The Happenings At Home: December's fun and busy times

Well here's the rest of our year; in December every weekend was booked with something, again! Our weeks fly by with different church activities and just hanging out as a family for the little bit of time we get on week nights. We tried to do something special on Sundays with Advent.

We would light the candle and read some scripture. Then we would do a family activity like watching a nativity movie or craft. We had their combined birthday party on Dec 15. It was also Isabella's first ballet recital! I went to Pittsburgh without Jacob and just took the girls for a week to see my parents and help them out a little. My dad was having some surgery the week before Christmas. It was nice to be "home" and help while I could. The girls' always love time with Mimi and PopPop too! Christmas day was nice. Quiet morning, actually we woke up first and just stared at each other for a few minutes! I was antsy to get them up, but I learned my lesson from last year and let them just wake up happily on their own. We purposely did not get them very many things, the things we got were mostly educational type things that we can use at school time. I figure everyone else will get them toys! Jacob made his grandma's famous sweet rolls and egg casserole. Yum! That is becoming our new tradition for us now. The girls played with their new things for the late morning and early afternoon. We went to Jacob's sister's house to see some family and have dinner together. Dinner was great, all the little cousins played together nicely and we had fun opening more gifts. So all in all- a nice day. Then reality hit, and poor Jacob had to go to work the next day. We had a little snow storm as well. Since he is one of the managers, he had to stay all day. Thankfully, he returned home to us safe and sound. The girls and I shoveled the snow in the drive way to make it a little easier for him. This was Olivia's first big snowfall. I got them both all bundled up and they looked like cute little Eskimos! Then we finally get out there and she just stands in the garage, unsure of the whole outdoor thing! We got a second batch of snow that Saturday. I was very thankful for my husband taking the girls out in the snow. He pulled Bella around on the sled in the back yard.

The girls waiting for the breakfast in their matching pjs!

One of Bella's favorite gifts: princess lip glosses

New Year's was fun just hanging out with my sister and brother in law. I'm ready for a new year. 2012 was a pretty good year, but there is always something special about starting something new. New possibilities, a chance to try and change a few things. I started a few days early on this. I am waking up earlier now to have some devotional, quiet time with God. Preferably before the girls wake up, but sometimes they still beat me to it! I have organized different things around the house and checked quite a few things that have been on my list for a while finally off! I made up a new routine and chore list for Isabella. So far she likes it. She's one of "those" kinds of kids that gets a kick out of checking things off a list and knowing her boundaries.. (like mother, like daughter) I'm hoping for a little more organized household this year. I want to stick with my Bible reading plan and get some good head way made in our school time with Isabella.