Life has been extraordinarily busy the past few weeks. It is a very busy time of the year. We are doing oodles of projects for the Visual Productions Ministry so that keeps my evenings filled to the brim with editing videos.
We are also gearing up for Christmas. I plan to go through the advent calendar with Luke this year. Since Luke is only 2, I think keeping it simple is key - I don't think he's ready to discuss theology yet. =) Luke will also be in the children's Christmas program at church. His Caravan class is singing a song. I'm excited to see how he'll do. Nothing will surprise me! He may get bashful and throw a huge fit - or he may sing his little heart out. All I know is it will be caught on video tape! =)
We have also started our Christmas shopping in earnest! I can think of a million things to get for Luke...but it's hard to buy for Will. He likes Luke's toys more than his own...and he's still at the age where the boxes and wrapping paper are more fun than the contents. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to be crawling around in the mountains of colorful paper and stealing Luke's toys.
I will be heading to my parents house for Christmas. I'm very excited! I haven't seen most of my family since we left for Germany, so it'll be good to see everyone again. Luke is very excited about getting on an airplane and having Grandpa and Grandma J come pick us up at the airport. It's only a two hour flight, but I chose to only get two seats and hold Will. Maybe I should have bought 3 seats...Will is the squirmiest child I have ever seen in my life. Holding him for 2 hours may be near impossible! We may be the first people kicked off an airplane mid-flight...while in the air...keep an eye on the news for that story...
Anyway, here are some pictures to play catch up. I have no idea how soon I'll be able to update again as I have 8 video's to edit for church over the next few weeks....which is actually a lesser number than I had two weeks ago - whhooohooo, making progress! =)
Maybe you'll be hearing from Chris soon...
Boys will be boys...Luke and Will roughhousing...
Will loves to smile!
The boys playing in Luke's room...
Will loves to drive around the cars...
This rarely happens, but Luke fell asleep waiting to eat supper one night. He had just gotten a new winter coat and refused to take it off. Guess is was super warm and cozy - and put him right to sleep! Maybe I should put it on him for nap time....
Will playing in the kitchen - "Hey mama, I can see myself in here!"
Will playing in the kitchen - "Hey mama, I can see myself in here!"
Randy and Jamie - Jamie is over halfway through her pregnancy! She has the cutest baby bump! Boy or girl you ask? It's a suprise!
Steve and Judy - my in-laws - also my landlords - hehehe! All kidding aside, Steve and Judy have selflessly opened up their home, generously shared their space and sacrificially given of their time and energy to help me and the boys. It has been a big adjustment for them to have a nice, peaceful and quiet home go to a loud, exhausting, rambunctious, all consuming house full of children...and me. =) I know it's not always easy - and I know that it's extremely exhausting - but I am more thankful than words can express. They never complain about us being here and have always made us feel very welcome. I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of their family. Thank you Steve and Judy for letting me make your home our home too for the time being.
Thanksgiving:
Luke checking out the turkey...
Jamie's awesome homemade dinner rolls!
Randy entertaining Will!
Chelsey, me, Jamie and Nancy enjoying some girl time!
Will enjoying his Thanksgiving meal...
Yay for Thankgiving!
Luke getting a kiss from his friend!
Christmas decorating:
I decided to let Luke have a little tree in his room - all decked out with CARS ornaments. I let him help me decorate it - and he decided to hang all the ornaments on one branch. After spreading them out and several attempts to tell him not to touch them anymore, I realized I had bought this tree and these decorations for HIS enjoyment. So, I told him he could play with the ornaments, but not the beads or the lights. Sooooo, after these pictures were taken, he took off all the ornaments to play with- and who knows where half of them are right now! If you were to see the tree at this very moment, it would look pretty bare ! Oh well, he still likes having it in his room.
Here is just an example of what he did with the ornaments later that night...he decorated everything he could find!
The BIG tree:
After a very successful day of shopping yesterday, we walked in the house to see that Guka had put up the tree. Luke was very impressed!
He was so excited about having a BIG tree in the living room, that he ran to his room and took the star off his little tree to put on the big tree. Of course the star looks tiny on the big tree, but it was so sweet that he wanted to share his star - the memory of his sweetness makes the star just perfect for the top of the tree.
Later, Luke went out to help Guka hang the outside lights. He had a blast being Guka's little helper!
That very night, there was a boat parade on the river. We rushed down to the river to watch the decorated boats pass by.
This afternoon, everyone worked on more Christmas decorating. Luke was loving it!
Luke had insisted MeMe buy Guka a snowman tie while we were out Christmas shopping, so here it is!
Here are a few random pics of Will...I need to get his picture by the tree too!
Standing tall!
He shares in his father and older brother's interest in geography...or maybe he just likes the songs the globe plays....=)
Nighty night!
