dave & janet horsman ::: keepin’ it real since 1998

Here is how the morning went…

It started at about 6:45a.m. with Noah and the Christmas Train.

Elijah and Zeke joined him at about 7:00a.m.

Grammie Potter gave the boys this nativity set.

Opened the stockings at about 8 a.m.

Zeke taught Noah the leg tunnel for the train.

After reading the Christmas story by each one taking a turn (Janet read for Noah and Zeke repeated after me) and then lighting a candle and sharing that light with the next reader, we had breakfast. Then it was time for the presents. (Speaking of reading, our family did the last advent reading during the Christmas Eve service last night and Elijah did a great job reading a portion of Isaiah 60.) Here is a sampling of all the wonderful gifts.

Grammie opened her stocking in the early afternoon but I still just had to include this picture.

 Happy Christmas to all and to all a good day!

Janet, Mina, Noah, and I had the privilege of watching Zeke perform at his preschool today. The program was filled with lots of children’s songs and carols. Happy Birthday to Jesus, Little Miss Muffett (starring Zeke as the spider), and the March from the Nutcracker were the highlights. Here is the March. It rocked!

Janet’s Mum took the plunge yesterday and cut Noah’s hair. After a few touch-ups this morning by Janet, the haircut was complete. Thank you all for your participation in this very important decision in our son’s life. I pray you made the right one. Click here to see a photo set of the event.

 Yesterday I was fretting over the Christmas Eve service, wanting it to be something special for the people who would be attending. So my brother, Jon, said that if I want “special” than In The Bleak Mid-Winter was my ticket to ride. I trust my big brother. So Janet heard it, loved it and is singing it for the Christmas Eve service. Click the album cover to see Sarah McLachlan sing this song.

People often tell me that Elijah talks differently than other children his age.  “How do you mean?”  I ask.  “He sounds kind of old fashioned or something,” is a common responce I get.  (I think this is partly due to his Canadian accent)

Elijah woke up this morning, and just had to go look at the gingerbread house.  “That’s the best gingerbread house.”  he declared.  Just a few minutes later, he told us, “I love that gingerbread house.  I just have to go and take another look at it!” 

Oh Elijah, you are precious!  And that makes all my hard work yesterday worth it!

Our 500th post!  (I know this only because I happened to save this post without a title, and so it was labled “Post #500″.)  Wow!

Anyway, you’re looking at photos of a gingerbread house that literally took us - well, mostly me - all day to make.  “All day?” you ask.  Yes, all day.  It started this morning when I went out looking for plain, old-fashioned gumdrops.  Nowhere to be found.  I finally found some “gourmet” gumdrops at a fancy store, for an outrageous price, but…well…you need gumdrops on a gingerbread house, don’t you think?  And besides, we only make one once a year. 

And then, after a long afternoon of measuring, cutting and baking…and then more measuring, cutting and baking, the house was finally assembled and ready for the fun part - decorating!  Of course, Elijah and Zeke pitched in to help with that… 

Almost done…

Ta da!  If you look closely you’ll see three adult gingerbread men (me, Dave and my mom) and the three kids.  Cute!

Next year, I think I’ll just buy one of those kits…although, our house does smell like yummy gingerbread now!