We have been super busy here - Christmas activities, out of town visitors, adoption hearings and generally trying to keep everyone regulated through it all!
This pictorial essay begins with the annual Christmas Boulevard at church. We get there early so the lines for Katie's favorite activity isn't too long....she LOVES the sledding !
We went with our friends - and Cami and Sammy did the tandem sledding - loved it too!
Bella and Becky were next - Bella loved it and Becky....well, that's now three years in a row it's not her favorite. She tried it last year and the year before - same expression, different year. Oh well - there's always next year!
there were train rides....
....and Santa....
.....and Christmas crafts.....
.....and s'mores....
....and after all that - the favorite thing for the girls was seeing their very favorite assistant principal Mrs. Swaney!
so not the best picture of me - but my friend Kelly looks great (as always!). We are so blessed to know this family and to have them as part of our "family" - their Bella is in Becky's class and their Sammy has becaome Cami's "wing girl" in the 3rd grade. We love their love for the Lord and the grace that they come to us with.
The day after Christmas Boulevard, we had a long overdue visit from Aunt Roni & Uncle Don. Aunt Roni once again hit a home run with the craft - tiara making!
We also got a chance to learn about Hanukkah. The girls loved the story of how God provided oil for the Passover celebration and they each got their own driedle.
We then rolled into the school Christmas Pagent. December 13th - one year to the day that I first met Cami. A play where these kids sung about Jesus' birth and celebrated the Savior. We are SO very blessed that the amazing education they receive every day is wrapped inside hte love of Christ.
Each class had a showcase song - the kinders used rhythm sticks - sort of ironic for Becky who has no rhythm. But she sure looked cute!
She also apparently missed the memo about ignoring the audience! She spent a lot of time giving instructions to me :)
Some of these are not mine - because I was simply crying too hard to get any good photos. You see - one year ago from this day, this child could not close her mouth. This night, she was playing the recorder. With her mouth closed. With her new fingers. It was simply too much to take in as we celebrated the Savior to see what He had done.
Two nights later, our church presented "No Room at the Inn" - their annual program from the Disabilities Ministry. For the past two years, they have included the little ones. I missed last year because I was in China, so I was super excited for this year's program - but not as excited as Katie!
Each of the little ones read a piece of the "Friendly Beast" poem - with a little help form their friends. We are so blessed by this ministry - there are over 40 high school kids who support these kids in Sunday school, VBS and this Christmas program.
We were so proud of how well she did - but she was even more proud of herself!
The program was even more special because Katie's teacher came to see her!
Then we rolled into the classroom festivities! Cami's 3rd grade class holds Yule Store where the parents donate new or slightly used items and the kids pay .50 each for them to give to their family & friends. It was a great event - awesome to see these kids SO excited about giving! The money raised goes to a local charity that our school supports.
Katie's class did "Poems and Pies" where each child read a line or two form a poem about how different cultures celebrate at this time of year then we had pie!
The kindergartners had a birthday party for Jesus -
Are you tired yet - because we were exhausted after all this! It was nice to celebrate but I have to say that I am glad it is all done and we can focus on the REASON for the SEASON and cast our eyes upon Jesus through family time!
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