Oldest and Youngest Boy Cousins

First of all, Anna casually took this picture and it is now my favorite picture of Josiah. That natural smile melts my heart. 

Second of all, Josiah spent his weekend in WV being led around by Ronan. Even though we were at Ronan's house first, when he got to Grandma and Grandpa's house he remembered all the games he and Josiah did last time we were there.

When a 23 month old tells a 16 year old boy to put the dinosaur egg on his head too, he does it!

This game quickly led to Ronan standing on the truck and jump flying into Josiah's arms.

Isaiah was getting ready for breakfast and Ronan brought his dinosaurs over to play. Amanda apologized to Isaiah for the interruption and Isaiah responded with, "It's ok. It was the cutest interruption."

Ronan sent Josiah home with the gift of his cold. Josiah has been pretty miserable this week. Today, though, he said, "I'd like to feel better. But it's ok. Ronan was dive hugging me with snot flying out of his nose. I would never have let him fall. I love him so much." 

Josiah's sisters are convinced that he will make the best husband and dad one day!
 

Heslop Family Christmas

 This year was extra special because, for the first time in at least 18 years, Jeremy's whole family was together for Christmas.

Ronan sat with me for a little bit to play with his dinosaur puzzle. That is a picture worthy event! (Ronan much prefers his Pop-Pop or Josiah!)

This year the cousins were all old enough (except Ronan) to play games together and they had some FUN playing games! Our kids introduced Evelyn and Florence to Exploding Kittens and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.

Evelyn and Florence introduced Isaiah to making slime.

Pokemon is still a hot topic of conversation. I'm pretty sure that is what these three are discussing.

When Sarah is here I stay out of the kitchen. She is the best cook and we are spoiled with her cooking skills. Our Christmas dinner dessert was Creme Brulee. That was a treat!

We all traveled to Pennsylvania on Saturday to have a Christmas meal with Jeremy's Mom's family. Florence got to make a teeny tiny snowman with the bit of snow that was on the ground. She was very excited about that. These cousins took a table and entertained themselves. (Yay for big kids!) But also don't be fooled--all of those big kids may have had some bad attitudes bordering on meltdowns on the way back to WV!

On Sunday we had brunch at Grandma and Grandpa's house before some more pictures and saying good bye for this time. Evelyn and Isaiah are buddies. Evelyn, Florence and Isaiah have kept a connection during the year by playing Minecraft and Roblox games together. I love hearing their voice over the Kids Messenger calls.

Christmas Day

Our Christmas morning was not too early and included homemade cinnamon rolls. A perfect Christmas morning combination in our household!

Anna was sure that emotional support fries would add to Aliza's life.
 

Aliza gave Josiah a burrito blanket.

Aliza got a hug after Anna opened her thoughtful gift.

Isaiah soaked up all the fun.

Anna's sea turtle plushie from Isaiah was pretty cute!

Lots of other Christmas moments are tucked away in my heart.

Christmas Singing

Our Christmas week started with a weekend full of Christmas choir programs, a cantata and Christmas Eve service of carols. 

Aliza has been able to continue singing with the Salisbury Children's Choir this year. These kids have worked hard this semester and had a lovely Christmas concert.

Christmas Sunday was a cantata. The children sang Away in the Manger. It was fun to watch Aliza and Isaiah sing beside each other. Isaiah had to move the whole time he was singing.

I knew Aliza had a solo but I had no idea what she was singing. She sang the first half of Little Drummer Boy and it was gorgeous.

Sunday evening Mom and I felt all kinds of special sneaking in a soup supper before going to Allen Memorial's Christmas program. Aliza's choir was singing with the church choir. It was a long concert, but it was GOOD choir music. We really enjoyed that extra evening of Christmas music. 

And then we had one more Christmas service on Christmas Eve. It was a simple service of carols, Scripture and candlelight. What I appreciated the most was the opportunity to just be quiet and still and refocus on Jesus and what Christmas really means to us. 

For our family the 23rd and 24th didn't go exactly how we had expected and contained more emotion than we had counted on and so quieting was especially welcome and timely.
 

We slid into Dominos at the very last minute before they closed for Christmas to pick up our Christmas Eve pizza and then we settled in for a quiet family evening.

Little Things Making Me Smile

 Gifts are wrapped, a couple batches of cookies have been made and I'm trying to enjoy these days before all the festivities start. I'm very much looking forward to a break from school--one more day to go!

Our mantle is in a room where I don't get to enjoy it as much as I'd like to, but I'm happy with how it turned out this year.

I've never had a yard decoration for Christmas, but a few years ago this one caught my eye. I put it on my Amazon list just to watch the price--to see if it might go on sale at any point. Instead it showed up at my house. Jeremy had bought it for me and I was completely surprised. JOY is one of my words to live by and with the nativity inside the O, it encompasses the season well for me.

