"More Charlie Brown!"

In anticipation of Christmas, Kevan and I have started showing Ezekiel some of the classic Christmas cartoons. It is so fun to relive our childhood as we all snuggle up on the couch and watch nostalgic movies. Ezekiel especially loves the Charlie Brown one. This is what he said when I walked in the door from shopping tonight (he and Kevan were watching Charlie Brown), "I see Char-ie Brown, mama! Saw Dog. Sit on couch, mama, watch Char-ie Brown! C'mon, mama, c'mon. More Char-ie Brown!"

We are having such a great time preparing for Christmas this year. We have actual kids. I mean, Christmas is a totally different experience now that we have a little boy old enough to understand the excitement - and even catch a glimpse of the meaning ("Happy birthday Jesus"). And a little girl, too, with a new pink stocking hanging on the mantel and an adorable Christmas dress hanging in the closet (I confess, shopping for that was definitely a highlight of the season for me - who doesn't want to browse through darling little dresses and find just the right one for your own little girl?! Dream come true.) We're starting new traditions (a 25-day advent calendar with little doors hiding a small surprise or fun activity for the days leading up to Christmas) and trying to incorporate creative ways of conveying the Christmas message to our little ones (tonight I told the Christmas story to Ezekiel and made up little characters for the animals in the barn who were there when baby Jesus was born. Ezekiel kept saying "BAAAA" but, whatever, it's a starting point!).

Ok, time to play catch-up on pictures. Here are some of my recent favorites:

E in my dad's car on Thanksgiving

My sister with the kids when she surprised us at the house Thanksgiving morning!

Ezekiel is so funny in this picture!

Little miss Rebekah Jane climbing on everything!

Me and E watching Charlie Brown!

Picking out our Christmas tree

Bekah Jane and Everett slidin'... how cute are they?!

Snuggling with great-grandma