My parents came for a visit a couple days before Christmas. We went to Hershey Sweet Lights, hung out and made a visit to see my Aunt and cousins in York. I will hold tight to the memories of sitting around our dining room table talking through our advent devotions and gathering together in the living room reading through the Christmas story in Luke together.
We opened gifts together one evening.
score!!! xbox 360..happy kids.
The kids watching grandma opening her gifts.
Breanna is ready to go shopping!
It was very cool to catch up with my Aunt and cousin in York. This picture is of my kiddos and my cousins' children...so surreal. This was the first time I have met the kids and it has been years since I have seen this family. We have plans to get together with my cousin soon and can't wait to go watch him race, he is a jockey at a race track close to our house.
The week before school let out for winter break was a busy few days with all the parties. To add to the craziness I was working on a custom cake order in between all the kids activities.
I so enjoy being in the classrooms interacting with the kids in a less structured environment and having opportunities to get to know a few of the moms better. Here are a few moms that I have enjoyed getting to know this year as we have crossed paths at a variety of places in the community with kids activities.
The kids gave each of the room moms and helpers Thank you cards for planning parties. I just loved reading through each one of the cards. One of the boys drew a football on the card and he told me He just knew I liked football because I was team mom for one of the teams. These kids pay attention even when you think you are not doing much.
You just can't go wrong with minute to win it games. The kids had so much fun!
Maddy took her turn with the cotton ball game. You put Vaseline on your nose and move cotton balls from one plate to another.
Making homemade ice cream.
This is such a great class. You don't hear any complaining..none at all. They go with the flow and seem to enjoy anything that you plan for the parties. I am thankful for this little class.
I was not able to get into Logan's class this time since his party was on the same day/time.
Next party.......
Olivia enjoyed every second of her chocolate dipped pretzel! I enjoy how kindergarten children don't have any expectations of what a party should or shouldn't be so they just like everything! It doesn't take much for the kids to have fun.
Olivia and her little friend at school, such a sweet talkative little girl.
Next party.......
Maddy had a BIG day of party-ing! Her 4-H party was lots of fun! I just cant tell you how much I have enjoyed getting to know this group of parents and the 4-H leader, Lori. Children are from all over Harrisburg and beyond and It's refreshing to see so many active dads participating in the program with their children.
Of course cake pops were made for the occasion. We made little tags with the 4-H logo and pledge.
A few of the girls dressed their bunnies (big and small) up for Christmas.
We also took a tour of the farm show as it was being set up. Maddy will be very busy volunteering with 4-H at the farm show this year!!
Here is a video I dug up from the vault. This was Christmas Eve 2009 and the kids "made a church" in the woods and had several services for the neighbors. Once the people stopped coming the kids took the production to the neighborhood. They went to all the houses on the street to share the Christmas story.
This all started when Logan's friend told him that he had not been to church and he didn't really know the Christmas story. Logan went to work building a cross out of sticks and Maddy organized some neighborhood children to fill the different characters. They alternated turns reading the story and were so serious as they taught others about Christmas. I must admit the Lord was graciously teaching this mama that day as well as the kids. They were coming in and out of the house collecting bibles, towels, books (advent) and other items. Little did I know what the Lord was doing in their hearts as I looked up in my cleaning frenzy and noticed neighbors passing by my window to go into the woods. The Lord was graciously teaching me a big lesson that day as he does very often through our children.
click on the box below.....
I sadly placed a ribbon on one of the columns on our house. This home is praying as many are across the nation. I've been on my knees praying for this Nation in ways I have not done before 12-14-12. There seems to be so many words, many opinions, so many grieving so I will not add to the plethora of words however in a quietness of spirit offer this scripture.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Isaiah 40:28-31
God’s People Are Comforted
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
11 of us all together, 7 kids and we ALL made it back to PA! We had lots of fun walking the streets of NYC. This year, Logan was given a small dose of nausea medication for the drive and train ride and it worked! Yay, he was so excited not to be sick in NYC this year. We thought it was going to be pretty chilly in the city but I must admit we were all shedding layers throughout the day. Many fun times, laughs and sweet memories were made.
