Merry Christmas!!

"Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

Luke 2:14

 We have been counting down to Christmas as we do advent throughout December. The girls have learned what "advent" means, and all about different aspects of the events leading up to Christ's birth. We've used Truth in the Tinsel as our guide. The girls love singing Christmas songs at bedtime, too. We've also taken some time to pray for the people that send us Christmas cards. The cards are taped up all around the doorways of our house. It's important to us that our kids don't get caught up with being greedy and the "my" mentality that materialistic Christmas can bring. We have to fight against that, since our hearts are naturally sinful, so we try to encourage our family to look to ways to glorify God and focus on others during this season. The girls have written notes, baked cookies, bought gifts, and looked for ways to serve others.

 Christmas Day we stayed home just the 5 of us. It was a quiet day (in a matter of speaking, not really quiet with these girls :). We were so thankful for the sweet family time!

 Stockings are always a hit! Even toothpaste becomes exciting!

 Or shampoo!

 Geneva was stoked about her light up wand and toddler snacks.

 We've made monkey bread, scrambled eggs, and fruit our breakfast tradition. Jesse kindly smiles as I take pictures! I want to capture the moments and share them with family that aren't here!! I also want to be able to remember what we did, since I forget so easily!!

 Here they are reading and acting out Jesus becoming a man (the Incarnation) with our nativity set.

 Savannah and Maddie picked out gifts for each other this year. They were pretty happy with what the other found for them! These were the first gifts opened. Then they stopped and played together for about an hour before we opened another gift!!

 Aunt Melissa's wrapping amazes me!

 Geneva was so thrilled to get shoes! She had to have them on right away!

 Oh yeah.

 Maddie made a special card, wrapping paper, and gift at school for Jesse and me.

 This puzzle is fun! Thanks Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Kenny!

 Frozen story time- thanks GiGi and Grandpa!

Yeah- I'm ready to roll. Aunt Dottie, you pick out the best outfits!!

 

Bike ride at Green Springs! Thanks Mimi and Papa for the helmet.

Jesse is playing with his new toy- binoculars especially for birding! Yep, he now knows a lot about birds. Kinda a cool hobby.

 Sorry! Family game time. Pretty intense.

 Ah, yes...Jesse scored this HUGE pink bear at a white elephant gift exchange. Thank you very much.

The girls do love it.

  And for dessert (in our new PJ"s- thanks GiGi and Grandpa) we made Peppermint Chip Shakes!

Thanks to our family for all the generous gifts! We love you and miss you.