Christmas Time!

This is truly my favorite time of the year....cooler weather, hot chocolate, sparkly lights, red/green and glitter, Christmas carols, shopping for the perfect gift, receiving Christmas cards in the mail, my children's face on Christmas morning, and celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It's just such an exciting, magical time!!

We have already been quite busy the last few weeks:

We started the day after Thanksgiving decorating for Christmas.  We were so thankful to have Mrs. Sue come over to help us again this year.  What we got done in one day, would have taken me a week by myself!!  Eva was all about helping! 

One of the tasks we gave Eva was to put together a table centerpiece by adding the ornaments to the vase.  She did this last year and I just have to include a picture of her then and one now. 

 

I think it's just amazing to look at the difference.  Not just physically, but there's such a bright light in her eyes and a big smile on her face that just wasn't always there.  Everyday I am just in awe of our beautiful little girl!

Another of my favorite things about Christmas are the ornaments!  Each of our ornaments hold a memory, they are kind of like a scrapbook of our lives, and every year the boys and I take our time reflecting on each of them as we hang them on the tree.  We are now adding these collectibles for Eva.  This year her very special new ornament was that of Minnie Mouse.  She LOVES Minnie Mouse and even dressed as her for Halloween this year.  Eva was so excited to add Minnie to the tree!

 

Eva and I enjoyed spending the day with Maw-Maw Carolyn and doing some Christmas shopping!

Last weekend, Noah had the lead, male, role in our church's Children's Choir performance and let me just say..."He ROCKED"!!  He played the part of Brody, a jock who was all about himself and what he was getting for Christmas.  At the end of the play, Brody learns the true meaning of Christmas and when he delivered the Christmas message, I just have to say that I had tears in my eyes!  He was that good!! 

 

Last night, we went out to look at Christmas lights, and our first stop was to a local church to view their live nativity.  The first thing Eva noticed were the angels on top of baby Jesus "house".  It was a simple and beautiful presentation.

 

 

 

Even though we don't put alot of emphasis on Santa at our house, I still don't feel like Christmas would be complete without a visit to "Ho Ho".  Last year, it probably took about 6 months before you could mention Santa around Eva without her saying "Ho Ho, I cried"!  This year she made a little progress, no tears and she even looked him in the eye and spoke!  She asked for "pink eggos (legos), babies and a stroller"!!



Remembering that she sat on Noah's lap last year (have I ever mentioned that she doesn't forget anything?!), this year she wanted to sit on Nicholas's lap to take the picture.  Maybe next year she'll sit on Santa's??

Ended our visit with a train ride through the mall and a cookie.

This week will be the boys last week of school before the Christmas holiday.  We are all looking so forward to hosting Christmas at our home this year and spending time with family and friends!!

From our house to yours.... 

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

A BLESSED NEW YEAR!!