Christmas Eve 2017

Merry Christmas Eve! It was a chilly Sunday, and we had a fun day preparing for Christmas day and remembering our Savior's birth. Our poor Madison was so sick, and running a high fever for a couple days so we didn't make it to church that morning. We did get a treat, and the firetruck came by with Santa during our regular church time!

Whoa! 

There's the firetruck!! Lights and sirens blaring!

Lulu striking a pose

SANTA!! I know him, I know him!!

They handed out candy canes, which proceeded to get dropped and broken into pieces. At least our squirrels had minty breath. LOL.

Candy canes are not my favorite candy.

Maddie was able to make it to the table for a little while, although she didn't eat anything ;( We had one of her favorites, honey baked ham, party potatoes and asparagus.

After dinner we finished our family Christmas advent devotional we started this year. We read a passage from the Children's Storybook Bible, light a candle and sing a hymn. The kids really enjoyed it and the anticipation of Christs birthday. Come, Lord Jesus Come!

Lindsay wrote a letter to Santa to leave with the milk and cookies...

Madison made Reindeer Bait at school to leave with the milk and cookies as well.

Santa and his Reindeer both got some treats!

Daddy continued our tradition of reading the Night Before Christmas book to the kids before bed.

And we were able to snap a quick picture of the kids in their Christmas Pj's before 3 excited kids went to bed.

Madison (5 years), Andrew (2 years), Lindsay (7 years)

Merry Christmas Eve!! Love, The Fishers

Gingerbread Decorating in Madison's Classroom

The Thursday before Christmas, Madison's Kindergarten decorated Gingerbread houses. It was a messy and delicious project! 

Class Gift baskets I made for Teacher & Assistant Teacher

It is such a gift that I can be M's class mom this year.. it has been so much fun!

I think the kids ate more candy than what went on their houses...

Here's Madison's class with their teacher, Mrs. Pacuta. Mrs. P was an answer to my prayers for Maddie this year. During last spring when we were going through the Celiac testing, I began to wonder what it would be like for her going through school with this disease. I was sad about the experiences she would miss... buying her lunch, all the birthdays they celebrate and even cooking in class. It gave me anxiety about the type of teacher who she would get, would she be understanding of her Celiac, or at least know what it was? I began praying to the Lord during the summer for her class, teacher and Madison's adjustment to the social aspects of being different.

God answered my prayers in the amazing teacher Mrs. P is.. get this: Her sister has Celiac, so she knew exactly what we were dealing with and was so helpful. She makes every effort to accommodate Maddie during lessons, and they do a lot of cooking in class (which M loves!); they made gluten-free banana bread and she got g/f graham crackers for the gingerbread houses ;) I would have totally provide these things if she asked, but she just went ahead and did it on her own. Madison's classmates has been super supportive of her, and have got a special g/f cupcake for her when they brought in the cupcakes for birthdays. All this to say, I have been overwhelmed at the goodness of the Lord in providing all of this for Madison's first school experience, and answering this Mama's prayers!

Christmas Festivities

We've been enjoying the Christmas Season with parties, plays and fun family traditions!

Madison's Sunday school retold the story of Jesus's birth by acting out the scenes... LOL.

We watched Charlie Brown Christmas in our yearly tradition with Daddy...

SNOW! It has felt so cozy with some snow days in December! We continued our traditions of  visiting the Shadybrook Farm Christmas Light display, and the Living Nativity in Hamilton.

At the beginning of the month I hosted my 2nd annual Cookie Exchange...

Oh boy, were there tons of delicious cookies!!

So very thankful for friendship of these ladies!

Andrew at the Christmas CBS... as soon as he saw me in the audience he ran and sat on my lap and would not do any singing. Shooting for a video next year!! Haha! 

Cutie Christmas Fella

Santa!

We went to see Princeton's acapella groups sing carols at Palmer Square and ran into... SANTA!

He was kind enough to take a picture with the kids...

And insisted on a family picture as well....

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

Snow Days

It is beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas!! We have been lucky to have a few snow days this December, which almost never happens since we've lived in NJ.  

Let it snow!

 When it snowed on Saturday, I took Madison to a birthday party and guess what Daddy, Lindsay and Andrew did? Ordered Chinese food!!

Thanks Dad!

This is a big deal for the gluten eaters in our family, since they almost never get to each Chinese because of Madison and I!

I love Chinese food!! 

Daddy took Lindsay outside to play in the snow during Andrew's nap.

 We did had a Karaoke party...

 And got started on some baking: Sugar Cookies!!

The Christmas Season is in full swing!!

Thanksgiving 2017

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours! We had a lovely, quiet holiday filled with rest, fun family memories and of course, delicious food! 

After school the Wednesday before Turkey Day the girls helped me do some baking...

My first gluten-free pie crust in a pumpkin pie...

I think they were eating pie dough faster than I could get it in the pan...

Our little Turkey in his PJ's..

The Bird... I brined him in a Williams Sonoma Turkey Brine kit and it was fabulous...

Maddie told me she wanted to get dressed up for our meal... Doesn't she look like such a big girl here? Sniff Sniff.

Lindsay made some "Thankful" art for us after our lunch...

Feasting! This year everything I made was gluten free... gravy, pie, stuffing... etc. and a whopper of a dessert: Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. The girls picked it out off of Pinterest, and they did a great job choosing if I don't say so myself ;)

Thanksgiving 2017

J's first plate. *Wink*

We are counting our blessings this year, and are so grateful for the gifts of family, friends and most of all, our salvation through Jesus Christ. If we enjoy this annual feast on earth, oh my, can you imagine the feasts we'll share with our Lord in the age to come?! Happy Thanksgiving, Love the Fishers