Azaryah's Train Table

Is this not the most awesome train table ever!?!?!

All three men signed the table and gave it to Azaryah last night...What a blessing to have a special gift made with love by your big brother, your daddy and your Pawpaw!!

Azaryah is one happy little man!!!

The Process...

Once Glen, Corbyn and Daddy made the train table, Daddy began painting the scenery...

The first step was to put the tracks on the table and outline them. Then Daddy penciled in the road and stream.

Little by little, the picture came to life. Azaryah enjoyed watching Pawpaw paint and asked Pawpaw over and over, "Pawpaw, what's you doin'?" heehee

Pawpaw even included a fence, a barn and 2 horses. The stream is quite impressive. Daddy made it appear to have rocks, banks and 2 waterfalls...He is so talented!!

Learning to Weave

Pawpaw and Nana BJ gave the girls a weaving set for Christmas. The girls and Nana enjoyed time learning to weave and making memories...I am so thankful that my mother is able to spend time teaching the girls how to work with their hands. Mom made most of our dresses when we were growing up and she also made 2 of my prom dresses. Glen wants our girls to learn to knit and sew so they can care for their future family. What a blessing!!

Puzzles, Puzzles, Puzzles

Mom and Glen LOVE to work puzzles. This year, the kids gave Mom (Nana BJ) a two-sided M&M puzzle. The kiddos gave their Daddy a Murder Mystery Puzzle. It is so cool...First, you read the mystery and learn about the suspects. Next, you work 2 puzzles (all the pieces are mixed together so you don't know what goes with what). Once you have worked both puzzles (they are mirror images of one another but you have to look at them through a mirror), you gain clues through the puzzles and solve the mystery!! Glen is exhausted because he has been up late every night since Christmas working on it and Mom has been right there helping out!! Too fun!!

Three Generations Hard at Work

The old saying, "Girls marry men just like their Daddy" is very true for me...Daddy has always worked with his hands, repairing things around our home as well as making things for our home. Glen does the same thing and they are both training our boys to lovingly work with their hands and provide for their future families.

Azaryah received a train set for Christmas so Glen, Daddy, and Corbyn set off last night to build a train table for him ;-)

Corbyn used to watch a lot and help a little, but now he is big enough to actually join in and do the work...Last night, he sanded the table, drilled holes for the screws and did a little sawing. Corbyn did a great job because he has been blessed with two very talented (and handsome) teachers!! heehee

I love this picture because when I took it the flash illuminated all the dust in the air...Now that is a labor of love...Working out in the cold garage with dust flying all over the place ;-) (Don't worry, they LOVED every moment of it!!)

Finished for the night...Azaryah was THRILLED when we took him out to see the train table. The men finished by priming the table and today Daddy will paint the scenery on the table and secure the tracks so Azaryah can PLAY PLAY PLAY!!! Thank you, Lord, for my parents and my hubby ;-)

Food Delivered by a Train...

Yesterday, we had a blast traveling into the big city to eat at a resturaunt that delivers your food by a train. We stood in line for more than 45 minutes just to get in, but it was well worth it. After we got our tummies full, we walked around the unique shops and looked at all the beautiful Christmas decorations.

Nappin' with Pawpaw

Azaryah and Pawpaw cuddled up to take a nap...Too cute!!

Fun and Games

Friday was full of fun and games for all...Mom and I got up and left the house at 7:00am to do a little post-Christmas shopping. While we were gone, Glen, Daddy and the kiddos enjoyed a day of snacks, games, and NO naps ;-)

Azaryah enjoyed drawing on the easel Nana V gave to the children...

Glen, Mom, and Daddy entertained the girls by playing the Wii - bowling, tennis and boxing...

Corbyn finally took a break from playing the Wii and put together several of his Lego sets.

Happy 7th Birthday, Keziah

I CANNOT believe Keziah is 7 years old...Time really moves too quickly. You blink and they are grown!!!

Keziah chose Hello Kitty as her theme. She wanted to make and decorate her own cake this year.

She and Nana BJ had a good time doing that together...

She gets her artistic abilities from my Daddy and her Daddy ;-)

She was very blessed and has already opened all the gifts and played with each one!!

Wii Gaming

The children's "big" gift was a Wii Gaming System...They went wild when they opened the box.

