A Very Merry Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas we had! 
Christmas Eve all the kiddos nestled in their beds by the tree.  I love that my girls carry on this tradition.  They looked so cuddly!

And, believe it or not, they let us sleep in to a very nice 7:30.  Wow!  That's unusual!  Then, it was time to open our gifts.  There were many!  And I'm so thankful how God has blessed us this year!

We had a yummy meal of ham, potato casserole, pea salad and corn salad.  It was good!  And easy...I like that for Christmas!

Then, it was off to play with toys.
This year, we bought Silas a BB gun. Before he opened the gift, he thought he was getting a play, light up, beeping, rifle....when we told him it was the real thing, he was so excited!  Patrick showed him how to use it and went over lots of safety rules with him.  He's growing up before our eyes!  I'm thankful how cautious he is.

Josh even came over to shoot for a bit.  Micah loved Silas watching Silas use his gift.  But, the thought of waiting 3 more years until he gets his own is a little rough.   Then, he ran and got his nerf gun and shot at the target. And was happy with that. How cute.  Love my boys!

 Many differents projects!  Drawing, legos, pom pom maker....I love crafty gifts!

 That afternoon Josh and Tabitha and Liberty Anne came over to celebrate with us.  I do have to admit, sitting around the tree Christmas morning and realizing my Josh wasn't there was a little sad.  Then, figuring out who will gather all the trash was sad too....Josh was always paranoid Christmas morning that some of the gifts would be lost in the wrapping.  He always gathered all the trash almost before we had a chance to unwrap each gift!
So, when they came and opened up gifts and the first thing Josh did was get a trash bag....it did this Momma's heart good.  Some things never change.

 Then, it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.  This year I made a Cinnamon Dulce Latte cake with cream cheese frosting.  It was very yummy!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Eve Stockings

I think Christmas Eve night is one of my favorite nights of the year.  After a busy Christmas season, it's nice to gather around the tree, light some candles and reflect on how good God is.  He sure is!

Patrick read from Luke chapter 2.  Then, we talk about the Christmas tree and how it points us to Christ and the true meaning of Christmas.  lights, ornaments, evergreen, gifts....it's amazing!

Then, we get out our stocking for Jesus.  We pass out the papers from last year and the gifts we gave Him.  Always a convicting, reflective, yet precious time.  Then, we give him gifts for the upcoming year.

 Then, we pass out our stockings.  I love filling everyone's stockings.  Such fun, little gifts.

It was fun having this precious gift to share in on the festivies!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve at VSIBC

 We had a great Christmas Eve Service at VSIBC.  It was a blessing to be surrounded by our family and friends.  And it was wonderful to introduce everyone to Liberty Anne!

Grammy and Marc meet Liberty!

 We were so blessed to be able to have Denise and Marc come to celebrate Christmas with us!  I think maybe Liberty had a little draw in as well. :o)  We had such a great time!  I captured some neat photos as Grammy met Liberty for the first time.  I love the look of proud Pops in the background!

 A very proud great-grandma!

 Then, it was great uncle Marc's turn!

What sweet memories!

Gingerbread and Cookies

 As Christmas drew closer and closer, it was time to bake!  First we started with gingerbread houses.  This was our first year to do this.  Micah asked if we could, and we all enjoyed it so much!
  The houses turned out adorable!

 Then, it was time to bake cookies.  I had a sweet friend bring over dough that was already made, we just had to roll and decorate!  Now, that's an amazing friend! :o)

 That evening, we packaged up our cookies and went caroling.  It was so fun!  I love holiday memories with my family!!

A Piece of Home every Christmas

 Growing up, Christmas was always a big deal.  We celebrated all month long, and Mom and Dad made it so special.

