Eve of the New Year 2012

 We have dear friends that are so sweet to bless us with "passes" for  family time together.

 We enjoy returning each year for the New Year's Eve fireworks and a special night show that blesses us with caroling and Christmas songs that bring our thoughts back to the One that our country's founding fathers' trusted in -- Joy to the World our Savior Reigns.  Silent Night Holy Night...Christ the Savior is born.  Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Merry Christmas! 2011

Dinner Setting for our Christmas

All of us after dinner. The dinner game was "What movie is this (line) from?"

Some of the guys hanging out with Holly

Just finished playing fetch with Holly

Holly would rather sneak in licks than face the camera

Posing for a picture in the midst of playing catch with Holly

Christmas Eve 2011

Sunny during Yuletide Season

Glimpses

Was walking by and caught a glimpse of this little one humming a Christmas carol while he was nestled in with the Nativity that he set up amongst 'grass' he found... too cute to pass up a photo

Favorite

 This is my all-time favorite Christmas tradition for our family. I am greatful for the hands and hearts that put together this spectacular production. I am also thankful that my husband and kids bear the hour-long line and the cold for me who enjoys it more than any of them. It is a theatrical walk-through play of God's great Love for us, and His desire to rescue us, as seen from the time of Moses through Jesus birth and resurrection.

God rescued the Israelites and delivered them from Pharoah. Those spots are water spray on us as
 we follow our leader Moses as we walk through the parted Red Sea.

God rescued Meshach, Shadrach and Abenigo when they were thrown in the fiery furnace
because they would only bow down to God, not an idol.

God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son.

Jesus paid the debt for our sins and made a way to heaven for those who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior.

The boys rocked back and forth as they sang "We Three Kings" as we were in line.

They are SO excited that it is their turn to ride the camel, they can't contain themselves!
[So fun that they were just singing We 3 Kings]

By the end of the evening, we had cold toes and refreshed hearts, walking through our living reminder of   Jesus Christ in CHRISTmas.

As we drove away, our youngest one said, "At least Christmas is every year." With further probing from me, he said, "We don't have to wait too long for it to happen again!" The next morning our oldest one shared, "I loved every part of it!" That's a blessing to hear, because I can't wait til next time!

Arthur Christmas

Our boys still talk and re-enact the fun parts of this movie that we got to see in the theatres.

Safari Walk

We are blessed to enjoy the beautiful creatures that God, as Master, has created.

We were hanging with fruit bats and gibbons, watching leisurely lions,

touring with gazelle, antelope, goat, giraffe and rhinoceros for a full day.

The frequent flyers beauties were macaws, crowned cranes, owls, secretary birds and hawks. Of course, we are thankful for the friendship the Lord blessed us with through this family and our fellowship today.

Eight

Don't need anything else but the sum of these eight kids together to equal a fun-derful time together :-)

Buds

So glad we get to visit with our pal from preschool. Whenever we meet up, they just start chatting away again, like they used to do in 4-year old class together. It is sweet for the mamas to watch them grow.

Sugar

I told all the "guys" that I'd love their picture while they are workin' cuz most of my photos of these four together are "sitting." The four joined together to quadruple-ly-fast stack this cord of wood. Here's the completed task:

Great work guys!

Mozy-ing into the kitchen for sugar cookies and holiday baking.

Rolling dough and picking cookie cutter shapes with Gram

Al led the cookie frosting and decorating, for the "endless" stream of the fresh-from-the-oven six dozen cookies 

Here are the masterpiece creations:

Al set up the karoake for Christmas Songs and the kids belted out Deck the Halls, We 3 Kings &more:

Gram made sure to top off the blessings of time together with her home cookin' during this busy-fun weekend.

Kung Fu karate chops?

 This was an opportunity for physical fitness and fun when the kids received a party favor of karate lessons and got to take a class with their pals..