Just one more....

....Christmas post. Tonight was the first time this season that we've had time to go see the lights on Temple Square. It's such a great tradition and such a magical place. This year we took a tour of the Beehive House too. Emilie loved the play room with the dolls and tea sets and Eric loved the how the boys made their own toys out of wood. They all loved the lemon drop at the end. :)

Charlie managed to stay warm in his snow suit that Mamy and Papou sent him for Christmas. He looked so cute all bundled up!

Feelin the love

Everyone loved their Christmas Eve pajamas
Lindsay (and her camera) loved taking Christmas Eve pics of Charlie

Lydie loved everyone and everthing! Especially those dolls from Grandpa and Grandma!


Emilie loved her doll's matching jammies and sitting with Daddy

Eric loved holding Charlie and playing with the legos from Grandma and Grandpa

We all loved being with family, reading about and discussing our Savior and feeling the joy of the season on Christmas Eve

And, on Christmas morning we loved it all! I could listen to Roland play that guitar for days and days. Hope you had a lovely Christmas too! :)

p.s. click on any of the above pics to enlarge

It's just not possible...

...to take a good picture of 4 small children. I had such a time this morning trying to get all of them to look at the camera and smile at the same time. I love, love, love the Sunday before Christmas!

While Visions of SUGARplums Danced in Their Heads...

Grandma's Baking Day was a sweet (make that very sweet) success today. We made a huge mess and had a great time. Thank you, Grandma! We love you!

Tis the season!

The kids couldn't wait to get outside and play in the snow this week! It never ceases to amaze how long they can stay out in the freezing cold and play without even noticing. they had ice hanging from their clothes when they finally gave in and came in for hot chocolate!

The annual ward party is something we look forward to every year. Yep, Charlie loved his candy cane (little did he know that it's even better without a wrapper!). :)

A special time of the year....

This time of the year is really special to me.

A little history concerning the city where I am from….the city of Lyon.

Fifty years before Christ, Caesar realized the importance of this place at the confluence of two rivers: Rhône and Saône. He did not want to put a new Roman city next to the rivers because of the floods, so he went uphill looking for a good settlement. The name of the city derives from Lugdunum. Lug, meaning God of light and dunum, hill.

Lyon became one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire. The city developed quickly. Its position as a relay for Rome allowed for the construction of theaters, temples, and forums. After the attacks by the barbarians the hill was almost abandoned and the people moved to the other hill, the old forum or “foro vetere” from which the name of Fourvière derives. Years later new settlements started between the two rivers and along the banks of the rivers.
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière was built and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is said to have saved the city of Lyon from the plague in 1643. A small church was erected in gratitude, to which the gilded statue of the Virgin was added in the mid-nineteenth century, to mark its bicentennial. Each year in early December, Lyon expresses gratitude for the fact that the city was saved by lighting candles throughout the city, in what is called the Fête des Lumières.

Lyon now forms the second-largest metropolitan area in France after that of Paris, with the population of its urban area estimated to be nearly two million.

What is so special to me about this start of the month of December is that it brings to memory this miracle that occurred in that city when the plague disappeared. On December 8th and upon completion of the basilica, as a way of showing their gratitude, the citizens decided to place candles in their windows. Very quickly that night, the city became a “City of Light”; a name the city bears to this day. People from all over the world come to see this magical display of light throughout the city. The tradition of lining their windows with candles in brightly colored glass candle holders continues even still. It brings warmth and unity to the beautiful city of Lyon. Perhaps, even more importantly, it is a reminder that prayers are answered and that light in the midst of darkness is possible.

This tradition from Lyon, France continues in our home today. It is to me a reminder that when we are united in prayer, regardless of religion or other views, we can truly see miracles. We really are all children of the same God regardless of the name we give Him. I see that same brightness of hope as I witness the hand of the Savior in my life, each day. And so as we lit our candles tonight as a family and in gratitude for our Savior who blesses our family, I also have great hope in the human heart…great hope in the good will that exists in each and every one of us. May the best of us be what we offer to others during this beautiful season as we celebrate the birth of One who showed us the greatest example, our Savior.
No doubt that we will see miracles ….
PS...special thanks to all our neighborhood friends for being a part of this tradition with our family

counting down

tree decorations

our baby sock advent. Each one has a scripture to read (thanks, Karen!) and some have an activity (for example, drink homemade hot chocolate or make Christmas cookies and take them to a friend). *I got the socks at Target in the dollar section.
The candle that we burn each evening as we read the scripture that is found on the little paper in the sock. My neighbor made this for us and it made me so happy because our bishop used to do this for us when I was a teenager and I loved it! Thanks again, Karen!

Santa Advent. I couldn't get a good picture of the whole thing but Santa makes his way down to the chimney. We had this in my home as a child and it my mom handed it down to me.

The kids love it!

Don't you just love the anticipation of Christmas. It's so magical!

4 months

I still have Thanksgiving pics to post, but I couldn't resist posting thsese of our happy 4-month old boy.

Thankful

What are you thankful for?

Emilie Sue

We're so lucky to have our own photographer in the family. Lindsay did a birthday photo shoot with Emilie and I really struggled to pick just 4 pics for this post. Thanks Linds. You captured her so well! Click here to see more!

5

What a fun weekend for Emilie! Happy Birthday...we love you!

5 years ago

our sweet little Emilie Sue was born. (Click above to enlarge!)
Five things we love about Emilie:
*She is so helpful
*She wants to do everything her mommy does
*She has a great sense of style
*She has a beautiful smile
*She loves to learn new things

Happy Birthday Princess Emilie! We love you!

Our Veteran

Eric's school had a special Veteran's Day assembly today. They were told to invite any Veterans they know to come and participate. My Grandpa fought with the army infantry in World War Two. I've always been so proud of him and his courage. Today as he stood up on the elementary school stage with Eric to be honored I was touched by the fact that if it weren't for Grandpa and others like him, Eric wouldn't have the opportunities he is having. Thank you Grandpa! We love you.

Pour Isabelle...For Isabelle

Roland and his sister, Isabelle when they were young.

This was taken on the first trip I took to France when we were engaged. It was my first time meeting Roland's family. I fell in love with Isabelle the minute I met her. She was so affectionate and loving and made me feel so comfortable even though we couldn't understand each other! ( I was so skinny and young in this picture!)

Unfortunately, Isabelle has only been able to see our children a few times in their lives. This was taken when they came to visit in 2006. They arrived in time to welcome Lydie into the world. It was the only time Roland had some of his family here for the birth of a child. I can't believe it's already been three years since we last saw her! We love you Isabelle!

Joyeux anniversaire Isabelle...Nous te souhaitons une merveilleuse journee...avec tout notre Amour...ton frero et la famille....Bisous