snow fun :)

paigey


brielle



addison

snow day :)

what kind of bird is this?

such a cute little birdie :)

countdown to christmas dec 21

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21In another part of the world, far away from baby Jesus, men studied the stars. One night, these wise men saw a new star, it was brighter. The wise men knew the star meant that a new king had been born, Jesus. They followed the star to go and see Jesus. They traveled many days, camped at night. Make a tent by spreading blankets over chairs. Read a Christmas book in your tent.Dear God,The Christmas starthat shined so brightand guided wise menthrough the nightreminds me ofthe lights I seethat sparkle onmy Christmas tree.Amen.

will update with picture later....

countdown to christmas dec 20

Sunday, December 20Are cookies baking at your house? Or have you made a gingerbread house? Many people bake sweets at Christmas time. I baked rolls and runzas for when you come to our house for Christmas. What have you made?HAPPY ADOPTION DAY BAUCOM GIRLS! KIM AND JOHN YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL FAMILY.

we r making a gingerbread tree....will update picture later....

countdown to christmas dec 19

Saturday, December 19The first Christmas only happened once but every year, people act out the story. They may have a pageant, parade or the program at church. You might have a manger or nativity set at your house that reminds you of the first Christmas.
Many families read aloud the Bible story in Luke 2:1-20Using your own words tell the story of the first Christmas. Read it to someone.

will update the video later.....

countdown to christmas dec 18

Friday, December 18 The shepherds were excited to see baby Jesus. They told everyone that had seen him. And told about him. Some kids hang something on the tree from when they were a baby or younger to remind us that Jesus was a baby just like we were. Can you find something to hang on your tree?Paige, Brielle, Addison, I know you might not have baby shoes, pics but put something on your tree from when you were adopted. That day is right around the corner, the 20th right? McKenna and Brookie I know you can find something.

the girls each got an ornament from megan on the night they were adopted and we cherish them!!!! this is brielle with one of them....

countdown to christmas dec 17

TODAY THE MESSAGE IS ABOUT THE SHEPHERDS AND HOW THEY CAME A LONG WAY TO SEE BABY JESUS. THEY DIDN'T BRING GIFTS, JUST THEMSELVES. SO, AT CHRISTMAS WE CAN GIVE THE GIFT OF OURSELVES, TOO. WRITE DOWN ON A GIFT TAG A PROMISE YOU WILL KEEP BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU JESUS. AMEN. LOVE YOU, GRANDMA AND GRANDPA

countdown to christmas dec 16

BIRDSLEY GRAND GIRLS!Just a little quiz: Did you put your candy canes on the tree? What letter did you see when you turned the candy cane upside down?On the hills outside Bethlehem, shepherds listened to their sheep softly saying, "Baa, baa." Everything else was quiet. Everything was dark. Suddenly the shepherds saw a bright light above them. ( kind of like the star in The Princess and the Frog)An angel came down from heaven. The shepherds came down from heaven. The shepherds were scared. But the angel said, "Don't be afraid. I have good news. Jesus is born." Soon the sky was filled with angels who praised

God.Turn off all the lights. Then turn on a flashlight while you repeat the message of the angel.DEAR GOD, I KNOW JESUS WAS BORN AT CHRISTMAS. THAT MAKES ME FEEL________________________________________. AMEN.LOVE YOU, GRANDMA AND GRANDPA

****we used addi's birthday cake picture...b/c we kept trying to take the flashlight picture and the flash would light up......

countdonw to christmas dec 15

j for jesus


paigey made a heart



brielle made antlers .....

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 15

Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus slept in the stable. But shepherds slept on the hills outside of Bethlehem. They kept their sheep safe from wild animals and robbers. The shepherds carried long sticks with a curved top, called staffs. They hooked the staffs over their arms. Some people hang candy canes on Christmas trees. A candy cane is the same shape as a shepherd's staff. A candy cane reminds us of the shepherds outside Bethlehem. Can you turn a candy cane upside down to make the letter J for Jesus?
Dear God, Thank you for tasty holiday treats, like candy canes, which remind me of the Christmas story. Amen.

Have fun making your treats for the teachers. Love, Grandma and Grandpa

countdown to christmas dec 14

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 14
This is the day that you can get a baby doll and pretend it is Baby Jesus; take care of it and then sing a lullaby that you know.

