Christmas Accomplished!

Thanks be to God!  What a wonderful past few weeks.  We have had great family time throughout the Christmas season.  We are truly blessed with all that is most important; and are continuously reminded via news or prayer requests not to take anything for granted. From the moment our tree went up in early December and was decorated we were busy baking cookies, wrapping presents, shoveling snow, watching our holiday favorites, decorating gingerbread houses, looking at Christmas lights, reading Christmas books and so much more.

Christmas eve worship is always one of our favorite services of the year.  Candlelight.  Great music.  Lots of kids.  The church was jam-packed and the Christmas hymns were plentiful.    We have been blessed to be unofficial family members of a wonderful church family here in Sun Prairie.  Since we moved here they have overwhelmed us with their love and embracing.  It was here we spent a fantastic Christmas eve following worship which has become our tradition over the past 4 years.  We always have great food and company; it's a great way to spend the night before spending a quiet day at home with just our five on Christmas Day.

Because of a late night, our Christmas morning did not start until 8am.  Go figure!  Of all days for the kids to sleep in :)  Once the kids were finally awake, we emptied our stockings and got to see what Santa brought.  The kids all got what they were hoping for and were very excited to play with all their new toys.  Santa brought Isaiah a brand new scooter with wheels that light up; he brought a brand new dollhouse for Brielle; and Collin got a new hot wheels toy for bath time.  After opening our gifts from Santa and a break for breakfast and church, it was back to the tree for more presents.  Yet again, we were all spoiled by grandparents and great grandmas that sent all kinds of goodies.  The kids were very excited to open presents from New Jersey Grandma and Grandpa while talking to them on Skype.

We were then blessed to spend the following weekend with MN Grandma.  She came out to not only celebrate Christmas and play in the snow, but also Isaiah's birthday a few days earlier (more on that to come).  The kids always LOVE it when Grandma comes to play and so do Mom and Dad as we even got a free babysitter to sneak out of the house for a movie night!

Indeed, from start to finish our Christmas celebration was a great one.  We need to treasure these moments when the kids are so young and gift opening is an all-day event.  Christmas morning is just so much more exciting with little kids around.  We tried to catch many of our memories on the camera so here are a bunch of them.  There may be a lot of pictures but it's hard to narrow them down to just pick a few favorites!



Our two favorite little dudes snuggling under a blanket before a Christmas movie.



Working on their Christmas art projects--stained glass Christmas trees.

 

The final products!



Collin got his own gingerbread house (graham crackers) to build. 



Each working on their own side of the house.



Such precision...



Such concentration...



Such a mess...  Collin enjoyed eating his house instead.



Isaiah all dressed and ready for Christmas Eve church.  He's such a stud!



Our sweet little princess eager to pose and ready for church.



This kid is such a cutie; and such a ham for the camera!



Never an easy thing trying to get all three kids looking and smiling at the same time.



Christmas morning, surrounded by presents and in their new Christmas jammies!



Brielle got some new princess nail polish for Christmas and was very eager to put it on!

You can only tell a little bit, but she's all done painting her nails (and toes).



Collin got a new broom for Christmas and he has been sweeping ever since.



Reading his new book from Great Grandma in New Jersey.




Daddy and his little girl.



Mommy and her little peanut.
 

Isaiah playing with his new Hess truck and tractor from New Jersey.



A few quick stories and then bedtime after a long Christmas day.



Collin got a bubble bouncer from MN Grandma...

... and he LOVES it!



Isaiah hit the Fisher Price Imaginext jackpot this year. 
He got the rescue city center and a bunch of other cards to go with it.

SNOW FUN!



Isaiah working hard on building a snowman.

Although Grandma worked the hardest!



Love this picture of Collin.  If only we knew what he was thinking!

Our family of snowmen!

 



Hoping you and your family all had a wonderful Christmas.  In the end though, we remember that Christmas is not accomplished in gifts given, cards sent, relatives entertained, or in-laws surivived.  Christmas is accomplished only in what God has done for us and the gift of a Savior born 2000 years ago.  "At just the right time, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-5

Merry Thanksgiving & Happy Christmas

Well I just became really proud of myself.  This site told me my last post was less than a month ago!  Yay Me!
First I should say Happy Thanksgiving!  We had a wonderful day cooking an 11 pounder along with all of the sides!  My Mom came over and it was a delightful day!  After lunch and some quick naps, or no naps for the older 2 kids who chose not to nap, we drove to the WI Dells for the rest of the weekend.  My, Calie, 2 sisters and their families joined our family and my Mom.  We had a blast playing in water, going down water slides, taking the shuttle (a BIG hit with Isaiah and Brielle) and playing with cousins.  Sorry there aren't any pictures, just as we pulled up to the resort, I realized I had forgotten my camera.  Oops.

We still talk about the trip, and just today Brielle told me the saddest thing was leaving the hotel and waterpark.  I feel bad that I broke her heart, but then again, if that is the saddest thing in her life we are doing pretty good!

When we got home, we purchased our Christmas tree.  There has been a debate in our house as to where the tree would actually go.  After we ended up buying the first one that we saw, there wasn't any doubt that it had to go at the highest point of our ceiling.  So our living room is COMPLETELY rearranged, but our tree is huge and gorgeous! 

Steve went to string the lights around it, after checking each strand, we plugged them in together only to find 1/2 of one set didn't work all of a sudden.  Then later, they magically started blinking!  We decided it would probably be less frustrating if we just started over, so we were off to buy all new lights. 

Collin woke up from a nap to discover the tree.  It has been so fun to watch and listen to his excitement.  Here are some pictures.

 

He found the foot pedal that turns the tree on and off.  Yay....:(

 

This is what he does when he see the camera now.  He sits and waits for his picture to be taken!

 

Oh the wonder....

 

and excitement!

 

Our daredevil on top of a tub full of trains

The kids have all been kind of sick lately, so we have tried to keep them inside.  Today we needed to shovel and I was tired of being inside.  So despite the 10 degree temp and negative whatever windchill, we went out to shovel. 

This was Collin's first time with all his now gear on.  It took him awhile to get the hang of the heavy boots, but after he did, he was fine!

 

 



 We also decorated Christmas cookies last Saturday.  They, as usual, had a blast making their creations and licking the frosting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have had an excellent time celebrating this Advent season.  To get our hearts ready, we have had an Angel visit us everyday this year.  She comes at night and brings a note and a book.  The note gives the kids a challenge to complete each day.  They are little tasks that focus on behaviors that Jesus wants us to demonstrate, such as give someone a hug or help a someone with a task.  The kids have really enjoyed looking for Holly, our angel, everyday. 

 

We, here at the Vera household, hope that you have a safe, happy, merry and blessed Christmas season where we know that He is the reason for the season!

 

Oh, here is the finished tree!