On the way home today I heard Jeff in the back seat saying to Eti, "I spy something beautiful"

They were playing in the dark and it was not really what they could see but more what they saw today (Christmas day), with all my family gathered around.

I whispered that to myself a few times looking out the window with the heavy snow covered woods and fields we were driving past, the bright stars, "I spy something beautiful". 

I hope you had a beautiful Christmas as well.

We were driving down the highway 65MPH with the reindeer antlers flapping back in the wind and all of us  singing "Feliz Navidad", David Crowder version.   Steve held my hand and said "I don't want this to end."

We went to Steve's parents the week before, I watched the "Nativity" movie for the first time and thought it was so moving and want my kids to watch it every single year from here on out.

It was my favorite Christmas so far, as an adult.  The time with Steve's family was so pleasant.

Eti waving "Hi" to everyone

Somersaulting down the snow bank...why not

The yearly "Eti-making-a-snow-angel" shot, although it does not look like there is much movement going on

Walking up towards the woods that I love to explore and now they are old enough to go up themselves.

My Jeffers on the day that he turned nine, Steve told him that 9-12 are the very best years of boyhood...and so it begins.

Etienne fell in the snow and Jeff ran over to help him up.  I tell them all the time that they are best friends and they usually don't believe me, I need to carry this around with me as evidence!

My little people with  Shel's (Steve's sister).  Can you tell that there were three people behind me getting the kids to smile?

My family, all at one table

Christmas eve the kids put on a concert for us, we bought our tickets from them and then Steve and I slow danced to utter chaos.

Steve saw a WikiHow article on making gingerbread houses using graham crackers, we let the kids each make their own.

It was a hit.