December is a quick month

 The chaos of the holidays is well worth it to me.  We have had crazy days here, but the results of that craziness are pure joy.  John and Lisa are in California with my newest niece Bryn, and I got to hold her to sleep twice. I love this baby.  I love to look at her and think about how my children and Lisa's children are physically related...not that shared blood makes this baby any more precious to me.

 We had a party, and took no pictures, except of the castle- before and after for you here.  Katie and Chris Bayer, Josh and Emily White, Tarrah and Matt Pritchett and Josh's White's brother Jared and his fiancee Doreen joined in this cavity-promoting tradition.

 And I looked at this baby some more.  I really can't imagine how she could get any cuter.  Or sweeter.  She's just a wonderful baby.  (And her mom?  I would live in the snow to be by her.)

 Today we listened to Daddy's Christmas devotion...

 And showed off our Christmas sock feet.  We did not change from our pajamas all day.  We had a wonderful day.

The funniest moment of the day came at the end when we were watching a movie and I was playing scrabble on the computer when I hear Jack next to me ask for something.  I turned to him and realized that he was actually asking one of his presents- giant Hulk fists- if he could have some of the foam "pills" that turn into animals and other shapes in water.
 "Can I have a green one?"


Tomorrow is more fun- the next week will be more fun, as long as it slows down a bit.   I'm going to spend a day and a half with my sister and my second-newest niece before they fly back East for all sorts of fun.  Hopefully we'll see John and Lisa again, and there is talk of a trip to Disneyland.  Now I need to go to bed.  Sleep is in high demand here at the Tate House.  Merry Christmas!!!

Tonight I put my boys to bed, and gave thanks.
In a world so dark and dangerous, it can be hard to live without fear, but I manage, most of the time, to trust in the One who knows the hairs on my head, and cares even for the sparrows. 
Tonight I brushed my daughter's hair, and gave thanks.
Tonight I lay tangled up on the couch with all four of the small people God has blessed us with, and my faithful husband, and gave thanks.
I know how fast and terrible tragedy can be, and I know how hard it can be to find any good in any of this, but still, I am intensely grateful. 
For my healthy children, my happy home, and a God that loves us enough to let us choose to love Him back.
I'm praying for the families of the children and adults killed and injured today in my own country, and the families of the children and teacher in China who were attacked on Friday.  The world is not a safe place for children- it is not safe for anyone.
But I rest assured of the mercy of my God, of the passing away of this hard land for a good one, and of the grace that is offered to all of us, and the Hope born that we celebrate this month, a Child who was in grave danger his entire life, murdered by his own people, so that we might find our way home.

Happy Day!

 I'm sure that everyone reading this knows that Happy Day is the day that the Tates celebrate the first nationally televised Redskins game.  Josh judged this year that this holiday could not be on Thanksgiving, so we celebrated Monday.  It was a day of great Joy.  We traveled down to the desert and made our first stop at the 'Bucks.

 Josh ate a cake pop. 

 Jack wore our special Redskins luchador mask.

 Miles got a cookie.

Lucy also got a cake pop. I gave them a choice of drink or treat.  She loves these cake pops.  Why are cake pops so big right now?  I do not share the love.

 

Bowden picked a beverage.  He got a smoothie. My drink is pure fat and sugar.  So good.  So heart-clogging. 

 

 

Then Josh took me to this store. I took home a portable drink filter.

 

 

Our next stop was to buy our Christmas tree.

 

 

 

We stopped by store on the way home, and I made Josh a traditional Happy Day feast, with the new addition of the most delicious cheesey bread I have ever eaten. The Redskins won!