Checking out the interactive windows at Macy's
Olivia was anticipating looking at a few windows. It's so much fun watching kids experience things they enjoy.
The details are just so intriguing and I can assure you that Logan enjoyed this so much more than last year when it took a few hours for him to recover from car sickness.
The American Girl boutique...Caught the boyz appeasing the ladies (Maddy and Olivia) by watching the beauticians work. hehe
My sweet Maddy, approaching the tween years, I love to see her enjoying being a young girl.
It was fun to turn around to capture a moment and Lisa was already clicking. Fun!!!
So many things to look at and experience, however the moments together trump them all....
The youngest boys sight seeing together, carrying on deep conversations like two old men. And even walking arms linked every once in a while.
Sometimes the excitement was too much to handle so the best option was just to hug.
Yes, ALL of us took the opportunity to hop across the street to reenact Buddy the Elf...Lots of laughter. (Thankful Lisa snagged this shot, it's one that I tucked away in my memory forever..just makes me chuckle every time I think about it)
Times Square...New York City
Rockefeller plaza, Something Special about Christmas Time in New York City
Fun!!!
We had to go to FAO Shwarz and play on the big piano!
The kids got a kick out of playing all the games in the toy store...but this guy was a hit with his magic tricks.
Titus cracked me up and I just loved watching his facial expressions
Okay. the Chestnuts smelled wonderful and they bring fun songs to mind about Christmas time HOWEVER they aren't that tasty... at all.
It's for the experience...
Good? Nope, Not good at all...something about the center being too soft. Maddy said they tasted like mashed potatoes.
Waiting patiently to go ice skating. With 11 people traveling together there was a lot of waiting because someone had to hit the potty every few minutes.
Moments like this....priceless
You can see Titus is hanging on for dear life however what cracks me up the most about this picture is Shawn is in the background...bent over headed toward the wall and mouth wide open.
The title should be "This is gonna hurt! "
Keeping all the bags secure and telling all our kids how to skate "wink"
Catching it all on video in Times Square
Hehe, Shawn photo-bombing an otherwise beautiful picture.
The Morrison Crew, in Times Square...Gosh can we just do this all over again? It was getting pretty late. We stayed longer than we thought we would have and Titus looked up and said "I sure wish we knew someone that we could stay with in NYC so we can do this again tomorrow"
Yes, buddy I get that...
Very tired and ready to get home........On the train heading back to NJ
Olivia had her very first school concert. I wasn't sure how she was going to react being in front of an audience. She surprised me with her loud singing and animated motions. I had a knot in my throat most of the performance as I just can't believe how fast time passes by and to watch her interact with her peers. She seems to have many friends but certainly developed some loyalty to a few friends very quickly.
Sandwiched between two of her friends.
I must say this was one of my favorite moments of the morning. After they completed the concert they congratulated one another with an impromptu hug. Goodness, so sweet.
Each year seems to hold something new for Thanksgiving Day. Nana did her magic in the kitchen and the kids enjoyed helping. This was the first time to spend with Billy's brother Bob and his family. We spent ALL day eating even though our diner was at 5:00pm. It was so nice to have a few days of NOTHING on the calendar.
Maddy is trying Nana's trick of getting the spoon to stick. She wasn't as successful as Nana was with getting it to stick on her nose.
Nana and her 2 boys together for the holiday.
Thanksgiving and football with a room full of Redskin fans!
We had fun hanging out watching the game and it was nice to for the 'Skins to pull out a win.
Billy's brother Bob hanging out enjoying the game with a full belly and sandwiched in between two very cuddly kiddos.
Here is the crew. Olivia and Evy played non-stop. After the redskins pulled off the win we watched a few episodes of Duck Dynasty. It was
"fun, fun, fun....fun"
Happy Thanksgiving!
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalms 100:4-5
