Let it snow...

Look Mom! There's snow.

Crunch, crunch as we walk.

1, 2, 3, Ready, Go...

Whee... down the hill.

Lick, lick on the snow.

Cheese for a photo

Churn, churn goes the mixer.

Yum, yum for snow cream and cookies!

Christmas Day 2010

Christmas Morning began with coffee and milk, coffee cake, a Christmas reading, and then gifts galore. The kids didn't waste anytime and thoroughly enjoyed opening their loot. It was fun to see what their immediate favorite toys were and then which ones they liked a week or two later. The monster truck was Josh's top present. Whenever someone asked him "What did you get for Christmas?" he answered, "a monster truck." It's hard to pinpoint Rachel's favorite gift, but she would say a princess since she received several princess related gifts. Boy does she love them!





Later in the day, it SNOWED. Apparently it had not snowed in Georgia on Christmas Day since 1882. Wow! It was so beautiful and an amazing Christmas gift to us all. Of course, after playing outside, we came inside to warm up with hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies. Yum! Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Christmas Eve 2010

The past three years we've attended our church for a family Christmas Eve service. This year I played cello with another cellist and a pianist. The service was very simple with alternating hymns and scripture readings telling the story of Jesus' birth. I enjoyed participating in the worship and looking down at my kids in my Mom's lap and in Jason's lap. They did a great job during the service!

These pictures were taken when we got home. Josh was eager to get his tie off and Rachel had fun playing dress up with my high heels. So cute!

A week with The other Vinson's

Santa at Bass Pro Shop

Trains!

Stone Mountain Christmas

more trains!

Josh's 1st train ride : )

It was a sing along too.

The other Vinson's

So glad you guys could come and visit. We had a great time!

Rachel's 1st Haircut

You would think our daughter would have had a haircut by now, but no. It didn't happen until she was 2.5 years old. Over the Christmas holidays we were visiting my Mom and she was helping with the kids after bath time. She took Rachel into her bathroom and decided to pamper her some by brushing her hair and blow drying it. But then she asked, "Would you mind if I cut Rachel's hair?" First off, this was my Mom's first profession and she had some experience cutting hair especially little girls, me for example. So, I said okay.

I had enjoyed how long Rachel's hair had gotten and the natural layering she had as well as her curls and blond hair. God is so creative and amazing and created such a beautiful Rachel. I never thought I would have a blond girl!

December Times

As I mentioned before, I'm still catching up on posts from December. I think it might have to do with all the things we did and all the pictures that got taken. See below for some fun we had...

Josh playing with trains at Imaginations at Play

Rachel painting away : )

A trip to Edventure in SC

Drivin' the tractor

...and the firetruck

Good times with The Bauknight Family

And silliness at home again

Happy Birthday Jason!

On Dec. 11th we went out for Jason's birthday to Provino's, a local Italian restaurant that has amazing garlic rolls and free dinner and dessert on your birthday. The kid's a great time and ate well. I realized we hadn't been out to a nicer restuarent in a while since Josh was asking about all the people around us. Even though we were in a secluded booth, he kept wanting to talk to people at other booths or tables. He's quite the social guy. After dinner, we explored "Christmas in the Park" in downtown Suwanee. It was very cold that evening but we did get to enjoy Christmas carolers, hot coca, music, crafts, and more.

This post is about a month late, but it was still important to post : )

Life Group Christmas Party

Since we moved, we are now attending a different Life Group in the Buford/Suwanee area. For our last get together for the year, we had a Christmas Party with white elephant gifts for the adults, a devotion, and the kids decorated gingerbread houses. I particularly loved how Josh decided how to eat his- no hands, face first : )

For the devotion, Josh's Sunday school teacher spoke to all the kids. First, he asked them what they want for Christmas and he wrote these items down on a sheet of paper. He also asked them if they remembered what they got last year and many could not remember. Next, he read Matthew 6:19-21:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Then he asked the kids what eternal things they could ask for. Some of the answers were grace, God, patience, and love. He wrote these on aluminum foil. Next, he took a candle and held the paper up to the flame the one in paper representing our earthly wants disappeared in flames (it was magic paper so it was really impressive) and the one written on foil represented our eternal wants didn't got into flames.

This lesson was a great reminder to us as well as we get so caught up in wanting things during this time of the year. I was thankful for this simple illustration of investing in our kingdom home, heaven, for our children and family for they are greater than anything else we can receive on earth.