Love

I just love these guys so much.  I can't wait for Ila to join her sister and brother.  My heart is full of joy with these two.  I can only imagine how much more it will be once Ila is here!

Christmas 2010

 We had a really nice Christmas.  We saw all our family and it was nice to have Mark home for and extended weekend.  This first picture is Lulu Christmas Eve right before she headed to bed in her new pajamas that Grammie-Goo made for her.  Levi was already asleep. 

 Christmas morning my parents came over before the kids were up so they could be there to see the excitement of them opening up gifts.  Here is Lulu running out to the living room.

 Levi's being shy.

 Here is Lulu digging through her goodie-bag.  We were going to use stockings but these bags worked so much better.  Levi's in the background inspecting his new Tonka dump truck.  Mark had the same exact one growing up.

 Mark and I both agree that Lulu is looking too old.  We can't believe how fast they grow.  People tell us all the time that it goes fast but pictures just seem to prove it. 

 Here is Levi opening up his Matchbox cars that Mark picked for him.  I think Mark wanted them so he could play with them too.

 Here's Lulu giving me a hug after I opened up her gift to me.  A beautiful necklace that she picked out herself.  When Mark took the kids out Christmas shopping one Saturday they came home and Lulu told me she couldn't tell me what she got me.  But she did tell me that I could sell the necklace I had on....lol.  She picked out a little sliver heart with rhinestones in it.  I love it and haven't taken it off yet. 

 Mark's office just moved to a new building and Mark's new desk has an entire wall of windows.  He's been saying how he needs a plant for his desk with all the light he gets.  So Lulu got him a cactus and Levi gave him a really neat curly leaf plant....don't know the name.  He loved them!

 Here is Levi playing with his new dump truck.  He's got his own way of making the truck dump. 

 For Christmas we got Lulu her own jewelry box.  I found this tool box and filled it with hair things, beads, necklaces and some other fun trinkets.  She loves going through my jewelry box, so now she can organize her own. 

And here is Levi sporting his new pajama bottoms that Grammie-Goo made him.  They have little VW beetles and buses on them.  We ask him where the beetle is and he bends over and points to his pants with both pointer fingers while saying "beetle." 

Later that day we headed over to my parents house.  I didn't get ANY pictures over there.  We were having too much fun.  My mom made a wonderful assortment of food that we nibbled on all afternoon while we visited with family.  I hope that I can be as hospitable as my mom someday. 

Merry Christmas!

1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

Prophecies foretold about the coming Messiah:

Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Micah 5:2-5 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity," therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child.  Then the remainder of His brethren will return to the sons of Israel.  And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.  And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth.  This One will be our peace.

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas focused on the Gift God sent us, His Son Jesus Christ.  

Snowflake Lane 2010

 This evening we went to Snowflake Lane.  We have done this for a few years now and it is so much fun for the kids (and us). At 7pm the streets are lit up in the city and the music starts playing and the drummers come out drumming to their spots.  Then they perform a few Christmas songs and it starts snowing (bubbles) all over.  Lulu has been so excited to go and see the Snow Princess.  Well this year they added a Snow Queen and King in blue and a Snow Fairy in purple along with the Snow Princess in white.  This was our second attempt at coming to Snow Flake Lane this year.  We tried about two weeks ago on a Friday and drove around trying to find a parking spot and missed the entire thing.  So we decided to surprise Lulu and Levi and take them on a Wednesday evening.

 Levi's eyes were HUGE the entire night.  Once the music started he actually started dancing a bit. 

 Here we are after waiting for the crowd to die down a bit.

 Then we found a ledge and the kids sat there and danced a bit more to the music.  Below is a short video of Levi bopping his head to the music.  And below that one is a bit of what Snow Flake Lane is like....VERY LOUD!

 

On our way home we drove around looking at Christmas Lights.  This house was so fun and very colorful just like last year.

This last video is just funny.  This house was not only lit up but lit up to music.  We stayed and heard about 6 different songs.  The kids were amazed.