Four!

Brennan turned four years old on December 27th! I can't believe the time has gone so quickly! We celebrated with a small family gathering on our last full day in Minnesota. Happy birthday to our sweet, goofy, lovable boy!

 

 

Minnesota

After two long days in the car, we arrived safe and sound in Minnesota, ready to celebrate Christmas. We stayed with my brother, who lives way out in the country. My parents arrived the day after we did and stayed there as well. We had lots of quality family time during our stay, and even managed a quick trip to the Mall of America where we connected with my very dear friend, Sara. John and I even got a date night! All in all, we had a great time and made some great memories.

 

We decorated sugar cookies one night. The fruit of our labors!

Brennan and Grandma on the tractor. Brennan was actually pretty excited to sit up there and he even got to help Uncle Nathan drive it!

We had lots of fun relational connections on our trip. One of them was getting to spend Christmas Day with my grandparents. Brennan was tiny the last time he saw them and it was Owen's first time meeting them. They warmed up quickly and really enjoyed the time with their great-grandparents!

 

My godmother came up the day after Christmas to spend some time with us before we needed to start heading back to Virginia.

 

Merry Christmas from all of us!

Road Trip: Stop #1

We had been planning for months to be able to go to Minnesota for Christmas this year and celebrate the holiday and Brennan's birthday with my family there. With airfare being what it is, we resolved to drive the 1200 miles. We broke it up over two days and our first overnight stop on our trip brought us to Bloomington, Indiana, to visit with our friends, the Franks. Their three boys were great company for our two boys, and the adults got some quality time in as well, despite the slight chaos of five boys under the age of six under one roof! It was great to get to have a one-day break before the last leg of our road trip.

Owen and Zeke (about one month apart in age) playing follow the leader

 

Brennan, Cole, and Max outside the Bloomington library (Brennan and Max are eight days apart in age)

Bethlehem Walk

Last night, we attended a Bethlehem Walk which was sponsored by several area churches. We went for the first time last year and it's now become something of a tradition in our household. We pay temple tax and enter first century Bethlehem. Along the way, we hear about events leading up to the birth of Jesus. We check in with shepherds around their fire and then look in on the stable where Jesus was born. We see His dedication at the temple, get an overview of His ministry, stand at the foot of the Cross, and see the empty tomb. It's an incredible undertaking that reaches thousands of people every year. I love getting to take our boys to experience the Christmas story; it helps us to emphasize to them that Jesus is the reason, not just for Christmas but for all of how we do life.

Jesus being dedicated at the temple

An evangelistic message being given by Nicodemus

Parade

This morning we got to enjoy a Richmond tradition--the annual Christmas parade! Every year, John's organization holds their biggest fundraiser event at the Richmond Convention Center. The Convention Center then invites the people that host events at their facility to a VIP party that includes brunch and parade viewing from their second-story floor-to-ceiling windows. The boys loved it and the parade held their attention far longer than we could have hoped!

 

Brennan modeling with his Clifford balloon animal

 

Getting ready to watch the parade

 

 

Christmas in November

My parents came up for Thanksgiving, and we decided to do Christmas gifts the following Saturday so they could be there when the boys opened their presents and got to work enjoying them.

But first ... Thanksgiving feast! Naomi did a fabulous job on our bountiful spread.

Trimming the tree on Friday night. Everyone pitched in!

One of our two most precious gifts, under the tree.

Saturday morning, let the unwrapping begin.

One of the biggest hits: a little pop-up dinosaur tent for Brennan and Owen to play in. It's been out nearly every day since.

Another big hit: a trampoline. For boys who love to jump and bounce and who have energy to spare.

Sunday morning ... happy boys with their Grammy and Grampy!