Christmas Children's program

Here are the boys at the Christmas program at church!

Pretty funny...they weren't really singing very much, but

we were still proud of them! :) Enjoy!

Christmas '09

This year we celebrated Christmas with my family early in the month and then at home on Christmas Eve and then w/ Rob's family on Christmas day at their new home in the "country"!
Here are a few pics we took during each chaotic gift time....sorry, we aren't very good photographers!

CHRISTMAS AT NANA & POP's

Asher opening Pop's gift to him...his first glove and ball!

Joel closely inspecting his new Toy Story figures.

Asher not sure what to think.

"What is that beautiful thing?"

Sam and the ever-popular Playmobil knight set! Yay!

And yet another playmobil set...a nativity!

Sam is really checking it out.

Opening their special gift from Nana and Pop...

a recorded reading of The Night Before Christmas

by Nana and Pop! Joel absolutely loved it

and had to be limited to two listenings a day,

one in the a.m. and one in the p.m.!

CHRISTMAS AT OUR HOME!

Joel opeing his gift from Sam.

Sam opening his gift from Joel.

Hug of thanks! Ah, brothers and friends!

Asher with his stick horse Sam got him.

Asher sportin' his new boots! And they light up!

Daddy and his new book...yes, he's wearing a hat in the house.

CHRISTMAS AT G & G's

Awaiting permission to open what Santa brought as

Sam points out the remains of Santa's cookies!

Joel smiling as he inspects his train from Santa!

Sam and his NERF gun from Santa!

And Asher just being adorable!

End of 2008...

Okay, finally....the end of 2008 was a whirlwind of activity for the Tombrella family! We celebrated Sam's 4th birthay, Rob and I had our 9th anniversary, our first Christmas at home as a family, and then our annual Christmas trip down to Houston and Santa Fe to celebrate with our extended families! The boys had a blast and totally got into the every aspect of Christmas! They loved doing the advent calendar each day with us and adding the next character to the nativity scene, they loved watching "The Very First Noel" and "Polar Express" time and time again, reading all our Christmas books, and making our annual gingerbread house! This year we went ahead and added in a touch of Santa and even left him a special double stuffed cookie with a glass of milk! The boys thought it was great and were so impressed and amazed when the cookie was gone the next day and note had been left telling them thanks! Most of all, it was just extremely special for Rob and I to enjoy Christmas Eve worshipping with our beloved church family and then beginning a new tradition of Rob reading each one of us a letter that highlighted what the Lord had done during the year and anticipated all that He will do in each of our lives in the coming one! What a special memory that night was for us! And after the boys were put to bed and the toys were assembled and ready for the morning, Rob and I sat on the couch together and I pondered afresh the kindness and goodness of the Lord in our children...just four and half years ago we were dreaming of such Christmases and wondering if we would ever celebrate with even one child in our family...now we have three amazing boys and a plethera (is that how you spell it?) of memories of how they have blessed our lives! All glory to God for the miracle and blessing of children!

And now, please enjoy a few pics from our Christmas! I am not very good at remembering to have the camera handy, so my pickin's were slim, but enjoy just the same. (And to my sister Alicia, I am so embarrassed and sad that I hardly have any pictures of you with Asher...please forgive me! I hope you got more than I did in our time together...I love you!)

Reading before bed...so fun!

Sam's b-day cake...not as good as if my mom had
been there to help me!

Me and my big boys!

Opening up another "for both" gifts...they got a lot of those!

Our finished gingerbread house...an edible masterpiece!

My parents and all their grandkids!

Rob's parents and almost all their grandkids...

Cate and the new nephew (due in June) were missing!

Future kicker for the Cowboys!

And the future Cowboys QT!

My Meme and I with sweet Asher!

Christmas '07 - Part 3

Well, the last and final installment of the "Christmas '07" Saga! Promise!

Our first and then also last stop on our trip back to TX was at my parents' home! What a joy to see them at the airport as soon as we arrived and then get to spend quality time together with them! We were able to take a morning and go visit my two grandmothers at their homes one day and spend some time with my sister and her family!

