Pierce's Christmas Program

Pierce's preschool had a holiday tea for the parents, and they put on a little performance before refreshments were served. Here's a picture of Pierce right after his performance:



This is the video of part of their performance. I feel bad for the little girl beside Pierce. She kept getting boxed out by Pierce's exuberance.

Grandparent's Day Chapel

Every year, Madelyn's school, Immanuel Christian School, hosts Grandparent's Day. Grandparents are invited to a Christmas musical and get to see the classrooms and participate in a project with the kids. The musical was quite entertaining and it was obvious that the kids had worked very hard to learn the songs and their lines. The first grade students sang a few songs at the end of the production. Madelyn was actually chosen to be part of a smaller ensemble and then went back to join the rest of her class mates for the remaining part of the performance.


Waiting for the show to begin:

The younger kids were great during the waiting and the actual show, especially considering they both have horrible colds.


Madelyn was a little nervous before the show:


Part of Madelyn's class:

Here's a video of Madelyn in the ensemble. The quality isn't the best, and our seats made it hard to get the best view, but you can hear her pretty well. You can also hear the coughing and singing of Pierce and Isabel in the background:


Madelyn with her class:

Isabel Singing "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger"

You might need to turn the volume waaaaaay up to hear these.

This year's ornaments and our tree

We've been getting the kids their own ornaments for the last few years, and we try to get them one that commemorates something from their year.

Madelyn got a piano this year.


I couldn't find any cute superhero ornaments this year, so I got Pierce a dinosaur. He's really gotten into superheros and dinosaurs to a degree.


A reminder of Isabel's broken leg:


Our family ornament:


We also got an ornament to celebrate buying our house. It also has our last name and address on it.


Not the best picture, but this is our tree:

Finding our Christmas Tree

On the way back from Thanksgiving with family, we stopped at a farm to cut down a Christmas tree. We had a good time picking out the "perfect" tree.

Taking it all in:



We found it:


Pierce likes it:


Isabel was just along for the running around:





Always a good time to wrestle:



And we're off:


Just like the Griswolds:

It all started

with two trees, two kids, a big kid who's great with tools, and a big dream.














Now, we have an awesome treehouse with "the fastest slide ever" and a "really cool climbing wall." Reason #753 why I love that guy!

Thankful Trees

This is our third year of doing "thankful trees". I got this idea from a MOPS meeting a few years ago and have loved doing it with the kids. You start out with a blank tree and leaves. You then write things that you are thankful for on the leaves, and glue the leaves on the tree. Madelyn pointed out that the leaves should be falling off the tree since it's fall. I took pictures of the kids with their thankful trees today. Here are their lists in no particular order:



1. candy
2. beach
3. food
4. mommy and daddy
5. our house
6. God
7. toys
8. Kathryn and Taylor (cousins)
9. Nature-God's creation (her clarification)



1. parks
2. pool
3. Mommy and Daddy
4. our house
5. tamborine (made at church)
6. that God made the world
7. that he was able to stay home (no school on this day)
8. changing seasons
9. that God made the world


1. Special bag (which holds her Halloween candy that we are still working on)
2. socks
3. Mommy
4. God
5. Clay
6. Puggles (AWANA class at church)
7. God
8. God
9. Daddy



I am thankful for so much-our family (both immediate and extended) and our many blessings (health, house, job, church, too many to name really).

Madelyn has been learning about thankfulness in her class at church and also during Bible at school. Here are some of her verses:

1 Thessalonians 5:18-Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 107:1-Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.
2 Corinthians 9:15-Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift.

It's hard to not be thankful after reflecting on these and listening to her say them.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!