its official.  dave and michelle are leaving town on friday :) 

we are sooo thankful for everyone who is helping with our kids!! this will be our first night alone in 2 years :)

i sure love these guys but i am definitely looking forward to a little time away :)

these are the kinda things that start happening when daddy has to work 60 hour weeks..... 

he would have been such a cute little girl :)

finger painting with chocolate pudding and sprinkles :)

baby KJ had to spend a couple nights in the hospital this past weekend :( 

he had pneumonia, but he is home now and doing much better.  we kept the other kids saturday and sunday so LaKisha could spend the night in the hospital with the baby.  

we brought them to church with us, which went really well.  

tyden's sunday school class happened to have a pizza party planned for that day, so we sent cornell and cody with tyden.  and on the way home from church cody said, "that was AWESOME! can we go to your church again NEXT sunday??" :)

so the last week of school before christmas is always a busy one- the kids have "secret santa," where they draw names and secretly do something special for the kid they draw every day.  and they have their big christmas program to set up and practice for.  and then a party on the last day.
and sadly, THIS is how tyden and shaeya are spending their week-

super sick.  they are so bummed.  and tekoa is home today too with red, puffy, crusty eyes.  tis the season.
i'm just praying they are better for their program tomorrow!! i have to go with or without them, cause i'm leading music and singing with a group of moms. sure can't think of anything i'd rather do for my birthday- especially if my kids aren't even there.....haha :)
and don't worry, i'm still running around, coming up with secret santa gifts and making sure they get to the school so no one is left out....sigh........

we are having dave's family and LaKisha and her kids over on Christmas Eve so we thought we'd spruce the place up a bit :)  the kids are LOVING it.

and now- 

i'm not usually a big fan of poems, but i read this one this afternoon and it made me cry- 

so i thought i'd pass it on-

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38,

When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gates.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending

Christmas at God's house.

"When what to their wondering eyes did appear

But Jesus, their Savior; the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.

Those children all flew into the arms of their King,

And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

As if He could read all the questions she had,

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below.

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools."

"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.

"Come now my children, let Me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran,

All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."