Gingerbread House Joy !!!!

We had 3 teams of decorators ...and eaters : )

This one ate more than he decorated for sure....

Making memories...Christmas traditions. We have been decorating gingerbread houses for years with our children....It is crazy loud and they are super excited.

Well don't even ask...ok we did agree - An early Christmas Present from our adult kids

Picking him out with Cate and Joseph...

Rode home in Cate's jacket...both Cate and Joseph aren't our " dog lovers" I love how smitten they both are with him....so not like them with a dog.

The kids didnt know we were getting a puppy. So when we got home Cate hid outside with him still in her jacket. I went inside and asked them all to come outside and that I was wondering who ripped up our blow up snowmen out front....they all came out ...someone stating they had put a rock on one ...we just smiled. Then they kept trying to figure out if the snowmen were indeed ripped and Cate came around and Mary Kate said, " Could it have been a puppy?" The kids faces and reactions were priceless....

Jubal's reaction...

He is feisty enough to put up with all the children but also calms down and cuddles...Still working on his name. He reminds us of a mini bear so that is one we like - Bear or Bo or maybe Doddles since he is a mini Aussie Doodle. What do you think ?

Life goes on thru many joys and some not so joys...but life is rich and lived deeply here

Celebrating Tia's 20th bday !!!

This was the picture we sent to their adult sister in Ghana after we reconnected.

A day trip to Lancaster with some of my girls....

The beginning of Thanksgiving - celebrating my grandaughter, Ella's bday by teaching her how to make sushi. This was followed by a celebration movie and dinner with Cate....

My brother, Johnny came for the day. We have not been able to celebrate Thanksgiving for years and it was a precious gift to have him with us.

We ate lots of food - there was about 60 of us eating ...but that is only a few more than our normal : )

Cousins enjoying their time together....

Even baby Nickoli made it.

Our wall of thanks as you entered our home.

Josiah suffered a knee to the eye - uggh but it is healing.

Decorating their first tree....after they got engaged ...wedding bells. A week for them...love them both.

Baby Nickoli looking better at the hospital after his stay for RSV.

Issac totaled our car but was not hurt. Telephone pole not so lucky...

Ending our school for the holidays...Love our time to celebrate Christ's birth !

Happy Birthday to our grandaughter, Kloe as we celebrated tonite. 

 The month of November flew by for us with lots happening...but our life is lived like that ...the smiles, laughter and joy in the children's faces makes it all worth it. We thank God each and every day for all He has called us to and how He has provided.