First snow of 2012

Posing with the falling snow (excuse the dark picture)

Snow is falling, gently falling

So pretty...more please?

"Why da snow fallling on da ground, Mama?"

Nola likes it too!

Waffles

Probably the best Christmas gift any of us got this year was Kevin's waffle maker from my Mom.  We've used it many times just since Christmas, and we all love the delicious waffles Kevin makes with it.  And of course, I love this quote from the original Shrek.

Nathan cheesin' it up for the camera

Natalie cheesin' it up too

Nola with a mouthful

The special Moms only waffle - with Nutella...mmmm

And Daddy, the waffle King

Amazing Discovery

After many unsuccessful attempts to put Nola to sleep, we've finally discovered that (at times) she likes to sleep on her back.  This back-sleeping phenomenon is a new one to me since the other two always slept on their tummies as babies.  And it seems that back-sleeping is only required at night after her first wake-up.  Strange.

Worship time. (aka children's energy release)

Please excuse Nathan's whining at the beginning.  He wanted to "see" the music, and of course there was nothing to see.  Glad there was no full-blown meltdown caught on camera!

Playing with trains

It comes. And then it goes.

I really have no idea why I've felt so strangely about Christmas this year.  Apathetic would be a good way to describe my approach to it this year.  I think I might be in sort of a state of shock at how fast this year went by.  It's hard to believe that Nola is over 10 months old and closing fast on a year.  It seems like we just had Thanksgiving a week ago, and now Christmas is over and New Year's Eve is in 3 days.  I don't remember a year that went so by and held in it so many blessings. 

All that to say we had an enjoyable Christmas.  The kids had a blast with their presents.  Nobody was sick on Christmas.  We spent quality time with our wonderful family and friends.  The Christmas eve service at church was one of my most favorites ever.  There were many quiet nights of sitting and watching our beautiful tree twinkle in a darkened living room.  There were cookies in abundance.  There was Christmas music.  And there was a delicious Christmas dinner prepared by my talented parents.

Our twinkly tree after Santa visited

The children were nestled...

...all snug in their bed...

...while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

The three amigos on Christmas morning before the unwrapping craziness started

Nathan's favorite present...his front-end loader that makes NOISE

Natalie's necklace from Mommy

Nola is introduced to her baby doll

Unwrapping another truck..with a little assistance

Natalie's drumbeats toy

Nola's xylophone

Nathan and his race cars.  Big success!

Legos....another hit!

Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

I've read this verse frequently in the past couple weeks and just last week added it to my list of verses that I want to memorize in the coming year.  And it just hit me as I read it tonight that if I teach my children nothing else, I hope I effectively teach them this.


Guarding their hearts will be my job for a few more years yet, but I hope that by the time they begin school and start to make some bigger choices for themselves they will have this embedded in their hearts and minds.  


I pray that they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and all the good thoughts and attitudes that come along with it.  It is my hope that they learn that the contents of their hearts will spill out into everything they do.  I want them to learn to guard their hearts and be aware that not everything in this world is good for them even though they have no reason to walk in fear because of parts of life that aren't so good.  Father, just protect my kids and help me teach them to appropriately guard their hearts.  Help them to be filled with all the good things you have for them.  In Jesus name, amen.