Christmas

Christmas morning was spent here at our house. Matt, the kids and I had a nice morning together as a family. They each got something that they each were really excited about: Sam got a remote control tank (I think Daddy was excited about this too:-)) and the other thing he was really interested in was the Operation Game (he had played it the last time he was in the hospital) and Sophia got a lot of dress up clothes and a "Bitty Baby" which is a sweet baby doll made by the American Girl dolls. She seems to really love her baby, whom she has named Baby Jess/Jessie.

Sophia also got a tutu, which she put on immediately before opening anything else


Princess Sophia


Sam and Daddy with the new tank


My parents came over to spend some time with the kids. My mom has talked about how when we were all young how her parents always came to see us so we could be at home with our new stuff. I think that I am starting to feel as though I don't want to drag the kids all over the place trying to see everyone, so I think that I will request this in the future. That people are more than welcome to come to our house. If you have both sides of the family close how do you divide up the holidays?


After spending the morning at home, we went to Matt's parents in the afternoon for Christmas Dinner. By early afternoon Sammy had gotten a fever and had frequent coughing. I gave him albuterol which seemed to help the cough. We went over and had a delicious dinner. Shortly after dinner Sam started complaining that he was sick and had some diarrhea. His fever then got higher and he fell asleep. He slept for quite a while. Once he woke up he perked up and seemed to be feeling better.


Sophia taking Baby Jessie with her. She wanted to bring Jessie's high chair too:-)



Grandpa and Sammy cuddling on the couch


Cousins Naomi and Andrew


Sophia and Chris


Sophia and Andrew


Sammy, Daddy and "Baby Jessie" taking a nap

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve this year was a busy wonderful day. Unfortunately Matt had to work so he was unable to join in the day with us. We started the day by going to my mom's, where four of my five siblings and spouses were. Unfortunately my brother DJ and his wife Lyndsea were in florida so they couldn't join us. We had a great time at mom's playing with friends and family.

Sammy with Dennis and Johanna's snake "Moses"




My beautiful new nephew Darius Jeremiah


Sam and his friend Kaedan


Sophia and Sydney

We left my parents house and then went to a church that we had not attended before. Our friend Joan was actually singing several songs and invited us to see her. The kids did really well. They got loud occasionally but they did a really good job. I was so thankful to attend.
After that we went to Matt's grandmothers house. It was super busy there this year. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins, Allayna, Jacob and Ava. "Nana" read the Christmas story to the kids, and then asked them questions about His birth. It was really cool to watch. We then sang several songs, and Sophia was thrilled with the singing.
It was close to 10 when we got home. The kids went to bed and then the Christmas morning preparations began...

Luke 2:10-11
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

- O Come Emmanuel

Mary Did You Know -

Another amazing Christmas song I wanted to share

Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song) - Amy Grant

Sam is doing ok today. He is tired, but understandably so. The coughing/wheezing that has occured over the last few days seems to be improving. He seemed to have a little bit of blood in his stool today, but I am praying that this is not anything and that tomorrow will be a good day for him. I am starting to get a little anxious about his surgery, knowing that it is two weeks from today. Praying that the ICU isn't too scary for him at Children's. Praying that his pain will be well controlled, praying that there will be no hemorraging, and praying for God's will throughout this whole experience, and that I can shine God's light. Going through this Christmas season and the fears and health problems that have been going on with Sam, has really got me thinking about long ago.....
I have been thinking a lot in the last week or so about Mary and Joseph and the thoughts that must have gone through their minds as they learned that they were expecting a child, but not only a child, but the Son of God! As a first time mom there were so many things that I was worried about messing up. And now as I have two children, I look at each of them so often and ask myself if I am doing right by them, if I am teaching them as God would want me to. God bless Mary for her righteous heart, for carrying our Saviour, for obeying God's plan for her life.
Below a song that has spoken to me often through the years. It brings it back home that Mary was a mom just like me, yet she was chosen to carry my Saviour! Enjoy!!!



