Growing, growing, ...

So, Sylvia will turn three years old tomorrow...and look at how they've grown. Joey is only a head shorter than his big sister, I noticed while they were playing dollies the other day!

I was home sick from work today, so I didn't get the baking accomplished that I had planned to do. She'll have to suffer with store-bought cupcakes:( I don't think she'll mind once she sees another pile of presents to open.

I know we're going to be celebrating Sylvia's birthday, but I just can't get over how big my "little boy" is!

First words?

I'm not 100% sure, still needs confirmation with a repeat occurrence, but I think on the way to bed last night, Joey said the correct word for bed! We always wave bye-bye to Daddy and the girls on the way back to his bedroom, and of course we repeat many times, "night night". I'm fairly certain during last night's bedtime ritual, he said it too, though it was more like, "nah nah", while he did his little circular wave:) Oh the excitement!!!

Christmas 2009 in Ames

We were blessed to be together as a family on Christmas. What a wonderful day it was. A few tears were shed, for loved ones missed, but we celebrated just the same. The pictures here are from the previous Sunday, which was an equally glorious day spent together as a family. We truly enjoy one another and God!

Today, the weather has kept us from yet another Christmas gathering:( So, we'll pray that we can get home for a Ruden reunion next weekend-and make some Fitch connections on the way to or from NW Iowa!

Helping Hands

This year, the girls were very helpful with Christmas goody-making. These pictures are from a couple separate occasions. Can you tell I love being home with my children? They seem pretty happy with the new schedule too:)

...it's just a butter knife

"cheese"

Here are some of the finished products. They've already been consumed!

It was only a matter of time!

I caught the girls dressing up their brother. He'll love this one as a teenager. ...mwaa ha haaaa

...and that mess in their bedroom? Ain't no thang, check out this one. Ya, sometimes I take pictures of things...just because!

Apparently when I came upon this mess, it had such a profound impact on me that I felt the need to document it on film...and now further on the web:)

All I Want for Christmas...

Tonight Olivia and I sat down to write a letter to Santa. Here it is:

Olivia was so excited to write the letter (on behalf of Sylvia too). I told her that I would put her letter on my computer and send it to Santa. She asked if I had a magic computer. So cute.

Behold! The King of Kings

This Advent season I have reflected on the birth of our Savior and His eventual return and I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of it. It's hard to get my mind around it.

He was glorified in heaven:

"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory"

-Isaiah 6:3

His coming was predicted:

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,

and will call him Immanuel, which means God with us.

-Isaiah 7:14

His coming was anticipated:

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

-Isaiah 9:6

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over

the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

-Luke 1:30

He came to us in humility:

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn.

-Luke 2:7

His coming was celebrated:

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house,

they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

-Matthew 2:10

His return is anticipated:

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!"

-Revelation 5:11-13

All praise and glory be to our King of Kings!

Merry Christmas

Old video, but sweet:)

Joey's New Game

More words

I love the calm, relaxed moments at home with the kids. You know, when we aren't rushing through one activity just to get to the next, and rush through that one. These times are when they tell me things that help me learn their hearts.

This morning, Olivia was admiring my snowman coffee mug and informed me that when she grows up, she would like to have a snowman coffee mug just like mine. I made a mental note to make sure she inherits my snowman mug if it survives the years. Sylvia updated us on her desire to have a reindeer coffee mug when she grows up! Her Rudolph obsession continues.

I'm so glad they're planning on being coffee drinkers:) I took a minute to imagine all three of us, maybe four if Joseph's wife likes coffee, chatting over coffee one morning many years from now. Of course, I whispered a quick prayer asking God to allow us all to become old and grey together.

Chatting over lunch

Today's conversation went something like this:

Me: Olivia, do you remember why we want to speak kindly to one another?
Olivia: Yes, because we want to be like God.
Me: That's right, God is good and loving, and Jesus spoke kindly to his people.

dramatic pause

Olivia: Jesus is God.
Sylvia: I have God in my heart.
Joey: yeeeeeeeeee aaaahhh dada
Olivia: Me too.
Me: Me too.

everyone smiling brightly and cheering "yaaaay".

Get the Drift?

Here's a few pictures of what our blizzard produced in our driveway.

Still super windy.

Getting ready to bust some drifts

4' drift

Lil Painters

Last weekend the girls really really wanted to do some painting so I set up the paint table and away they went!

We love painting!

Finished product

According to the girls, Olivia painted the Earth with us on it (left) and Sylvia painted a castle with princess (right).

Christmas Kids

The kids have thoroughly enjoyed decorating the house for Christmas. They love the songs, smells, and sights that come along with decking out the house. They are particularly fond of their many nativity sets, our stuffed Frosty the Snowman music doll, and the Christmas trees.

Aren't we "Christmas-cute?"

Olivia took great care in decorating their own Christmas tree.

Joe just enjoyed being cute.

Sylvia enjoyed making up stories to go with the nativity sets