christmas cookies!

Yesterday I made Christmas cut-out cookies and the boys thought they needed to clean the beaters for me. How thoughtful of them!

The dough must have been really good!

Sealed with a kiss!

take one!

These are a few of the Christmas pictures I took this year of Ethan. I had the hardest time getting him to stay in one place long enough to take the picture (as you can see)!

Kissing the horsie!

More kisses!

"Ahhh!!"

What a cheesie smile!

we made a gingerbread house (sort of)!!!

At MOPS last Friday, we were all given an entire gingerbread house kit. I've honestly never made one before...I know, can you believe it?! I thought the boys would enjoy making the gingerbread house, but not nearly as much as they enjoyed eating it!

Waiting as patiently as they can while we get set up!

Putting on the pretzel roof!

The "finished" product :)

Ethan wanted to dip his pretzel in the icing...

"Yummy!"

The gingerbread house makers!!

garry has gone home...

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for Garry...he went home to be with the Lord shortly after Stacy and I went to visit him this morning. Your prayers for the family are truly appreciated. I can only imagine what Garry must be experiencing at this very moment...oh, until that day...

prayers

Some of you may know the situation, and some of you may not, but I'm asking for your prayers for the entire Leindecker family. Garry Leindecker, a very close friend of our family and church family has been dealing with lung and thyroid cancer for almost a year now. He is currently at Coshocton Memorial Hospital and not doing well at all. As of last evening they think he might have slipped into a coma. I know that Garry is anxious to see his heavenly Father very soon, but it still leaves everyone left here on earth with a huge loss. Please keep them all in your prayers. May God give us all strength during this difficult time.

Another close friend of our family, Peggy Keen, has had many health circumstances lately as well. She had hip replacement surgery a couple weeks ago and had just been released and had to begin radiation treatments again for her cancer that has come back. As a good friend was driving her to the hospital for treatment last evening, she was in an accident that flipped her car and left her hanging upside down. She was taken by life-flight to Columbus with broken ribs and a broken neck as well as injuries to her hip again. We're unsure at this point if there will be paralysis or not. Please lift this family up in your prayers as well.

I know many of you are dealing with very trying times right now as well and we are no exception. I also believe and know with my entire heart with God is sovereign. It doesn't matter what's going on in your life (or mine), even the difficult times, that God is ALWAYS in control. There is nothing that happens in life that is a surprise to Him. There are no "accidents", deaths, or trials in life that He is not in complete control of. God intends for all things to work together for those who love Him. Believe in Him and lean on God for your strength each and everyday. He will use the circumstances in your life, as well as mine, to glorify Him and to strengthen our faith if we choose to let Him work in us...may we consider it pure joy when we face these times to grow us up in Christ.

brushing my teeth in my new train pj's!

"Are they clean yet mom?"

baby wade!

Angie Eberhard had her baby last Wednesday evening and Ethan and I were finally able to go visit them this afternoon. Baby James Wade and family are doing very well! He sure has one proud older brother and sister that's for sure! He's absolutely beautiful (and looks just like mommy!)

What a precious gift!

He loves to have his hands up by his face...I love it!

This picture didn't turn out very well because I was holding Wade at the time and trying to take a picture, but I thought it was still really cute....Ethan just wanted to touch him :)

Congratulations Eberhards!! He is beautiful!!

picking a tree!

We had a great time picking out our Christmas tree this year even though it was really rainy and cold! We had to let our tree set outside to drain before we could even bring it inside. Here is a family shot of us all bundled up!

We brought along a sheet for Josh to lay on while he cut the tree down! He did a great job!

Daddy and Ethan by our Christmas tree!

thanksgiving with the noelle's!

We spent Thanksgiving this year in Carmel, IN with the Noelle's. We were all present except for Sarah (the sign says "We miss you Sarah!") who is in England. We did miss you Sarah!

Here are the grandkids with grandma and grandpa.

Jim, Jason, myself, Justin, and Jessica

...and the great-grandkids! Ethan was less than thrilled at the time :)

Katelyn, Matthew, and Ethan

Here's grandpa carving the turkey! Yummy :)

The beautiful dining room...Katelyn made everyone turkey place settings with our names on them. They were so cute!

Jess and Jen after the wonderful turkey dinner! :)

Grandpa playing golf on the Wii!! He did very well!

I just had to take a picture of Uncle Bob's Wii character...it looks EXACTLY like him don't you think?!

Josh boxing!

I love this picture of Uncle Bob and Josh laughing!

Katelyn and her American girl doll :)

the johnson celebration!

Last Monday evening, the Johnson side of Josh's family got together for a pre-Thanksgiving/Christmas celebration since several of us weren't going to be at Thanksgiving. Here are a few shots from the night!

Colvin, Lucy, Ethan, Josh, Kale, and Rex

Ethan laughing at daddy :)

Oh no! The boys ganging up on Josh!

Rex had Ethan's name this year in the gift exchange and he got him fridge phonics and an Aquadoodle. He loved them both!!

Testing out the Aquadoodle! It's so nice because the "marker" only works on the mat, and since it's just water, it dries and you can draw again!

All the kids wanted a try :)

Aunt Fran got the three youngest boys the following t-shirts...very creative Aunt Fran!

The boys and their t's :)