Christmas 2009

A random collage of Christmas pictures and memories.....


Christmas Eve at Papa and Grandma's house.

The kids were buzzing with excitement having fun playing with their cousin, drawing pictures, playing Foosball, Twister and being silly. Jacob played musical chairs with Grandma. Benjamin proudly showed off his new reading skills by reading Green Eggs and Ham to anyone who would listen. Lauren dancing and singing with Mrs. Claus and the little snowman.
Grandmas little houses all lit up in a beautiful snow scene lining the shelves in the family room. Eating prime rib for dinner and gorging ourselves on Christmas pie and fudge. Gifts for the kids were so much fun. The boys were fascinated with the football helmet piggy banks and all their other gifts. Laurens was a happy little lady when she opened the tea set and spent the rest of the afternoon playing tea party with Grandma and serving everyone cups of "tea." I was so exhausted from staying up late the night before finishing up on Lauren's dress up dresses (went to bed at 5am and woke up at 8am) but somehow the excitement of the day sustained me- along with the nap I got in the car on the drive home later that day.


When we got home the kids opened their Christmas pajamas amidst Ben's sour face and grumbling that this was a "stupid present." After making and decorating the sugar cookies for Santa we put the kids to bed. The boys were determined to stay up until midnight to see Santa. Their report the next morning was disappointing. They couldn't figure out why they hadn't seen him and then Jacob realized their bedroom window is facing south and Santa comes from the North pole. "Next year I'm sleeping in the guest room (with a north facing window) so I can see his sleigh!" So sweet and innocent. He's 8 this year and I hope he keeps on believing......
Christmas morning was full of excitement as the kids scurried downstairs to check their stockings and see what Santa had brought. Benjamin found the biggest present-(Lauren's dress-up trunk) and crossed out her name and wrote his in its place. Before opening our gifts we knelt in prayer and each of us offered a gift to Jesus written on a slip of paper and placed in a sealed box next to the nativity.



One of my favorite pictures here is the one of Jacob with his arms around Lauren as she holds the crown he made for her. In a recent FHE lesson we talked about gift giving and encouraged the kids to make gifts for each other. Jacob knew that Lauren loved princess crowns so weeks before Christmas he carefully measured the size of her head and made her a crown. He wrapped it up so sweetly and put it under the tree. It was one of the first presents she opened and she loved it. Jacob was delighted as you can see from the picture.

After all the presents were opened the playing began. As did the perpetual munching on stocking candy. Lauren was like an addict unwrapping one piece after another. It seemed like her mouth continuously had candy in it throughout the entire day. A fancy Christmas dinner of turkey and ham with no dress code required. Watching Lauren's new movie (Snow White) with the kids for their first time. When the movie was over the dancing began with Lauren and her Prince Charming (otherwise known as Daddy). That night after the kids went to bed Aaron and I watched The Nativity Story. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie. It's become our tradition to watch it every year on Christmas. It always brings the spirit of Christmas into my heart and helps me remember (amidst the craziness of wrappings, gift giving and candy eating) why we celebrate this special day.