Playdate with Friends

Addie Jack

Eme and Caden

Baby Lucy

This morning we met with the Bentleys and Fields to have an Xmas brunch. We can't believe how big all the kids have gotten. It is great to get together with all of them for this annual tradition. Thanks to Randy and Ali for hosting this year! We are looking forward to having another Field baby girl to celebrate with us next year! All these girls...Caden is going to have a lot of pretty girls to bring to prom some day!

Getting Ready For Xmas...

Caden showing off the Xmas tree he helped decorate.

Our first snow fall this year...although not a big one, both kids were excited to see snow this morning when they woke up!

Our happy little girl :-)

Kara and I at the Huntington Green Xmas Tree Lighting....Santa rode in on the fire truck so you know how excited we all were :-)

Caden saying "Cheese" for our new camera.

Sailey - Our Elf on the Shelf

We have been busy preparing for Xmas in the Mitchell household. Jay and I bought ourselves an early gift, a new camera, which we are very excited to capture the moments with the kids with this holiday season. Santa sent one of his elves to our house recently. Caden named him Sailey. Each night Sailey flies back to the North Pole to tell Santa if Caden and Addie have been naughty or nice that day. When he returns, he finds a new place to sit and Caden loves waking up to find Sailey, wherever he may be. This morning Caden found him on his dresser when he awoke. We also had our first snowfall last night....just a tiny one, but it helped to put us in the spirit of Xmas.

We were excited to see Santa ride in on the firetruck last weekend at our local tree lighting ceremony. Tomorrow morning Caden gets to be a sheep in our church Christmas pageant. We have decorated our tree and hung lights outside. Now we are just waiting for the big day. Caden is so excited this year and it is really cute to see. Addie doesn't really understand what all the craziness is about just yet. But she is running around talking up a storm.

Happy Holidays!

As we prepare for the busy holiday season, we just wanted to send happy holiday wishes to all our friends and family. The holidays feel different this year for me. I don't know if it is because we are getting older and wiser or if there is some other reason. But it means more to Jay and I to be with those we love this holiday season than ever before. Caden is bringing so much excitement into our home during this time. And somehow I don't seem worried about all the stress that comes along with Christmas usually...shopping, cooking, paying bills, etc.

I guess that I feel more at peace this year, and I can really feel God working in our lives. Caden will be a lamb in our church Christmas Pageant this weekend, and we are very excited to see him up there, even if all he has to do is say "Baaa." We are truly blessed by our beautiful children and all the happiness we find in each other each day. It is all about the little moments.

Christmas this year will be special, because Jason's grandmother, Frannie, has been sick for a while and it could possibly be our last Christmas with her. We are looking forward to sharing some happy memories with her before her time is up here on Earth. My dad had a pacemaker put in just before Thanksgiving and the realization that our parents aren't getting any younger is scary.

So I guess my message to everyone is: Live each day to the fullest. You never know what the future will hold or what surprises may be brought to you. Hold onto each day and live as if it were your last. Don't forget to count your blessings and be thankful for what you have. I hope that you all find peace within and many blessings this holiday season. May God bless you all.