Cousins!

I'm alive!

Some people were wondering about that--and some people suggested I might even be through blogging. But I'm alive and I'm here with a couple posts for this week. First up are the cousins!

We went to Oregon at the end of January-beginning of February for an excellent trip that we absolutely packed with family and friends. During that time, we spent parts of two days with Jason and Elizabeth and their three kids, Cambria, Ezekiel, and Sophia. The kids hadn't seen each other in ten months but they picked up exactly where they left off last year--deep in cousin love!

Fairy girls:

Sophia had just turned one, and all five of us loved snuggling her:

The big kids:

The middles:

The babies:

A cousin tea party:

Have I mentioned that John loves babies? He does. Sophie stole his heart instantly (well, she's simply adorable, so I don't blame him).

On our way outside for a fire and roasted marshmallows:

My kids are suckers for wagons--and their Dad--and especially their Dad with a wagon.

More of the babies (and doesn't David look like a giant??):

Did I mention that John loves Sophie? Oh yes, he does.

All ten of us:

Thank you Jason and Elizabeth for hosting the family time!

December

Lots of blessings have come our way this month. Many people who we love are carrying burdens--and to some extent we carry those too--but here at the Honeycutt homestead I'm happy to report that we have had an abundance of love and peace.

Well, we did murder a tree but, hey, that's what it was grown for, right??

(Ok, Home Depot's minions killed it for us, but we don't mind because nothing beats a live tree...).

Billy and I had plenty of help when it came to decorating the tree. Come to think of it, our elves have helped all month by continuously redecorating it.

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is taking walks after dinner to see Christmas lights. We bundle up for the fun of it and to get in the Christmas spirit, not because it's actually cold. (-:

The kids and I decorated a gingerbread house:

And the best part about Christmas is the Christmas music! We listen to Christmas tunes early and often around here, so the kids are starting to learn the words to many of the songs. John and David had fun pretending to play the music too.

Last Sunday, John and Havilah were in our Christmas play for one song with the other preschoolers.

John really got into it:

Havilah did not.

Today we enjoyed our first AZ family Christmas gathering, complete with lollipop making and the First Annual Talent Show. Hava sang "Away in a Manger" with two of her older cousins, Sophie and Haylie.

Christmas is alive and well here--we're looking forward to a festive, relaxing week!

Grandparents (x2)

We had two lovely family visits--first from Billy's parents, Mimi and Papa (in October), and then from my dad, Papa Dave (last week). It's always such a blessing to have family stay with us!

"Make a sad face..."

"Now make a happy face!"

All I want for Christmas...

Actually, he also wants a remote control car...but that doesn't fit the song now does it?

boy in a bucket

Today at lunch, there was a small contest and I'm afraid I was the loser. Here was the score:

High chair: negative 5 points

David's outfit: negative 10 points

Mama: negative 5 points

David: 50 points

Orange bucket and (outdoor!) faucet: 20 points, for the assist

Oh yeah, that noise in the middle of lunch (coming from the back regions of D. S.) should not have been ignored. But he had a blast cleaning up!

I love that boy, even when he stinks!

October (in pictures)

caught a picture of David throwing a ball:

love this one:

two kids in a Costco box: