Merry Christmas

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Upon waking, the first thing the kids did was look out the window for a white Christmas. No white Christmas this year. Instead they discovered this...

...Almost as exciting as a white Christmas.

Here's how it looked before the kids came down.

Tiger was eager to join in the festivities.

All I want for Christmas is my teeth.

Santa surprised Addilyn with her very own digital camera.

Maycie got the fox she asked for.

And Alex got his Power Rangers.

The kids always look forward to our traditional Christmas breakfast of egg casserol, sausage, bacon, fresh fruit salad, cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate with candy canes and egg nog. Of course, the festive presentation adds to it.

I finally got to get my girls American Girl dolls. They both requested dolls that look like them. I must admit, this was a request I was anxious to comply with. I had a lot of fun making matching doll clothes for them and styling the hair. I let them take their dolls to church since they were already dressed for the occasion. And if you're wondering if the increase cost over the imitation dolls is worth it, I can say the quality is definitely superior.

CHRISTMAS NIGHT

Our traditional Christmas night dinner with the Abbotts and Smiths. This year Jen and Jeremy Burgon join us. This has become my favorite part of Christmas day.

This year the kids got to participate in a talent show. They were a little slow to the taking at first, but soon the ball was rolling and they were all jumping up to exhibit anything.

Addilyn did a ballet demonstration.

Maycie played Jingle Bells on the piano.

Josh Abbott did some dancing to Snoopy.

Then all the kids busted a move to Snoopy.

Addilyn and Anna Abbott sang a beautiful duet to "Where Are You Christmas?"

Anna has really taken Addilyn under her wing and is frequently choreographing dances or cheers or writing movies for her and the other kids to act in. Addilyn really looks up to her and I'm glad to have Anna as an example.

The final gift we presented to the kids was the announcement of our family vacation to Disney World in three weeks. Now the Mickey Mouse pajamas make sense.

Christmas Eve

T'was the night before Christmas....

For Christmas Eve dinner we did our yummy swiss cheese and chocolate fondue for the 2nd year in a row. Tina and Terrence joined us.

Then it was time to open Christmas jammies.

For the first time ever I made matching jammies for the whole family.

The theme: Mickey Mouse - you'll soon see why.

We ended the night by dad reading from Luke.

Isaac Moments

The joys of self feeding.

Suddenly food doubles as an alternative adhesive and styling gel.

7 (1/2) months old.

Leaky faucet.

Screwed on wrists.

Favorite toy: kitchen utensils.

More December Moments

This was my major non-sewing project this season.

I was looking for new advent calendar and came across this idea. I found a bunch of boxes different sizes, mod-podged them all with various papers and stenciled numbers on them. I then put a different scripture relating to the nativity or the true meaning of Christmas with a little treat or trinket in each box. The kids looked forward to opening them each night and I enjoyed focusing a spiritual part of Christmas with them each night. This tradition is a repeater.

Addilyn's Christmas ballet demonstration.

I finally got to attend the girls' holiday parties at school. It's cute how proud they feel to have their mom at school with them.

I always purchase gingerbread houses at the after Christmas clearance sales for $1 or $2 and save them for a year. That way everyone can do their own. The gingerbread is a bit stale but we don't eat that part.

This year Alex exhibited extreme interest in everything Christmas. He was the one who made sure we did our advent calendar. Everyday he asked how many more days until Christmas and inquired what fun Christmas activity we would do that day (many times the answer was not to his satisfaction). He inspected all the wrapped presents to see if he could discover what was in them.

A Visit to Santa, Santa, Santa and Santa

I think Santa actually wore thin this year.

Here's the run down...

Redneck Santa

Preschool Santa

Church Party Santa (who actually could rival Mall Santa) Isn't he cute?

Finally, Mall Santa.

To get to Mall Santa we journeyed through the enchanted snow globe where magical snow fell and created drifts. The kids loved it, but it's a nightmare for parents trying to keep their children picture ready.