Dear God, Thank you for giving baby Jesus people who took care of him. Thank you for people who cared for me when I was a baby. Amen.

countdown to christmas dec 13

will update soon.....

countdown to christmas dec 12

will get soon.....

countdown to christmas dec 11

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 11

AFTER THE LONG TRIP, MARY AND JOSEPH FINALLY ARRIVED IN BETHLEHEM. THE TOWN WAS CROWED, BUT THEY NEEDED A PLACE TO SLEEP. JOSEPH KNOCKED ON THE FIRST HOTEL DOOR, "DO YOU HAVE ROOM?" THE MAN SAID, "NO ROOM." JOSEPH KNOCKED ON THE NEXT HOTEL DOOR, "DO YOU HAVE ROOM?" THE MAN SAID,"NO ROOM." JOSEPH KNOCKED ON THE NEXT HOTEL DOOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MAN SAID?

ACT OUT THE STORY. ASK SOMEONE TO STAND IN A ROOM. CLOSE THE DOOR. KNOCK ON THE DOOR. ASK FOR A ROOM. WHAT WILL THE PERSON SAY?

DEAR GOD,
WHEN I HEARD HOW MARY AND JOSEPH COULDN'T FIND A NICE PLACE TO SLEEP. I FELT___________________________________________________________. EVEN TOUGH THEY DIDN'T HAVE A WARM BED AND A FLUFFY PILLOW. I KNOW YOU TOOK CARE OF THEM. AMEN.

LOVE YOU ALL, GRANDMA AND GRANDPA

addison's 8th birthday....

countdown to christmas dec 10

Good Morning! I wonder what day it is today? I know it is December 10; Oh, I just remembered, it's Addi's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADDI GIRL! I hope you enjoy your day. Stay warm.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 10
MARY WAS GETTING READY TO HAVE HER BABY SOON. BUT FIRST MARY AND JOSEPH HAD TO TAKE A LONG TRIP. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CAR, COULDN'T RIDE A BUS OR FLY, SO JOSEPH WALKED AND WALKED AND WALKED. MARY RODE ON A DONKEY; BUMPETY, BUMPETY, BUMPETY. IT WAS A VERY LONG TRIP TO THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM.

DID YOU USE YOUR FINGERS TO TRACE A DONKEY TRIP ON SOMEONE'S BACK? HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU "HEE-HAW!"

countdown to christmas dec 9

BELLS MAKE A HAPPY SOUND. WHEN THE DOORBELL RINGS, A PACKAGE HAS ARRIVED. WHEN THE TIMER RINGS, THE COOKIES ARE BAKED. WHEN THE PHONE RINGS, SOMEONE WANTS TO TALK WITH YOU. CHURCH BELLS REMIND US THAT CHRISTMAS IS COMING. LISTEN CAREFULLY: WHEN WILL YOU HEAR A BELL RING TODAY?

Tie jingle bells onto your shoes. As you walk around, the jingling will remind you that Christmas is Coming!

DEAR GOD,
THANK YOU, GOD, FOR
HAPPY SOUNDS, LIKE BELLS
THAT RING AND CHILDREN WHO
____________________________.
AMEN

countdown to christmas dec 8

THIS IS AN EASY ONE FOR ALL!MARY WAITED FOR HER BABY TO BE BORN. SHE WAITED AND WAITED AND WAITED BUT SHE WAS PATIENT! SHE COUNTED THE MONTHS: ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE. MARY WAITED NINE MONTHS TO HAVE A BABY.YOU ARE COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS. ARE YOU PATIENT BECAUSE YOU KNOW CHRISTMAS WILL COME?

DEAR GOD,SOMETIMES I WISH THATCHRISTMAS WOULD COMERIGHT NOW. PLEASE HELPME TO BE PATIENT.AMEN.LOVE YOU, GRANDMA AND GRANDPA

addison prayed.... that she asked god to help her be patient "when simba doesn't always listen" LOL
brielle prayed .....she could be patient her sisters
paigey prayed.....that she could be patient with her friends

countdown to christmas dec 7

TO: PAIGE, BRIELLE, ADDISON, MCKENNA, BROOKLYNMARY WAS EXCITED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE A BABY. THERE WOULD BENO ONE LIKE HER BABY IN THE WHOLE WORLD! THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU IN THE WHOLE WORLD, EITHER. GOD KNOWS THE COLOR OF YOUR EYES. GODKNOWS THE COLOR OF YOUR HAIR. GOD EVEN KNOWS HOW MUCH HAIR IS ON YOUR HEAD! GOD CREATED YOU AS HIS OWN SPECIAL CHILD.Handprint gift wrap on white shelf paper or brown paper. Pour red or green fingerpaint into a pie pan. With fingers spread apart, push your hand into the paint before pressing firmly on the paper. Repeat. You can draw around your hand with a marker instead.Dear GOD,When I look in the mirror, I see__________________. Thank you forgivingme hair to brush, a nose tosmell and _______________________.Amen.Love you all, Grandma and Grandpa

countdown to christmas dec 6

signing "i love you"


God


Christmas is called the season of love,
so we like to be near people we love.
Can you see someone right now
whom you love?
Without sayinga single word,
show that person "I love you."

