O Tannenbaum

It has become our annual tradition to cut down our Christmas tree the Friday after Thanksgiving. As the kids have gotten older, they have enjoyed the hunt more and more and, in turn, it has grown to be an even more special tradition to Jeff and I. We chose a tree farm this year owned by a local older man who grows the trees in his back"yard". He has a lot of trees to pick from and when you've cut the tree that you have decided is the best to grace your home for the next month and have brought it to him, he measures it with an outrageously long pole to figure the cost. As Jeff held the tree upright, we both eyeballed the measuring stick and saw that the tree was slightly under 7 feet. With the cost of $5/foot, we assumed we'd be paying $35. Maybe the man would charge us $32 or $33 since it was under 7 feet, but we'd be happy to pay the full 7 feet's worth since it looked so close. And so the kindly old man measured and double checked his measure-
ment, and then, without blinking, he told us that we owed him $34.21. Thirty four dollars and twenty one cents?! Who does that kind of exact calculation with a very long yard stick that towers several feet higher than the person holding it? None the less, we paid with a straight face and the Christmas tree man took several minutes hunting up our exact change in his kitchen. Then we stuffed the beautiful tree in the back of the van and headed for home.

Today, we were able to decorate the tree. This really is the best part of the whole Christmas tree tradition for the kids. I think this was the first year that Gracie fully anticipated and enjoyed the event. She squealed with delight as each ornament was pulled from her box and she took it to the tree to hang. Jeff performed his ceremonial hanging of the star. We stuffed the tree full of all the ornaments that hold Christmas sentiments from years past.











In the end, the kids were delighted with the final result and Jeff and I couldn't help but cherish the joy that Christmas traditions, such as these, bring our family.

Holiday Parade 2008

We braved the cold again this year to go downtown and see the holiday parade. It is a cold event, but well worth it. We mistakenly set up camp behind an angry woman who was saving a large space on the sidewalk for her supposed 4 children and friends who were to join her, and who figured that yelling at any passer-byer that even dared glance at the open space for their own use was the best way to spread holiday cheer. But, eventually, her friend showed up with donut holes and the children, and she calmed down nicely--even asking if we could see alright and making sure our kids in the back row received candy as it was thrown from the parade participants.


How can you hang onto territorial anger when there are high school marching bands and holiday floats?


We did have to leave the parade a bit early as we lost feeling in our fingers and toes and Jeff's griping about how much he missed California winters became too tiresome; but all in all, we had a grand time and will be sure to go again next year.

First day of snow

Today, we had our first real snow of the season. The kids woke up and found it as they looked out the big landing window. What excitement! Shortly after breakfast, snow gear was donned and the kids were out happily shoveling snow in the back yard.


Grace felt quite sorry for the poor roses that were covered in snow. She took a good deal of time to carefully brush off each bud so that they could see the sun.



Who knew that sand toys doubled so well as snow toys?

Sunday dinner

Growing up, the meal that we ate on Sundays directly following the morning service-- Sunday dinner--was always a major event. Mom would start a roast or a turkey cooking before we left for Sunday School and by the time we arrived home, the house smelled wonderful and preparation of wonderful side dishes would begin. Then, we would all sit together as a family--many times in the dining room with the good china--eating this special meal. My mother went to all this effort because Sunday is a special day, one for setting aside to worship God with His people, to find fellowship among family and friends and for rest.

That really helped guide my attitudes towards Sundays as I grew up. Jeff and I attempt to honor Sundays in our own home now--setting it aside and making it unique from the rest of the week. One way we've tried to do that is by having friends over after the Sunday services for dinner on a semi-regular basis. Yesterday we were delighted to have a table full of friends from church--including Lauren, Rick and Marina, and Dave, Amanda and Natalie. Lauren is living in State College right now, working on her doctoral studies, and so we're always so thrilled to be able to have a visit from her and some extra time with her. She is a dear friend. She took these pictures, and they were too fun not to post on our blog. (You'll probably be able to find them on several other blogs, as well.) It was great to celebrate the Lord's day with friends. It was also wonderful for me, in that, I was able to do all the food prep the day before, so it was very much a day of rest for me, even with hosting many in our home.

The kids enjoyed their time with little Natalie. Grace, especially, is always thrilled to be able to practice her baby skills in preparation for the one who is coming in two months.

We are so grateful that God has given us so many loving friends at Trinity. He has met our needs abundantly in our move from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. We left a wonderful community at Tenth Presbyterian and came to another wonderful community at Trinity Presbyterian. God is so good to us.

Field trip

This school year, Jeff and I decided to wait to send Joost to kindergarten (he turned five near the end of the summer), and to not put him back in preschool. I thought I'd try a little academic training at home in the areas that would be helpful for school next year. I also thought it would be fun to go on some field trips every few weeks. I wanted very much to get in a major trip before baby comes, so today we set out early for Philadelphia and The Franklin Institute Science Museum.


Mom and Andrew joined us for the day. The kids and I had a fun time at the museum. There was an incredible amount of hands-on displays. We could have spent much longer in each exhibit. They even made their own paper with the help of a kind museum guide.








After four hours, I had to pull them away so we could eat lunch. The kids were able to experience their first Philly cheesesteak (a true learning experience) at Abner's--the university city restaurant that Jeff and I frequented often while we dated (we first went there on our 2nd date.)


After a few other favorite stops in Philly, we made our way home with (amazingly) no traffic on 76. That, in and of itself, made it a really great field trip!

good byes

Before every baby arrives, Jeff and I try to take some time away just the two of us. This past weekend we were able to do that. The kids stayed with mom and dad (and had a great time). This shot was taken as we drove away on Friday morning. I'm not sure they were fully convinced, as that point, that our time away was actually going to make us better parents.