Highlights of the Season

The kids have been anticipating the snow since Thanksgiving.  It finally arrived, the day after Christmas.  I am sure I will do more post about our fun in the snow soon.  

 These pictures highlight some of our activities over this busy holiday season.  

Ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle

Jane liked the fact her new ear muffs and gloves matched the ice skates they gave us.

Elliot tried to skate as fast as he could, even though he fell more than once, he kept going.

Gingerbread house decorating with the Mccarthys.  I forgot to take photos of the final products. 

Singing Christmas Carols at the nursing home. Jane was able to accompany us on the piano. 

Our tradition of Christmas cookie decorating. I found this photo from 2007, probably the first time I had the kids decorate.

2012 

Fellow Home-schoolers Esther and Daniel joined us for cookie decorating.

The rhinoceros cookie cutter I purchased from CitySuper.
  I love that you can stand it up using the cutters that make the legs.  It of course reminded me of the wonderful tradition we had of cookie decorating at Ping's house. 

Ping and Joanna our first Christmas in Hong Kong 2009

Christmas Eve with all of the family here in Grand Rapids. The kids loved getting their Jones Soda, found in their handmade stockings from cousin Ben.

Santa Vadar

One of my favorite games as a kid "Hungry Hippo"
As an adult I found it to be a really loud game. 
Yes I am old.

It was a Lego Christmas this year. Jane received two Friend sets from family. Elliot received Ninjago and a City set.
This table did have games and puzzles in its drawers, it has officially become the Lego table.

Elliot has been asking me for a robe and slippers since October, he was very happy with this gift, that came from his aunt.

Christmas day we drove up to Coleman.  One of our games was singing the 12 days of Christmas, but with the Christian meaning.  We were separated into groups of our birthday month. 
I remember Elliot's group was faith hope and love- instead of three french hens.  I had eleven faithful disciples.

Trevor and Elliot.

Jane and Grandma Roman the September Birthdays

 The weather in Hong Kong was lovely during Christmas, and we had the freedom to celebrate Christmas and worship Jesus' birth.  Yet it was during Christmas that I would miss being home more than any other time.  This year I enjoyed the overdose of Christmas music, the decorated homes covered in lights and most of all the constant reminders of the true meaning of Christmas that could be found in our community.  The Christmas lawn decorations with the nativity, local businesses putting on their signs Jesus the reason for the season. The many churches providing toys and meals to the needy.  

Jane and Abigail Krohn
dancing at midnight bringing in the
New Year.

The year 2012 held many bitter-sweet moments for our family, we are looking forward to 2013 and the new adventures that await us.

Tannenbaum

Before we left Hong Kong we got rid of our artificial tree, we had it for about nine years and it was falling apart.  In Hong Kong we bought a cheap smaller tree that we got rid of when we came back to the States.
  We thought we would go ahead and purchase another artificial tree this year.  That is until sticker shock.  $100-$300 for trees with branches that were covered in really fake plastic green covering! 

A local tree farm was offering to give part of their money to the church with each purchase. We decided to get our first real tree in 11 years.

They give you a short tractor ride to a place where you can pick one out.

Jane never met a tree she didn't like, she was ready to take home all of them.

On the search with saw in hand.  The option was to cut it yourself or have them use a chainsaw. Next time we will let them cut it.

Finally a decision was made. 

Dad doing the hard work.

Jane named the tree Rudolph.

On the tractor heading back to get it ready.

cutting off some extra branches on the bottom

Cleaning it up and binding it for us so it is easy to take home.

I am enjoying the real tree. The smell alone is worth getting it.
 I can understand why we sing a song that talks about lovely branches 

Some of our favorite ornaments are the 7-11 ones from Hong Kong.  Mcdonalds' fry and apple pie.  The little Shao mai kid.

one tree / two ice skates from outypants on Vimeo.