Giving Thanks and Advent

Thanksgiving Day 2010

My girls!



The feast-Hermela especially LOVED the ham and turkey (such a carnivore).

We have much to be thankful for this year and every year. In the course of eight months, God has blessed us with 2 new daughters and one on the way. Not often you get to add three kids to your family within a year!

During the school week leading up to Thanksgiving, we had the kids list the things they were thankful for. Hermela said "food" and Meron said "a family." Pretty telling what's important in life for them and for all kids. They just want a family to care for them and love them. We are so thankful for all 6 of our children and for God's many blessings to our family.

The kids are so, so excited for Christmas. We've added a few new traditions this year. We gave them all their Christmas pajamas this morning on December 1st. I'm going to try to continue giving them their pjs on the 1st each year. We've also started to celebrate advent with nightly bible readings, and an advent calendar and wreath. Each morning, the kids ask me how many more days until Christmas. They've all loved decorating the house, picking out a tree, seeing all the ornaments and lights and learning about the Christmas story. It's so fun to see their excitement.

Sweet Colton picking out a tree just his size. Camo Caleb on the hunt for the perfect tree.

We have a winner

Seeing the ornaments-Hermela was so excited!

Decorating for the first time.

This poor branch was close to the ground and right in the front, so it took the brunt of the decorations (I did have to do a little rearranging).

Angel goes up (note the brace-Meron broke her same collar bone-again:)

All my cuties in their Christmas pjs (only Hermela and Meron's fit-Caleb, Caroline and Colton's are from last year-all of their new ones were too big)

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!