Very Merry Christmas... Part 3

After church, we headed home for a big ole' Sunday dinner with a hint of Christmas too.  Then, we swapped some gifts.  Good, fun and useful things indeed!  After discovering a new baler, road grader and excavator Kaleb was pretty excited.  However, the highlight of the afternoon was Kaleb's latest item in his 'farm'.  I keep asking Gamma when she's going to start providing a barn to store all the animals in... or an addition to our house anyways :)

You know its good when it takes Grandpa and Uncle RyRy to haul it into the house...

 Oh, boy...its a horse of course! 

Thanks Gamma & Grandpa!! 

First Christmas Program

In case we hadn't had enough fun... we had one more Christmas celebration with my side of the family after returning from Sarabeth's house.  Mom, Dad and Uncle RyRy met us for church.  It was a special day indeed as we had our first Christmas program.  Not only Kaleb's first but the first for our church as well.  It was simple and sweet- precious indeed.

The kids had their 'Bibles' out and sang a few little chorus'.  

 The kids with our sweet and precious Mrs. Tiller.  She is a blessing from God as she ministers to our kids.  We are so grateful for her gift of teaching Kaleb the true stories of the Bible.  

She's a saint...really, she is ;) Praise the Lord for Mrs. Tiller! 

Children's Museum

While in the area...we hit up the local Children's Museum.  It was a great place and Kaleb had a wonderful time.  He could have spent days there as he was totally loving all of it!

 The kid knows his way around a grocery store...

hmm, wonder why ;) 

 Sarabeth's project...

 The Bubble Room... ah, the fun!

Lots of fun indeed!! 

Sarabeth made for an excellent tour guide too :) 

A Very Merry Christmas... Part 2

Because you can never have too much fun... we got up the next morning and headed to "Sarabeth's House" as Kaleb refers to it.  Oh, did we have fun!! The pictures say it all:

The annual gingerbread house... 

 Our finished product.. pretty cool if you ask me :) 

 Next up...decorating Christmas sugar cookies.  

Hello, sugar!!! 

 Christmas Eve

 The anticipation builds...

 We will never forget the insanely funny memory of Kaleb's laughter at the incredible fun one can have by simply collapsing a balloon full of air into one's face.  

Pure hysteria.  You really  had to be there.  Priceless.  

 Grandpa Roth's awesome find... shhh, don't tell the dieticians out there ;) 

A Very Merry Christmas...Part 1

What a fun and blessed week we spent celebrating Jesus' Birthday!  We kicked off the week with my favorite Christmas tradition... our trip to the living nativity.  Always a special time that truly makes me feel like we take a step back in time to what Christmas really started out as. 

 Its authentic with live camels, 

squawking birds and this year...

 a real live baby boy wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.  

Oh, it is sweet indeed.  

Then, we headed home for snacks and to open a few presents.  Fun times :) 

 "Cheese"

What's not to love when you get caramel popcorn, chex mix and cookies for supper! 

 Kaleb insisted and snowman and Christmas bear be included :) 

 And, then- we unveiled Thomas.  Good times, I tell you! 

 We completed the night by wildly throwing wrapping paper about the room with squeals of joy. 

It was Kaleb's idea... really it was.  

Puzzle Pieces for Christmas!

When you're in the long haul to build your family through adoption... nothing beats a few puzzle pieces for Christmas!!  So incredibly thankful for a friends' contribution to our adoption... thanks to him, we crossed off the numbers 91 and 71.  Big puzzle pieces they are too! What a blessing and encouragement to us :)  42% of the way there and 39 pieces sponsored.  Praise the Lord for friends who come along side with encouraging words and gracious hearts.

God Bless! 

Christmas Lights @ Storybook Island

More Christmas fun was had this weekend- we went to Storybook Island to see their light display.  It was lovely and a lot of fun.  I'll never forget as we walked into the archway... Kaleb saying in his soft sweet and awe filled little voice "AWESOME".  It was precious.  I've come to realize and evaluate this Christmas more than any before.  This is the Christmas he really remembers it all.  He'll remember the Christmas tree this year, the lights at Storybook Island, stockings and all the fun traditions in between.  

 There were reindeer too!  

Definitely topped his list :) 

But at the end, this is what we found... 

We had talked about seeing if we could find Baby Jesus in the Christmas lights and 

as we got closer Kaleb said "Dere He is- I see it"  

Good times indeed!

"Jesus"

 Our church is relatively 'young' by most standards.  It's established but it is still developing.  We are incredibly blessed to have found our church family at Hills View.  This past summer, 'Kids Bible Time' started in the kitchen with about 4 kids attending in the beginning.  Since then, it has grown to sometimes having nearly 20 kids a Sunday.  We cram them into the kitchen, teach them about the Bible, sing old fashioned Sunday School songs and then of course... crank out a craft.  

In late summer, the sweet and lovely Mrs. Tiller made a commitment to lead Kids Bible Time every week.  And, I have been so blessed by her sacrifice and servant's heart.  

She is precious.  

Tonight, Kaleb was sitting on my lap.  Like he does a lot.  I am his human jungle gym.  He is the tickle magnet and life is grand :)  I complimented Kaleb that he did such a good job in going to Kids Bible Time on Sunday.  Keep in mind, his 2nd truly 'successful' time in going/doing/participating and not simply running around dancing randomly and being well- a 2 year old little boy.  He has notoriously avoided the church nursery as he does not like revolving caretakers and being contained. Mrs. Tiller has made such an effort to reach out to Kaleb so he becomes a 'regular'.  What a precious soul she is to the kids of Hills View! 

After the compliment, 

I asked him what he learned in Bible Time and he quietly said...

"Jesus" 

Oh, my.  This is what its all about! 

Then, he quietly, softly and very sweetly started singing... 

"Jesus, Loves Me".  

Melt my heart and Praise the Lord. 

It was like reading the first page in the story of Kaleb's faith walk.  

Go God

I am so incredibly thankful for God choosing me to be his Mama for life! 

Christmas is Here...

 I'm calling it now- this will be the best Christmas season ever! 

We're incredibly blessed :)