My parents played a friendly game of bowling...I played bowling with Mom and WON!!! Shh...Don't tell her I told you that ;-)

Corbyn is already a pro at the games!! He has been begging for a Wii for a very LONG time...

Christmas Day In Our Home

We have had a wonderful day celebrating Christmas with my parents and the children. We were blessed and have enjoyed playing with the toys and games the children received. Eden and Keziah received a doll from Nana V (Glen's mother) and with it Vilma had knitted a blanket for them. On the blanket was the line of knitting the girls did at her home last month. What a wonderful way to make a memory that will last a lifetime!!

Corbyn loves Legos...He has been putting those together since he was about 4 years old. He and Pawpaw took time today to put a few of his gifts together and play ;-)

Eden loves Littlest Petshop and Keziah loves Jungle in My Pocket. They took time to play both today and do so without fussing!!

Glen and Azaryah put together Azaryah's train set...Azaryah had a blast "helping" and Daddy enjoyed his little helper.

Azaryah spent hours pushing the train around the tracks and making ALL the sound effects!!! heehee

Christmas Eve Traditions

We have our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve each year...YUM-O

We follow Christmas dinner with family time spent reading the Christmas story and singing Christmas carols all while wearing halos that my sister and I made when we were 5 and 7 years old...Yes, those are the SAME halos...If you look close, you will see more cardboard than tinsel now!! heehee

We finish the evening off with allowing the children to open one gift...The gift is always Christmas pjs and they ALWAYS match ;-)

Another "family tradition" is making it a habit to hug on my man every time I can!!! Ain't he cute?!?!

Happy Birthday...One Day Early

Keziah's birthday is on Christmas Day. She was actually due January 17, 2002, but she decided to join the fun on Christmas morning 2001. Each year, we celebrate Jesus' birth in the morning and Keziah's birth in the evening...

Our family birthday tradition is to serve the birthday person breakfast in bed on their birthday, but Keziah is served her breakfast in bed each Christmas Even morn.

We always make homemade pancakes and decorate them with fun foods we find in our cabinets...This morning, Keziah's pancake consisted of M&M's for the face and powdered sugar and red and green sprinkles for the hair. SHE LOVED IT!!!

Making Memories...

Today, started out a bit differently than we had planned. Pawpaw took time this morning to do a few crafts with the younger three while Nana BJ and Corbyn played Game Cube. After the fun and games, we all got dressed and headed out to the van so we could take a pumpkin pie to Daddy's work for his Christmas luncheon. We were planning to go to the musuem and then out to lunch, but once we stepped outside, we realized the ground was nothing but ice...Needless to say, we all turned around and headed back inside ;-) Poor Daddy did not get to share his pumpkin pie at work, but we all enjoyed him sharing it with us after dinner!! heehee

Making Cookies...

After naps, the children helped me make cookies. We made M&M cookies, sugar cookies with green and red sprinkles, and white chocolate chip with nuts. We use spelt flour so the cookies are a bit more flat, but they taste just as YUMMY!!

Making Ornaments...

While we were in Kentucky last month, Nana V gave the children a craft to do once they returned home. We got the beads, ribbons and pipe cleaners out tonight and put together candy canes and wreaths.

Nana BJ helped oversee the girls...

While Pawpaw helped Azaryah...

Corbyn did quite well on his own ;-)

Before we were finished, Daddy joined the fun and together, they each made several ornaments for our tree.

On This Cold, Winter's Morn...

This morning, we awoke to snow and VERY cold temperatures. Mommy does not drive in the snow, so Daddy was so sweet to take an early lunch and drive us to our field trip at the museum.

We began with our librarian reading us "The Polar Express" and then treats for everyone ;-)

After our story, we all toured the museum...

We all enjoyed the sights...We have found a new place to take Nana and Pawpaw when the come to visit.

When we got home, we all put on our snowsuits and headed outside for a very SHORT time...Now, Mommy says it is time for a warm bath, a good lunch, and naps for everyone!!

Dancin' Dolls...

Friday evening was the girl's recital for the dance studio. It was a fun time to watch all of the classes perform. There were several tumbling routines, a variety of tap numbers, as well as beautiful ballet pieces.

New friends are such a blessing...Madison, Sarah, Eden, Keziah, and Morgan

The girls did a ballet routine to "Carol of Bells".

Their tap number was the same dance they performed with the Strings last Friday night..."All I Want for Christmas..."