Christmas [extended Hershberger clan]

 Our first Christmas gathering this season was in Harper at Tim & Faith's for the extended Hershberger family gathering.

Prior to leaving..I had to take a picture of Noah.

Faith prepared the food....steak, green beans, mashed potatoes, several salads, and DELICIOUS bread. For dessert there was red velvet cake or lemon mousse (I tried a bite of Ben's...it was GOOD!).

Dan & Marla's family and Laura & Brent were not able to come...but this is the rest of the family.

 After eating, our very own mini Santa handed out the gifts. He did such a good job!

I got a necklace from the other Jessica...it is an orange blossom dipped in gold, with 2 pearls (my birthstone) that signify my two boys! So thoughtful....I love it.

On the way home, it was supper time and conveniently there is a Freddy's on the way. I told Ben I should market Christian to be on an advertisement for their custard :) Maybe we could just get free Freddy's for life, instead of payment. I'll get right on that.

This is his reaction to my comment above..."you're ridiculous!" is probably what he said.

Before going home, we stopped in at my parents house because my Grandpa & Grandma Sweigart were there. Noah wasn't very pleased by this point in the day..so we didn't stay too long. At least we were able to get a couple pictures with him meeting them for the first time. 

 The four of us, on our first Christmas all together!

Noah was held by both his Great Grandma's today...

Maddox [ #9 ]

Happy Birthday Maddox! 

We celebrated a couple days later, when Uncle Tim and Aunt Carissa were here. 

It's hard to believe you are 9 years old.

It won't be too long before you pass me in height...you already wear the same size shoe as me!

I'm so proud to have such a smart and thoughtful nephew like you, Maddox!

Meeting Tia C

Noah has had to wait 8 weeks to meet his Aunt Carissa and Uncle Tim.

In the meantime, we have used facetime to show them how much he has grown and changed..but its just not quite the same as holding him in your arms!

Carissa and Noah (sorry Tim...I didn't get you in here)

yawn....

interested...

 getting friendly, showing silly faces...

He loves you Tia C!

Holly Jolly

A few glimpses of the past few weeks from Christian's standpoint...

1. One of the MANY sayings from songs he has heard.

He sings bits and pieces of Christmas songs alot!! Oh come let us adore Him and Joy to the World are also big hits. He just repeats the parts he knows.

2. He has thoroughly enjoyed being able to wear mittens and hats.

3. He has continued to entertain himself more, both due to staying inside more and my need to also take care of Noah.

4. He got to open up presents periodically when he had behaved well enough to earn it. "Presents" 

= rewrapped Christmas books that we already had, he just didn't remember them from last year.

5. Playing with the felt tree..and other various "projects".

6. Seeing Santa at the Botanical Gardens..while walking through and seeing all the luminaries. Amazing lights! 

7. Singing in the Christmas program at church. Oh boy...did he sing!

"Away in a Manger", "Christmas Bells",  "Happy Birthday Jesus", "Come Let us Worship"

If you can handle the extreme blurriness...here is a video of him singing. Perhaps just close your eyes, and listen, for the most part the "voice" you hear is Christian's.

Christian's Christmas Program

Cozy

One of the things I enjoy about winter is the feeling of warmth..in a cozy kind of way. 

These pictures explain that feeling to me :)

Brothers

[Noah..4 weeks old]

Daddy rocking his boys

[Noah..5 weeks old]

Christian rocking Daddy

Daddy rocking Noah

 [Noah..6 1/2 weeks old]

Snuggling on our bed

[Noah..almost 8 weeks old]

Christian in his box/bed

An early gift

Ben gave me a pretty special Christmas present...he took me to see Jim Brickman.

I've always liked his piano music. We went out to eat and then to the concert which was at the Orpheum..a very unique, historical auditorium in Wichita . We had such a good time. There were a couple other performers with him, the electric violin guy was pretty amazing!! They were all very entertaining with not only their musical talent, but the humor. Ahhhh, what a good Christmas present!

Christmas cookies

I made some Christmas sugar cookies...and had a little helper for the sprinkling part.

He took his job pretty seriously...

And discovered that amazingly the sprinkles that were spilt on the counter would stick to his hand...so naturally he had to lick them off. 

Pink hands, face, and tongue from ALL the sprinkles eaten!

A well earned cookie..he waited patiently to eat one..and it looks as if he enjoyed every bite.

It may have been a tad more messy to have a small helper..but I think it was just as much fun to watch him as it was for him to help.