Merry Christmas Eve!

Look Grandma, I dressed myself!

Rob playing the keyboard with Ethan watching

I have been so busy this time of year, I haven't been updating my website as often as I would like to! So updates on me for the last two weeks are that I celebrated my birthday with my loving husband and kids on my actual birthday, then just celebrated with my brother, sister, brother-in-law, mom, and dad with Chinese food, cake, presents, and games at my Dad's house last Saturday. It was the first time the entire family has been together for a special occasion in a LONG time! We also went to Rob's company Christmas party two weeks ago which was up in the mountains in Genesee with a beautiful view of the city. I also went to my good friend Karrie's annual Christmas brunch, two gift exchanges, and a cookie exchange (we're still working on those 9 dozen cookies!)

Ethan chipped his two front teeth last week slipping in the bathtub. They aren't too bad, but I still took him into the pediatric dentist who looked at them and filed the rough edges off. We've also been battling our share of flu and cold bugs this time of year, but it looks like everyone will be well for Christmas tomorrow (and the Christmas Eve service tonight)! I also just jumped on the Facebook bandwagon a few weeks ago, so if any of you reading this are on there and aren't yet on my friends list, please join it as I don't know who's on there yet and who isn't and don't have much time to search for people, although I have been able to update it pretty regularly. We'll see if I keep it up!

Show us those lovely chipped teeth!

Enjoy the very pregnant picture of me! Just 4 weeks to go until my due date and as of yesterday, I'm technically at full term, so it could be any day now! We can't wait to meet our new baby boy, and the kids are excited too. May the peace of Christ be with you during this Christmas season! We're celebrating the biggest gift ever given with God giving us his only son, the perfect sacrifice for our sins. What a joy it is to know we can't ever be perfect, but with Jesus as our Lord, that we are made perfect in his eyes and will spend eternity in heaven with Him.

Janice at 35 weeks along before Rob's company party

What a Week!

Ethan and Ashleigh making a snowman on the deck

Putting on the finishing touches (mini-marshmallows!)

A little sibling rivalry in the snow

I can't believe it has only been a week since my last post. So much has happened and this time of year is crazy busy anyway. I'll start with the bad news. Someone tried to steal our truck while we were at breakfast a week ago, but luckily was unable to start it, probably because our keys have chips in them that the ignition has to detect before it starts. When we came out, the lock in the door had been busted out and the ignition was a mess so we couldn't even start it with the key and had to get the truck towed to the Ford dealership and a ride home. Good news is we have a low deductible and rental car coverage, so at least we aren't left with just one car for all this time! We think we'll get it back on Tuesday, fingers crossed! Also, the rental car place didn't have the car we had reserved and gave us a 2009 Chevy Silverado truck in the meantime for the car rate, so that's the silver lining in this lovely saga.

Not bad for a rental! (but I still miss our truck)

We've been Christmas shopping and working on Christmas cards this weekend. Ashleigh and I went to a Nutcracker performance on Friday with my friend Traci, her daughter Mackenzie, and new friends of ours, the Johnsons. It was pretty magical seeing the Nutcracker through Ashleigh's eyes and seeing how excited she was. It was her first time going to the Nutcracker and her first live performance of any kind.

Kenzie and Ashleigh before the show at our house

Ashleigh and I at the Aurora Dance Arts production of the Nutcracker

The kids and I have also been baking like crazy for a cookie exchange I have coming up on Thursday. When I signed up, I didn't realize the requirement would be 9 dozen cookies, or I probably would have said no. My friends think I'm crazy, being 8 mo pregnant and to inflict additional work on myself during this time of year, but I think it'll be really fun and nice to have a variety of cookies to share with friends, family, and neighbors. Here are some pictures from the kids and I baking fudge nut bars a few days ago. We're up to 70 bars - more than half-way there!

Ashleigh adding flour to the mixer

How does that flour taste, Ethan?