Part Two: Happy Birthday Jesus

Every Christmas morning, we wake up and the youngest gets to open up the baby Jesus, whom we have wrapped in a special spot. It was Henry's turn this year.

 

Then we sang Happy Birthday, Joy to the World and let the kids hold the baby.  Margaret Mary is always so tender and cradled the baby Jesus in her arms.

Even though Henry got a chance to hold baby Jesus too, he was far more interested in incensing him. (That's what the toy tied to the string is, Henry's incense.)

The biggest reaction to the kids presents this year was Margaret Mary's nun costume. She has been asking for one for a while. In fact, when people would ask her what she wanted for Christmas, she would exclaim, "A Nun Costume!" She even wore it to Christmas Mass. I'm sure that we look like the geekiest family at Mass: Henry in his chasible he insists on wearing to Mass each week, copying the Priest's every move, and MM dressed up as a nun!  Not to mention Jason's suit and bow tie and my chapel veil!

We had a great Christmas morning and spent the afternoon and evening playing with our chickens and goats.  Life on a farm is never boring!

Christmas Part One

To begin our Christmas celebrations, we surprised Granny by driving to her house a day early.  The kids were great and slept almost the whole way in the car. Sweet Henry fell alseep reading "Good Night Construction Site."

 

One of the greatest perks of going down early was getting to spend time with our new cousin, baby Tony. Isn't he a cutie? We couldn't get enough.

The kids made Christmas cookies with Granny...

MM took a pic with Santa and opened presents. (Henry wasn't up for a photo shoot) My favorite memory of this party was that Margaret Mary had NO CLUE what she was supposed to do on Santa's lap; she just saw that the people who sat on his lap got presents out of his bag. When she sat on his lap, she waved for cameras and then kinda sat there. Santa kept on leaning his head in to hear what she wanted, but she just sat there.  (we don't do Santa, which is why she was confused).

One of the sweetest memories was walking in on Jason and Peter sleeping.  I love these boys!

We had a great time seeing family and headed home Christmas Eve to celebrate the Birth of Baby Jesus in our own home ....

Peter Loves the Swing!

Peter really enjoyed the swing for the first time this Christmas. I had a great time trying to capture all his excited faces. (I just wish the swing haddn't been pink! poor guy!)  I'm learning to edit my pics in Lightroom (thanks Tammy!) so be patient with irregularities...

 Peter is eight months old and is crawling and pulling up on everything. His favorite babbles are "ba" and "ma."  He still loves to nurse and takes two naps a day.  He is about 25 pounds.  We love his easy going personality and his curly hair!

Pictures that make me Smile

Margaret Mary trying to use a camera.

 

Henry saying Mass.

 

Henry smiling.

 

I love that they carry their babies around durring farm chores like I do. Today when they began holding hands, Margaret Mary exclaimed with great pride, "We're a family."

 

Below is a pic of a new family tradition: tea time. Every Friday, Mommy breaks out the tea pot durring quiet time for some quality mommy/daughter time.  Last Friday, we just pretended like I was a King and she was a Princess the whole time, but I imagine as she gets older, we will talk about life, love and our Lord.

 

Can you feel the Love?

Peter LOVES his big sister. He cracks up whenever she is near. She is really good with him as well.  Henry still struggles with the idea of personal space, but Margaret Mary seems to get when Peter needs a little room.

Don't you love his hair? It stayed like that for a couple of days!

Peter is also eating solids! He loves egg yolks, broth (pictured below), beef, sausage and bananas.  Is he a little man or what?

Waiting For a Rain

Granny sent Margaret Mary this great raincoat, umbrella and rain boot set. I think Margaret Mary spent an hour all dressed up on the porch waiting for a rain (which didn't happen). She said "I want to wear these boots everyday till Heaven!" Thanks Granny!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Picking out the family tree...

 The first eggnogg of the season. I couldn't believe how easy this was to make and super healthy!

 

Where's Margaret Mary?  Behind the tree is her favorite place to hide!

Cute baby pulling up everywhere dressed in festive clothes? check!

Whats cuter than a kid in a box?

THREE kids in a box! I didn't even have to pose them, this just happened...

You almost can't tell that MM doesn't have any clothes on...

(I posted the header on here cause my blog is how I back up the pics I love!)