Christmas 2011

{Christmas morning}

{Christmas with the Family}

{Minute to Win it}

The True Meaning of Christmas

Abigail's letter to Santa:

Do you believe in Jesus?

If you don't let me tell you!

His birthday is Christmas.

The three wise men saw an angel.  The angel said to follow the north star and you will find a baby in cloths in a manger.

Then later the wise men found Jesus.  The wise men gave him a present so he got 3 presents.

Jesus grew up and some people didn't like him.  People hurt him.  People put him on the cross.  People put him in a cave.  

His mother was so sad.

Three days later it was Easter he rose from the dead.  We celebrate Easter for Jesus rose from the dead. 

He is the best gift of all.

I believe!

To: Santa

From: Abigail

Singing for Jesus

The girls were part of the Children's Christmas Program at church again this year.

It is one of my favorite Sundays of the year.

I love listening to all the kids sing praise and worship to our King.

Abigail had a speaking part she memorized Matt 1:20-21

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Merry Christmas!

Arose Such a Clatter

Each year the girls go and buy a little gift for Jake.

Abigail got him a new tug of war rope.

Ash bought him a raw hide bone.

We came home, wrapped them, and placed them under the tree.

Now our outdoor dog has moved inside (which I knew would happen) and sleeps on his bed downstairs every night.  I'm not sure when the last time was he slept outside, spoiled?  Yes!  Anyways, the other night I woke to a strange sound.  It was coming from downstairs.  I turned on the light, walked down the stairs and caught Jake red handed.

On his bed with him were tiny little pieces of wrapping paper and a bone with just the ribbon left around it.  Can you believe that he had sniffed out his Christmas present from under the tree.  All I had to say was Jake and he knew he'd been busted and that he was in trouble.  But really how could I be mad at him.  I just love that dog.  

So it's always been the girls I've worried about each Christmas, hoping they don't figure out their Christmas gifts but I guess we need to start disguising Jake's presents a little bit better too.

Handmade Christmas

You know what I love?  All the things the girls are making for Christmas.

Every time I walk by one I can't help but smile.

1. Ash's colored Christmas frog and and herself made out of cardboard 2. Abigail made the elf and Ash made the Santa 3. Right after Thanksgiving Abigail made her own countdown chain, she wrote love on every link

1. Ash's gingerbread house (she was sick the last day of school and missed her Christmas party but her sweet kindergarten teacher sent everything home so she could still make one) 2. Ash's cute pine cone grass 3. Ash has made and wrapped presents for us all and put them under the tree.

This is Abigail's present she made for us at school.  I already love the bag so I know I'll love what's inside!

It sure is sweet to have so many handmade things around.  I'm so glad I took a picture of them all.  It really is the little things that bring me so much joy.

Thanks girls for all the love that you add to our home.  

Star of the Show

 Thursday was Ash's Christmas program, Melton the Warm Hearted Snowman.

She had been singing her songs around the house for weeks.  

I was very proud of her performance.

When it was time for the Kindergarteners to stand and sing, Ash put on a smile, did all the hand motions and sang with all her heart.

She may not have been Melton, but to me she was the star of the show!

 

Of course we needed a picture of Ash and Ryan together. 

And thanks Melissa for snapping a picture of me and my star.

mini ice skating rink

A Weekend to Remember

We had a very full weekend.

Friday night we went down to the Meridian Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and listened to Sissy sing.

Saturday we took the girls to see Santa at their school and walked through the bazaar.

Next stop was to Rustic Gardens where we picked out a beautiful Christmas tree.

I made 2 batches of sweet party chex mix, while chatting with Melissa. (Thanks for hanging out with me!)

The girls and I decorated the house for Christmas, finally.

We also walked around the loop looking at the neighbors' Christmas lights while wearing some cool 3D glasses that make the lights look like Santa or Snowman.  The girls loved it!

Then we all fell asleep downstairs, snuggled in our blankets, while watching, Invasion of the Christmas Lights on TLC.

Sunday we went to church.

That afternoon we went and saw the Muppets.  I loved watching them as a kid. 

Once we got home it was time to decorate the tree.  The girls loved going through their ornaments.

It was a great way to end a great weekend.