Christmas Morning

I took this picture of Eve warming her hands by the fire in our living room while she patiently waited for Grace and Jack to wake up on Christmas morning!

Christmas Eve Morning at Memere and Pepere's House {Part 2}

Jack, Grace, Kimberlee & Rose all enjoying a new gift from Memere and Pepere

Memere, Grace and Jack

Eve and Pepere with Auntie Allison and Grace in the background

Grace and Rose

 Kimberlee

Jack and Pepere

Eve

Grace, Jack and Memere

Rose

Grace (notice her missing tooth on top!) and Kimberlee

Eve 

Grace and Pepere

Jack

Eve

Grace, Jack and Rose playing a game with Uncle Steve

Grace

Thank you so much to Memere, Pepere, Auntie Allison, Uncle Steve, Rose and Kimberlee for making our Christmas Eve so special.

Our Very Merry Christmas Eve at Memere & Pepere's House {Part 1}

We spent Christmas Eve at Memere and Pepere's house.  Here are Grace, Jack and Eve with their adorable cousins Rose (age 8) and Kimberlee (age 5) standing with Santa just outside of Memere and Pepere's house.

Here is Pepere with all five of his grandchildren reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  This was such a sweet and an unforgettable moment.

We all had a great time playing together outside by the lake at Memere and Pepere's house.  Eve loved swinging with her cousin Rose!

Cousin Kimberlee

Cousin Rose

Jack and Daddy 

 Eve and Rose

Jack

There are many more pictures to come...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

 Christmas Eve

 Jack

Grace

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

Advent: Counting Down the Days Until Christmas

Our very favorite Christmas tradition is counting down the days until Christmas with our advent calendars, books and activities.  Every morning we all gather together around our Christmas tree to read our advent books and to open a little doors or windows on our advent calendars.  This is a tradition that my Mom started with me and it is one that I love passing on to my own children.  Our advent activities are the highlight of our days leading up to Christmas. 

The First Day of Winter

We made snowflake garland today to celebrate the first day of winter.  By the end of our project we had our very own "blizzard" in our art room!  It was so much fun.  We are hoping for lots and lots of snow this winter.

 

Making a Gingerbread House!

Let it Snow!

Jack could hardly believe it when he woke up this morning to see a world of white outside!  He was so excited to tell me that his "wish" had come true -- when he blew out the candles on his birthday cake he let me know that his wish was for snow.  I am so very happy that Jack's birthday wish came true today.  Jack, Eve and I had a great time playing in the snow and going sledding.  When Grace came home from school this afternoon Jack couldn't wait to go sledding with his big sister too!

   

Little Miss Eve declared that 'oh yes indeed' she was definitely big enough to slide down that BIG hill all by herself...and she did!  Each time her sled ride ended at the bottom of the hill she immediately said, "AGAIN!"

Jack is such a sweet brother.  He pulled Eve in a sled all around our yard while singing, "Let it Snow."

 Happy boy!

Sledding buddies!

Thank you to Jack for always shoveling our driveway!

Eve pulling her beloved Lavender on a sled!