We always decorated the tree together and it was so fun to see ornaments I had made as a little girl that still had a prominent, proud place on our tree. My job was to put the star on top. Dad would lift me up and help me.  I have many memories of hearing them secretly put together toys on Christmas Eve night and checking on us girls to make sure we weren't peeking.  We always left cookies and milk (sometimes coke :o)  for our Santas.  And they always made sure to eat some with crumbs left on the plate.

 Christmas morning would always be very early.  Mom would always hurry to play Christmas music and turn on all the lights when we came out.  The atmosphere was perfect. There was so much excitement as we opened the gifts from Mom and Dad.  Then, my Dad would flip (literally) pancakes for us....sweet memories.


Since marrying my sweetheart, I haven't had many Christmases at "Home."  Instead, I've tried to make my new home a place like I remember as a little girl...full of laughter, Christmas traditions and memories.  I think I've been successful....my family loves Christmas.

But, still, this time of year my mind floats back to when I was a little girl and with each passing year, I realize how much love I was given growing up.  And how my parents were amazing.

Knowing I still have a piece of my heart at "Home" this time of year, my parents started doing something after I first left and was married.  It always surprises me when they remember.  It always makes me cry.  And it always, always lets me know that I will always be Mom and Dad's little girl.

  So, yesterday I opened a package I received in the mail.  It was a piece of their Christmas tree.  Every year when they chop off a piece of the bottom to make the tree fresh, my parents send that piece to me.

  Every year I have a piece of "Home" in my home every Christmas.  And my heart is full.  And I am so very blessed.

Liberty Anne is Here!

Thank you so much to everyone who prayed for Tabitha as she gave birth to Liberty Anne!  Tabitha did amazing and God answered so many prayers!!

Saturday night at the Christmas party, we could tell Tabitha was growing more uncomfortable.  Sunday it was even worse.  We all knew the time was getting close.  Monday morning about 6am she woke up to consistent, 6 minute apart contractions.  After a midwife appointment, she was 1 cm dilated.  So, they decided to finish up some Christmas shopping, do some walking, and take a nice nap.  When I saw Tabitha that afternoon, she was uncomfortable, having contractions, but coping very well.  What a girl!

 Before bed I told Josh to please text me if they call the midwife to come.  I confess....I looked out my window at their camper several times through the night.  All was quiet. 

 At 3 am we got a text that the midwife was on the way.  So exciting!  Shortly after the midwife arriving (Tabitha planned on having a homebirth) Josh came over and said the midwife wants him to boil water.  I laughed...don't they only do that in the olden days?  Actually, their water heater gave out in the middle of filling the birth pool, so they needed hot water to fill it.  It was just what this Grandma and Grandpa to be needed.  We filled water, boiled and toted it next door and put it on Josh's car.  We wanted to give them privacy.  We did this over and over and giggled and laughed and prayed and grew more and more excited.  What a good memory!

Tabitha labored throughout the day.  What a tough girl!  At one point she and Josh came out and walked around our circle driveway.  She was in so much pain.  She had 8 contractions in the time it took them to walk around once.  It was hard to watch, but she did amazing!

Then, we received a text from Josh.  She's here!

After a very long labor....Liberty Anne was born at 2:52pm!  

 She weighed 8 lbs and 13 ounces.  Joshua and Tabitha had time to adore their baby girl for a bit.  The midwife checked her out and she is so healthy and doing great.  We tried out hardest to be patient. We were all dying to see here!  After the midwife left, Josh and Tabitha and baby Liberty came over to Lolli and Pops house!  That's the beauty of homebirth....you feel pretty amazing afterward!

Seeing our baby boy walk up our porch with a beautiful baby was a surreal moment.  I looked at Patrick and saw tears in his eyes.  This is a memory I will never forget.  Josh was so proud!

Soooo, here you go...lots of pics of my granddaughter,
 Liberty Anne Gimenez

 Can you tell we are all in love?  God is so good!!

It's baby day!

Today is the day!  Baby Liberty Anne is on her way!  Please be in prayer for Tabitha and Joshua as well.  So excited!!

Merry Christmas!