Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve finally arrived and I don't think I've seen Michael and Mary Ellen so excited!  We all were!  It was so nice to be in our new home, to have hosted a few parties and some family, and been able to enjoy the fullness of the holiday.  Papa and Mama Jo were in town and so we all enjoyed watching "The Christmas Story" together, eating a yummy lasagna supper, and then headed out to our Christmas Eve service at church.  It was a beautiful service and I was reminded again how blessed we are to have ADBC as our church family! 

When we got home from church we got M&M into their Christmas PJ's and they were able to open their last little bag on their advent calendar.  I got this great idea for an advent calendar from a friend...yes, all my good ideas are stolen ones...to have little bags with numbers on them to count down to Christmas.  We strung it along the big window by the breakfast table so they were able to see it everyday.  I really do think it helped with their counting and number recognition too.  They loved it and I really miss it now that Christmas is over.  It provided the extra bonus of being a good bribe to finish their meals!  Then we settled down to read the Christmas story...the REAL one...before bed.  We have several Christmas books; "J is for Jesus", "The Three Miracles", " The Tale of Three Trees", and "Nighty Night Baby Jesus" are just a few of our favorites. M&M have always loved books.  But for Christmas Eve Andrew and I took turns reading from Luke.  They have now heard the story of Jesus' birth many times and I hope they really understand what Christmas means.

It was late.  But now our work was just beginning.  We got everything wrapped, stockings filled, and toys displayed just so; anticipating seeing the joy and excitement on their faces.  We were not disappointed...

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I guess I jumped ahead with the "snow" post and skipped right over Christmas.  This was a busy and hectic Christmas.  I was reminded several times about that Christmas two years ago in Bahrain when it was just us in the Middle East, no family and few friends.  I knew at the time I'd one day look back longingly at that quiet Christmas. Although busy, this year was an exciting and joyous one as well.  I was able for the first time in 3 years to really decorate for Christmas with all our own decorations, that had been in storage when we were overseas and then building our house.  It thrilled me to be able to decorate our beautiful new house just like I wanted.  But it was also exhausting!  And I admittedly went a little overboard.

I was finally able to do a tree of just my stained glass stars and crosses.  It was a beautiful crystal clear and white tree.  I wish I could have gotten a better picture of it.  This one just doesn't do it justice.

This is my favorite Nativity.  I collect them and have about 4 or 5.  M&M also have one for their room that is a miniature porcelain set.  I was quickly aware that I was having to say "don't touch" way too much and was sad that there wasn't any of our decorations that they could play with.  So we got them a little people Nativity set that was the best purchase of the season.  It was set up in their room on a shelf they could reach.  They loved it and played with it everyday!

This was our big tree in the living room.  It's a 9 foot tree and fits perfectly in that corner by the fireplace.

Michael and Mary Ellen even had a tree in their room!  Colored lights, pink and green ornaments, and all the twin ornaments they got after they were born.  They loved it!

So, yes I got carried away with decorating and yes, it was a lot of work.  But to see how much joy it brought to our family it was worth it.  M&M really understood this year that we were celebrating Jesus' Birthday and we were all very thankful to be together to share it!

Christmas Snow!

Well, OK it was actually the day after Christmas.  But what a treat for South Carolina to get snow so early!  The picture of our house above was when we woke up that morning.  That was the most that ever accumulated on the ground.  Although it snowed all day, very little stuck.  It was beautiful to watch!

Michael and Mary Ellen really were content for most of the day to just watch it snow.  They were still most excited about all their new toys and wanted to keep playing inside.  I did suggest mid-day that we go outside and play, so we bundled up and headed out.

Here they are displaying their snowballs.  They thought it was great to make and throw them.  Mary Ellen wanted to make a snowman but alas, not nearly enough snow for that.  Her favorite part was eating her snowballs...don't know where she got that from.  Michael just loved throwing them.

Beautiful snowfall all day long, just this heavy.  Lovely to watch and what a treat to have a white Christmas!