Family Pictures by Anna Vancleeve!

Our good friend, Anna Vancleeve, took our family pictures this fall & we are so happy with them!  I loved them so much I had a hard time deciding on one for the Christmas card so I put 6 on there! :)  Here are some of my favorites!! 

Liv's First Day of Skiing!!

Papa & I took Livvy up for her first day of skiing a couple Fridays ago and had such a great day.  She felt so special to have a Livvy Day & she absolutely LOVED her time on the slopes!  She had a lesson that ended up to be a private lesson in the morning & it really made her feel comfortable in her skis & on the snow.  The teacher was so good with her & she didn't stop smiling or giggling the whole time.  She's so tiny she was getting a whole lot of attention from other skiers because I think they thought she was younger than she is :)  

After her lesson was done, Papa & I took her up the big chairlift & on her first official run!  She was very comfortable up there & had a blast...Papa did most of the skiing with her between his skis & holding on to his poles & then he would pick her up on the steep parts as he did with Brady...this may have been her favorite part swooping down the mountain in Papa's arms...so cute.  He had a college kid at the bottom tell him in colorful language it was "The #%^$@ coolest thing I've ever seen, man!" :)  Dad & I both got a huge kick out of it.

Here she is in her lesson outfit

Showing Papa the magic carpet ride on the bunny hill

On her first chairlift ride!

Having a little Apre Ski time at lunch...pretty tired after a big day!

She basically refused to take her equipment off...a BIG Thank YOU to Nana & Papa for her gear!

Showing Daddy when she got home

This was her first time skiing!  You can hear her giggling...so cute

On the big run!

We have the kiddos signed up for 6 wk lessons starting in January at Moonlight Basin so lots more skiing pictures to come! :)

Counting Blessings

I was heading to help in Brady's kindergarten classroom last Friday when I heard the horrific news out of Connecticut...it literally took my breath away & felt so surreal walking into his classroom & looking at all the sweet, smiling faces completely unaware & so excited to build their gingerbread houses.  Innocence protected & intact, thank God.  They are 6 yr olds but in so many ways they are still babies...still searching for their Elves in the morning & anticipating Santa's arrival. Jeff & I spent the weekend loving our kids, hugging our kids & counting our blessings.  Having Faith those little angels are in Heaven with the Lord but hearts breaking for their loved ones.

Here's something I saw on FB that really touched me:

twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."

when what to their wondering eyes did appear,

but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring

those children all flew into the arms of their King

and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

and as if He could read all the questions she had

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

then He looked down on earth, the world far below

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe

then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"

"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

then He and the children stood up without a sound.

"come now my children, let me show you around."

excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

Blake's Birth Day!

Lez & Bryce had their beautiful baby girl at 3 am on December 8th and named her Blake Anne Harrison.  She weighed only 5 lbs 14 oz and has a beautiful head of dark hair!  She is absolutely perfect & so gorgeous.  Lez was a little stud and is doing great--she is such a good mommy!!  Jeff & I had said earlier that we would try to see them when they were still in the hospital when the baby was born so when we got the good news that Saturday morning we all cleaned up & hopped in the car to come & meet this special little girl!  We are so lucky to have 2 nieces now and so glad that they live close!  Here are some pictures from the special day~

The kids peeking at Blake through the windows of the nursery

Making cards for Lez & Blake

There is something so special about seeing a baby that you love while they are still in the hospital in the first few hours of their life...such little miracles!

Proud Grammy!!

Proud Big Sis!

I think Brady could have held her all day--he will be a good babysitter someday! :)

I love this picture of Jeff--he was so happy & excited for his sister

She had a pretty good hold on her cousin although it doesn't really look like it here!

Mommy & Me time!

Our Sweet Boy Turns 6!

Just a quick picture after a very special day for our little guy.  Jeff & I have no idea where the 6 years have gone but we do know that he is one incredible little boy whose thoughtfulness, kind heart, infectious smile & smart mind never cease to amaze us.  We love you so much, Brady!!

Our family tradition of breakfast in bed!