This Christmas had a homemade gift theme for sure. I learned to make sashay scarves and made worship cds filled with Sam and Lucy's favorite worship songs to listen to in the car. I made several new picture ornaments for friends and family. And, even though I didn't make them, a sweet momma made bible verse bracelets that made great gifts too.
We continued our tradition of unwrapping a book each night
as an advent countdown to Christmas.
Judy Lynn handmade new matching Christmas stockings, complete with monogramming.
They turned out even better than I had envisioned.
Christmas at Suzy's
Our Nashville family Christmas party was so fun. Steaks as big as my head.
Baked potatoes to match. Desserts to die for. What more could a girl want?
Lucy is warming up to PawPaw and that deep voice.
PawPaw and Kimmie found out Sam had been wanting a Little People Farm, and guess what he got?! When he figured out what it was, he yelled, "It's just what I wanted!" His happy dance was the hit of the night. He is such an animated and entertaining kid.
Here is our "Christmas at Nani's" photo.
Obviously, posing four children in front of a Christmas tree and hoping
for a smile is quite a hefty Christmas wish.
Cameron drew Lucy's name this year for our present exchange. He bragged about how he knew exactly what she wanted, "some chew toys and a paci." He knows her well :)
It was dinosaurs and a Merida doll from Nani this year. Perfect!
All those new Christmas presents and the boys really just wanted to play with PapaRon on the iPad.
Christmas day at Grandmom's house
Some things never change.
Still setting up the "kid's table" in the hallway, only now, it's my kids sitting at the table instead of me.
JudyLynn and Ben feeding Lucy her first round of Christmas Day monster cookies!
A new tradition…marshmallow shooter wars!
Who knew Nani was such a competitor?
Pay attention to what's going on in the background here;
Nani takes no prisoners when it comes to marshmallows.
Lucy became quite the marshmallow target!
Every time she would get hit, she would bust out in laughter.
Jon and Cynthia met Lucy for the first time.
Lucy's handmade gift from Judy…
Rapunzel's tower and hair double as a measuring tape to hang in Lucy's room.
Lucy with her grandmother and great-grandmother, all smiles. My heart is full.
The Mersings got new bikes from Nani for Christmas, and Sam
borrowed one from the neighbor so he could do a "bike pose" too.
Christmas at home (finally)
We texted Santa to tell him we would be late getting home from our Christmas travels and to wait to come to our house until the 27th. That way, Ethan and Evan could be with us on our "Christmas morning." Sam set out his special cookie plate he made at school for Santa and added a few extra cookies we baked too.
Santa really outdid himself this year. Sam got exactly what he asked for, a green sportscar!
He may or may not have been just as excited about the candy in his stocking as the car.
Big brothers had to go on a scavenger hunt to find all their gifts. A little spending money, accessories for their XBox One, new robes, and a whitewater rafting trip on the Ocoee.
Lucy got some new bath toys, a Minnie Mouse blanket, and a kitty piano for her first Christmas.
And, truth be told, that kitty piano has been the most popular and played with gift of all. Everyone seems to love it. Santa probably could have just done kitty pianos all around and saved some cash.
Christmas at CedarRock
Kimmie went with a tube instead of stockings this year. Every gift had to fit in a tube, and there was one for everyone. She fit everything from rolled up books, to socks, to hand lotions in our stocking tubes. Pretty fun, and a great way to use those wrapping paper rolls.
The kids got PawPaw a pretty special gift this year. Since we never know what to get him, we bought a pair of goats and donated them to a family in Asia to help provide them with food and a consistent source of income through Gospel for Asia. He loved it.
Whew! Our Christmas is over, and it was a great one!
What fun we had celebrating with each other, counting our blessings, and honoring the birth of our savior, Jesus.
