Christmas 2012



And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Luke 2:10

Christmas was glorious.

There were the sugar cookies. The stuffed Frosty. Homemade ornaments from preschool. Benny the Elf. Little People Nativity reenactments at the kitchen table. Red and green tights and sweaters. Laughter with cousins. Sweet faces from near and far on Christmas cards. Breakfast casseroles. Trips to the theatre. Excitement over the UPS truck. Lights at the Horse Park.  And the nostalgic music flowing through Pandora.

 

Must have heard "I'll Be Home for Christmas" 1,000 times and it never got old.

 

I made sure to stop and inhale the Christmas happies several times a day. Because my babies will only be four and one for this one year.

 

Even in the midst of all of the sprinkles and tacky sweaters, I really did feel the presence and peace of Christ this year. And that is the real Christmas Spirit. 

 

God is so good. And so present. And so REAL.

 

Not just Christmas, but every.single.day.

 

But for some reason I am more aware when I am surrounded by loved ones, drinking coffee laced with lots of honey and watching my kids rip ornaments off the tree:).

 

Per the usual, my kids got way too much stuff. Walker got a riding tractor, cowboy hat and guitar from us. He got a huge wood barn from Mingie & Pap and a riding digger and fireman costume from Nana & Bop. Aunt Angie & Uncle Jonny gave him a fire truck and book. Aunt Annie & Uncle Chris gave him a farm set. Aunt Amy & Uncle John gave him cold hard cash:). He also got a Toys r' Us gift card and clothes.

 

Warren got a grocery cart, wooden food and a Matilda Jane dress from me and Lee. She got a Bitty Baby starter set from Mingie & Pap. Nana & Bop gave her a white wooden kitchen and a shape sorter picnic basket. Aunt Angie & Uncle Jon gave her a wooden baby cradle and a handmade crochet blanket (so precious). Aunt Annie & Uncle Chris gave her a doll Graco baby seat and tons of stickers. Aunt Amy & Uncle John gave her $$$. She also received a gift card, clothes and a couple of Veggie Tales DVDs.

The Peach also received a scrapbook with pictures and memories from the first year of her life - a very special treasure that Mingie has created for each of her grandbabies. She is already obsessed with flipping through the pages.

Walker spent the entire week making sleighs out of anything and everything he could drag together.

This little girl has been busy ransacking Christmas décor and talking to Baby Jesus. 

The kiddos both had Christmas parties at school.

We attempted to have our picture made with Santa. And while he was the best Santa ever, it did not go well. Walker climbed up my leg and refused to even look at St. Nick. Warren was intrigued. This is the very best picture we could muster.

We also had the annual Webbie birthday party for Jesus.

We spent Christmas Eve with the Webbie Fam, reenacting the night that Jesus was born and tearing into wrapping paper.

 

Why, yes, my child is the classy fella wearing no shirt and blue jeans.

 

We woke up at the crack of down at our house on Christmas morning and took our time enjoying our little family of four.

Then it was Nana & Bop's house for brunch...

The Watts siblings came over on Christmas night for our annual board game bash...we had too much fun to stop and take pictures!

I hope that you had a joyful Christmas with your loved ones and that there were plenty of kisses and baked goods to make your heart warm and toasty. Most importantly, I pray that you felt the love of Christ this year as you looked around the room at the faces of the most special people in your life.

Drink it up. Life is so short and so very sweet.