this year we are doing a prayer chain as a way to count the days until Christmas.  Each night we take off a link and pray for the person or thing.  We ask the boys what they want to pray for and then we pray together as a family.  It's been a really great way to end our day (we do this at bedtime) and I think it's way more meaningful than getting a piece of chocolate.  It works for our family!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We have always gone and cut down our Christmas tree, but this year we got a pre-cut one from Home Depot.  The fields were rainy and muddy after raining all weekend, so we settled on a pre-cut this year.  We got a beautiful Frasier Fir, which I love!  (I think I'll eventually lose the tree battle and we'll end up with a fake tree, but hopefully not for a long time!) Our boys really had fun decorating this year--they were excited and put up ornaments and had fun rummaging in the big Christmas tub for fun things!  There was Christmas music playing, AW was making homemade pasta, and the tree went up in no time!  It was a great afternoon!

Reach!!  Looking good, J-Man!!

Joshua put up some ornaments, in between running around!

Making pasta is fun!

Jonathan's turn to help

We are so blessed!!  Hoping you have a wonderful Christmas season with your family!  We are looking forward to all the festivities!! 

Christmas Concert

Joshua and Jonathan had their school Christmas concert last week and it was so cute!  They both did a really nice job singing and doing the motions.  I love that their school can truly celebrate the real meaning of Christmas!  This year, after being in the concert for the past few years, Jackson was in the audience with us and I think he enjoyed that!

Joshua was all smiles for his concert!  He knew all the words and did such a great job!!

Love this little guy!!

The Pre-School class did a good job!  They are such a young group, and pretty entertaining to watch! 

My Jonathan, who was so proud to be on the big stage!!  He was so sweet up there!

All the classes and their teachers, and lots of parents taking pictures!!