Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Bear with me. I am tired, posting fast, and not re-reading this. It'll be random and scattered. Post more later!!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I am still unwinding from the long two days we have had. I did want to go ahead and get some photos 'off my chest', and into the blog. Oh, I got a new camera!!! That one was a surprise, but a VERY good one indeed!! Yesterday, I had to play handbells in two services. So, I showed up for rehearsal at 3:30, with kids alseep in the car. I run in to let my group know I was on my way in, and they let me know there will be NO CHILDCARE for the entire evening!!! Whhhhaaaatttt????? SOoooooo...I woke up my crew, dragged them into the sanctuary, and rehearsed as best I could, with the older two in chairs, watching, and Hope literally on my leg. She wouldn't go off stage. So, then, I began to semi-panic. How in the world would I play in front of hundreds of people-twice, with my three, tired, ready to go to Granny's after church, children, and I was there by myself?? So, a wonderful lady found someone to open a classroom, and she had her daughter watch the kids during my parts. I did have to miss the service, but at least I played my part!! If I didn't the show would not have gone on, and we WERE the first 10 minutes or so of the services. I had prayed so hard, and so thankful it went well in the end!!

So, then we went to Granny's for late dinner and present time! It was fun! Hope got a great trike! Connor got an awesome Thomas Carnival Set, all three got their very own V-Smile Pockets! Because you cannot just have one for your house these days!! lol. All their games they have already, are playable in the pocket version!! Cool, huh?!?

They got lots of other things, too!

This morning, we had lots of fun AGAIN! They talked to daddy, too! And tonight, the rest of the family came over for dinner. There was much fun/fighting for the kids! They are almost all the same age, and they are in the fight and tattle ages, so it is loads of fun for us mommies!!

My mom and Sara:

(Twas the Night Before Christmas-->Hmmmm..have I remembered everything??

We made our annual birthday cake for Jesus.

After we sang Happy Birthday, I broke out the diagram I drew up, showing all of the symbolism within my cake. Before we ate it, I explained it with the whole family, the kids LOVED it, and even the adults liked it, I think! The cousins had not seen this kind before, so it was a treat!

The girls got matching Island Princess costumes, but Hope never put hers on. Oh, but she did!!:

Hope and her new shopping cart, which is full of other new goodies. Maybe she put her pants in there?

Notice Veggie Tales' Larry the Cucumber behind my head :o)

I could have LITERALLY gained 5 pounds if I had licked her face at this point of the day:

This was one happy kid (she has the eyes of a girl about to O.D. on sugar, but at least she remembered her flashlight):

Mr Connor, with his new REAL tools! Toolbelt and all!! Thanks, Uncle Zach!!

Our cousins came over for dinner and MORE gifts!! We love to play dress up with our cousins!!

And the perfect end to a perfect day? 'Movie Night' in Mommy's room. Complete with our very own tents, flashlights, sleeping bags, popcorn, milk, and gobs of new movies!! Hi Daddy! We miss you! And we love you!!!!

Merry Christmas to ALL, and to all, A GOOD NIGHT!!