Christmas eve worship is always one of our favorite services of the year. Candlelight. Great music. Lots of kids. The church was jam-packed and the Christmas hymns were plentiful. We have been blessed to be unofficial family members of a wonderful church family here in Sun Prairie. Since we moved here they have overwhelmed us with their love and embracing. It was here we spent a fantastic Christmas eve following worship which has become our tradition over the past 4 years. We always have great food and company; it's a great way to spend the night before spending a quiet day at home with just our five on Christmas Day.
Because of a late night, our Christmas morning did not start until 8am. Go figure! Of all days for the kids to sleep in :) Once the kids were finally awake, we emptied our stockings and got to see what Santa brought. The kids all got what they were hoping for and were very excited to play with all their new toys. Santa brought Isaiah a brand new scooter with wheels that light up; he brought a brand new dollhouse for Brielle; and Collin got a new hot wheels toy for bath time. After opening our gifts from Santa and a break for breakfast and church, it was back to the tree for more presents. Yet again, we were all spoiled by grandparents and great grandmas that sent all kinds of goodies. The kids were very excited to open presents from New Jersey Grandma and Grandpa while talking to them on Skype.
We were then blessed to spend the following weekend with MN Grandma. She came out to not only celebrate Christmas and play in the snow, but also Isaiah's birthday a few days earlier (more on that to come). The kids always LOVE it when Grandma comes to play and so do Mom and Dad as we even got a free babysitter to sneak out of the house for a movie night!
Indeed, from start to finish our Christmas celebration was a great one. We need to treasure these moments when the kids are so young and gift opening is an all-day event. Christmas morning is just so much more exciting with little kids around. We tried to catch many of our memories on the camera so here are a bunch of them. There may be a lot of pictures but it's hard to narrow them down to just pick a few favorites!
 |
| Our two favorite little dudes snuggling under a blanket before a Christmas movie. |
 |
| Working on their Christmas art projects--stained glass Christmas trees. |
 |
| The final products! |
 |
| Collin got his own gingerbread house (graham crackers) to build. |
 |
| Each working on their own side of the house. |
 |
| Such precision... |
 |
| Such concentration... |
 |
| Such a mess... Collin enjoyed eating his house instead. |
 |
| Isaiah all dressed and ready for Christmas Eve church. He's such a stud! |
 |
| Our sweet little princess eager to pose and ready for church. |
 |
| This kid is such a cutie; and such a ham for the camera! |
 |
| Never an easy thing trying to get all three kids looking and smiling at the same time. |
 |
| Christmas morning, surrounded by presents and in their new Christmas jammies! |
 |
| Brielle got some new princess nail polish for Christmas and was very eager to put it on! |
 |
| You can only tell a little bit, but she's all done painting her nails (and toes). |
 |
| Collin got a new broom for Christmas and he has been sweeping ever since. |
 |
| Reading his new book from Great Grandma in New Jersey. |
 |
| Daddy and his little girl. |
 |
| Mommy and her little peanut. |
 |
| Isaiah playing with his new Hess truck and tractor from New Jersey. |
 |
| A few quick stories and then bedtime after a long Christmas day. |
 |
| Collin got a bubble bouncer from MN Grandma... |
 |
| ... and he LOVES it! |
 |
| Isaiah hit the Fisher Price Imaginext jackpot this year. He got the rescue city center and a bunch of other cards to go with it. |
SNOW FUN!
 |
| Isaiah working hard on building a snowman. |
 |
| Although Grandma worked the hardest! |
 |
| Love this picture of Collin. If only we knew what he was thinking! |
 |
| Our family of snowmen! |
Hoping you and your family all had a wonderful Christmas. In the end though, we remember that Christmas is not accomplished in gifts given, cards sent, relatives entertained, or in-laws surivived. Christmas is accomplished only in what God has done for us and the gift of a Savior born 2000 years ago. "At just the right time, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-5
No comments:
Post a Comment