Anna's sweet friend, Tabitha, did this painting for Anna's birthday. It's one of my favorite of hers that I've seen. I can just sit and stare at it. It's breathtaking.

A 2 year old opening a small Christmas gift is just the best.

This weekend will be all about holiday music and cookie making!
 

Jumping

Jeremy and I had been considering the purchase of a trampoline for a couple months. In November we decided to watch Black Friday deals. There was a deal that was just ok and we had it in our Amazon cart. We were just about to make the purchase and then decided to wait a couple days longer just because we weren't really convinced whether it was a wise purchase for us. 

The day before Thanksgiving Janell sent me a text that one of her coworkers had posted on facebook that they had a trampoline they were ready to get rid of--for free to whoever would pick it up. A couple messages later and it was ours. I would have left right then to pick it up, but the family kindly agreed to let us pick it up the following Monday after we returned from our Thanksgiving visit with Jeremy's family. 

Given that it's dark by the time Jeremy gets home from work, I figured it was my responsibility to pick it up. My plan was that Josiah would go with me and we would take it apart and bring it home. I was a little nervous about that plan. 

As it worked out Jeremy was home when it was time to leave and he agreed to go with me. Actually I went with him. When we arrived the family had already taken the trampoline down so all we had to do was load it up and bring it home!

Saturday the guys put it together. It has been well used, but there is a bit of jumping left in it.

Then they got to jump!

So far the temperatures have allowed them to be out every day. Today I let Anna and Isaiah go out before they started school. I'm pretty sure they would have stayed out most of the morning. I learned my lesson the trampoline will be reward to finishing segments of school.

 

Joy Dare::November

 11,735. Hanging out with Josiah
11,736. Josiah is not allergic to Motrin
11,737. High school football game experience
11,738. Daddy/Daughter date for Anna
11,739. Meeting Aliza and Kaylene to watch a movie
11,740. Soup supper
11,741. Talking to Janell
11,742. Late night girl laughter
11,743. An "extra" hour
11,744. Watching a flock of blackbirds overtake our yard
11,745. Isaiah randomly telling me how thankful he is for everything I do for him
11,746. Prayer
11,747. Voting
11,748. Afternoon fire and being outside together
11,749. All 6 of us home for the evening
11,750. A connection with one of my aunts
11,751. Listening to Marybeth's story
11,752. Taking the opportunity to ask more questions
11,753, Being able to teach on short notice
11,754. Hospitality
11,755. Safety in heavy traffic
11,756. Children showing great patience
11,757. Brilliant sun and blue sky
11,758. Just spending time together
11,759. Josiah gave me a hug
11,760. Laughter
11,761. No traffic slowdowns on the way home
11,762. Meeting Taylor's mom
11,763. Friends and fellowship over supper
11,764. Anna and I laughing together
11,765. Jeremy close by today
11,766. Thinking about gift giving
11,767. Doing errands alone
11,768. A plan that feels a little crazy
11,769. An opportunity Aliza is really excited about
11,770. Wednesday means I don't have to make supper
11,771. Coffee and conversation
11,772. Anna had the best unexpected evening
11,773. Other adults who speak into my children's lives
11,774. Laughing so hard we are crying
11,775. Shopping with Anna
11,776. Cheering Aliza on in her productive day
11,777. The sweetest picture of Aliza and Kaylene

11,778. First Christmas concert of the season
11,779. Hugging a Mom who's been through a tough season
11,780. An afternoon of boys playing games around our table
11,781. Josiah taking the initiative to meet up with friends
11,782. Isaiah is a fan of pumpkin muffins
11,783. Pretty mugs
11,784. Time with Isaiah
11,785. Trying again to make healthier habits
11,786. Poinsettia on my step
11,787. Anna and Maggie busy playing

11,788. Seeing Diego at church
11,789. Jeremy completely surprised me
11,790. Night walk in the woods
11,791. Anna had so much fun
11,792. Sharing the experience with Cheryl
11,793. Celebrating Anna
11,794. Aliza inviting me to her advising appointment
11,795. Ice cream cake
11,796. Attending an opera at SU
11,797. A sick kiddo means a quiet day
11,798. Aliza's rendition of her day
11,799. Couch time with Anna
11,800. Going to a luncheon with Jeremy
11,801. A few minutes of learning for myself
11,802. Sitting with the next sick child
11,803. Pretzel treats made
11,804. Family evening
11,805. Christmas tree decorating
11,806. Christmas music for the evening
11,807. 20 years since my thyroid cancer treatment
11,808. Everyone well enough to be at Thanksgiving dinner
11,809. Just talking with my brother
11,810. Sleeping in
11,811. Helping to make Thanksgiving dinner
11,812. Watching Ronan play with cousins
11,813. Anna finally feeling better
11,814. Girls afternoon shopping
11,815. Chick fil a with the family before driving home