Grandparent's Day

Oh yay! Mimi and Papa are in town. The girls have been counting down the days for them to arrive with ripping off a link from one of those paper chains we made.

 Mimi baked cookies and brought them with her all the way from Cali!

 Stories before bed are a definite. 

 ICS has Grandparent's Day on the last day of school before Christmas break. Savannah was thrilled to have Papa be her special guest.

Such a cute craft.

Savannah and Mrs. Gleason.

 Maddie was able to have Mimi as her special guest.

Maddie and Mrs. Anthony.

 Love them.

   Geneva, Papa and Mimi loved watching the all-school play.

Happy Birthday to Uncle David

 WE had fun celebrating Uncle David's birthday at 5 Guys- only the best dinner establishment :)

 The girls were so excited to decorate the table and light candles at the restaurant. 

 Savannah was a wiseman in her kindergarten play. 

She's the cutest wiseman I've ever seen. 

Christmas is Here...

 We all know that December is busy with parties, presents, and people; but most important is our focus on Jesus Christ who came to rescue us from our sin. We've been having a sweet time remembering our Savior amidst the craziness. We still get busy and have lots to do, but as we walk in the way we remind ourselves and our kids why we're doing what we're doing. We do treasure the quiet down times of prayer, Bible reading, and good conversations. 

 My sweet loves.

We went to see a Christmas water show with some friends.

 

Baby, it's cold outside!

 I was able to go away for a weekend with some friends to hear Rosaria Butterfield give her testimony at Liberty University. It was moving to hear how she's living boldly for Christ in a world that celebrates everyone living just as they feel.

 Geneva's always my comic relief!

 Day off of school= jump house fun!

 We had a great time decorating our house the day after Thanksgiving- our family tradition. 

 We started advent with the girls. Jesse and I giggled as they showed up with with a pig, cat, and raccoon mask!

 One evening Jesse and I went with a bunch of friends to the Kennedy to hear Keith and Kristyn Getty for "An Irish Christmas". I highly recommend buying their music!

 Maddie was angel in her class's Las Posadas.

 After our church's Christmas concert, we had a few friends over for dinner and fellowship.
These kiddos are adorable playing BINGO. 

So thankful for Miss Penny and her love for us!

Savannah's 6th Birthday Party

Savannah Grace is such a gift to Jesse and me. She is creative, loving, joyful, and full of energy! 

Savannah's been into baking lately, so we had a cookie decorating party!

We started with decorating aprons.

Then we decorated cookies. 

Miss Penny made all the cookies and set up each girl with her own set to make. 

 Next we had a bunch of sweets, of course!

 

And played baking BINGO      

   One more game- unwrap the gift wearing pot holders and using a spatula!

Such sweet friends!

God's been so good to give us Savannah these 6 years. 

We pray for her to grow up loving the Lord more than anything else. 

Thanksgiving Feast with Savannah

 Such cute Native Americans and Pilgrims in KA!

 Each one made a place mat.

 The kids said Psalm 100 and sang us some songs.

 Then they enjoyed a feast!

My little pilgrim :)

Family Trip to Lexington, VA

We took a long weekend away with the family to Lexington, VA. It was good for us to just slow down and be together without other distractions. We love taking drives, seeing new places, hiking, and just being together.

 

Getting our National Park book stamped. 

 

The Blue Ridge Mountains are so beautiful in the fall!

We went to see the Natural Bridge.

It was so amazing!

 

 We also visited a Monacan Indian Village. 

We saw different animal skins, items the Indians would have made, and played a ring toss game.

 Hiking buddies.

 That afternoon the girls and I went shopping all afternoon in downtown Lexington. 

There were perks :)

 Girls time! They were such good walkers and shoppers. 

Daddy lucked out too- naps with Geneva are pretty good nice.

 The next morning we went to see my mom's college (Southern University) in Buena Vista- 

what a beautiful Victorian building!

 Then we walked a few miles and bird watched between a canal and river. 

 We read Pilgrim's Progress to the kids during the trip- they LOVED the book. It's such a great allegory to our walk with the Lord. I think we'll read it at least once a year.

Our hotel had a little pool that the girls also enjoyed- definitely a highlight for them to swim!

 Monday morning began with another hike! Maddie pushed the stroller quite a ways.

    My big hikers did 5 miles!

 

 We toured the Stonewall Jackson house.

 Here's a beauty of a tree right outside Washington and Lee Chapel- what a gorgeous building.

On the way home, we stopped at Roy's farm- what a nice guy! 

We picked up some yummy apples and fresh eggs.

We thanked the Lord for the safe travels (almost got in a bad accident) and sweet family time together. God is so good to His children and has blessed us with such beautiful creation to enjoy!