Glad Tidings

Merry Christmas from the Kaetzel Family!

Christmas Creations

A Johnson Family tradition...cookie decorating! We were happy to include our dear friends, Brian & Amber, this year.

We said don't lick your fingers, kiddos!

Sofie shows one of her masterpieces:

Look at all those scrumptious cookies:

Max and Daddy decorated a gingerbread house for the first time this year:

Looking good, Max!

The finished product looks great!

Jack and His Brothers

Three brothers together...what a lovely sight!

...and he meets a whole bunch of other people too!

My, how loved you are, little Jack!

Paul:

Charity:

Tom:

Sofie & Melia:

Rebecca:

The Pack Family:

Tera:

Yugo & Demelza:

Zak:

Joy:

Teresa:

Amber:

Uncle Jeremy:

Auntie Amy:

The Malm Family:

Annie:

Brian:

Jack Meets His Grandparents

Hi Papa:

Hello there, Ama:

Nice to meet you, Mom-Mom:

Greetings, Grandad:

Here Comes Jack!

A week ago today, my birthday, we welcomed Jack Edwin Kaetzel into our family. I've got loads of photos to follow, but here's the first few:

Mark getting all geared up to go into the OR:

The long walk to the OR. I was a huge mix of emotions at this point:

There's our boy! 7lbs. 6oz.

A happy, relieved Mom holds Jack for the first time:

Heart and Soul

"Mama?"
"Yeah Sweetie?"
"Before I was born, was I nowhere?"
"What do you mean, Buddy?"
"Before a baby is born, where do they live? Are they nowhere?"
"Hmm...well, I guess I would say that before you were born, God already knew you and He put you in Mommy and Daddy's hearts as little bits of love."
"But how can one body live in two hearts?"
"Well, you didn't have a body yet, just a soul and before that soul was ready to be born, God let you live inside our hearts. Even before we knew who you were we loved you so very much. Where do you think Baby Jack was before he was in my belly?"
"Hmm...yeah...I think you're right. He was in our hearts."

Ho Ho Ho

For some reason in my crazy pregnant mind, I had to make some garland this week. I have a list of things to do a mile long, but this is what I obsessed over. So for three days while Gus napped I cut, stitched and glued...and here's the result. It turned out pretty cute although I'm not thrilled with where I've put it. Looks a bit funny on that wall, but oh well.