Gabe

I just can't handle the cuteness of this kid.  Taken right before his first "grown up" Christmas concert where he made his mom cry singing, "Still, Still, Still" and his aunts crack up at his dance moves for a Hebrew song.  The years are slipping by too quickly with this one.

Reading With Gigi

Didn't even know Randall snapped these!  Greta is an awesome reader...puts all her years on the stage to use by doing different voices!

Joe and His Bass

Man, this boy is growing up.  It's killing me.  He's all about his basses, both upright and electric.  In fact, most things on his wish list this year had to do with music.  Here he is before his big Christmas concert.  Excuse me, WINTER concert.  Wouldn't want to call it CHRISTMAS in a public school.  (sigh)

Decorating The Tree

There's something magical about Christmas, but Christmas for the first time thru the eyes of a seven year old was extra special.  How her eyes lit up as we found the perfect farmer's tree, brought it home, strung it with lights, and hung ornaments. 

In our house, every ornament carries a story; no perfect-matching tree here.  Instead, we celebrate our year with ornaments for each child that help us remember something about their growth that year, as well as ornaments about some of our family memories.  Even Randall has his Kindergarten Santa Claus star in a place of honor at my request.

While Joseph hams it up, Violet takes the placing of the ornaments very seriously, as she does every artistic endeavor.

Now all we need is a pix of the end result!