One New Year's Eve we all met at Fuzzy's Pizza (my all-time favorite pizza joint!) to enjoy good food and fun before we headed back to MD the following day. And that, sadly will be the last time we get to see my sister's family until probably next Christmas...they are relocating to Portland, OR at the end of the month! We will miss you all DEARLY, but trust that the Lord is more than able to guide, direct, and protect you in OR, just as he has in TX! We love you!

Here are a few pics of our days in Houston...enjoy!

Cousins engrossed in a movie together!

All the grandkids with Nana-MeMe (long story!) and Pop!

Oh the joy of a long awaited Buz Lightyear from a 2-year old

little boy!

Cousins playing in the "castle" at the

local mall! Sure wish something like

this was near us! The kids think it is so fun!

Sam and Rebekah "playing" the pilot

game at Fuzzy's!

Alicia and Stephen with Rob and I before we said

or last "goodbye". :(

This is how we discovered the boys one

night when I went in to cover them up! Joel became

the pack-n-play escape artist while on our trip and would

climb out whenever he pleased. Thankfully, he has not yet

attempted it with his crib!

Christmas '07 - Part 2

We were blessed to be able to go to TX to spend Christmas with our families after being away for about 4 months! What a treat it was and we all had so much fun...especially the boys! The plane ride for them was their first and they thought it was very exciting!

We spent about a week with Rob's family and celebrated Samuel's birthday while we were there! It was such a joy to have an extended visit and get to see Rob's brother and sister and their families! We loved seeing you all and look forward to our return in June! Thanks for a memorable visit and Christmas!

Sam was a pro at blowing out his candles this year!

And what a cake!

Our little "Pigpen" after enjoying some
of Sam's cake with black icing!

Sam got a Batman sword from Uncle Joey & Aunt Shelby...

it was a huge hit! Thanks guys...he loves it still!

The cousins playing and having a blast! So cute!

Joel being sweet with his Aunt Shelby!

Looking at the HUGE grouper fish we saw

at the "Sea Center" not far from Joey & Michelle's home.

We spent the day with them on Sam's official b-day...so much fun!

Abby and Sam riding the school bus shuttle to

go see the Christmas lights! Oh what a big boy and

girl they have become!

Joel's new tricycle his Grandma & Grandma

gave him! He thought it was great!

Sam's big boy Spiderman bike! What a

hit that was!

And the boys with their Grandma, getting

in one last snuggle time before we had to head out.

We love and miss you Grandma (and Grandpa)!!!

Tombrella Christmas Part 1

Our Christmas started the night before we headed to TX...a care package from our beloved church back home sent a huge box full of gifts for the boys! What a blessing! And as you can see from the pictures, they loved it!

Sitting on the box before we opened it!...And both actually smiling!

Who needs presents when you've got packing peanuts?!

The first of many presents that emerged from the box!

A Spiderman tin lunchbox...for the boys or Daddy?

Spiderman Potato-Heads...sorry Daddy, there was only 2!

Oh, but Daddy got to open his gift Sam picked for him...

a Star Wars light sabor! So fun!

Christmas Crafts!

Last week, because it was a cold and snowy week, I tried to fill our days with some Christmas cheer! The boys and I did a variety of crafts together from coloring and decorating some paper trees and stockings, to a gingerbread house, and a few others in between! It was the first time I've every really tried crafts with the boys and it was a lot of fun! Sam was definitely more into it, but Joel at least liked eating the edible ones! :) Hope you enjoy the pics of our activities!

You can see what I mean in this picture about Joel not

really being into it.

Our finished house! Yes, it was a kit...I am

no Martha Stewart!

Sam intently working on his marshmallow snowman.

Joel's finished snowman (minus the arms).

Our Christmas cookies....thanks to Pillsbury's pre-cut

Christmas tree cookies! I rolled out the extra dough and

cut circles to make ornament cookies. The boys really

loved it but thought they could eat EVERY one they decorated.