Merry Christmas! Buon Natale!

We love you and are wishing everyone the merriest of Christmases yet -- we wish you joy, love, peace and a very Happy New Year!

Christmas in Bethlehem!

Last night this church put on a "Bethlehem Village" event where they had folks dressed up as soldiers, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, some village people, etc., so we all went to it and even though it rained it ended up being a lot of fun! They had a puppet show, live nativity where they performed the First Christmas, a petting zoo, llama rides, arts and crafts, snacks and hot drinks and more. Conner's favorite part was of course the petting zoo and snacks, but he even got to participate in the crafts decorating a pine-cone.

I didn't take a single pic as I forgot my camera, but I'm so glad we went as it made it feel a bit more like Christmas! Thanks so much Feli for finding this event and Michael for getting us out the door even tho the odds were against us. :) Sure am glad I didn't miss it.

We just got a letter... :)

Well, you will anyway. After an hour wait to take the pictures and a 3 hr wait to get them ("long wait, part of gift"), I finally have our Christmas cards done and in the mail -- hurray! So keep a look out for them. Merry Christmas to one and all.

"Noah, Noah" and Conner dancing

Conner just LOVES the song "Noah, noah!" from music CD "Great Adventures" and he's just the cutest thing dancing to it. I've been trying to get a good clip of it to post, but it's pretty hard to catch as he'll stop and want to see the moment I pull out the camera (he's just too into electronics!). Anyway, I finally got a clip of him dancing from the back and here it is.

TY for your prayers!

TG, it went off without a hitch and we're all safe and sound. Thank you all so very much for your prayers!

http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=13635073

Prayers are needed!!!

Not sure if anyone has seen this, but this is happening within miles of where we live. We would appreciate your prayers for this situation, for the authorities working on it and for their current plan to succeed without any surprises, setbacks or complications. Thank you!

http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=13596968

And it's beginning to feel like Christmas! yay!

We put up our Christmas tree last night while drinking eggnog, it was great fun. I couldn't wait to see the kid's reactions and smiles in the morning and sure enough it was the first thing Conner saw when he woke up. "Wow! Pretty! Look Mom...pretty tree!" was his first reaction. Then he had to show his cousins straightway and them him. Even though it was mighty early, it made my morning, ahhh, I love the simple joys and the ways that kids enjoy every moment so perfectly and fully.

Will post pix soon.