A Fresh Start to a New Year

How has another month slipped past us?  We fill our days with so many activities that it's no wonder they slip by.  We have made the most of January 2017 and we are here to show you that we have been building our family's kinship and family time together through the colder weather games, puzzles and the kids' favorite game, Hide and Seek.  Don't you love that it is portable and can go with you anywhere, even to CHURCH!!!

We find time to pour into others to build our community and the kids have so many friends that they love to spend time with.  Luckily the kids will play with so many friends of different ages that it doesn't seem to prohibit them like it did us as we were growing up.  

 

And then there is school time which is VERY different from what I grew up with.  We watched the inauguration and Siena has nearly memorized all 45 presidents.  The kids have enjoyed reading quite a bit more since it's part of our daily routine, they are involved in science experiments in the co-op community and they also are studying different art forms.  They have really done well with their weekly oral reports and share the funniest stories.  

With the strange climate change, our kids have been in short and climbing trees, snowmobiling in their PowerWheels and jumping in rain puddles!  Seriously. is there anything better than having the free spirit of a child, the love of Jesus in your heart and family to share it with?

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer

Christmas is always a fun time at our house.  We attempt to do most of the fun winter activities such as decorating together, drinking hot cocoa, watching Christmas movies and going Christmas caroling.   Our weather was warm some days and chilly other days, quite typical for Tennessee.

Siena performed with the church kid's choir this December.  She had 3-4 cute songs that she sang with her early elementary peers.  Our younger two also memorized the songs and had a blast preparing but they didn't get the joy of performing.  You can see the performance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urRVKnHEQuI

Allegra is 20 months and had so much fun at Christmas....with boxes and tissue paper.  She had little interest in the gifts that were inside.  In case you forgot how fun it is, we got a video or two.

The kids had their Papa and Gama visiting here for Christmas so in their minds, they had everything they could want. They got a few toys, clothes and had fun opening gifts.  The excitement to tear open a package is alive and well.

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With grandparents here for holidays, Carson and Siena wrestled with their Papa and read books with Gama.  Siena also requested to sew with Grandma and so they made a pillowcase in an afternoon.  What a great team and a fantastic memory for both of them!

 

No Christmas is complete without our Christmas Eve service that is always beautiful and touching.  May your Christmas season leave you with sweet memories and your new year full of hope!

Love, The Knolls