Joy in the Journey

Holiday Highlights #3

They are very excited about their baby brother! I still can't believe we'll have three boys in the mix next year at this time...

We did some rearranging of the rooms. We were hoping to fit all three beds in one room (and have a play room) but it was just too cramped, so eventually James will sleep on the top bunk, Jude will sleep on the bottom (don't think he's completely ready for it), and Joah will have Jude's crib in the other room.

Stephen's dad made us a bookshelf (that we'll use for homeschool curriculum and manipulatives) as part of their Christmas to us. I love it.

Gingerbread making... It was a first for us this year!

Christmas Eve dinner with just the four of us!

Sining "Happy Birthday" to Jesus over peppermint chocolate chip ice cream pie!

They opened Christmas pajamas and the boys gave a gift to each other on Christmas Eve (Mickey for Jude and Paw Patrol for James).

Holiday Highlights #2

I took way too many pictures of James and Jude playing in the leaves one day while we were raking the yard, but this was just one of those spontaneous moments that turns into an hour of giggling. I'm so thankful for these days that I know I will always look back on as my very best days.

A snowman pancake for breakfast!

Going to see Santa at a local dentist's office. I read they were doing free professional pictures, and I'm so glad we went. It was so low stress and Santa spent ten minutes talking to each family. James warmed up to him for the first time and even sat on his lap.

Grandma Collins gave us Christmas money for a Zoo membership. We got to go enjoy Zoo Light Safari.

His favorite part was the train ride when Santa came out and chose him to receive a bell (like on the polar express!) and these roller racers. Our little boy thinks that he is a race car driver or maybe even a race car. He loved them so much that we found some to rent for his racing themed 5th birthday party coming up at the end of this month.

Holiday Highlights #1

I'm so behind on blogging... Here are some holiday highlights with our little family in our new home/town in Chelsea in November and December!

Lego Advent Calendar! James was so in love with this (and it was awesome) that I know we'll continue this new tradition for many years.

We let Jude open the chocolate advent calendar!

Decorating for Christmas in the new house. The owners before us left their inflatable Santa (and didn't want it back!) so we had to put it up. They LOVED it!

What a fun December this little stinker had with the ornaments. We hardly put any out because we daily put them back on and/or glued pieces back on.

Really out of order but Christmas Eve at our house!

I loved these Turkey Shirts that Nana made this year. I always try to snap these cute, matching pictures before church when I can.

Stephen turned 30 the day after Thanksgiving! We celebrated with pi/pie(x 30!) and pun!
He's a big math guy too so I knew he'd love this t-shirt!

Thanksgiving Day at my Dad's house.

Our family in Christmas PJs at Nana and Grandpas.

Holidays with Extended Family

I'm trying to play a little blog catch-up while the boys take naps after a late New Years Eve last night. Here are some pictures with all of our extended family from Thanksgiving and Christmas. We celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas during a week long trip to South Carolina in November and celebrated Christmas with Stephen's family during a weekend in December.