Day 3, 2, and 1 of Our Countdown to Christmas

Day 3 Bryan and I gave the kids one of their gifts to go ahead and open. Each of them received their own personal photo book that I had created online. In the house fire three years ago we lost ALL of our pictures and scrapbooks. I wanted the kids to have some pictures so I went online to a website that I had been storing pictures since 2009. It was so much fun watching them enjoy looking at their own books and then looking through each other's books.

Day 2 we made gingerbread houses! Lots of fun! Bryan, my parents, and I helped the kids and each of them made their own house. It was cute!

 Elijah's gingerbread house

 Joanna's gingerbread house

 Timothy's gingerbread house

 Sarah's gingerbread house

Isaac's gingerbread house

Lastly on Day 1 we drank hot chocolate and told our favorite Christmas memories. It is fun to hear the kids tell what they remember about Christmas' past, but they also like to hear about my parents and mine and Bryan's Christmas' as children. Lots of memories!

Christmas Countdown: Days 7, 6, 5, and 4

On day 7 of our Countdown to Christmas we had a special family prayer time and each of us wrote down what we would like to give Jesus this year. We sealed those in an envelope and will open them next year at Christmas. I want to give Jesus more of a consistent daily time with Him.

Day 6 of our countdown we read Luke 2:36-38, the story about Anna. The scripture tells us that she served (worshipped) God with fasting and prayers night and day. That would be my desire for my family, that each of us worship the Lord night and day with fasting and prayer. I had bought us a new calendar to hang up in the kitchen and we opened it after we read the scripture. Each month on the calendar is a new Bible verse.

Going to the library is something that my kids LOVE to do, so for day 5 we made a trip to the library. Since my parents were here with us we took them along with us and we all enjoyed our time at the library very much.

On day 4 Bryan and I had somewhere to be early that morning so the kids got to enjoy breakfast with Paw and Maw. This was a treat for my kiddos because this meant breakfast out.

Joanna Turns 6!

Here it is January 19th and I haven't blogged anything this month!! :-( I have lots of catching up to do!

January is Birthday month around our house. We celebrate 3 birthdays this month, beginning with Joanna's! She turned 6 and we did lots of celebrating! Grandparents came up and we took her out to eat for lunch and then made her requested meal for supper. Sarah made Joanna waffles for her birthday breakfast, yummy!! 

Joanna is a very special little girl! She brings joy, laughter, and blessings to each of us. She had a great birthday! We look forward to all that God is going to do in her life!