Christmas Day

It is really hard for me to believe that this is already our third Christmas with children. But, I won't allow myself to do too much reminiscing here. Instead, after a quick look back at Christmases past, I'll make haste with photos from this Christmas.

Here is Eve on Christmas Day 2007

Here is Jonah on Christmas Day 2007

Here is Cate on Christmas Day 2007

Here Eve, Jonah, and Cate are in Grandad's chair on Christmas Day 2008

Eve, Jonah, and Cate on Christmas Day 2009 (each showing some of their own personality)

Jonah with Animal Crackers...in his teeth

Eve securing her spoils from stockings

Cate enjoying the glow of the tree

My girls

My boy

Stocking at the ready

Eve continuing her perpetual motion

Jonah glad to have something to hold

Gramma glad to have two grand-daughters to hold

Cate stunned by something

Eve enjoying her new flashlight

It's official, the flashlights are a hit

We just couldn't get a well composed shot of all three of 'em

Mommy and Jonah playing with a new Mini Magna Doodle

Cate's piggies

Eve's snowflake 'do

Cate and Eve sharing the V-Tech Alphabet Train

Just about to open presents

Here's Grandad helping Cate

Eve helping herself

Jonah unveiling his new snow boots (or, at least the box for his snow boots)

All enjoying the new Leapfrog DVD

Stockings re-hung with care

Merry Christmas - 2009 Review

Well, 2009 has come and almost gone and our lives have changed significantly in the meantime.

We have gone from a Deltona, FL mailing address to a Charleston, WV mailing address.

We have gone from "stay at home mom, bacon earning dad" scenario to "stay at home dad, bacon earning mom" scenario.

Cathy, has started working at Valley High School in Smithers, WV and Johnmark has started finishing school at West Virginia State University in Institute, WV.

Jonah and Cate have gone from sleeping in cribs to sleeping in Toddler Beds (Eve is still working on that).

Almost all of the Triplets' baby teeth have come in (Jonah is still lagging a little bit).

Cathy and I made a trip to the Orlando area for a basketball game (GO MAGIC!) and Disney World.

Over the Summer, we travelled to Florida and went to Disney World (so hot), and we went to Plymouth, MI to visit with the Greens (that trip will take a bit longer now since the Greens are moving to Morocco).

We made it to Conference in Lancaster, PA. This was the first Conference for the Triplets and the first time that Cathy and I have been since 2000.

My entire family (all 21 of us) descended on North Myrtle Beach, SC for the Thanksgiving holiday.

We will be spending Christmas in Belpre, OH with the entire Rogers family (all 14 of us).

Who knows what we'll be doing for New Years (probably sleeping).

It has been a good year.

I remember hearing from many parents, before I joined their ranks, about how fast the years go by when your kids are little. Well, it is true; our kids are little and this year has gone by fast.

Cate, Eve, and Jonah have grown so much in the last year. Their personalities have become fuller and more obviously distinct one from the other.

Despite the challenges and frustrations of each day, I am still reminded each day just how blessed our family has been and continues to be.

Thank you to everyone out there who keeps us in their prayers.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

- Johnmark, Cathy, Cate, Eve, Jonah, and Winston -

Thanksgiving in Myrtle Beach

We made our way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for our 7th annual Camenga Family Thanksgiving Vacation (strangely enough, only 10 of the 21 people there have the last name Camenga). Our week consisted of a trip to a State Park, Ripley's Aquarium, a local garden/zoo, and, of course, way too much eating. It was a good week all around. Now, we just have to figure out where we'll go next year. So, on with the lengthy photo parade.

Here's Cate on the beach...

...and Eve...

...and Jonah.

Mommy and Daughters

Father and Son

Aunt Faith and Cate

Uncle Mark and Jonah

Our Babies Three standing in the rectangle or the "wecktandull"

Gramma Lin and Jonah

Eve speeding through the woods

At least we found a nice place for a family photo down that path.

Part of the Herd

Joey and Jonah spotting jellyfish

Grace and Luke

Joey blinked first

Eve sliding down the tongue of an Anglerfish

Seeing double?

Conor, Aunt Cathy (or Mommy), and Cate admiring the Sting Rays

Jonah and Mommy in a Bubble

Jonah and Daddy in the same Bubble

Shark from inside the "Shark Tunnel"

Turtle from inside the "Shark Tunnel"

Faith, Cathy, Kristin, and Andrew

Josh enjoying his new Slinky

Elisa looking at Josh's new Slinky

Caleb, Josh, Joey, and Luke surprised by their new Wii

Grandpa resting with Lady

Rick and Luke

Cate with a Cracker at Brookgreen Gardens

Eve finishing her Cracker at Brookgreen Gardens

Jonah in need of a Cracker at Brookgreen Gardens

Andrew and Elisa

A glimpse into the insanity that inhabited the Pineapple Palms Condo

All of Gramma Lin's and Grandpa's Grandkids

The Grandsons (all eight of 'em)

All the Grand-daughters (just three of 'em)

Jonah and Joey (the youngest grandsons)

Playing in the leaves at the Virginia Welcome Center on the way home