Bernice week 3!

December 17

December 18

December 19 - The problem with this Bernice set up was that the kids thought it meant that Ken and Bernice were now a team!  Ken didn't fit into Mom's future plans, so I had to do away with him, quickly.

December 20

December 21 

December 22

Bernice will be leaving us tomorrow.  It's been a lot of fun finding fun stuff to do with her and of course, seeing the excitement of the kids when they find her each morning.  I do have a confession...I'll be glad not to wake upin a panic after falling asleep on the couch because I forgot to set her out somewhere!  

I tried really hard this year to set aside my big list of 'to do's' and really focus on the kids.  Going to bed at night with toys out and laundry on the floor is something I've been working very hard on.  I need to stop worrying about everything being in a perfect place and be thankful for the three little Houdinis and their amazing Daddy.  

I was so caught up in thinking about what needed done one evening last week, that I almost looked past a little card in Gabe's folder.  He showed it to me with a crooked grin on his face and was quite eager for my response.  This little guy couldn't write anything in August except his name and now he's writing sentences?  Thank God for great teachers who answer the call to teach these little monsters...I mean kids :)  Thank you, Mrs. Wiles, for your patience and passion for Gabe and his classmates :)  

I confess that I love surprising my kids and I love surprising them even more at Christmastime!  Matt and I put this note in a sack, hung it from the front door and rang the doorbell.  They ran to answer the door and got a little surprise.  

We were waiting for them in the van with popcorn, hot chocolate and cookies.   

Yesterday we surprised them with an ice skating adventure.  It was a first time for all three of them.  I think Nate and I enjoyed it the most.  Adri and Gabe liked it, too, but were over it pretty quickly.  I thought we'd be sore from all the falls, but in fact, my stomach hurt more than anything else today...I think it was because of all the laughing! 

This is what we got on the way home :)

This morning was our Christmas program at church.  The kids did awesome!  Seeing kids recite memorized scripture, sing silent night and depict the nativity scene was heart melting.  I love our church family and all the little cherubs that make volunteering in our children's ministry so rewarding.  

Merry Christmas, friends!