Feldes Christmas 2009

Christmas is full of excitement and many traditions. We add and take away different ones each year as the kids get older. But these are some of the ones we keep. We always have an organized program on Christmas Eve. It's like having FHE. This year we watched "Joy To The World" and B- played "Away In A Manger" on the piano, it's her first year of piano lessons. She practiced hard all week and I thought she did a beautiful job. K- also reads the story of the Saviors birth in Luke 2. When he is done he tells the girls that Jesus was the first gift of Christmas and that wise men brought him gifts, so that's why we give gifts to each other, to show our love like Jesus did. Then they get to open one present which mom chooses(it's always P.J.'s) and they love that. We also take the girls to go see the lights in our surrounding neighbor hoods. Then dad reads "The Night Before Christmas." On Christmas morning we always have a prayer before we start opening gifts. The youngest goes first, one at a time. Our breakfast is in our stockings which consists of a orange,apple, and banana. When all the gifts are open we put them under the tree and play with them all day.

Cookies for Santa.

L- ate most of the frosting.

They went out to sprinkle Reindeer dust so Santa could find his way to our house.

Daddy reading the "The Night Before Christmas."

Silly picture.

Their new P.J.'s.

Santa Came.

I love the expression. "NO WAY" I know thats what she's thinking.

Opening the First Present.

After it's all over.

B- Playing "Away In A Manger" for our Christmas Program.

MORE SNOW!!!!!

I can't believe we have more snow already! It's only December and this is our second snow fall. It snowed Friday night and all day Saturday until early Sunday morning. We got a total of 20ins., more in other places. It's interesting how lately I have met alot of people from Colorado and our conversation is always how we miss the snow there. And then it appears and we couldn't be happier. We just might get a white Christmas after all. It's hard to see with all that snow.

They are drowning in snow!

Hard to see but Daddy took the girls around the block on the tube in the dark!

After Dads long workout! What a nice guy out shoveling and playing with his kids.

I told them to look surprised at all the snow!!

K- car is under there somewhere?

New Calling!!!

I was recently called to be the Seminary teacher in our ward. This is the first calling I have been sooo excited to have. It's a little different out here in the east though. You don't have your own building, you use your home, and teach just the students in your home ward(there are 10). The interesting thing about it is that when we bought our home I thought "this house is way too big for our family" so I told Heavenly Father I wanted to use it to service him whenever I can. And since then I have had many opportunities to do so. Also the week before I was called I was talking to my sister about how I wished they had an institute class that I could take so I could get back into my scriptures like I did while on my mission. That had also been in my prayers at night. So when I recieved the call I just laughed because I knew Heavenly Father was answering my prayers. Not only can I use my home to serve the Lord but I feel his spirit stronger in my life and the love he has for me and my family. Now I can study my scriptures everyday and feel his spirit with me. The kids in my class are awesome, they are very strong and knowledgable about the scriptures. I'm learning so much from them and am grateful for this opportunity.

Let it Snow!!

On December 5th we recieved our first snow fall of the season. We rarely get snow around here much before January or February so this was quite a treat. Our girls had fun playing in it, making snow men and of course eating it like candy. L- is my child that eats everything from glue and sparkles at school to the mud in the back yard. I tell her constently"take that out of your mouth," don't eat that," And I have to say she seems to be resistent to everything. So when I saw her eating the snow I thought "let her eat it, it won't hurt her", I just told her to try and stay away from the yellow and brown.

Thanksgiving at The Steinkes

For the last 3 or 4 years we have been going up to my sisters house for Thanksgiving. It's not to far to drive only about 5 or 6 hours but it's close to New York so we can't avoid traffic. We get stuck in it every year, but once we get there we have a great time. My sisters husbands family comes and cooks and celebrates with us. Her husbands mom is a great cook and does alot of the work. We are very grateful to her. We go shopping, help my sisters boys deliver their Christmas Weaths, play games, go to the movies. This time we went and saw "New Moon"." Just being together is what it is all about. I wish all are family lived closer together. I think L- had too much Turkey.

Sharing the love and a chair.

Cousins watching a movie together.

Nice picture.

K- is soo full he can barely raise his hand.

I'm so full I can't move.

Enjoying our thankgiving dinner.

Eating and talking.

What a handsome boy!

At one time we were all at the table together.

The big feast!!