second Annual Veiss Christmas

This year we were so blessed, most of all, by the love & friendship from the Veiss Family. We planned to have a post-Christmas celebration dinner and open gifts together but the Veiss girls got sick the day before so we decided to open gifts separately this year (bummer!) in hopes that we could spare our little ones from the same malady. Gifts were placed under the tree and all of us loved our gifts. Here are some pics. Thank you Victor, Suzana, Lea & Mia. Love you guys!!!!

More Christmas day memories

Christmas Day at the Hanson's

We had a great Christmas day at the Hanson's & Co. home. There were lots of people, a great meal, good times & conversation, terrific stocking stuffers and more! We enjoyed seeing the Trautwein, Ratzcliff, Hanson & Bieber families and additional guests as well. Brianna & Kiara got showered with toys & games and all in all we had a wonderful celebration of Jesus' birth.

Christmas Eve at our home

Ampee & Amee joined us for a Christmas Eve dinner and gazillion gifts to open, especially for the girls. What a great time we had! Here's the table setting (though the tulips were quickly ushered out of the table after this picture was taken). We enjoyed vegetarian chicken with cream sauce, spelt pilaf with vegetables, green salad, and chocolate pie & coconut pie for dessert. Yum!

Merry Christmas to All!

May each of you have a very blessed and joyful Christmas

Much love,

Jeremy, Bibi, Brianna & Kiara

Hillcrest Farm

Staying close to the bonfire

Hot drink refueling stations

Santa asked Brianna to ride the train in his cart. We all sang Christmas carols and Brianna asked him what she wanted for Christmas. We rode through a tunnel of Christmas lights, lines of lighted pine trees, a "ginger bread" house, a manger and more. It was so much fun!

Kiara was so bundled up she could hardly move! She had a great time too, though!

In the Christmas spirit ...

Last night the Shekoyan family and ours had a fantastic time at the Hillcrest Pajama Train Ride in Reedley. The prerequisite was to wear pjs and come to enjoy live Christmas music, a wonderful train ride around the farm, hot chocolate with marshmallows, cookies, kettle popcorn, a tree house with a swing a many other attractions. Upon arrivals, kids are ready to roll ...

Listening to live music

Smiling in spite of the cold

cookie buffet

Brianna's Graduation at the Little Gym

Kiara's favorite play date site: The Little Gym

Brianna's grad ceremony. After the holiday recess, she will move on to the Giggle Worms class (aka 4 year old class). She's excited to move up and keep learning new skills while having lots of fun.

Congratulations to Fall Semester Funny Bugs Class of 2009

Playdate at Tia Sherri's house

Last week we had such a great time playing at Tia Sherri's Winter Wonderland House! Kids had lots of fun toys to play with and Mommies got a chance to chat over hot tea and get all caught up. Thanks Sherri for the great time!

What Christmas is all about ...

Tia Roxanna, Mateo, Marina and us delivered many toys to the local Rescue Mission this week. Local families in need will open gifts after the Christmas Eve community dinner sponsored by this institution. Our kids were excited to help others in need though they won't be able to see the kids' faces when they open each gift.

So Roxanna and I decided to involve the kids in a community activity where they could see the "end product," if you will. We helped organize clothes at the St. Mary's Parish Center. This center not only offered free clothing items to many local families but also a big box full of holiday food items. We saw quite a few people come and get goods in the time we were there. Praise God for a giving community, especially in these trying economic time. We also feel blessed to have our little ones so eager to give and be mindful of those less fortunate.

Sorting out clothes

Brianna, Mateo & Sarai organized pants first and then shirts. They were great little helpers.

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'
Mathew 25:40