LaSalette Shrine

Eric, Sarah and I went to the LaSalette Shrine a couple of nights ago to see the lights and nativity. Christian was at a friends house for dinner, so we decided to go out to eat and stop by the shine. We try to get there every year during the Christmas season. It was raining while we were there, so our visit was short, but still very beautiful!

Merry Christmas 2008

t'was the night before Christmas

Merry Christmas!!! I hope your Christmas eve was as magical as ours. It seems that every Christmas eve has that tone to it, doesn't it? Last night we went to a friends Christmas party and after that we went to church. I sang in the choir, Sarah sang in the children's choir and both kids were in the pagent. It was a busy night, but wonderful! Our family was asked to light the last advent candle and read scripture at the service too. Sarah and Eric did a responsive reading and Christian and I read the scriptures. I read Isaiah, Chapter 9, verses 2 to 7. Christian read Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) He did a wonderful job. I love hearing him read aloud. I thought I would post it here:

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

It's been a tradition now for a while that Santa (or a family member/friend/or we find one at a yardsale!) gives the kids a nutcracker for Christmas. I've uploaded these backwards again, but this is our collection now. We have yet to get a German nutcracker, but I'm sure someday we will. Sarah is a big fan of the Nutcracker ballet and we all like the story as well (and the music!).

The two newest additions.... a skier and a pizza-maker. (Sarah: thanks for my new pj's Nana, see, they fit!!)

more birthday... more snow!

We managed to have Sarah's birthday party with some of her school friends despite the bad weather and not to mention Sarah had a fever on Thursday and Friday! She felt better by Saturday morning, but we were hammered with snow Friday night. I didn't want to re-schedule, so I put the truck in four wheel drive and headed to the bowling alley with a vehicle full of jolly girls! A fun time was had by them all. On Sunday another storm hit, this one bigger. Church was cancelled so we spent the morning at the farm. It snowed all day and night. We had breakfast at the farm, then the kids went sledding there on their big hill. It was so cold!

Eric borrowed the tractor to plow our driveway.

nice form Sarah!

pizza time

Making a wish... again!

Just one

I guess this is all I'm going to get for today.. I have several new pictures to share but it won't work yet again. I'll try again soon! Santa came to Sarah's school after the annual Holiday concert last week!

Christmas pictures

I tried to get a good picture with Sally in it, since it is her first Christmas and as you can see, they turned out quite comical! kiss, kiss for Christian...

More kisses for Sarah...

Finally I tried making funny noises to just get Sally to look my way!

cute shot huh?!

We had an ice storm last Friday and lost power for a while. I took the kids outside after the freezing rain/snow stopped and we'd played too much trivial pursuit! This one turned out well too. We were lucky and got our power on by bedtime, others in our town are JUST getting their power back! Eric's boss (who lives further south of us) still has no power. He had to go travel to Connecticut to find a generator... crazy!

Happy 9th Birthday Sarah!

Here is Sarah at about 3-3 1/2 years old. I wish I could put some baby pictures on here, but we had switched to digital right around the time this picture was taken! When she was born she had a full head of black hair. She weighed 9lbs 8oz. Last night Sarah and I got our her birth certificate. She was really curious about what time she was born! She came at 5:07 pm. She got a kiss at that time tonight! We love you Sarah and can't imagine life without you!!!

Sarah at age 4 when she first started ballet classes. So small! I wonder how children can grow so fast?!

Our ballerina now! This was taken on Sunday (12/14) when we got home from Sarah's Christmas ballet recital. Of course I forgot my camera for the show, so I had to hurry and take a picture before she shed her ballet attire.

12/15/08 Sarah and her pal Shannon !

Make a wish!

Happy Birthday my big nine year old!!!

Decorating

We did some decorating over the weekend...we put up two trees, an artificial one upstairs and the real one down in the living room. It smells so good! Here is Christian cutting it down. It was Christian's turn to put up the angel this year.

Sally's first Christmas!

Christian took this picture of the artificial tree upstairs. He "borrowed" my camera tonight and when I looked at the pictures after he was in bed, this was on there, along with a picture of a half eaten pizza, the fire in the woodstove and several of the sleeping dog! :)

Thanksgiving '08

Here are a few more pictures from our trip to NY.... Christian with his cousins, Zachary and Tyler.

Sarah with Grandma's new horse, Romy.

While at the barn Sarah got to ride Jake. She usually gets to ride him when we visit (a big thanks to the Knapp family, Jake's owners!) Grandma usually meets us at the barn to give Sarah a lesson, but she was stuck at home with all of that snow they got... about 2 feet!! , so the oldest of the Knapp families children; Rena, gave Sarah a lesson. She had a great time going around barrels, over poles and "bridges" etc.

We went to NY to visit family for Thanksgiving! It was a tough start with Sarah as she had some sort of flu.. she got over it quickly but now Christian has it, so I took a sick day and am home with him. I have many more pictures but this is all it'll do for now! I'll add them next time! :) Sarah and Christian with their cousin Leaha and Daddy too!

With Nana