Living Nativity

Sarah received a second acting part this Christmas season. She was asked to be a part of a Living Nativity and play the part of Gabriel the angel who spoke to Mary announcing that she was with child.

A family from our church puts on the Nativity as an outreach. It was our second year to attend. Last year it was a highlight for me and I loved it again this year. It reminds you of who this time of year is all about. It was exciting because the number of people who attended tripled from last year.

We journeyed with Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem and enjoyed the Christmas Story and sang Christmas Songs along the way. Afterwards we enjoyed Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. Everything is outside, so we had to dress nice and warm. It was a fun night.

Below is a video of Sarah's part.

Christmas with PaPa & MeMe

I know it has been a couple of weeks since I lasted posted something. Things have been busy around here and at night when I usually send my posts sleep won over sitting down at my computer. However, all the shopping is done, packages are wrapped and under the tree, Christmas parties have been attended, musical and nativity parts have been played, cookies have been decorated and I have time to post again.

First things first...

We had a great time with my parents and enjoyed celebrating Christmas with them a little early. They arrived on Friday (12/2). Saturday they babysat the kids for the afternoon/evening while Jason and I did some Christmas shopping, it was a treat for all of us. Sunday was church and Brayden and Sarah's Christmas Musical. Monday we celebrated Christmas. Brayden wanted to stay in his Spiderman PJs all day. He had so much fun opening the presents.

Sarah got a nail kit including a nail dryer, a Vera Bradley duffel bag, a Justice sparkly outfit, a bible ornament, a feather hair clip, an Owl Swaroski and a pair of Little MisMatch knee high socks.

Brayden got a Butterfly garden and a Dr. Seuss book to go along with it, I Spy bingo game, a Puzzle magazine subscription, Star Wars Character cards, Crocs, Etch-A-Sketch and an iPad ornament.

Tuesday and Wednesday Dad & Mom went to visit Grandma Prather in Boston. They arrived back to our house Wednesday evening and we enjoyed the last few hours with them before they left early on Thursday morning.

Zumba...

I took my first Zumba class yesterday at the gym that I go to. You think you have rhythm until you take a Zumba class and then you say to yourself "No, I really don't have rhythm". LOL! I was giggling on the inside the entire hour. For those of you who haven't heard of Zumba it is Latin-inspired fitness class with lots of Latin dance moves. The teacher said "In this class there are no inhibitions", which made me feel better so I did my best and let it go. No worries about the ladies around me, everyone was so focused on watching the teacher. I think as you get to know the routine it gets easier and you get more of a workout because your not so focused on doing the right hands and feet. It was fun and I would love to do it again sometime with a friend. Anyone want to join me?

Last week I tried my first spin class. I was so nervous thinking my legs would fall off afterwards, but I survived with my legs still intact. It was tough, but I will definitely do it again.

I still love my running, but with the colder months I am not fond of running outside so for this season I will be enjoying the RealFit Studios, which is just 2 minutes from my house. I help with childcare for 2 hours on Monday mornings and get my entire membership for free. It is great!

So Much To Be Thankful For...

Even though we are two days into December I could let November go without sharing the results of our Thankful Tree and all that we said we were thankful for. From serious stuff to fun stuff, we found we are truly a blessed family in so many ways.

God's grace and mercy, doughnuts, paper and pencil (Claire), Broncos & Jets game, Star Wars, iPod games, God, Justice & P.S clothes, the Live Nativity, Arthur Christmas movie, The Pioneer Woman and her food, My Room, food and water, Our home, playing games, Friends, Bop It, great books, Daddy & Mommy, Girl Scout cookies, jobs, sports, a great church, my friend Lisa's last chemotherapy treatment, library, Pogo stick and Daisy (Claire), JBQ, TVs, airplanes (Grace), Aunts and Uncles, health, Macy's Day Parade, dessert/candy, movies, Missionaries, my Friends/Family and Church (Cayla), RealFit Gym, football, Family Game Night, iPhones, school, fresh water, Co-Co-Nutties, playgrounds, golf with Friends, family dinners, Christmas, pillows & blankets, freedom, The Muppets Movie, games to play outside, Cousins (including the one to arrive in May to the Reise family), dinosaurs, sports class, Wii, pizza & pasta, peanuts (not Sarah), baseball, Spring & Summer, Nite-Lites, computers, Grandparents, breakfast, Bible, day and night, Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

We are especially thankful for PaPa & MeMe who arrived this afternoon to spend a couple of days with us and celebrate the Christmas season.