The count it all Js: 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Trimming the tree

This year's Christmas decorations were much more low key than previous years. Usually we start decorating the day after Thanksgiving, but because we left for Disney that weekend, we didn't get to it until mid-December. Vivi was also not a big fan of the clutter of decorations, so we went for a minimalist lok this year.

I let the kids hang all the ornaments this year, and as expected, we had a very beautiful bottom 1/4 of the tree :)

Monday, December 30, 2013

Disney World Photopass pictures

There are photographers stationed around the parks to take pictures, and then you can buy them from their website. It was great for character pictures where they rush you in and out, and for nice family pictures. Here are a few of our favorites:

Disney World, our last day

Last Disney bus ride!

Ready to go!

How we keep busy in long airport lines

Journey has a box of crayons that are all shades of purple-it is her obsession!

Disney World Day 6

At the Dumbo play place, they gave you a buzzer and when it buzzed, it was your turn to ride the Dumbo ride. Journey was in love with it because she thought it was a phone. She would wander around talking on her phone :)

In the evenings when they had the Christmas Party, they had fake snow machines and Christmas music playing. It was hard to walk down the street because so many people were stopping to take pictures and videos and just stare at the snow. We really take that for granted up in the north!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Magic Kingdom Day 5, continued

Journey had bought herself a pair of earrings with her money, and Vivi was feeling a little bit bad about not having pierced ears. My mom found some clip-on earrings for her, with her favorite princess on it!

We were able to be at Disney on my dad's birthday, so my mom got him a Mickey shaped rice krispy treat to share

The Dumbo play place became Vivi's safe place-a fairly quiet, not too crowded place. We waited out the noise of the fireworks in there on a couple of the days.

Bapa sitting in Gaston's chair with two of his biggest fans :)

Magic Kingdom Day 5

The barnstormer!

The Count it all J's

We are the Js (plus an E), a multicultural Christian homeschooling family who count it all joy daily and enjoy living life and helping others.

Eric is the breadwinner. He 'does something with computers', does all the handy projects around the house, and is a really great dad. His job allows him to work from home, which has been great! He's able to come up for lunch with us, and sometimes does lessons and experiments with us during the day.

Jasmine is the bread maker. Stay at home mom, laundry/chef/chauffeur extraordinaire. Taking life one day at a time!

Jebriel (6) came home from Ethiopia in January 2012. He is bright, loves learning how things work, and is a great big brother. He is always looking for ways to help people. When he grows up, he wants to be a pastor/missionary/chef/doctor and adopt lots of kids who need families.

Jenavieve (5) was adopted domestically at birth, we got to meet her in the hospital just after she was born and was our first child. She is unofficially on the autism spectrum with lots of sensory issues, she keeps us on our toes.

Journey (4) home from Ethiopia in 2011. Always dancing, and gives the best hugs! After 4 hand surgeries, and getting glasses and hearing aids in 2012, she made huge strides and is developmentally on track in most areas.

Jubilee (2) home from Hong Kong in March 2014. You won't get to see her face until we finalize her adoption in September, but she is adorable, very smart, and has a sense of humor. She has Apert Syndrome, but it doesn't have her!