Merry Christmas!

Studying For Finals

This Saturday past, I had a few hours at home so I was able to get in some more studying for my final in Ancient and Medieval Church History for my class at Covenant Seminary.  As Gideon was at Christmas program practice, I buckled down and studied.  Hope came up with her notebook and asked if she could study with me.  So up she came and joined me in the fun.  I do believer, however, that my studying was a bit more stressful than her's.  However, we both did great work together and was her first study date.

  

I took the test last Sunday, after many hours of study, and hope the results of the test reflect the amount of learning this semester!  

First United Presbyterian Church Christmas Program

After two weeks of practices (for Gideon), and just showing up for Hope, 2/3 of the Terwilleger kids participated in this year's children's program at church.  Gideon got to be one of the shepherd's and Hope was one of the angels.  Gideon's favorite part was walking up the center aisle at church (and around the other side) telling each pew that, "Jesus is born in Bethlehem."  And Hope starred as an angel by having her thumb in her mouth almost the entire time on stage!  

This is a picture with most of the kids at the end of the program.

Hope had cute pigtails for the program.

I think she had a bit of stage fright.  Either way, I thought she was pretty cute up there.   

After the program, all the kids were up on the stage so family could take pictures.  

Once Gideon saw me taking pictures of him, he had to give me a look.  

Tummy Time

Well, Kathee has been working with Esther on "tummy time."  With the help of two older siblings, both of whom just dote and dote, tummy times seem less traumatic than for our elder kids.  Although Esther doesn't necessarily love tummy time, she handles it better than is expected.  

The part that is bittersweet is the fact that it seems like once she figures out how to roll over, that in no time she'll be up and walking and bounding around.  That being said, I think Gideon and Hope are ready to have a little one chasing them around.  This, too, shall come.  

Esther

While the older kids sleep on Sunday afternoons, Esther gets some one-on-one time.  She is such a sweet little thing, all smiles and big eyes!  We are blessed.

Gideon Had His First Concert for school

Hope and Vada

Vada's mom, Tara, texted me this picture while the girls were playing during church.  Loves these two princesses.  Daughters of the King!

Bubble Bath Whirl Pool at Grandpa Smith's

Exersaucer!!!

Our friends Matt and Katie Lange gave us this apparatus when Gideon was a baby!  All three kids have loved this thing.  So do we!

She's Batman

Gideon and Esther

He loves his sister, and she loves him, she just always looks scared.

The Long Bus Ride

Back when I was in kindergarten, I would walk the mile to school each day with my brother Aaron.  Since I went half-days, I would ride the city bus home each day.  The bus driver was Frannie Specht.  He looked out for me and was really nice to me.  I really liked him.  Now, one Tuesday a month, Gideon and I ride the bus home from my work.  I am currently training local youth pastors each month, and we meet close to Gideon's school.  That means I drop him off at school in the church van (super-cool for him), go lead the training, come and pick him up, and head back to church.  The city bus stops across the street from church, so we climb on the bus and head home.  Each Tuesday now Gideon asks if we can ride the bus home.  Each time I ride on the bus with my kindergarten-aged son, I remember those rides I took so many years ago.