Yesterday morning we woke up and our power was out. Fortunately, the church still had power, so we were able to go, then we came home and took down the Christmas tree and tried to find something to do that didn't include light or electricity. We had Bible study last night so we were able to get out of the house for a while, at least. :D When we got home we got a lot of clothes on and blankets and were going to go to bed and hope not to freeze, but at about 10:00 our neighbor came over and hooked up his generator to our house so we were able to have heat! It was a huge blessing because we would have been COLD! But we were nice and warm last night with the heat on! yay! Today we went to Howell to get our cousin (she is staying at our house for a couple of days) and when we got home the power was back on. We are all very happy! It's funny that you really don't notice how much you use it until you don't have it! Fortunately, it wasn't off very long. Also, it's not very cold outside so that was good while we didn't have heat. Anyway, I suppose in a way not having power for a while is nice because it makes you realize what you have!

Christmas Eve

Ummmm... I think this pretty much explains itself....
Andi and Ian think this is much more fun than taking a regular picture. ☺

Ian is very excited for Christmas!

Mom and Elaina

Well, it is Christmas eve... we are all excited for Christmas! And very glad to be on break! This evening we will go to the Christmas eve service at church, then come home for dinner, and then the kids give each other gifts. So we are really excited for everything that's going on tonight.

Have a great Christmas, everyone!!!

Gingerbread Houses

Andrea's gingerbread house was, of course, amazing. :D

We had fun making these!

Concentrating....

Decorating the Tree

Putting decorations up

Hanging lights... sorry the pictures are out of order! :)

The boys had a lot of fun!

Cutting Down the Christmas Tree

We cut down the Christmas tree today!

Andrea

Sethie hiding from the wind... he got really cold!

Dad and Andi

Weird faces...

Cookie Decorating

We had fun decorating cookies yesterday..... but it was messy, as you can see!

Serious cookie decorator.

Dress Up

Elaina, Ian and Seth dressed up as Piglet, Tigger and Pooh. ☺

Barnes and Noble

Last Sunday we played at Barnes and Noble for a Community Music School promotion.

Psalm 100:2

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

BJU Festival

Last week I went with a few people from our homeschool band/orchestra to a music competition in South Carolina. It was SO much fun! We left on Sunday morning, stayed in a hotel Sunday night, and got the Bob Jones University (where the competition was) Monday afternoon. We stayed there through Friday morning.

The drive was 14 hours.... but it was really pretty.

Wendy, David and Cameron

Liesl inside a sign in Tennessee

Stopping for dinner Sunday evening.

Wendy, Joanna and Liesl having breakfast in the hotel.

Joanna, Wendy, Liesl and me under a bridge at a rest stop.

Wendy, Liesl and Joanna... we're almost there!

Finally, at Bob Jones!

Wendy and I just before going in to play our duet.

Heather doing her flute solo.

David and Liesl

They got 2nd place!! Yay!

The gameroom!!!!

Liesl and Wendy crushing David and Cameron. ☺

Wendy found out that Liesl is a pool shark...

Playing Dutch Blitz

On the way home.... Wendy was clueless. ☺

Thanks everyone for your prayers!