Santa's Little Helpers from the North Pole. And by the North Pole, I mean Richmond.

We had a slightly unconventional Christmas. You see, we are moving. It's been about 5 months and we are bored. (ha)

It's actually a very cool story of God providing for us over the last year, and now we will be going home to Michigan. To our same house. And friends. And family. We are grateful-but as always change is bittersweet. We are leaving maybe the best company I've encountered, but gaining a Mark who travels WAY less, and can be home most nights. This hasn't happened, well, ever. Seeing as how the Lord keeps blessing us with children and these children keep blessing me with sciatica, I'm infinitely grateful to have my favorite person in the world with me more to heighten the fun, and lessen the load. If you're counting-that's 4 moves this year, including the temporary apartment. Military wives, if you need advice, just call me. :)

Originally we had planned to go to Mark's parents for Christmas, but being the kind people they are-they drove all the way to us so we could spend Christmas Day speckling and painting and packing. It was very merry. :)

Of course they were immediately distracted from work by requests for books and looking at photo albums. They are wonderful grandparents.

Mark's poor Mom had brought this expensive small container of crab soup all the way from their house in the cooler and tended to it so carefully. Mark opened the refrigerator and unfortunately the soup jumped out. (?) I might have been slightly bitter that a)I didn't get to eat the soup, and b) Mark was not the one on the floor cleaning it up. :)

There was still some recreation to be had.

Santa?

Our mini tree.

Mark reading the Christmas Story to adoring fans.

The winning gift.

Cute outfits from Oma.

Three sleepy ballerinas.

Bike ride for the girls....

and for Oma!

And finally Merry Christmas from the newest DeKorne. Getting kind of worried how big he will be in 10 more weeks! Slow down buddy!

Very thankful this Christmas, for Jesus and for cool story he's written us over the last year!

Texas our Texas

Texas is one of my top two favorite states, so anytime we get a chance to venture there is so exciting for me. :) And what's a 7 hour trip with only three kids.

We went to see Jared and Mandy and that cute little Caleb-who still is fighting Reese for heavyweight champion despite their 1 year age difference!

Just another beautiful family shot.

Ava and Jared cuddling...

This post is out of order, but I'm too tired to change it. Mark and Jared took the girls ice skating-

I'm sure Kaiya was happier than she looks :)

This was on our way...a little B dubs to break up the trip.

A quick aside: I included this picture to show the softer side of Reese. I have blogged about her troublesome ways, which, in fairness, are plentiful :)-but she is SO sweet. She is the only child who from a young age has told me she loves me with no solicitation, goes through the car and tells each of us she loves us til we say it back :)-and is so very cuddly and full of cheer. We LOVE the sugar and spice that comes along with this little bundle.

Caleb's face in this cracks me up. Get this food thief away from me!

Ok, Mark swaddled Kaiya. This totally cracked me up. He's getting some practice in before March when he's back on full swaddle duty.

My little burrito baby.

Ava and Mandy

If you are not from Texas, or the south I guess in general, you do not understand the beauty of the next picture. Perfectly battered and cooked chicken fried steak. Add some mashed potatoes and white gravy, and you have the likely culprit of my high cholesterol. Yum.

This restaurant was pretty much everything awesome in one place. They only had 5 things on the menu, smoked chicken and pot roast were the only ones not fried. Biscuits, green beans and mashed potatoes included. I'll stop now.

Another winner.

Yahtzee with toddlers!!! Awesome! (Mark and Jared look a little sleepy because they stayed up til 2 the night before also playing Yahtzee. Weird.)

Ha!

Thankful for the chance to spend time with our dear friends. And eat good food. All hail the mighty state.

also, in december...

Mark went hunting.

We had tea. We are civilized like that. (don't most people eat hot dogs with tea?)

Kaiya continued to wow us with her eye for fashion.

But this was my personal favorite-hand selected by her down to the pigtails. I kind of want her to wear this outfit every day for the rest of her (3T) life.

Aaand the lovely glucose test. Although this is the first time I've been able to drink the juice at home, which was much more pleasant than being trapped in a lab for an hour.

I know it doesn't seem like it could get much more exciting than this...but just you wait.

Ann and the bell choir

Sometimes I am so bad about my camera. The following 3 day span was one of those times.

Our dear friend Ann came to visit. She took us out for maybe the best out-to-eat meal experience I've ever had. Even though I look kind of possessed in this picture, I can assure you I was beyond happy. :)

The people here in the Sportsman's Paradise take the flour de lis REAL seriously. Toasters, cookie cutters, desserts, it's everywhere. As an aside: this was creme brûlée made in a shallow plate-thus providing and equal amount custard: burned sugar. Genius.

The classic preschool Christmas Program. Mark was a peach entertained the girls with the manger while we were waiting. A big thanks to Ann for their matching dresses, and a big bummer I didn't get a good pic of all 3.

Ok-these 4 year olds had bells, all different colors, and played them when told, and it was kind of amazing. They sounded like a regular old handbell choir. Quite impressive. They even stopped them on their chests. I guess it doesn't take a lot for me.

Getting her bag before we headed out...

I mean, this was genuine. Love.

Ann and Ava cuddling over fried green tomatoes.