sneak peek...and other things.

 here is a sneak peek of our mini photo shoot.

My sister Jenny, took some pictures of the boys this weekend. She posted a couple on fb last night and I was super excited ;) I'll be getting the rest soon...she kindly took our christmas pictures too. She's pretty amazing!!

 

Next up.. some park pictures from our day today in Morgan Hill for C's OT. (instagram style..these are not nearly as nice as the ones above!!)

exploring a new park with lu.

and meeting a new friend who made us feel welcomed.  

I love this little bit of alone time I get to have with Lucas while Caleb gets to nurture a relationship with someone outside the family on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I love that Caleb is doing so many new things in the two months since he started OT.

 

what waking up at 5am will do to ya. (last five minutes of our long drive home...thankfully this did not screw up afternoon naps! whew)

we heard some encouraging words from C's therapist today. He attended for a sitting activity for longer than normal and did some 'wall push-offs' which normally are a struggle...also he was really engaged in the different OT activities with lots of energy. It always feels good to hear encouraging words from not just his therapist but from family and friends who notice little things he is able to now do that he struggled with before :) Sweet boy! We are so very proud of you Caleb Lincoln.

 

Now onto Children's books ;) ...

found here

I wanted to share another favorite Christmas story of ours. I cry in this one too. It is about an angel who calls the animals and asks that they carry "the greatest of them all" The proud horse chooses the soldier 'strong and tall', The strong ox chooses the 'goodly kind samaritan', the camel chooses the wise man...'but none the greatest be' says the Angel...it is the donkey who chooses "not good or great or tall, but the lady waiting here who needs bearing most of all " The angel responds "then you must take, your burden preciously for she herself a burden bears that shall the greatest be" The verse and rhyme in this story are rich with language. It ends with "He carried Mary gently and brought her to his stall, where Jesus Christ, her child is born, the greatest of them all!" This is another sweet animal story the boys really relate to. I wish I could share the whole story right here on the blog, but you'll just have to read it yourself to see what I mean when I say what a great Christmas story it is:)

 

I also wanted to share some of the words from our other favorite Christmas book right now,

"Who is Coming to our house" It is short and sweet, but I think very powerful all the same.

 

found here

"Who is coming to our house?"

"Someone, someone," says Mouse

 

"Make room," says Pig.

"I will butt aside the rig."

"We must clean," says Lamb.

"Dust the beams," says Ram.

 

"Who is coming to our house?"

"Someone, someone," says Mouse.

 

"Sweep the earth," says Chick.

"Stack the hay," says Goose, "and quick!"

"Spin new webs," says Spider.

"I will line the crib with eider."

 

"Who is coming to our hosue?"

"Someone, someone," says Mouse.

 

"Someone's coming from afar."

"I will nose the door ajar."

"But it is dark," says Cat.

"They will never come," says Rat.

 

"Yes, they'll come," says Mouse.

"Someone's coming to this house."

 

"I will lay an egg," says Hen.

"I will spread my tail for them."

 

"Who is coming to our house?"

"Mary and Joseph," whispers Mouse.

 

"Welcome, welcome to our house!"

 

(I love how mouse whispers at the end of the story..and the welcome, welcome!! can't you just imagine...mary and Joseph were turned away at each house, but it was the simple and humble animals that opened their home to them.)  Little children can so relate to this story!

 

Have I mentioned my love of children's books?! Yes I could talk about children's books all day long. All books for that matter. Always have been and always will be a book lover!! And I hope to instill that in the boys as well. I love the language and illustrations in childrens books. Do you know that I still remember all the stories my mom read to us growing up? Maybe one day I'll write my own children's book :)

What are your favorite family Christmas stories?

 wagon walk under the moon to look at christmas lights :)

Happy Tuesday!

soaking up each moment of this christmas season with my boys. Oh how I love them so.