family – Page 14 – A Journey of Joy

love celebrating birthday’s

January 15, 2012Written by Joy

Like I said before, I am behind on posts and that includes my oldest son’s birthday. Since my son had to work on his birthday, we celebrated it the day before. My baby is now 19 years old. Just seems like yesterday when I gave birth to him. He has been a joy to have and has kept us on our toes the whole 19 years. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For his birthday dinner, he requested chili and grilled cheese sandwiches. He also requested a marbled cake with whipped frosting. I was very thankful when he said a box cake mix would do. I ended up making a milk chocolate cake (2 layers) and a vanilla cake (2 layers) and stacked them alternately with chocolate pudding in between the layers (that was a little surprise for him). Then stopped it off with milk chocolate whipped frosting. Everyone enjoyed this easy and yummy birthday dinner.

I only had 17 candles, but he didn’t seem to mind. 😉

Here he is with his girlfriend and his youngest sister.

We all had a wonderful evening just spending the time with one another. It doesn’t seem to happen often anymore, having all the kids together like this. I am definitely soaking up the memories that we are making.

Blessings!

2012, family

love celebrating birthday’s

January 15, 2012Written by Joy

3 Comments

I only had 17 candles, but he didn’t seem to mind. 😉

Here he is with his girlfriend and his youngest sister.

Blessings!

2012, family

catching up..

January 15, 2012Written by Joy

1 Comment

One of my goals this year (which I have yet to write about) was to blog regularly. We are half way through January and I feel like I am behind on the happenings of our schooling and the family. I have still yet to find my groove in a routine since we have started school back. Hoping this next week will improve just a bit. So to catch up on the last couple of weeks, there will be a lot of pictures in this post!

The year started out great and we woke up to our first snow of 2012 on January 3rd. The kids were so excited! We decided a day of sledding was in order!

The kids got a couple of new sleds for Christmas. Claire likes using the green sled.

Samuel likes using the black sled, because it has brakes!

I love seeing them sled together. They do enjoy playing with each other so much!

This is the creek that runs next to our house. I love how the snows is on the rocks.

I love seeing the ice and icicles on the rocks during the winter time.

This is a picture of our road and the front yard. The Japanese Cherry Trees will be beautiful in the Spring time.

The pictures just do not do this creek the justice it deserves. It is beautiful when covered in snow.

I always love getting a shot of this little shed in the winter.

The kids sledding down our neighbors hill.

Sarah got into the action of sledding with the younger kids. Never can be to old to sled!

2012, blogging, family, snow

catching up..

January 15, 2012Written by Joy

1 Comment

The year started out great and we woke up to our first snow of 2012 on January 3rd. The kids were so excited! We decided a day of sledding was in order!

The kids got a couple of new sleds for Christmas. Claire likes using the green sled.

Samuel likes using the black sled, because it has brakes!

I love seeing them sled together. They do enjoy playing with each other so much!

This is the creek that runs next to our house. I love how the snows is on the rocks.

I love seeing the ice and icicles on the rocks during the winter time.

This is a picture of our road and the front yard. The Japanese Cherry Trees will be beautiful in the Spring time.

The pictures just do not do this creek the justice it deserves. It is beautiful when covered in snow.

I always love getting a shot of this little shed in the winter.

The kids sledding down our neighbors hill.

Sarah got into the action of sledding with the younger kids. Never can be to old to sled!

2012, blogging, family, snow

Decorating the Christmas tree

December 10, 2011Written by Joy

4 Comments

I shared with you yesterday about one of our traditions that we do every year, searching for the perfect Christmas tree. Another tradition is letting the kids decorate the tree, all by themselves.

Many years ago, when our two older children were young, we would always put the lights on the tree during the evening time and then wake up the following morning and decorate. One Christmas, when the hubby and I woke up, they surprised us by having it decorated. That turned into a tradition and they haven’t missed a year since.

This past Saturday, we went and picked out the perfect tree. We didn’t get the lights on it, since hubby had to figure out a way to fix the tree stand that happened to be missing a part. The following evening, we told the kids we would get the lights on so they could decorate. It never fails, only half the lights worked. So we had to make a quick run to the store for more lights.

Dad and sons made quick work of getting the lights on the tree.

I turned the Christmas music up!

Then the kids got busy hanging ornaments!

The older kids were having as much fun as the younger kids!

Sarah putting hooks on the ornaments. I need to find a new way to store them this year! A lot of the ornaments were made by the kids from past years.

The kids being goofy, as usual!

I loved this picture of Claire looking at the finished tree.

Do you let the kids take the lead on decorating for Christmas?

2011, family, tree