CHRISTmas!

Christmas! It is our families most favorite time of year! We have so many traditions. As you can see, we enjoy making gingerbread houses, baking, the annual Christmas musical performance, making gifts, dressing up silly while decorating our Christmas tree, making our Advent Wreath, sleeping under the tree (not on Christmas Eve, not yet at least), playing lots and lots of Christmas music (which starts in oh, say October), and Westmont's annual lighting of the "Pickle" and sitting on Santa's lap.

But, Christmas wouldn't have the same JOY if we perhaps left out the most important reason why we celebrate this season. We celebrate baby Jesus, our Savior, coming into this world! As we pondered this amazing event, we deeply desired our kids to begin to grasp this miracle. So, in tangible ways we began to teach them about the heart of Jesus, who He was (and is) and what He stood for. That is when we came up with the 25 Days of Giving Project. Our prayer is that our childrens hearts and our will become more and more like His. That we would develop a heart and a passion for the things in this world that break His. It is in those moments that I believe we truly begin to see His great power at work!

BEAUTIFALL '10

i am a bit of a home body and an 'aesthetic to the eye' enthusiast, so this time of year speaks to my soul. here, (in the 'BEAUTIFALL' blog posts listed below) are some of my favorite moments captured this past fall.

BEAUTIFALL '10

BEAUTIFALL '10...A JEDI, AN EWOK AND YODA! MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

BEAUTIFALL '10

fall is one of my favorite seasons for several reasons. i love the change in weather. we go from warm, summer lazy days to cool, crisp, school days with bursts of warm colors exploding everywhere!yes, this does even happen a pinch here in santa barbara. i love the fall harvest as well. the variety of squashes we carve, eat, and decorate with, the scented spicy candles, the smell of fresh baked apple pies, apple picking, caramel apples (really, anything apple!), the first hint of rain, cozy sweaters and blankets, warm apple cider and a good book. ahhh..these truly are gifts!!!

SCHOOL DAYZ '10....

BEAUTIFALL '10...we decided to home school this year which has turned out to be a complete blessing both for our children and our family! we have savored the rich family time home schooling has offered as well as the unique ways in which to educate the whole child. my recipe: hands on, outdoor type discovery blended with rich literature, history, a dash of messy art and science with gobs of giggles, frustration and hugs. that has been our year thus far. it's been enriching, at times challenging but extremely fulfilling. these pictures were taken of our kiddos first day at Home Based Partnership where they go once a week for 'school'.