I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I've done
Holy Father you have come
And chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

[Chorus:]
Breath of heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy
Breath of heaven

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

Christmas Traditions

(3 posts below this one, I got behind this week)

Sophia started to get a little fiesty and Daddy had to reel her in:-)


Miss Twinkle Toes herself trying to twirl next to a table with several candles on it


Sammy very carefully lighting his candle


Sophia lighting her candle with help from Uncle Bud



Sophia enjoying sitting on Uncle Bud's lap and singing Christmas Songs


Sam and Dasanee, not quite paying attention


Auntie Irene, smiling as always


Johanna snuggling our new nephew


My very first Christmas 30 years ago, my aunt and uncle started a wonderful traditions which has been continued intermittently through the years. Sometime in the month of December, we would read through the Christmas Story. But as we read through it we would also be singing the songs that corresponded with those verses. My aunt is a wonderfully talented musician, and she blessed us tremendously today with her amazing talent.
I am not sure how many people were there today, but there was quite a large crowd. It was so wonderful to focus on the ONLY reason for the season:-) With each different passage that is read, a child gets to light a candle. My children were thrilled to pieces to do this. When Sammy lit his, he wanted to do it all by himself. And when he went to blow it out, he also blew out several other candles that had already been lit:-) We were all chuckling

Sunshine Garden

Sammy is on the bottom left, he was a little lamb in the Christmas Story

Excited!!!




Singing, Sammy is in the top left of the picture


Sammy had a little Christmas program at his preschool! He has been so excited about it, and has been singing the songs, and telling me who he wants there, and asking me if I would be proud etc etc....So so cute! He got all dressed up and got to wear a tie and was just so sweet! The pictures are TERRIBLE, but the musical itself was so so sweet. The children sang three songs and then they should a little DVD presentation set to music. Those are the more blurry pictures you see. Sammy was a little sheep in the Christmas Story:-)

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

Today while I was at church our Pastor played an amazing song that I have never heard before. If you go to Becky Kelly's website www.wheresthelinetoseejesus.com you can read the story about how this song came to be. It is inspiring to me. They have tried sending this song to Nashville twice, but it got NO RESPONSE! So they then went to YouTube and played the song there, the first day they had more than 3,000 hits! And it is steadily becoming more popular. My prayer is that this song inspires you as it inspires me. It is so sad that the Christmas season has lost it's true meaning to so many. I am so thankful that I was raised in a home where Jesus was the reason for the season, and that my children are being raised to know the truth about Christmas and how it has NOTHING to do with Santa!! May you be blessed by Jesus' love this season! Jesus is truly the reason for the season!!!

Where is the line to see Jesus?

Gingerbread House

We made our first gingerbread house as a family. The kids had a blast. Sophia didn't really understand the point about actually decorating the house and just wanted to eat the frosting and the candy. Sam was very interested in building hte house but didn't want to wait to let the frosting dry before he decorated it. He had a lot of fun.
He seems to be doing ok. Although today he is seeming to be a little more congested and now has an occasional cough. Praying that this doesn't turn into anything with him. Now with knowing how much he struggles on a "good night" of sleep it is nerve racking to think about what is going on when he is ill.

Rejoicing in this:
Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”

Christmas Tree

The four of us with our Christmas tree (which by the way is TALLER than me even when it is on its side)


Matt and Sam


My youngest sisters, Deanna and Doreen


Sophia and her "Auntie Reen"



My parents:-) They have been married for more than 31years!


Our GIGANTIC Christmas tree



We had such a wonderful time this weekend going to pick our own perfect Christmas tree and cut it down. We have never gone to this particular farm before and it was wonderful. They had a hayride that brought you down to the area where the trees were. We then wandered all through the trees looking for the best one. This year my parents and younger sisters came with us. It was so awesome. I am hoping that this can become a family tradition every year.

Christmas Lights

For as long as I can remember we have been going to Littleton Mass the sunday after thanksgiving to look at Christmas lights. It is a private home, but the people go all out with their decorations. They are not like the typical store bought stuff, alot of their decorations are hand made and painted. They do have some store stuff too, but it is just a really cool place to take the kids. I am thankful that my kids get to have this tradition. It is so fun to watch their faces light up when all around them suddenly is a sea of lights.