Captivated: Cole Family Christmas Prelude

It’s Christmastime!! We have certainly had a busy season so far that is actually starting to quiet down just in time to savor this last week of Advent.

I haven’t had much time at all to write or blog, but I have been reflecting. It seems to be so much better when I can write it all out and pull it all together. I hope you enjoy my ramblings and the sights of the season.

The boys helped me put together our Advent Wreath this year. We have been lighting the candles and and remembering the journey to the manger. It has been a precious time.

We have been eating sweets...

We have finished up this big ole' pile of decorating mess...

We have had our occasional electronic malfunction..

And our fare share of tickle fights!

Decorating the tree this year was a special time. We did it as a family with soft Christmas music playing. It is amazing how the sights and sounds of Christmas can transport you back in time. I am praying my kids remember these times with the fondness I remember our Christmas tree decorating days when I was a little girl...

We finished up the tree in the living area and moved on to the play area!!!

The kids were super duper excited to have their own tree to decorate this year!

We have also had a lot of fun with Jimmy the elf this year...He started out this year by bringing a letter from Santa, indicating that there really was no naughty or nice list, that it was all about grace, God's grace. He went on to explain that Jimmy had been a little bit of a stinker this year and that he would really like for the boys to talk to Jimmy about Jesus and the gift He is to us, saving us from our sins and how we all need His grace. It was really sweet as Landon said, "Mom! It's all about grace, no wonder I haven't gotten any coal in the past!" Bless his heart. :)

Jimmy had a chance to help out with our Jesse tree. Here he is holding the crown ornament. It was really neat to hear the boys talk about how interested Jimmy was in learning about Jesus. The Jesse tree has been such a gift to our family. If you haven't done it, I highly recommend it as a way to really tie in the old and new testaments in explaining the story of Jesus and the prophecies he fulfilled.

Next stop...Santa Train!!!

We had our annual trip to the Santa Train at the museum with the Smiths. It was such a blast. We all had such a great time.

What a terrific family tradition with our very dear friends!!

Stan and I got all dressed up for our dear friends' Christmas party! We had a great time. It is always nice to go out and have fun with my honey.

And...there has been lots of baking going on...

Connorbug helped me make the pieces to our traditional family Christmas tree cookies. He was so proud. :)

The beauty of the season in our home...

Landon's Winter Performance. It was so cute. It was extra special too because Katie came along with us. Katie has been such a huge help to us this fall, getting Landon from the bus, doing his homework with him and taking him to clubs...not to mention getting dinner prepared, coming over with a moments notice to help me out and just being a shoulder to lean on. In fact, she is hear now so I can actually get some thinking time in...as LJ woke up early from her nap...thank heaven for our special Katie. We all enjoyed the performance, especially when Connor started belting out Jingle Bells...off tune. :)

Gingerbread houses!!!

What a treasure that day was. Katie stayed with us all day and we had just a delightful time sharing our family traditions with her.

Not long after that...Kay came for the day and Stan surprised all of his girls with beautiful flowers. It was just super sweet. You should have seen Lindsay Jane's little face.

Next stop...the Frey Family Christmas 2014!

Grown up table (note Landon)...

Kid's table!! How many memories does that bring back?? :)

Daddy and LJ getting some tickle time in...

The boys...

Lindsay Jane got the opening presents thing down...without a hitch...

All the boys got Washington Nationals t-shirts...how cute! Lindsay Jane wanted to get in the picture and hold her daddy's hand. :)

Mon and dad managed to find these sketches done back in '97...crazy.

More Lindsay Jane and Mommom time. :)

And lots of Lindsay Jane and GiGi time. These two are adorable together. They played babies, mostly, but also just followed each other around wanting to play with whatever the other was playing with. They also both woke up first thing in the morning, asking for the other one. Such a blessing to have a cousin so close in age. Makes me think of my dear cousin, Rebecca. She is so much more like a sister to me and I pray for that closeness with Lindsay Jane and Geneva. They certainly are off to a great start.

And, one of the happiest I have seen this sweet little one this fall...finally, he got to jump in a huge pile of leaves. It was so so precious...

Anna, JD and Connor decided they wanted to crawl inside the yard waste bin. Kids always make me remember the fun in the little things. Look at those precious faces.

That is a picture of joy.

What a blast the kids had, just being kids. :)

Then, we invited Anna in to join in our little cookie making tradition...

John was very excited. It was so very cool, doing this with my brother, Tamara and GiGi. Our grandmother, Minkie, always did these little cookies with such precision. We talked about her and about how much more beautiful her cookies were than ours. We also talked about how John made cookies that were so so tall when we were growing up. My little brother and I really bonded over these cookies...one of my very best memories from this Christmas season so far. :)