Let me first say that Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love it, family gathering, yummy food, focusing on Jesus and the wonder and love that came in a tiny little package to save the entire world. I look forward to Christmas beginning in January. I hold off from listening to Christmas music and decorating until the beginning of December, because I never want to get sick of it. I never could understand why anyone would feel like Christmas was a hard time of year... until now.
Tomorrow is my due date, and considering that I can't go to my due date, the sadness of knowing that our little one would be here is constantly on my mind.  And in this season of celebrating a baby who came to take away our suffering, I feel slighted. God, why did you let this happen to me?!?

Halloween- Raggedy Ann and Andy rocked it, want pictures? See Facebook.

Women's Retreat- OVER. It was great. A wonderful time was had by all, or at least it seemed that way. Buffy was AWESOME!

Advent Devotional Guide for Kids- In progress, we have a great group working on it, there will be room to improve, but for the first year, I think it is going to be great.

VBS- We've started talking... June 20-24

House- Still a disaster, but thanks to hardworking dads (mine, his, and him) it is coming along and we hope to be in within the month.

Thanksgiving- Ben and Jessica are coming. It makes the totally ridiculous holiday that Thanksgiving is, a little more bearable. I mean really we celebrate Pilgrims and Indians getting along... what about a few years later when the white people were doling out blankets they infested with small pox?!?!? Whatever, I'll suck it up and eat turkey and candied yams in peace.

Christmas- We are headed out west... I am beside myself in excitement. I LOVE GOING HOME! And we are having a girls excursion to the Nutcracker, so that is going to be great; Halleigh is especially excited about this.

Family- My dad was here last weekend, Ben is here this weekend, my mom will be here then the next two weekends and then that Wednesday we are leaving... So between now and Jan 5th, I'll see someone in my family every weekend. YAY!

We had such a great Easter; an Easter church reception, church service, and the annual Weinard Easter Party. It was A LOT of fun and we had two very tired children at the end of the day.  I can't wait to see the annual picture that Chad and Ashley take of the party goers.
I think that Halleigh is in sugar shock today.

One funny story from the day: When we woke Halleigh up to get ready for church we were telling her that it was Easter and that we had a surprise for her in the dining room (her Easter basket). She wasn't really excited, so Miles asked her, "Halleigh do you know about what we celebrate for Easter?" She immediately brighten and said, "Yes, Jesus... hold on let me get my bible." She quickly turned to the Easter story in her Jesus Storybook Bible and I read her the Easter story. She sat there quietly and after she said, "Jesus is alive again," in the most matter of fact voice she has.  Then we went to see the Easter basket... Miles and I turned to each other and laughed; we must be doing something right! She was more excited about the Easter story in the bible than the surprise waiting for her in the other room.

 

Today was epiphany... at least at the Travis household. Today the Wise men arrived, never mind that they came from Hallmark, not the far east and never mind that epiphany was really last week, better late than never.  Their arrival also marked the completion of my nativity scene. YAY!

 

Continuing that tradition from last year, I would like to highlight some of my favorite Christmas gifts. Obviously, we are enjoying Miles' favorite present... the Wii.

I got a GPS for my car this year. We went to pick-up a new baby gate from craigslist today, and all I had to do was punch in the address, and away we went. I didn't print out directions or anything. It was great! and green!

Then we wanted to find another store and we typed that in and away we went to the next location.  Not one map had to be pulled out. Man, this new fangled technology is great.

 

I am serious people, it is an addiction. We rented Super Mario Galaxy and we are hooked.

In other news, Miles has to go back to work tonorrow, and we are all sad about that, we have had a very fun filled Christmas "break."

We had an AWESOME dinner tonight with our great friends, Chad, Ashley, Jack, and Louisa. Watching our kids play together is a joy that I hope continues for years to come.

I am calling UNC tomorrow about Beau's face... it is driving me crazy.  He woke up from his nap and was covered in blood. He aparently had been scratching in his sleep and got blood everywhere. I hope it comes out of his sheet in the wash.

Halleigh is swimming in Christmas presents, I don't know where we are going to put them all... but we sure have had fun playing with all the new toys!

Ben got home safely, he called and made it home in record time. I miss him already!

Kona is enjoying her one christmas present from Aunt Katie... TREATS!

What am I going to do tomorrow when I am all alone with these kids again? I can't remember what to do!!!

Dora guitar brought to you by Mama H. Totally rad tunes brought to you by HJ.