December Daily | 25

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." Luke 2:14

Merry Christmas!

We had a pretty good Christmas Day. We got up and checked out our stockings, ate waffles {and yogurt} for breakfast, and got ready for a special Christmas Day service at church. And, of all days for me to rush out without my camera - the day that one of BB's friends was getting baptized! {sigh}

After church, we came back home for a big Christmas lunch and some play time and rest time before heading over to Grami and Papa Snow's house - the SuperHeroes were definitely hard at work.


I realized, after it was all said it done, that I didn't go real crazy on the photos this year like I normally do... but I did go pretty heavy on the videos. I'm okay with that... because I kept having another verse from Luke run through my mind so much yesterday and today:

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19

I couldn't help but have a little bit of understanding of what Luke meant - I don't want to quickly forget all these little moments from the past two days. I want to remember them, love them, and hold them in my hands and declare them the special treasure that they truly are.

Merry Christmas, Here's to Many More!

Thanksgiving

I've got so much to be thankful for today, and right there at the top of the list is a husband who is back home with us.

Happy Thanksgiving and praise be to Him from whom all blessings and good gifts flow!

Snow-Graham Family Photos

Tonight, I got to take photos of my Aunt KK and cousins, Michael and Morgan. Part of the reason for it was a little selfish {I needed updated photos for Christmas projects and I wanted the practice}, but also to be able to bless them with some updated family photos. We went to the same little park where I took Ellie's two year portraits - it's definitely becoming a favorite spot of mine! I think they turned out really great and am looking forward to doing some more senior portraits for Morgan soon!

Thanks for letting me practice on ya'll! ♥

Deployment Gifts | Month Three {And a Party}

Ben requested that we give the kids their deployment gifts a couple of days early this month, so that he'd be able to stay awake for a while with them.

They LOVE getting their gifts from Daddy. And think the "close your eyes" part is super fun. Although Ellie usually can't contain her excitement and her eyes are almost always half-way closed while she bounces up and down on the bed.

Noah just adores his Batman and Ellie was hardly seen without her new jewelry all day.

Thank you, Daddy. We love and miss you!

♥

After naptime and dinner, we headed over to Aunt Connie and Mickey's house to celebrate Megan {Mae-Mae} turning four. I couldn't help but giggle when we didn't even make it through the front door before Amanda was passing out hugs to her very willing and elated to see her second-cousins.

Made me smile and remember a page from one of my favorite Cynthia Rylant books, The Relatives Came.

A certain little birthday girl, however, requested that no one sing her Happy Birthday. And then promptly turned on the shy routine when we belted it out.

As you can tell, Noah loves a birthday party... and wanted to have the front row seat for both blowing out the candles and opening presents.

Happy 4th Birthday Mae-Mae! We love you!

Happy {Early} 1st Birthday!

**Warning: Pic heavy!**

We had a super busy, super fun day today. We started it out by going to get doughnuts {yum-o Krispy Kreme!}. Noah had to have a football one. I can't get the boy to eat his veggies, but place a doughnut in front of him and he goes to town.

We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon getting ready for the September birthday party. Since it's also Ellie's first birthday, we went all out - luau style!

Ellie and Mom's birthdays are separated by just two days - hard to believe that last year we were celebrating it while Ellie and I were still in the hospital!

The "Older" September Birthday Girls
{Mom, Grami, and Aunt Connie}

The kiddos got to decorate visors {thanks Mom!} and get in the spirit with leis!

Ellie was pretty excited to get to open presents... and was very upset when she didn't immediately get to play with each new toy. We're convinced that Christmas is going to be a blast this year with the two of them!

{Thanks for photographing the gift opening BB!}

{Thanks for manning the video cameras Jessie and Bryan!}

She barely hesitated when I put the smash cupcake on her tray.

She tasted the icing and then went all in!

She even ate the cake {unlike her brother}.

Such a good little eater!

And, just because sometimes a video {or two} is much more fun:

The September Birthday Girls!


After cake, dinner and the necessary bath, Ellie was very much ready for bed and was very snuggly.

Happy {early} 1st Birthday Ellie-Belly! We love you so!

Last Day {of Visitors}

We had a pretty lazy day today.

Noah and Ellie kept Aunt KK busy with books and kisses.

Ben kept Morgan busy with a few rounds of The New Super Mario Brothers.

And me? Well, I kept myself busy with a half-serious, half-joking internal debate on whether it would be easier to just sell the house rather than clean it after a week and a half of company.

Morgan was pretty sad to leave and we were sad to see her go, but I think knowing that she had a new-to-her car to drive helped ease her pain of leaving the kiddos.

Morgie, thanks for all your help this week. And seriously... as payback for when you were a kid {and did it to me}, I'm going to teach Noah and Ellie to call you "Mommy" too when we're out and about next time. I love you kiddo. ♥

{Showing Aunt BB Daddy's video game - mario time!}

And, just because I think it's hyseterical, here's a funny video of Noah talking to Papa on my cell phone.

He seems to think that cell phones work like Skype... and that everything that he can see, the person on the other end of the phone can see too. So while I was talking with Mom this afternoon, Noah demanded to talk to Nana. And, once he was finished talking with Nana, he wanted to talk with Papa. Then BB. He then asked for Pinny {my sister's dog} and started barking. Then he asked for Bryan {Jess' boyfriend}. Jessie was a little hurt when he didn't ask for her. Jessie... now you know how I felt every time the little cousins bypassed me for Ben!

P.S. I've decided that it's probably easier better for our budget to clean the house rather than sell it. So, I wouldn't expect a blog post for tomorrow. ♥

Make-A-Blanket Weekend

Today I hosted a Make-A-Blanket Day/Weekend for Project Linus with some amazingly creative friends. {Click here to read more about Project Linus and Project 30.}

We. had. a. blast. All for a good cause.

We sewed.

And quilted.

And ate.

{Thanks for letting me take this pic, April!}

All while the boys and Morgan watched the Little Ones.

{And played lots and lots of Wii.}

We even had a surprise {early} visitor - KK, complete with a new car for Morgan.

{She's not excited or anything.}

By the end of the "work" day, we had five finished blankets to donate to Project Linus, with two more nearly finished and three more waiting to be started. I wish I could say that I finished more than one quilt {my first ever to donate... it only took me two years!}, but between all the dishes and a sick baby... I was just happy to get to dinner!

We topped off the day with dinner out - just for the girls!

And the biggest tip of the hat goes to my dear college friend Sonja - for traveling the farthest and for finishing up two blankets! {Sonja, I'm so glad you were able to make it out. And seriously, Faith, next time, we're dragging you out here if we have to.} I hope we get to do this again soon, Ladies!