Merry Christmas!

I am finally getting around to posting our Christmas pictures. This year we stayed home and had a nice quiet Christmas with just the four of us. It was so much fun watching the kids be so excited about everything.

We had a Christmas Eve service at our church and it was lovely. I wish would have taken a picture of Andrew holding the candle during the candlelight service. He was so in awe of everything. Following the service a bunch of us went caroling to a couple in our church family. The wife just had surgery and was very disappointed that her doctor told her to stay home and recuperate. She was shocked and thrilled when 25 people from her church family showed up at her house on Christmas Eve night to sing carols to her. We also brought a birthday cake for Jesus, which we all shared together. It was a special time for everyone there.

This is Carole all dressed up and ready to go to our Christmas Eve service at the church.

And here is Andrew all dressed up and ready to go as well.

The princess had to make a pit stop on her throne before we vacated the castle. Potty training is going so much better! She takes herself to the potty now and has very few accidents.

I captured this moment on camera a few days before Christmas. They both snuggled up together to watch "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

Many of you know that we had limited space in our moving truck when we moved here. I had to leave my couch and love seat behind. I had no problem with this because they were very uncomfortable to sit in and were used when we got them. Also, our new living room here is much smaller and they would not have fit. Thanks to my Grandpa and Grandma, I have a new couch! They gave us money for Christmas and we used it to buy our very first BRAND NEW couch. Phil was able to pick it up before Christmas too!

Christmas day was a lot of fun. Andrew got up first. He was more concerned about whether Santa had found the cookies he left out for him than he was about opening presents. He was happy that Santa had indeed found them and even left a note for him. While the kids were waiting for breakfast they got to peek into their stockings. Carole loved getting her new tiara. Andrew got several things he liked, but was concerned because it was not what he had asked Santa for. He said, "Mom, I told Santa that I wanted a batman!" He proceeded to shake everything out of his stocking and said, "It's not here! Santa messed up!" I started laughing. Phil calmly told him not to worry because there were still presents under the tree. Andrew replied, "I know, Dad, but those are from YOU not Santa and I told HIM I wanted a Batman!" LOL!

Santa brought our princess her very first tiara and earring set.

Here is Andrew opening his present from Uncle Chris and Aunt Susanna. It was a Batmobile! It turned out to be his favorite gift of the day!

Andrew enjoying his new batmobile.

Here is Carole opening her favorite present of the day. A new princess quilt for her bed!

As soon as it was opened she dove under! She LOVES her new "pincess" bed.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It has been awhile since I've posted so on this very cold day I thought it was time to update you on this family of four. We have been experiencing some VERY cold temps here so in return the kids are getting a touch of cabin fever. And you all know that when a kid gets bored they tend to do things they know they shouldn't. Enough said. Pray for us! :o) It was -12 here today with 30-40 below wind chills!

Here are some pictures of them killing the time but not getting into trouble. They sure can be creative.

Carole has been into princesses lately. So in turn, she thinks she is a princess. Daddy and Mommy think so too. Well, most of the time. LOL! Andrew is always running around declaring, "I'm batman!" One day out of the blue Carole replied, "I'm Kitty Princess!"

Here is the princess trying to get her royal dollar store shoes on.

There was one day when the temperature actually made it into the 20's. So we bundled the kids up and let them play in the snow. We got 10 inches one night, so there was plenty to play in.

Here are a couple of box heads. In a moment of boredom, they raided my recycling pile a found a couple of kleenex boxes that made some nice hats. Creative, huh? And yes, those are my slippers Carole is wearing. ;o)

Last week Andrew had his Christmas program at preschool. It was hard to get good pictures as the lighting was not that good. So this picture is a frame I froze from a video clip I took. He was a VERY good shepherd. He had a hard time standing where his teacher wanted him to, but he sang so well!! His voice over powered the other children, not in a bad way, but more so because he actually knew all the words. He was so proud of himself and so were we!

And what does a 4.5 year old do to keep himself busy in church? Put stickers on his eyes! His Nana got him a dinosaur sticker book for his birthday this past year and today he found the eye stickers. And of course, Mommy had her camera with her! ;o)

I Have Been Tagged!

I have been tagged by my old college friend, Ann-Marie, and I have to follow the rules.
Here they are...

Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I have never been tagged before. After Ann-Marie tagged me, I was tagged on facebook by someone else. All in the same day!

2. Ann-Marie and I met when we were seniors in high school. We were both visiting Moody Bible Institute for the weekend. During our college years I set her up on a blind date. She was a champ to go through with it. She is now married to the guy! ;o)

3. I love living in a really small town.

4. I am in the middle of potty training my 2.5 year old, strong-willed daughter. It is going well except for the fact that she has poop phobia.

5. My favorite saying is "this too shall pass."

6. God is not through with me yet. I still have so much to learn about relying on Him and being patient.

7. I love rubber stamping. My favorite thing to do is to lock myself in my craft room and create greeting cards for others.

I tag:

Mandy S.
Ruthie
Sarah
Mandy C.
Laura
Sabrina
Linda

I Spy With My Little Eye

While we were eating supper tonight Andrew asked if we could play "I spy with my little eye." I said okay and he began the game.
Andrew: I spy with my wittle eye someting gween!
Phil: Your peas!
Andrew: Ya! Your turn, Daddy!
and the game went on, then suddenly Carole interrupted.
Carole: My turn, my turn!
Me: Okay, let's let Carole have a turn. Go ahead, Carole.
Carole: (beaming ear to ear) I spy with my wittle eye sumting iceceam!
Phil: Is it icecream, Carole?
Carole: Yay! Daddy got it. Your turn, Daddy!

LOL!!!!!!

O Christmas Tree

Tonight we put up our Christmas tree. I had bought the kids matching pajamas for Christmas a few weeks ago. I thought it would be cute to get some pictures of them decorating the tree together in their new pj's. They sure had a lot of fun. We are having a hard time getting Carole to realize that once you put the ornament on you are to leave it on. I think I may have all of my hair pulled out by Christmas. ;o)

This picture was taken right after they put their new pajamas on. They never hug each other like this!

Here they are digging in the ornament box trying to find just the right one to hang up next.

Carole took this decorating business very seriously. Everything had to be just right. Well, for a few seconds anyway. Then she would take it back off and put it somewhere else.

Andrew had a great time! He took his job very seriously too.

Here they are posing in front of their work with great pride.

Singing, Giggling Andrew

Andrew will be in a Christmas program at his new preschool on the 17th. For this he has to learn several Christmas songs. One of them is "Away in a Manger." Enjoy!

Carole's Favorite Christmas Carol

Her is a short video clip of Carole singing her favorite Christmas song. This is her version of the chorus. :)

New Picture

Yesterday, to my great surprise, I was able to get a good picture of the kids before church. I have always tried to take their picture every Sunday, and lo and behold I finally got a good one. I decided to use it for my Christmas card picture this year. I sent it to my mom and she doctored it up and gave it a nice snowy background. Believe it or not, but the background is a picture she took of their yard last year.
Thanks Mom!! ;o)