Dec 3rd & 4th

Saturday, Dave and I sat watching some friends boys for the day so that they could go out and spend time looking, eating, soaking up "America" before they move. I will miss them when they move back to Switzerland. Their boys are the same age as our girls and really get on well with them, even their personalities are similar... the firstborns will sit straight backed as they play a complicated card game, while the other two are yelling, laughing and destroying the toys in the other room:)
I was so grateful that the weather was so nice and that they could burn off some energy... if not our house would have been a pile of rubble!

Hannah was inside for a minute while I took pics, poor Abby (haha)
They were making leaf piles for the "bomb" fire that they were going to make.

The joys of childhood.... after naps (yes ALL three of my kids still nap) Hannah thinks she doesn't need one but is probably the only one who really does need one, Abby protests daily but nearly always falls asleep (and yes, still goes to sleep @8pm and wakes after 8am), and Caleb will practically put himself to sleep on the floor as long as he has a certain blanket.....
 back to the story.... the kids enjoyed a movie on the wall until their parents came back. I could have gone to bed right then and there, but we found ourselves having a friend over after the kids were in bed and eating cookies with milk and talking until late...

Today was GREAT!!!! Dave and I only got out of bed after 9:45am.... I did have to get Caleb out his crib but he joined us in our bed for a.very.long.time. the girls (for the most part) played in their room. We have turned a corner in our family... kids can entertain themselves with books and games and even getting their own cereal.... this is LIFE CHANGING!!! Sundays are our family day, we sleep in, eat a wonderful breakfast, have family time, do a family thing or two and then go to church in the evening.... just wonderful.
Today I had to make 250 cookies for the service so that took a while and we wanted to decorate for Christmas, so we were putting up the nativity and starting our "Jesse tree". Our kids started watching "Toy Story" for the first time... so deprived, I know:)
I am really excited to see what we learn as a family and focus on the ONE who came down for us this holiday season...