Dinnertime with the Harms Family

This video is not for those with weak stomaches. It might make you slightly dizzy! The family has gotten so large that the grandkids have overtaken the dining table.

What to do with a house full of boys (and one girl)

GO BOWLING - Christmas weekend in Fremont with all the cousins was a ball (no pun intended.) We spent Saturday evening bowling. The kids had a great time, and Carter insisted on using the finger holes and rolling the ball like you're "supposed" to instead of using the ramp or pushing it between his legs. Ian an Owen were hamming it up for a camera shot. What a pair!

GO SWIMMING - Rich and Michele and family stayed in a hotel with a swimming pool, so Sunday evening was spent taking a dip. Corey was the lone adult to hop in the pool, and the kids all had fun playing with him. I think Carter and Owen spent the whole time in the not-so-hot- hot tub.

GO SLEDDING - Corey and I took 5 of the kids to "the hill" to sled. As you can see, part of the hill was just frozen dirt, but the rest of it was a snow/ice mix and made for some fast sledding. After his first ride down the hill Owen said, "Wow. That was su-weet!" I took a trip down with Ian, and at the bottom he said, "See, I told you it's like a speeding bullet." It was a good time.

Lewis got to know his cousin Shaan. Shaan just turned two a couple weeks ago, and in all his two-year-old wisdom, he decided Lewis needed all the legos. Lewis just sat there contentedly in his car seat while the Lego pile got higher and higher.

Baby's 1st Christmas

What a cute Santa Claus!! Lewis spent much of his time at Grandma and Grandpa Harms' house bouncing around in this doorway jumper. He had a great view of the action in the living room and the kitchen. And boy was there a lot of action!!
As you can see, Lewis thoroughly enjoyed his time with Grandpa!

Owen's Thoughts

Owen: "You know those guys what (he always says what instead of that) gave Jesus gifts?"
Me: "Yeah."
Owen: "One of them gave him gold."
Me: "I know. That's a pretty nice gift."
Owen: "What else did he get?"
Me: "Frankinscense and Myrr" (sp?)
Owen: "Yeah, Myrr that's the black stuff what makes trains go."
Me: "Well, not quite."

That Comet sure is a handsome reindeer

Owen had his preschool program this morning. He was an excellent "Comet". Miss Wendy does a great job of keeping Jesus in Christmas. The jist of the program is that everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas and Santa has all of his elves and reindeer sit down while he tells them about the very first Christmas. They did the same program last year and Carter was a wise man. They had to make a little cast change this year since there are only 4 boys in the class. There were angels at the manger instead of wise men.

They are saying. "Here is the chimney. Here is the top. Open it up and Santa will pop."

Baby Love

It is so difficult to get a good picture of all three boys together, but I finally did it. Lewis isn't smiling, but he's not crying or squirming either. And both big boys have real smiles, not the "say cheese" kind.

What's Christmas all about?

I try to ask my kids what Christmas is all about every day. They very first time I asked this year, they struggled a bit before the right answer came out, but now it's immediate. "Jesus." It's all about Jesus. I know they don't fully understand the the awesomeness of God coming to earth, but they do know that it is Jesus' birthday. They are all wrapped up in the presents, and Santa Claus and decorations and Christmas sweets, but they know that Jesus came down as a baby, that he had to sleep in the barn with the animals, and that he is so cool that he lets them get presents on his birthday. I'm excited to see them learn and grow and understand a little bit more each year. (These pictures are from their Christmas program at church last night.)