Dear God,
I can't give you a hug to show I love you. I can't give you a kiss to show I love you. But I can say, "I love you, God." Thank you for loving me, too. Amen.
Enjoy your Sunday. Love, Grandma and Grandpa

countdown to christmas.....day 4

jingle bells....merry christmas dec 09'

paigey..addison (w/simba)....brielle

**these r not planned outfits....that is my dress from the 70's

i think.....addi has on a spring dress....yeah for paigey....she got the

season right :) ****

countdown to christmas....day 5

**ignore the bare tree.....we need to put ornaments on tonight**
on today....i'll paste gma & gpa b's email.....
Paige, Brielle and Addison,
We'll try the email for the next Countdown to Christmas days. Sat. is Dec. 5. Long ago, people trimmed off extra branches from their Christmas tree. Instead of throwing away the leftover branches, they wove them into wreaths. People sometimes added ribbons to make the wreaths even prettier. Then they hung the decorated wreaths on the front door. What hangs on your front door? Where have you seen a wreath? If you want to make one, go to where they sell trees and ask for some of the trimmings and make one. If not, Make a circle like a wreath with your arems. Where isthe end of your circle? That was a silly question, because a circle doesn't have an end! A circle is like God's love for us. It never ends.
Dear God, I am glad you love me. I know you love me because____________________________________________________________________________________. Amen.
Love you all, Grandma and Grandpa

countdown to christmas....day 4

jingle bells.....dancing and singing.....
mom has to figure out how to add the video...it
doesn't want to work :)

countdown to christmas.....day 3

making ornaments......in the "older" days they

used to use pine cones a lot, so we found one and

decorated it....also, a common way to make ornaments

is to make a "cookie ornament"

countdown to christmas.....day 2

making an angel.....and give to someone you

love....we mailed a few and then gave some too....

countdown to christmas.....day 1

gma & gpa b call the girls each night with a step in the

countdown to christmas.....

the girls.....

paigey, brielle, kenna, brooky, addison <3

fun with kenna & brooklyn :)

kenna and her cookies....


brook and her cookies.....



decorating cookies........





eating some lunch :)





kenna and brielle having a pet shop mania.....

thanksgiving playtime .... in the aka "messy room"

washington dc nov 09' *old town alexandria*

this church/pew are now a historic landmark


george washington's church....along with many others


the girls siting in his pew.....franklin roosevelt sat
in this pew before :)


the outside of christ church
**
Designed by James Wren in the colonial Georgian style and built during the period between 1767 and 1773, Christ Church was the first Episcopal Church in Alexandria. Many prominent figures have worshipped regularly at Christ Church including George Washington, Robert E. Lee, George Mason and many U.S. presidents. Traditionally, the President of the United States visits Christ Church at some point during his administration, often near the anniversary of George Washington's birthday.

washington dc nov 09 *mount vernon*

the girls with "george" and the animals...of course


the land



more animals....

washington dc nov 09' *mount vernon*

george washington's tomb....along with martha


the original tomb of george washington...before they
moved it



the view on the walk to george washington's tomb

while touring the mansion we saw their bedroom where he died in 1799, after a two-day illness. it is believed that he died of epiglottitis. it didn’t help that his doctors also bled five pints of blood out of him(i read this somewhere). antibiotic would probably have saved Washington, but antibiotics had not been invented. an emergency tracheotomy would have made all the difference, but it was not a normal procedure at that time. washington could hardly speak as he was dying. martha was there as were three doctors and others. one doctor was james craik, who had been with wthrough the french & indian war and the terrible battle of monongahela, as well as the revolutionary war. washington’s last words are reported by his personal secretary, tobias lear, as follows:
”at about 10 o'clock, he (washington) made several attempts to speak to me; at length he said, "i am just going. have me decently buried, and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after i am dead." i bowed assent, for I could not speak. he then looked at me again, and said, "do you understand me?" i replied, "yes.""tis well," he said.another interesting part of the visit was Washington’s Tomb. he designed a new family tomb because the original family tomb nearer to the potomac was disintegrating. the new tomb was built to his specifications after his death. above the tomb on the outside is a block of engraved granite that reads, “within this sarcophagus rest the remains of genl. george washington." looking into the tomb you see the marble sarcophagus where washington rests. next to it is martha’s sarcophagus. out of sight, behind a small door are the bodies of 25 more family members. the tomb is simple, sparse, and unremarkable except for an engraved slab of marble inset into the back wall. as per washington’s plans, it is the only thing in the tomb that has any words on it and reads as follows:
John XI:VVVI Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die yet he shall live.

washington dc nov 09' *mount vernon*

stockyard


horse stables



coaches




this is how he traveled....