Esperanza comes for Christmas

With her two adorable foster girls! We hadn't seen Esperanza for over a year so it was wonderful to be with her again. We were also excited to meet the girls staying with her. They were a riot to have and even though we spent too many days sick we were still able to have a lot of fun.

The weather was amazing for December and we were able to frequent the park on two different days!! 

Here are some pictures from our christmas eve reenactment. 

 Joseph, Mary, Angel

 Angel

 Shepards

 Everyone visiting the stable

 Somebody stole the baby Jesus :)

Everyone wanted to act out the nativity over and over again. It was fun and I'm happy we were able to keep the real meaning of christmas alive for the children. 

This was the first Christmas we hosted in our house! It was a lot of fun and more work than I realized. (Thank you to everyone who has had us in your homes for christmas....we need to return the favor!!) Devin, Esperanza and I Stayed up way TOO late wrapping and talking on Christmas Eve. It was wonderful. 

 Here is the tree and all the presents!

 Lucy and Dymond were the first to wake up. Here they are going through their stockings

 She was pretty excited.

 I don't know what Sadie was most excited about, the fact that there was candy everywhere or the fact that mommy kept saying yes she could have more! 

 Poor Cole came down with strep on Christmas day. He could barely eat an orange and eventually got oatmeal down. I don't  think he had any christmas candy until Sunday.

The kids all go tot give one another presents this year. It was fun to see how excited they got when someone was opening a gift from them. They LOVED getting presents but Lucy phrased it best when she explained how she felt when Sadie and Cole opened the presents she gave them. "I smiled and felt warm inside." I am so happy they got to experience the joy of giving. I hope that it is something they can remember.

We got the kids all these monster slippers. I thought they were adorable and our floors get so cold they all needed something to keep their little toes warm! (I'm pretty sure she had something in her mouth for the better part of the morning)

 Devin and Cole had a glow stick party in the kids room while all the girls were playing in the living room in the evening. I though this picture was pretty sweet.d

 These two girls just loved Eddi. They loved holding him and I'm glad they got a chance before everyone got sick!

Friday and Saturday Esperanza was out with the flu. Friday Cole was so sick he couldn't even eat his breakfast so Devin took him to the Doctor when he got back from work. We found out he  had strep so Saturday morning we took ALL the girls in to be check. Every. single. one. tested positive. None of the adults got it and miraculously Eddi didn't get it either. 

 Another picture of Sadie wearing her slippers. This was on Sunday. 

 Monday for our last HURRAH we went to the children's museum in Bloomington. I love that place. Three floors of awesome activities for the kids. I really need to plan lunch better the next time we go. The kids are always tired and hungry by the time we hit the third floor so we've never done all the activities up there. 

 

 

Painting wall. I want on in our house.  

 

 

We filled up on nuggets, frosty's and fries and headed home. 

Cole took a nap with Kovu on the way home. 

Tuesday we took them to our wonderful Library and had a laid back day.  and Wednesday they packed up and we said farewell. It was fun to have such a full house over the holidays! We are so blessed to have family that can visit us!