Christmas Joy

My family has always loved visiting a live nativity.  

It always helps us refocus our hearts during the Christmas season.  

This year we thought it might be neat to 

bring that Christmas Joy to others.

The kids were pretty excited about the idea.

So, we all picked our parts, 
and ordered some costumes.

Then, at noon on Christmas Eve, 
we piled into our SUV

and drove to the busiest road in town. 

I'm sure we were quite the site with 

our giant car load of angels and shepherds tumbling out.

The very first car to pass, 

stopped in the middle of the road,

 and yelled out the window, 

"That's awesome!"

The kids were beaming.

The cold wind was blowing hard 

but the kids were ready to roll, 

and we started across the top of the hill. 

Mary & Joseph started off first.

The angel waited till they got far enough ahead

 and started on his way.

I bent down to help Blue adjust his mittens 

while the others took their cues,

and when I looked up my heart was deeply touched. 

I had the best view of it all.

It was beautiful.

The faces in the cars were priceless,

drivers honked,

mamas pointed to show their kids, 

smiles were pressed up against the glass with wide eyes.

We waved and smiled back, so excited that people were enjoying seeing Mary and Joseph walking down the road.

And as we rounded our last corner and the star was tiring out...

the little sheep leaned down and whispered something in his ear 

and the little star took off running down the road.

It was the best Christmas present ever.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I highly encourage families to start their own Nativity walk.

It was a true blessing to us all!

Please let me know if you do so I can post a link to yours next year.

Everyday Adventure

This summer my boys have fallen deep in love 

with fishing.

It's all they want to do.

After the lines are all untangled 

and we get through the first 5 minutes of, 

"Hey! You almost poked my eye out!" 

&

"Who hooked my shirt? Get it out!"

Then, they settle in.

No one even cares if they catch the biggest,

or the smallest.

And the sweetest conversations & teamwork happen.

It's magical & peaceful until:

"Mom!!!  My pole is stuck up in tree!"

(the tree that is so tall I couldn't fit it in the picture)

Then, the peacefulness is gone,

 because we are laughing too hard.

Until we cut that baby down.

(the pole, not the tree)

One thing for sure...

when you travel with a pack of boys,

everyday there is an adventure.

Just like Annie

This year Annie started playing fast pitch softball.

Her amazing coaches encouraged her to try out catcher.

She loves it.

When she gets home from practice she asks me to pitch 

(my wild pitches) as she practices.

She spends a loooooot of time like this:

So the boys spend a lot of time watching like this:

Monkeys See, Monkeys Do.

Gonna have some killer leg muscles.