Advent

In Bible study a few weeks ago, our group shared Christmas traditions that we grew up with that we want to pass on to our children. Advent was always a very special part of the Christmas season for my family growing up. Each night at supper, we would read a story from the book The Advent Jesse Tree by Dean Meador Lambert. There is a symbol for each night of Advent along with a brief story. As we grew older, my brother, Eric, and I would try to remember all of the symbols in order and recite them each night. Who says a little friendly competition can't be Christ-like?

We will also begin lighting our Advent wreath. In both the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches, they light Advent wreaths and read scripture each Sunday during the month of December. My family read our Advent story and then lit our wreath each night leading up to Christmas (week 1: purple candle, week 2: add another purple candle, week 3: add pink candle, week 4: add final purple candle.) Daniel and I will be starting these traditions with Rivers and Jackson this Christmas to help us focus the Christmas season towards Christ, the true meaning of Christmas, each and every day. I hope that you will consider making this tradition a special part of Christmas with your children this year!

*After looking at all of the major book buying sites and visiting a few bookstores, it was going to take too long to get the book in to the stores or mailed. I then called the bookstore at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (across from the capitol) to have them order it, and it will be in this Wednesday...just one day late! The church number there is 771-7300.

*I found this Advent wreath at Family Christian Store. It came with the 4 Advent candles included and was about $37. You can then buy replacement candles separately in years to come.

Fall Crafts

Rivers had such a good times making fall crafts this year. I love having these little treasures around our home! We made the ones above in children's choir and the one below of "crows in a corn field" too. I loved seeing where the children put the eyes on the crows.
Nanny and Rivers made this turkey together as a surprise for me.

This adorable headpiece was made at preschool. I love the wings made out of Rivers hands!

This "I am Thankful" wreath got dropped so the ones that show that she is thankful for "my Mommy" and "my baby...brother" got smudged. Notice the one that says "kitty cat." We don't have a cat, but our neighbor's cat comes in our yard every day and the kids enjoy looking for it.

FROSTY

Saturday, Rivers and I attended the Columbia Children's Theater rendition of the play Frosty with some friends of ours. It was so much fun! The actors did a wonderful job of getting the children involved by asking them, "What makes Frosty's hat so special?" (making a wish on it, of course!). Rivers' eyes were glued to the stage for the hour-and-fifteen minute performance. We even had the chance to sing "Frosty the Snowman" with everyone.
"Samantha" did a wonderful job! This was Rivers' first "autograph" following the performance, so she was a little unsure of herself. This guy played several parts in the show, my favorite being "Mrs. Vanderschnitzel...haagendaasendorf!" I can't remember the whole name, but it was hilarious!

If you would like to attend a performance of Frosty, it will be playing again this weekend, December 4th, 5th, and 6th. Visit their website at columbiachildrenstheatre.com or call 691-4548. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the door. Columbia Children's Theater is located on the second floor of Midtown at Forest Acres (Richland Mall) above S&S Cafeteria. Enjoy!

Santa! Santa! Santa!

Rivers and Jackson had their picture taken with Santa the night before Thanksgiving. Rivers was so excited to sit on Santa's lap and to tell him that she wants a camera and a computer for Christmas. Jackson just stared blankly (a little bit like Santa is in this picture), unsure as to who the white-bearded fellow in the pajamas was! It was so cute! Six pictures later, we settled on a shot of Rivers smiling from ear to ear and Jackson looking over to Daniel. Pictures with Santa...PRICELESS!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with both sides of our family. After watching some of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television, we went to lunch with Daniel's family. Then, we drove to my grandparents' house to have dinner with my mom's side of the family and to spend the night with my Aunt Melissa and Uncle Ronald. We had a great visit with everyone!
Rivers celebrated Thanksgiving with a special Thanksgiving Feast at preschool on Tuesday. She was a pilgrim, as you can see, with a beautiful hat and collar while others were Native Americans. The teachers brought in traditional dishes for the children to try including turkey, green beans, corn, rolls, and pudding (so Rivers says.)

Jackson's "Different Eyes"

Jackson had his outer and inner eye surgery on Friday, November 13th. We got to the hospital at 10:30 and they took him back at about 12:45. He played happily and even had a surprise visit from Mr. Steve and Mr. Keith (our music ministers). The surgery lasted about 5 hours. Dr. Cheeseman, the ophthalmologist, widened the eye openings by making incisions in the outer corners of both eyes, and he moved the eye muscles surrounding both eyes to correct his vision problem (eyes turning in). Dr. Chen, the plastic surgeon, made an incision in his right leg, removed fascia from the leg and used it to create slings (3 per eye) that run from above his eyebrow through his upper eyelid to open the eyes more. When Daniel and I went back to see him in recovery, it took us both by surprise to walk around the corner and to see Jackson's EYES wide open and staring at us! He was comforted easily and kept looking up at the ceiling and the lights. My sister-in-law, Hannah, and I stayed with Jackson in the hospital overnight, and he came home around 1:00 on Saturday. Outside of being irritated with not being able to close his eyes at night, his recovery has been so smooth, and we just couldn't be happier with the outcome!

Jackson calling out before surgery: "Get me out of here!"

Poor buddy! Not only do his eyes hurt, his leg does too!

Rivers came to visit Jackson a couple of hours after his surgery. We weren't sure about whether or not she should see him, but she wanted to be there to comfort him. In fact, she came the next morning too. Here she is making out a grocery list with Aunt Hannah.

Saturday, he played in his playroom some, but was generally tired. We all stayed home from church on Sunday to get some much needed rest and recuperation!
Calling out again: "Hey guys, did you know that there are lights on the ceiling?!! Wow!"
Our handsome little man! We now have two children with no surgeries in our near future! Praise God!

We went to the mall last night to have pizza and let the kids ride the carousel. On the way there, Rivers was "talking to" Dr. Chen on the phone about her baby doll, Kate. She told Dr. Chen that "Kate needs the same kind of 'different eye surgery' that Jackson had." It was adorable!

Jackson's Surgery Tomorrow

Bless his little heart! It's that time again. Time to return to the hospital for more surgery. Thankfully, we'll be here in town at Palmetto Richland. Jackson's surgery is scheduled for 12:30 tomorrow. He is having his eyelids lifted, the outer corners of his eyes extended, and he's having surgery for his eyes turning inward, which will involve moving the muscles around the eyes. All in all, this is usually an outpatient surgery, however, since they are starting midday and since he's small, they thought they'd keep him for one night. I'm all for a little observation!

Please keep our little buddy in your prayers tomorrow and through the coming week as he heals. Our prayers are with the doctors: Dr. Cheeseman (opthamologist) and Dr. Chen (plastic surgeon.) It's so odd to think that he will look very different than he does now...I can't even imagine him more handsome than he is now!