Christmas Cards Past

   With Thanksgiving tommorrow I am officially frantic!  No good pictures of Bo for the Christmas card!  If he sees a camera he will instantly scowl!  Even if he was laughing his head off a second ago.

Here are our cards from years past:

                                Annie 6 mo.

                                           Annie 1

                                          Annie 2

Family Letter Inside:

   This year Annie's favorite daily activity is to play "Mary and Baby Jesus."  She fills our home with joy, and my eyes with tears, as I watch her raid the towel drawer for her headpiece, slip into her Cinderella high heels, and lovingly place baby Jesus in his manger (my big blue roaster).  She sings "Away in the Manger" or her favorite lullaby to Jesus.  I often watch quietly until I am assigned the part of Joseph and commanded to take her to Bethlehem.  She is a beautiful daily reminder to Kelly and me what Christmas is about.

                                                Annie 3, Bo 6 mo.

Family Letter Inside:

   This year we added Bo to our family.  Although we opted not to name him Prince Charming as suggested by Annie, it would fir him well.  He is finally growing into his cheeks but it does look like he will probably be a football player.  I am hoping for a quarterback, but I'd put my money on linebacker.

   As a monther nothing is better than seeing the love in both their eyes as they watch each other.  We are constantly amazed at the blessing of having both a little boy and a little girl.  She is so girly and he is already so boy.  However, as I enjoy daily ballet shows in our livingroom I know it will only be a matter of time until Bo comes down in a pink fluffy pink Tutu or Annie enjoys her first monster truck show.  We can't wait to discover what God has in store for our family in 2008.

                               Annie 4, Bo 1

Family Letter Inside:

   This year Bo was plopped into the "manger" and carried around by Annie, "You be Baby Jesus, Bo!"  Next year Bo will probably be forced to be a shepherd as the new baby will be proclaimed Baby Jesus by our little Mary.  Each year Annie adds more and more elements of the story.  Stuffed animals stand in for the sheep and donkeys in the stable behind the couch.  I will never tire of hearing Mary sing "Away in the Manger" to her baby.

Here is one of my favorite secrets...the picture where Annie looks so sweet and innocent as Mary.  Here is what she REALLY looked like:

(I love hearing those shoes on our hardwood floors!)

  Here is what I went through to get a good Halloween picture:

"Bo, stand next to Annie."

"Annie let go, Bo stand up"

"Annie stop jumping,  Bo look at me."

"Bo do you want some chocolate chips?"  Yes Annie, you can have some chocolate chips for smiling, Annie stop jumping!"

"Annie put your dress down.  Bo, Stand up!  Look at me!"

"Okay, let's try this again.  Look at me, that's good!  Look at me!"

"Oh, good Bo!  Now, open both eyes."

"Bo, come back here!"

"You can do it Bo...look at me, smile, open your eyes...YEAH!!!"

"Yes Annie, you can have your choclate chips now."

So you see...I am not looking for a perfect picture...just a smile from my Bobo.  Wish me luck!!!