Christmas 2013!

It looks like he needed his two front teeth instead of the present :)

Digital drum sticks . . .

 A telescope!

 

Thankful for the presents . . .

Mini-muffins and Kit Kats from Noah!

A Target gift card from Nathan :)

 

He loved the wrapping paper!

Ahhh, an espresso maker - Miami style :)

The long-awaited electric blanket!

 

A Ninjago Cole clock!

Some of the Christmas cards we received!

 

Making a braclet on the Rainbow Loom :)

Noah and his new bike!  He was the 4th owner of the one he had been riding :)

 

 

Our Christmas this year has been wonderful and restful :)  The boys loved all the presents they received and got the things they really wanted.  They used gift cards given by others to buy the things they didn't find under the tree and ended up with everything on their lists.  The best gifts of being together and sharing life, however, are gifts we have each day and we are thankful for Jesus and that He made us a family :)

 

 

 

Christmas fun :)

Brotherly love . . . waiting for cookies

Eating the cookies :)

Snowman cookies!

 

Chocolate spoons!!!

Grabbing a hot one!

 

Christmas movies!

Spending time together :)

 

Waiting for the movies to begin . . .

Simple decorations . . .

 

A tree to remind us of the Great Light that came to us at Christmas :)

 

We had a wonderful time leading up to Christmas as we had many parties to attend, gifts to share, food to eat, lights to see, concerts to hear, things to decorate, and time together.  However, we always try to keep the focus where it belongs, on Jesus and His birthday so many years ago.  He is why we have Christmas and it is Christ that we proclaim at Christmas!  So thankful for that truth :)

 

 

Christmas Concert

Two good friends and two great brothers came out to support him.

Nathan playing percussion :)

 

This is Nathan's first year in the Capital Christian Homeschool Band and he is playing percussion.  That can mean a lot of things: snare drum, suspended cymbal, wood block, xylophone, triangle, and bells.  He has been learning all those different instruments and learning how to play as part of a larger group.  Those five years of piano lessons have definitely come in handy in keeping rhythm and reading music. It was a joy and a great moment of pride to see him do such a great job!  We are thankful for such wonderful homeschool opportunities we have in the area :)

Steph's Birthday

I spent the majority of the day with my three sweetest blessings :)  We played games and laughed together :)

At night, my wonderful husband took all of us out for dinner and it was wonderful!  Thankful to God for incredible mercies over me and His goodness to me :)

Nathan's 12th Birthday :)

His favorite Oreo cake :)

Chick-Fil-A dinner with the boys!

 

Our 12 year old!  He seems quite happy :)

Good friends and brothers

 

Carrying it over to the Happy Birthday Jesus party!

Making birthday presents for Jesus

It was a great birthday!

 

It is so wonderful to celebrate our sweet boy's 12th birthday, bittersweet actually. He's growing up so very fast and is such a smart, funny, and crazy kid that we love so very much :)  His birthdays are always so much fun and filled with wild boys having lots of fun! Hard to believe he's 12, but he's still our baby boy!

 

Mayberry, NC :)

Welcome to Mount Airy, NC (aka Mayberry!)

Posing with Andy and Opie

 

Amaury gets kissed by Thelma Lou

The official museum

Posing with Andy

Waiting for a ride . . .

Ever since we got Netflix a few months ago, the kids have watched nearly every episode of The Andy Griffith Show!  They love it and we love that they love it!  Recently, when Amaury was asked to preach in a Hispanic church in Mount Airy/Mayberry, we tagged along :)  We spent the afternon enjoying the museum and area.  It was a real treat for the kids to see :)

Baptist State Convention Annual Meeting

Each November we get to travel with Amaury to the annual meeting in Greensboro.  This year was so much fun :) We always get a high floor at the hotel that lets the boys see for miles around. Then we get to eat in different restaurants, swim in the pool, play in the jacuzzi, and visit all the booths (full of sweet treats) in the display area.  We have been coming since Noah was only six months old and in a stroller.  The people remember the boys and always comment on how big they are and how much they have grown since the last year :)  We are blessed to serve in such a wonderful organization.

Learning Chess

Noah has been spending all his free time the last few Fridays at our co-op with a kind and patient teenager who is helping him learn chess.  I never thougth at age 6 he would be interested, but he is and he's quite good!  Every week he comes home with many new things to teach any of us who will listen.  I'm thankful for teenagers who take time to teach younger children and not just dismiss them because they are young, and for Noah's interest in such wonderful ideas :)

Piedmont Triad International Airport tour

Getting oriented to the ticketing area

Learning about arrivals and departures

Getting an aerial view of the airport

Wonderful homeschooling friends Christie and Cherish

The group :)

Two other families and ours took a fun tour of the airport in Greensboro and it was fabulous! Our boys love anything to do with flying and airports so this was a treat for them. Our tour guide was very kind and gave us an educational tour and a nice goodie bag with fun things in them.  We finished the day by having a lunch together overlooking the terminal area.  It was a fun day for everyone :)

Party on the Block and Fall Decorationg

Noah digging for something sweet

Nathan getting his face painted

In line for Trunk or Treat

They see the sweet stuff!

Getting ready for pumpkin carving

Pulling out the seeds

A warm welcome to Fall

Mr. Scarecrow says HI!

Indeed :)

Fall in NC is a beautful season and we try our best to enjoy it as much as possible. The colors are incredible and the kids love decorating.  God lets us live in a great place and we're thankful!