Our Christmas

I realize these are really, really late but I know there are family and friends who read my blog that will love seeing the pictures so I decided to post them anyway.

Making gifts...

 

 

Andrew thought it was really odd of me to be painting his finger ;). We made picture frames for grandparents, each of the children put their fingerprints on a different side of the frame. On the back of the frame I put the date and what color each child's fingerprints were, and of course we included a picture! We had four children to make them this year, perfect :)! 

 

 Homemade goodies...

 

 I procrastinated on the candy making because I was so exhausted! At this point I was pregnant and still nursing which really wears me out. I greatly regretted that later because on Christmas Eve, when I finally decided that I needed to get this stuff done, morning sickness hit hard! Bri had already made all of the pretzels with her sisters and she is the one who arranged everything so pretty. I got the rest done by Christmas Eve night but I never would have without Bri and the fact that Lee got to come home early! Every year we have passed out goodie plates to the neighbors but I just couldn't get it together this year. We're hoping to do something for Resurrection Sunday instead.
We started out our Christmas morning with stockings and our special news. Then we put a candle in our cinnamon rolls and sang happy birthday to Jesus. While we ate we watched The True Christmas Story, a documentary type video set in Bethlehem that contrasts the past kingdom of Herod with the eternal Kingdom of Jesus. We have done this every year for several years and it has been a great way to start out Christmas Day with the right focus.
The new wagon was Bethi and Andrew's "big gift", they were adequately thrilled ;). This will really come in handy in the next months as we walk, walk, walk...

 

The big girls got books (links here and here if you're interested, the little ones got some books too.) and we purchased a set of documentaries from Franklin Springs Family Media for a family gift.

 

 The girls have been busy little readers for the last month! I think they are about out of new reading material already though!

 

Lee and I enjoy playing Scrabble a couple of times a week after the little ones have gone to bed. After store sales, a coupon, and a rebate I was able to get Lee the Deluxe Scrabble game for a great price! Bethi thought it was a bit heavy ;)...

 

 

Lee also got a few DVD's. I was blessed with a beautiful new calendar, a snowman teapot (very cute!) and new pieces to my nativity set.
I love buying little boy toys! But, I didn't go crazy, this is the toy Andrew got...

 

God's little warrior :).

It was a very nice day and the constant waves of nausea I felt that day (and every one since!) were actually welcome reminders of the best Christmas present ever. I hope you all had a blessed Christmas season as well!


Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing round,
we shall see him; but in heaven,
set at God's right hand on high;
when like stars his children crowned,
all in white shall wait around.
~Cecil Frances Alexander
From Once In Royal David's City 1848