Merry Christmas from the Dillards

We have been enjoying our Christmas season so far... Christmas with little kids is fun. They are learning so much about what Christmas means, and we are enjoying teaching them about Christ coming into the world. They are learning about traditions, and for kids who love routine, advent calendars and finding the "hiding elf" every morning are awesome! They are enjoying listening to and learning the words to some Christmas Carols. The other day Oliver told me, "Mom, I LOVE that baby Jesus song!" (aka, Away in a Manger).

Oliver is old enough now to remember past Christmases... he remembers the plate we used to set out Santa's cookies last year, was excited to see all the stockings, and play with his beloved Christmas toys and movies. He loves turning on the Christmas Tree lights and reading the name tags on the presents and telling us who each one is for.

Gabriella is still our little performer and will gladly recite Luke 2:11 for anyone who will listen. She is showing great self-restraint in leaving the wrapped presents untouched under the tree and can't WAIT until she can finally open them. She LOVES books and she daily piles up the Christmas books we got out of the attic and asks us to read them all to her.

Melia is still our smiley baby and her favorite thing is just to sit and watch her siblings. They bring a smile to her face faster than anyone else and are always up for playing with her. We look forward to celebrating her first Christmas this year! We got her a stocking to match the other kids' stockings and feel blessed to have the number of stockings on our mantel grow.

Matt and I love days we get to spend with our family. Today was just such a day. Leisurely morning at home, an outing to play miniature golf, lots of reading time, and watching Charlie Brown's Christmas as a family with popcorn and hot chocolate before bed. We are so thankful for our family and God's blessing and provision in our lives.

Here are some pictures of our fun day together:

Lazy morning...

Sweet kiddos

Pancakes for breakfast - this girls can eat her WEIGHT in pancakes! Maybe that's why she didn't eat any lunch...

Sweet thing hanging out by the Christmas tree. Excuse the runny nose. 'Tis the season...

Posing on the bench at the mini-golf place!

"I got really close, Mom"

Staying warm with Daddy

Our little boy

We are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with our extended family and remembering and being thankful for our Savior coming to earth.

Happy Birthday Big Boy

We hit a big milestone this month... our boy turned 5 years old. I feel like 5 is WAY older than 4. I wanted to take a minute and reflect on the little man I see him becoming.

He is opening up and being more social of late which is just darling to witness. He loves recreational companionship (5 Love Languages anyone?) and is a whiz with electronics. He is a fan of order and completeness (wonder where he gets that) and is constantly sorting and lining up his toys. I love to come into a room and see the line of toys that just says to me "Oliver was here." He loves structure and days go much better for him when he has a schedule to adhere to. He can do so many things by himself which is a great help to this busy momma. We love him to pieces and appreciate his unique personality so much. He brings a smile to our faces everyday. We love you SO much Oliver and are so thankful to God for the wonderful gift that God gave us 5 years ago. You have changed our lives forever and we are so blessed to get to go through life with you as a precious accent to our days.

Oliver as a newborn

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

Our big 5 year old!

Bible Verses... in their own words

My children have some funny ways that they have changed up some Bible verses we have been memorizing... so I thought I would document their cuteness.

"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:13

Oliver: "I can do everything that I want to do."

Not quite buddy, but nice try!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:11

Gabriella: "For unto you is born this day in the city of Goliath..."

David, Goliath... at least she was close :)

We are Thankful...

Here are some pictures of what were most thankful for this Thanksgiving:

Our thanksgiving blessings (a little belated...)

We are thankful for... Family!! And health - we all ran a 2.4 mile "Dillard Family Turkey Trot" around the neighborhood that morning. It was definitely a brisk run!

We are thankful for... Gabriella!

...and for girls! Having little girls is so fun for a mommy who loves to dress them up!

We are thankful for... an awesome Thanksgiving cook and hostess - Matt's mom Annie!

We are thankful for... watching movies with our cousins, while holding a stick horse apparently.

We are thankful for... all of our Aunts and extended family!

We are thankful for... TURKEY!

We are thankful for... cooler weather!

We are thankful for... cousins who are great friends and fun to play with!

We are thankful for... healthy, growing babies - here Melia is tasting her first rice cereal!

We are thankful for... cousins who love on us!