Christmas at the Birdhouse

 

Suzanne helping Grace open her presents.  Grace was in such a fun mood and you could tell she was enjoying ripping presents open.  Who doesn't like that?

Miriam opening her present.

 After opening her boots, she grabbed the green tissue paper from the box and was so excited about it.  Kids need so little to excite them. 

 

Cam loved his BSU pillow pet.  Eli got one too but had to wait until the next day to open it.  He was sick and didn't join in the party.  We missed his smiling little face!

 Jo loved her Vera Wang brown riding boots.  I have such a great story of extreme shopping success on those that I'll share another time.

Ben is never seen without one of the twins in his arms.  Christmas came in September for Ben and Laura.

I feel such great joy when my family is gathered together.  That is the greatest Christmas present of all to me.
That, and the added bonus that they have all turned out to be such wonderful adults that I am so proud of.

Moms and Babies

 To celebrate Scott and Jessica getting home from school, Ben & Laura and James and Suzanne came over for dinner on Sunday.  I totally expected fair skinned little blond girls from James and Suz, but then came Grace with her carmel skin, big brown eyes and dark hair.  She is a cutie and getting cuter by the day.

 I love these pictures of Laura and John.  There's something to that Mother/Son relationship that I think is captured in these pictures.

The bigger John smiles, the wider his mouth opens.  It's priceless.

I am so thankful for all my daughters-in-law and the wives and mothers they are.

This year has been kind to us

As we reflect on this past year, we are so aware that it has been kind to us, to say the least.  We started it with three little blessings, and by the end of the year four more had joined us. 
Cameron's prayers (and many others) for Bird cousins was heard. 

Catie & John in the front - 3 mo.
Grace in the middle - 7 mo.
Miriam far left - 2 yrs.
Cameron holding Grace - 6
Eli holding Simon - 4
Simon - 9 months