Waters Family Update

Happy New Year!!!

The Christmas Season was a busy one at our house, but was so much fun and such a joy to be able to watch Ella really start to understand what Christmas was all about.

If you ask Ella what Christmas is, she will tell you that it is Jesus' Birthday, and loves to talk about it. At the same time, she also is very interested in Santa and I got myself in to a big hole this year trying to explain him to her. She met Santa on the Polar Express, as you can see by the pictures below and it snowballed from there. Christmas Eve I had done some last minute shopping and there were gifts scattered around our bedroom. Ella started to go in and I yelled "NO!!" trying to stop her from going in. It scared her and she started to cry. I was then trying to tell her why she couldn't go in Mommy and Daddy's bedroom and she just wasn't understanding. It was a slippery slope from there. I proceeded to tell her that Santa was getting ready to deliver presents to all of the boys and girls that night so he needed to talk a nap because he was tired so he was sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed. That she understood very well and was very excited to think that Santa was in her house. All night she walked around telling us to be quiet because Santa was sleeping. (Oops!!) So then on our way home from Christmas Eve Service she asked if Santa was still sleeping to which I replied no, Santa is out delivering presents in his sleigh with his reindeer. Ummm... she didn't really understand so I told her that he flies around like an airplane. (Oops again!!)Ugh what a mess already!! So Christmas morning she wakes up and asks if Santa is at our house. At this point Seth is looking at me with a glare as I tell her that no, Santa is back at his house and won't be back until next year. Whew!! There's nothing like lying to your kid for the first time, but all for a good cause, right?!?!? =)

The boys are incredible and Levi is just starting to crawl. They are eating up a storm and their personalities will make you laugh all day. Levi is more reserved and loves to jump in his excersaucer all of the time. He crawls around like an inchworm sticking his rear end up in the air and then pushing forward. It's a pretty funny sight. Ian is very outspoken and you always know what he is thinking or wanting. He rolls all over the place and I'm sure will be a very physical kid.

We are leaving as a family for 2 weeks tomorrow. We will be spending a week in San Francisco and then another week travelling through Oregon and Washington with meetings along the way. Please be praying for God's favor as we apply for permits and licenses in California, hopefully will find a home for our new Church, and raise some money along the way.

So, now that you have made it through this book of a posting, we hope you all had an incredible Christmas season celebrating Jesus' birth with your friends and family, and will talk to you all soon!! The last video on the posting is Ella at our Children's Christmas program at church. Can you say Daddy's ADD is genetic??? Turn up your speakers and enjoy!!

Click here to download some info about what we are doing in San Francisco!

Love,
Maria