(from the Jesus Story Book Bible)
We'd like to share a few of our Christmas Card Pics that did not make the cut:
Really, taking a photo with our whole family is nearly impossible.
It has also been challenging to capture Jane and Andrew in one photo together ever since they started walking. I mostly get a photo of Jane running out of the frame because from the moment I sit her down next to Andrew her only goal is to be up and on her way. But, the day we went after our Christmas Tree, we snapped this rare shot:
Jane and Andrew are 16 months
Thomas and Jack turn 4 and 6 this week
We just bought a house in Manchester Maryland (15 minutes from church) and will be moving in after Christmas.
Sound crazy to you? Feels crazy to us.
Life with the twins:
Check out Jane sending off every Panera customer with her best Bye Bye.
And here are the twins playing peek-a-boo when they should have been taking a nap...
Christmas Update: Tommy and Jack both learned 9 bible verses this fall as a part of their "Hero Training Camp" that their mom bravely led. One of the verses that had the most impact (and practical usage) for us as a family was James 1:2-3. Our adaptation is "hard things can be good...because they make us stronger." The reality of that passage has been quite present for us. 4 young kids is physically, emotionally and mentally draining for parents--and thus for the whole family. It is hard. BUT it really is so worth it! Our kids are amazing little people and we are so very thankful for each of them.
Jack started half day kindergarten in the fall and is loving it. He just had a birthday, and his party was at the bounce place--perfect for his age. 2 weeks ago Jack had a wonderful adventure helping to cut down our Christmas tree in Manchester (our new hometown) and getting hot chocolate and brownies afterwards. Other highlights of the year for Jack were our trip to Ocean City and a great Saturday hike out in the mountains of western Maryland in September.
Thomas is in pre-school and is having a fun time learning and playing with his friends. He loves to ride his new hot wheels bike he got for his birthday from his kaki (Kristen's mom). Tom is a happy guy. He loves to make people laugh, run around naked (in the house). He loves his older brother, Jack, and would follow him anywhere. He is nick-named (in our house) hunka-munka, as he is known to take flight from the top stair and land in his daddy's waiting arms 10 feet below. We call that the "flying hunka-munka." His younger brother Andrew we like to call "hulka-munka." Mainly because he is a similar body density to Tom (quite dense) and I'm sure one day we will experience the "flying hulka-munka" down the stairs.....
Andrew is turning into a really fun guy, and developing his own wonderful, happy-go-lucky personality. (we were worried that he would get lost in the mix what with being the 3rd boy AND tied with the only girl...) He's really a superstar, and is a delight to be around. He loves to say "boo" at the dinner table and make everyone jump (we indulge him over and over). He laughs and laughs...
Jane is different than Andrew. She is a happy girl, but also has a very serious, task-driven personality (ala Jack and Mommy...). She is as cute as can be. She is quite cordial (as you may have seen in the posted video at Panera) and will always tell you bye-bye and give you a wave. She is still much lighter than Andrew but catching up quickly it seems. Jane's first 2 syllable word appeared a few weeks ago: Batman!
Kristen and Jim have their hands full, but their hearts full too. We love our kiddos and each other. We are excited about the new house in Manchester and looking forward to raising our kids there with all the adventure that come with kids growing up. We know it may feel hard or crazy...but, as our kids say around the house: James 1:2-3 "Hard things can be good...because they make us stronger!" I think our family should be mighty strong after all is said and done :)
James 1:2-4 in The Message Version:
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
We have a few fun videos to post too.
Love,
The Powells
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