For Unto Us A Child is Born...

After a very long time of waiting, the last few days were filled with little holiday projects like this Gingerbread house...


Some arts and crafts fun with family...

and lots of sparkle.

Then finally the enchantment truly began.

Patrick Aaron Gerard Kneuper arrived on the solstice (Dec 21, 2009). Almost 8lbs and 19 1/2 inches he as taken over the season.

















May you all be s blessed as we feel right now. Merry Christmas to all!

It's Beginning to Look A Bit Like Christmas...

The season has begun to show in our new home this week. The Advent wreath has made it's cheery presence know at dinnertime each night. Not the classic version to be sure, but unable to find a wreath I liked and could actually afford a few years ago, I created this one myself. When the traditional purple and pink colors proved impossible to find, I went with the alternatives choices of burgundy and white. The scents are very appropriate to the season with a rich spicy smell. They have survived years of burning and will last us this year at least. Next year I will need some new candles, maybe I will make my own this time?

Along with the wreath, we also found and hung the garland of stockings as our Advent calendar. The idea was given to me a few years ago by a fellow crafty friend and we have enjoyed the new tradition immensely. The girls talk of it year round and look forward to discovering what is in each days stocking throughout the season. Instead of the common little windows that open to reveal a piece of chocolate each day, we have some days with little treats, and many days with activities or plans for the day. Yesterday's was plans to see the P.W. light parade which we enjoyed in spite of the cold. Today's item is actually their new ornaments. A family tradition begun by my parents when I was a child, the presentation of one special ornament each year to commemorate something that year and to create a collection of special decorations that one takes with them when they grow up and decorate their own tree. I have continued this tradition and enjoy finding/ making something special for each of them during year. Then when it comes time to decorate the tree, they get to put on their own ornaments, along with the new one.

The new ornaments will soon be hung on this little tree standing patiently before a cold wintry scene. With some strings of pom-poms, pop-corn and bells added to the chili-pepper lights acquired in DH and I's first Christmas together in TX, our little tree will be complete. Then it will stand by the window proclaiming a bit of the seasons joy. Though muted in comparison to many of our neighbors amazing light displays, I am sure it's voice shall still be welcome. The cheerfully wrapped packages will soon pile underneath to accompany the soft children's nativity set which the girls spend hours playing with under it's watchful bowers. I often miss the real trees of my childhood, but with Dh's allergy's and my environmental sensibilities, I don't foresee one of those gracing our home in the foreseeable future. Instead we will enjoy the little hand-me down we acquired so many years ago and cherish the real ones outside, covered in winters white blanket.

My cherished Lenox Nativity set may just have found it's new home in the nook above our couch. It has stayed packed away the last few years to keep it from destruction at the hands of little ones, this year it has found a protected place to proclaim it's beauty and reminder of the reason for the season. One especially close to home with this year's anticipated new arrival. Our own little baby boy will be arriving soon to complete this personal family nativity.

A Little Thankfulness

I am thankfull for so many things these days. One being my return to the blog-a-sphere! Another is being 35 weeks pregnant. That has been a long road and I am quite happy to be daily closer to a happy, healthy and full-term little boy to add to our family. The journey is something I shall speak of later, for now I focus on thankfulness. For the faith that has gotten me down this road and so many other things. I commented yesterday how thankful I am that we have a new home. We made a list of thing wanted and needed in a new space and managed to fill and the needs and almost all the wants. My children are happy to be at home playing all day, every day. This is a new experience for us and one I am most grateful for. Our smaller space was obviously a major contributor in their desire to always be going and gone from home. These days DH often ends up without a shopping partner if they are given the option to stay home instead. I am grateful for the option to home school my Bug. We tried public school this year and it was just not working for her, for our family or for our personal peace. We are a happier family now than we have been in some time and that is a great place to be. I am grateful for all the generous help we received in getting us in to this new home. Help took as many forms as the people involved and we shall be eternally grateful for every kind. I am thankful for my family's health in a time of public illness. For my DH's job in a time of unemployment and for the hope I hold for all our futures. This list could go on for a very long time, but my ability to sit is still limited, so I will continue to add bits of thankfulness in time, and for now sign off with a great big thanks to all who share this space with my simple writings.

Lush Green Carpet

Nothing makes for visible progress like laying sod. We began the weekend with holes and dirt and this morning we have a lush and verdant yard. The obligation of extreme watering even seems reasonable when admiring the loveliness of the new yard. Never mind that grass has no real benefits with regard to environment or sustenance, that little patch of green is just so cheerful. Thank you DH for all your work this weekend!

Fathers Day Fun

The morning was great (I will refrain from discussing my afternoon that day) but there are certainly some moments to treasure from the early activities.

After a daddy-pleasing breakfast we got a surprise opportunity to check out the flight-for-life helicopter which made everyone so excited!





Next came a trip to the Royal Gorge for four generations of fun. When I was a kid there wasn't nearly so much to do there but now it's a day of fun for the kiddos. Fathers get in free on fathers day (which is a pretty hefty savings) and there are rides, animals, movies, gift shops, even tomahawk throwing! A trolley ride will take you across the bridge and around to each stop which makes it easy for those of us with reduced mobility.


But, who needs a trolley when you ride in style?

Aren't we cute!

The gift shops are filled with pretty trinkets and things like these Indian Princess dolls, which grandma attempted to show the girls.

Of course as is classic for my delicate little angles of grace, they went straight for the racks of guns and bow-n-arrows...

And fur hats. Nice.

A little reminiscing that 'war of northern aggression'...




And DH left with his own souvenir. Happy Fathers Day honey!

Catchin-Updates 2 (Summertime)

Back home we have spent much time hanging with friends at various fun locations.
Library activities (showing off that tan)...

Building rock castles...

Lots of park time...


Trying to avoid to much sun-tanning...


And even more water time! Several days have been spent at pools and in the sprinklers.





All in all, we are having a lot of good times mixed in with the everyday crazies.

Catchin-Updates 1 (Kansas)

While I have few excuses for my posting absence, (other than gestational exhaustion, house hunting mania, traveling commitments and summertime fun obligations) I have definitely missed some fun and blogg-able events. This is the first of my attempts to catch up on some fun pictures and events of the last month.
The Kansas trip began with breaking in our new van and a shinning double rainbow.

The reunion was spent with lots of kids...


Time for baby snuggles...

Tons of silliness...

New connections...

Did I mention lots of kids?

Lots of conversation...

A bonfire for marshmallows...

And the resulting S'Mores...

Ending with sleepy but very happy girls who wonder "why we can't do that every day?"

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Oh, did I forget to mention the slip-n-slide?!?!





















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All the kids had fun with that double length water slide. (Both little and big, in case you missed that Paul was in those last shots!) Just in case you can't get a good enough look, here is the closeup version. :)