Not counting the Christmas when Becca was in the NICU, this was our first Christmas to be in our own place Christmas morning. Becca was really excited about having “real Christmas” at home. Back in the first week of December, we enjoyed decorating our tree (on loan from the Casillas family).

We spent Christmas afternoon with Josh’s family. Today we head up to PA for Christmas with the Sutter side and more partnership development services. (Pictures from Christmas will come next week.)

The Saturday before Christmas, we went down to Florence, SC, where Josh’s sister lives and celebrated Christmas with the whole Ken Jensen Family. First time for all to be together for Christmas in a very long time.

Friday the 6th, I gave Isaiah his first haircut. He did great sitting for it. . .thanks to three Disney Silly Symphonies. When we were finished I took Isaiah in to see Josh. Isaiah was all smiles until Josh was sad that Isaiah’s curls were gone – then Isaiah’s face fell. As soon as Josh told him how nice his hair looked, Isaiah was happy again!

One thing Becca wanted this year was to have matching Christmas pj’s with Mommy. It took quite awhile to find them, but we finally found some girls size 14 pj’s for me to wear that matched 3T. Becca is delighted!

Last week we went to Spartanburg’s Christmas Parade. It was very cold and we also noticed Isaiah was a bit droopy (except when he saw dogs). The next day Isaiah started a 5-day nasty cold. We’re thankful he’s feeling better and back to his normal happy self!

Monday Becca and I finished our shopping for our boys. Becca did a great job wrapping and writing the names on the gifts. The gifts are now all wrapped and our stockings stuffed.

Tuesday Becca worked on her gingerbread house. After eating some of the candy she said, “This is my delighted!”

Wednesday we made a star for our tree and did some more cookie baking.

While in Buffalo and Syracuse, we enjoyed our first good snow of the season. It started snowing on Becca’s birthday (which we decided was a birthday gift from God). Wednesday we went outside and played in the snow for about 45 minutes. Becca especially loved eating the snow. Isaiah loved holding snowballs. (Literally — he just sat there, holding snowballs.)

In Syracuse, Becca got to shovel Great Grandma’s driveway and then had her first official sled ride (official meaning a real sled and not a TX laundry basket). We walked to a park with a great hill for sledding. We enjoyed some great slides down the hill. I was surprised when Becca said she was willing to climb to the top of the hill by herself. Then she decided to try going down by herself and ended up doing so several times. I was so proud of her. (I think reading the Frog & Toad story about sledding helped.)

Saturday was our first Saturday home since September 21st (and our last for the rest of the year). It was really nice to have a whole Saturday home to do Christmas stuff with the kids. Josh was away the whole day, but the kids and I made Christmas cookies. I knew Becca would enjoy it. . . . I was delighted with how much Isaiah loved it.

After lunch we decorated the cookies. It took quite a while and we have some sprinkle-filled cookies, but all enjoyed the process! And we’re all enjoying eating our tasty cookies!

Tuesday we returned from a 12-day trip to PA and NY. Both weekends were spent presenting our work in churches in PA. In between we visited with some friends and family. We started out our trip staying with Jonathan & Heather Overstreet and their five little girls. Becca especially enjoyed having so many sisters for our 4 days there. We enjoyed spending time with Jonathan and Heather and being with their family.

After our time in Pittsburgh, we drove to Buffalo, NY, to visit with Steve & Lish Simpson and their two girls from Monday to Thursday. We visited an arboretum on Becca’s birthday and made panda cupcakes. The next day we enjoyed snow (more snow pictures next week). We enjoyed visiting with Steve & Lish – Josh catching up with Steve and me getting to know Lish and the girls.

Thanksgiving day with drove to Syracuse, NY, to spend two days with my Grandma Buecher. Grandma made us a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. Friday morning we went sledding and Friday evening we went to a famous hotdog place and enjoyed Lights on the Lake. Saturday we headed to stay with my parents while we presented at a church about 45 minutes away. Sunday evening we helped decorate my parents’ Christmas tree.

Happy 18-month birthday to Sai-Zai! Our little man is growing up in so many ways. Isaiah’s a little climber now. The other week I found him standing over Josh’s dinner plate with a knife in one hand and a fork in the other, ready to chow down. Actually, he was standing there waiting for Mommy to notice him. He’s quite the little tease.

Isaiah is bursting with words for: hot, hat, chair, cracker, snack, Mama, Dada, Baba (Becca), truck, car, grape, help (which comes out more like haaaa), bye-bye, pumpkin, ball, bath, potty, nose, eyes, sit, tree, pencil, color, chair, knock-knock, night-night, thank you, and hi, among some others.

Sai-Zai continues to be a very happy boy who loves living life. He loves copying his big sister and enjoys teasing her. We’re so thankful to have Isaiah as our little boy.