Downtown adventure

We decided it would be a fun treat to take the kids downtown and stay in a hotel before Christmas.  Last year we went to Hawaii over Christmas and stayed in a nice hotel the weekend before Christmas.  This was such a memorable experience last year we wanted so bad to try to recreate the memories.  We choose the Hyatt and boy was it fun!

We started our adventure by walking around and seeing all the Christmas displays downtown after about an hour the kids were all ready to go back and have some lunch and swim.

L wanted only to be in the hot tub I think she liked that she could reach.

                                  K is my little mermaid she is under water more than above.

This sad face was the story of J every time I attempted a picture.  I am pretty sure by this point he

     had lost several privileges.  Oh the joys of parenting.

 

L my little gymnast, this was in our 1st room on the 5th floor.  We had two rooms booked that adjoined but we were waiting for the other one to be ready.  We ended up being moved to the 14th floor due to

                   a hotel issue and they gave us our second room free with 4 free breakfasts, which rocked!

We took the kids to our favorite restaurant downtown, Palominos.  It was fun for them to see where we like to go out on dates.

 

We ran outside right when dinner was over to see Santa repel from the Macy's building.

Enjoying the doughnuts that we got from Palomino's to go.  They dipped them chocolate, yummy!  We then went back to the hotel to watch a movie.  The kids didn't fall asleep till 11, way past their bedtime.  They at first didn't like all the sirens but later felt comforted by them because they thought the wind blowing sounded like a wolf and the police could keep them safe.

Good morning girls!  The girls loved looking at the city so much to see.

Our free and very cold carriage ride.

Our last adventure of the trip was to take the trolley around town.  What good trip, thanks kids for all the memories.

Baby Love crashed in

Each Christmas I am starting to grasp more of the incredible reason we are excited about Christ's birth.  There were a few things that were impactful this year.  Christmas eve morning we went to the Crossroads Christmas performance with both sides of the family, wow it was good!  They spoke very Clearly about why Christ had to come to the earth.  During the show they used so many beautiful types of art to display the Christmas story.  It was all very powerful and moving.  I encourage you to go to their site and download for free any of their music written by them, my favorite is "Love Crashed In", http://www.crossroads.net/my/media/music.php .  This will be something I do every year!  I left incredibly encouraged.  We then went and got Indian with all our family, that was just plain fun to be with most everyone and truly enjoy everybody's company.  We then continued on to Williamstown and Dry Ridge to deliver gifts for Angel Tree to 2 families.  One of the families I was given an opportunity to pray with the grandmother who was caring for her grandchildren, it was moving because I didn't expect God to use me at this house I thought for sure I would be better used at the next house.  It was powerful to speak God's truth to her.  We then had a nice dinner at home (by candlelight) together, played a game and watched The Nativity, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G78OdmY32IM.  It was so sweet to see Christ's birth come alive, I really enjoyed watching this movie! 

So this was our Christmas eve,  I can only share what Christ has done in my own life and how he has moved my heart toward him.  I come away with a thankful heart for Christ choosing to come to this earth only to die for our sins.  Jesus coming as a baby to this earth reaffirms that God's ways are different often then the way we would of planned them.  Thank you Lord that your ways are greater than ours!

Halloween treats

This past weekend was a fun one,  I spent most of my time constructing Halloween costumes.  J's star wars costume was store bought (thank goodness).  I made a long Rapunzel wig for K the idea was from Family fun it ended up being so cute.  L's giraffe costume was my favorite I use brown clothing and made giraffe print on it with masking tape, that was a task but worth it.  She was so cute, I think her personality really added to her adorable costume.  S's pea pod costume was used by all four of my kids, can you believe I don't think I have a picture of all of them in it I will look though.  Grandma and grandpa D came over all weekend and helped with the basement and the kids, it's so nice to have the help!  Saturday night Joy got to spend the night, my kids love Joy what a special relationship.  Both sets of grandparents were here for trick or treating and to help with all we had going on.

                                                           Our neighborhood bunch!

For the last two years Ben and I have created a trick or treat pit stop at our house for our neighborhood.  It's been an amazing way to meet and talk with people we would otherwise never have contact with.  We passed out 163 hot dogs, 178 juice boxes, 84 hot ciders and 40 waters to hungry and thirsty parents and children.  We set up a movie screen and played a kiddie Halloween movie.  By having a place for the kids to stop and sit for a minute parents are more than willing to engage about their lives.  It was fun to let people know that it is out of love that we do this we want nothing in return.  We were able to meet several people that we have never met and some that came last year and made a point to come back.  I am so thankful for a husband that is so good at loving others I feel like he really makes people feel very welcome.  Ben and I make a great team and we are definitely in our element when it comes to this kind of thing.  It is only God's amazing love that motivates us, it's powerful to remember where I have been the dark places Christ saved me from.  I want nothing more than the people around me to experience that.  So to wrap it up there is nothing great about us or our family we are inspired by a God who is more than great and who has impacted our life!