A few Christmas pictures

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas festivities. Ben's dad came to spend Christmas with us and it was very special to have him here. On Christmas eve we made a birthday cake for Jesus and Avery said Grandpa about four times. We couldn't believe our ears but we all heard it and there was no mistake that was what she was saying, because Jonathan had just been trying to get his Grandpa's attention and was saying "Grandpa" over and over. Her little seven month old voice just said "Gampa" as plain as day.

Jonathan and Avery got a kitchen to share. Jonathan was teaching his little sister all about it. We had a fabulous Christmas and hope you did as well.

Tonight was our annual LSM Christmas banquet where our kids go all out and get dressed up and act like they are all grown up. It is a ton of fun and a good chance to get some pictures of our family in our Christmas clothes.














The kids received lots of attention. Avery waved at people all night long and it cracked me up! She started babbling a lot more this week and I'm pretty sure she said "Daddy" a couple of times. She loves her daddy! She stares at him nonstop and gives him the girliest smiles I have ever seen. She also started eating baby food this week (yeah, I held out on that till almost seven months) so now she thinks she can eat anything. Here she is gumming a wrapped Tootsie Roll. She still isn't moving much. She will roll from front to back if she absolutely had to but seems completely unmotivated to transport herself from one place to another.







Jonathan got a haircut today and looks so grown up to me. He is so excited about Christmas this year and it is so fun to see the wonder of the season from his eyes.














Here is our fabulous student ministry staff. We love them like crazy and surely would not be able to do what we do without them.



Merry Christmas to you all!