december 24th :: photo*a*day

being a big first grader, jackson officially was able to go into 'big church' for the christmas eve service.

the theme was 'wonder'.

and it was incredible.

in this busy season, i felt like i kept reaching for the real reason,

but never truly experiencing the joy that the birth of Christ should bring.

i was so grateful for this time to truly reflect on the amazingness of what Jesus did: 

a great big God, humbling himself to becoming a small infant,

in order to have a saving relationship with me.

it was so good.

and getting to experience it with my little boy 

just made it all the more special.

december 24th

christmas eve by candlelight

december 23rd :: photo*a*day

my older brother's family came over today

to celebrate christmas.

it's always fun to have a special activity

(and my sister, kari, usually hosts and is SO good at it)

so i copied a fun little craft-treat bella had made at school.

we had such a wonderful afternoon together.

grateful for the people god has given us to call family.

december 23rd

snowman snacks with cousins

december 22nd :: photo*a*day

school's out.

 house is warm and cozy.

definitely time for some art.

december 22nd

princess painting

december 21st :: photo*a*day

december 21st

christmas light magic

 

we met up with our friends, the hilmersons,

to check out the awesome lights on olwyn drive in tustin.

going to see christmas lights has always been one of our favorite holiday traditions.

it always gets me in the christmas spirit!

this particular neighborhood is really wonderful.

 sweet little friends who don't know how to look at the camera ;)

love this family!

our family, thanks to instagram & juliana :)

december 20th :: photo*a*day

i think it has been proven repeatedly

that my husband is amazing.

the best.

reason 2,945,673,213:

he set up an air mattress on our front patio

so our family could look at the stars,

enjoy the lights,

drink hot chocolate,

and watch some 'elf' on his computer.

yup. the best.

december 20th

pajama party in the front yard

and i know this pictures is super grainy and not awesome quality.

but i'm ok with it.. that's what you get when it's pitch black outside.

i'm so glad to have this memory to look back at.

december 19th :: photo*a*day

december 19th

a little lunch date with my favorite girls

someone likes to pretend she's a puppy when she eats :)

december 18th :: photo*a*day

yesterday was one of those days.

i felt like i was crazy all day,

but i don't really know what i did.

ever have those?

okay.  i know what i did.

got two kids out the door for school.

cleaned up the house.

ordered christmas cards.

answered work emails.

dressed a two-year-old 

(that takes WAY longer than it should.  can someone explain that dresses and rain don't mix?).

didn't shower myself.  for the third day in a row.  gross.

put on a hat.

picked up bella at school.

fed girls lunch.

broke up fights.  (multiply this by a lot).

picked up jackson at school.

took three children to costco.  big mistake.

picked up christmas cards.

forgot stamps.

back into costco.

bought a soda.  (mommy needed some caffeine).

made dinner (thank you costco lasagna).

put together, addressed, etc. 200 'new years' cards

(since by the time you get it christmas will already be here)

passed out after 11pm.

all that to say...

no pics with my fancy camera.

so you get an instagram pic.

you know what?

i'm in a good mood.

you get two :)

december 18th

bachman holiday card sweatshop

and (evidence that sometimes mommy wins.)

charlotte in pants.

and a really cute hat.

december 17th :: photo*a*day

we bachmans love disneyland.

and disney at christmas is awesome.

(minus the crowds.  i don't love the crowds)

we went for a super quick trip to see santa and enjoy the beauty

one last time before christmas

(and before our passes blackout )

i love disneyland... but i think i'll love it more in january 

when we can walk  down the streets again ;)

december 17th

christmas at disneyland

we mainly went so the kids could meet santa :)

they have a great area set up called the 'jingle jangle jamboree' where you meet santa & other characters,

make crafts, and play 'reindeer games'.  

we had a lot of fun there.

 

they even have horses and sheep/goats.

and yes... the goats are festively attired... i wish you could see the two in the right corner.. the lamb is wearing a top hat. 

only you, disney.

have to ride small world at christmas.

 i love the wonder on their little faces

 and this is our attempt at having a stranger take our family picture.

while a parade is happening.

but the snow on the castle is pretty, right?

december 16th :: photo*a*day

december 16th

future doctor

isabella has decided when she grows up, she wants to be "a doctor for babies and children."

sounds good to me!

our kids absolutely LOVE doc mcstuffins, 

and the bedroom frequently turns into a clinic for all the stuffed animals.

december 15th :: photo*a*day

december 15th

stringing lights with daddy

the funny thing is that these aren't the lights that are on our house now.

he got about this far and realized the rest of our strands were dead.

so we headed to target and picked up new ones...

and decided to go with big colored bulbs instead. :)

december 14th :: photo*a*day

on friday,

our little isabella won an award at school for her behavior.

we are so proud of her.

december 14th

bella the awesome

her teacher, mrs. w., is amazing.

all those kids.... she has way more patience than i do.

we are so grateful for the awesome teachers God has blessed us with this year!


with the horrific events that occurred on friday,
 i was especially grateful for the opportunity to be in isabella's classroom.
i cannot imagine the pain of the families who lost their children that day.
we send jackson & isabella to school everyday,
trusting they will come home safe and sound to us.
we are praying for the families and communities whose lives have forever been changed by this tragedy.

everyday is a gift.