CHRISTMAS!!

Santa left a trail of treats leading to the presents and stockings!
Santa was here!

The boys excited about their Starwars!

Showing Dad their guys!

Jake has wanted a tech deck half pipe for about 2 years... I have searched the planet, Santa got lucky this year!

Kenna is very much into science, she got a microscope and tickets to the body show !

I am also very excited to go to this with her! I have really been wanting to go!

CHRISTMAS EVE!

The kids and Dad started the day out with a little sledding. (Jake and Xander after a run.)

Jake going off of a huge jump!

Xander going off the same big jump!

After some hot chocolate and a movie we decorated gingerbread houses!

The boys!

We have never done the Christmas Eve pajama tradition before, and I love the idea! So we decided to start a new little tradition this year with a little twist... I have heard of people doing a movie and pajamas but I thought it would promote more family time to get a game instead! I had a little idea to make it from "Santa's Elves" put it on the doorstep and ring the door bell.

We wrapped the pajamas and game and I ran out and put them on the doorstep while the kids and Brad were playing a different game. Our house has two doors, and the back doorbell rings through to the front.(kind of annoying because I never know what door to go answer.) But for this it worked out PERFECTLY! I was in the kitchen baking cinnamon rolls while everyone was in the living room playing games, I reached out the back door and pushed the doorbell, the kids ran to the front, We have a little glass in the front door so you can see of someone is standing there.... Jake saw nobody so he ran to the back... He was like what the heck? I told him maybe it was too dark so he didn't see anyone and to go check again. They all ran to the front and opened the door to find a gift for each of them and one for the family! I have never seen Jake so Excited! They all tore into their pajamas and immediately asked if they could put them on?! Next they opened the game and all squealed because they had been wanting this game! After they changed into their pajamas Jake informed me that he knows they are from the elves because his pajamas smell like little elves!! And he knew why he didn't see anyone at the front door.... Elves are little ya know and they were smaller then where the glass was!!

Monopoly jr.

Let the games begin!

8 Months

My mom got a new lens for Christmas so we had a 8 month(32 week) photo shoot! I know I will be happy one day that I took pictures along the way, even if I am alarmed to look at the current state my body is in!

Christmas breakfast prayer

We had a yummy Christmas morning breakfast and asked who wanted to say the prayer?... Jake quickly volunteered and this is how it went......

Dear heavenly father, thank you that we can have Christmas...because it's CHRIST-MAS. Please bless that you can come visit us, even if it's just for a little bit. I hope you have a good birthday, a good Christmas birthday! Thank you that we can get presents even though it's your birthday. Name of Jesus Christ amen.

I was trying to control my laughter even though I had a little tear in my eye. How cute can that be? Not one word about blessing breakfast. I Love this kid!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

31 WEEKS

I am so amazed daily with this whole pregnancy thing... I cannot seem to wrap my mind around the miracle! I get weekly emails and got this the other day..Isn't it amazing?

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHIRSTMAS!

I decided 2 years ago we would give 3 gifts (like the 3 wisemen gave baby Jesus) on Christmas morning, we still do fun stockings with other little gifts in them, in our situation (divorce) I feel the kids and adults loose the meaning of what this season is really about.
It almost feels like a competition to see who can give the best and biggest pile of gifts, not to mention they have a few new sets of Grandparents. I actually still think I would love this idea regardless of divorce or not. I have explained to the kids why we do this but this year I have put a little something together I want to try out on Christmas eve.
We have a nativity set that I am going to kind of act out what happened that Christmas night. I am going to have each of the kids take a few of the characters and when I read about their role they will come and place them in the stable until I am finished with the story and the nativity scene is complete!
When we are done with that I am going to focus on who the wisemen were and what the gifts they brought symbolized. I have put together little objects that resemble the gold, frankincense and myrrh to turn it into a little object lesson to hopefully keep their attention. I got insence, a home oil scent and pennies and put them in little bags they can pass around and look at. it cost a grand total of $1.93 at walmart.

I hope to help them all understand why I feel it is important to remember what Christmas is really about and why we celebrate it. I hope they can connect and understand. I would really Love to carry this tradition on through all of our Christmas's together! I Actually learned some things I did not know while preparing for this. I just really want our kids to know that we celebrate Christmas because of Christ and I want to teach them to give rather then expect to always receive. Most of all I want them to learn to give back to Christ through service, prayer, Etc.

So... If you are looking for a little something extra to do this Christmas eve, try this!

*****I cannot figure out how to attach my word documents for the things in black, if you want it or are interested in reading the story email me***** tabithapatrice@gmail.com

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

The kids went sledding all day with Dad on Sat! I had some stocking stuffing shopping to get done, so it worked out great! They had a blast! It had just dumped on us all day the day before!

UNCLES

Uncles are so much fun!

O' Christmas Tree

I forgot to put a picture of our christmas tree for all to see!

TOOTH FAIRY

Jake lost his 3rd tooth tonight! It has been a little loose but recently got a little looser while eating some beef jerky... He had the idea to put some floss around it and slam the door but after I tied everything up he started to freak out a little. So we took it off and I told him to go brush his teeth... He thought it would be a good idea to brush it out, so he scrubbed and it popped out! He was so very excited! He wanted to bring it to show and tell and then have the tooth fairy come.

FAMILY PICTURES