Our Christmas--2009

**Warning**

LOTS and LOTS of pictures to share...=)
so get ready...

I hope you all have had a wonderful and joy-filled Christmas. I know we sure did.
It was a just a whirlwind of fun, family, fellowship, and FOOD!!!

It's during this time of year that I realize how blessed I am to have so much of our family living close by. We get to spend both Christmas Eve and Christmas day (and most of the Christmas season) celebrating with them!
We are indeed blessed!

During the afternoon on Christmas eve, my family came over to our home to exchange gifts.


After we have a time of exchanging, we all pile into cars and head over to our church to the Christmas Eve service. There were over 5,400 people at the first of two services.
WOW!!

After church, we headed back to our home and enjoyed our traditional Christmas Eve food-- appetizers and desserts!

Early Christmas morning, the kids woke up and bolted downstairs to see what Santa had brought for them!

On Christmas morning, we hide this pickle ornament somewhere on our Christmas tree.

The first one to find the pickle gets to open the first gift.

Corban was the first to find it this year!

Corban was so excited about his new bike!

Riley got a leapster!

Sophie LOVED her new baby doll and...

her pink pony!

And what did Hudson like best...

eating all the wrapping paper

and Sophie's pink pony!!!---lol

The boys and their tackle buddies!

Sweet moments shared...


Corban found this picture (taken over a year ago) and wrapped it up for Shane to open.

The love of a family...


Singing "Happy Birthday Jesus!!!"

All of Shane's family came over on Christmas day for lunch.

Shane's sister and her husband along with Shane's brother and his fiance' went in together to get the boys this air hockey table!!!!

Oh.My.Word. were the boys over the moon with excitement!!!!!

Our sweet friends-the Jimenez's-joined us for dessert on Christmas day.
They brought this beautiful birthday cake!!!

We all sang "Happy Birthday" and enjoyed some yummy cake!
A sweet ending to a perfect day!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday!

counting down

It's almost here---can you believe it!?! Oh, I still have so much to do...wrapping, baking, crafting, ect...
{Sigh}--Not much time left now!!

This weekend we kind of laid low around here. Shane took the boys out to get their "Christmas" hair cuts and then they headed over to the dollar store in order to do some Christmas shopping.
They came home so excited about all their goodies they got for everyone on their little lists.
Shane helped them wrap their presents, and now they sit under the tree--
just begging to be opened.

Do you think they will be able to wait until Christmas morning?!?
We'll see.

Sunday we headed to church for Christmas Sunday!
I just LOVE our church and our church family!!!

After church, we got to celebrate this sweet little girls 1st birthday.

Emerson!

Emerson belongs to my good friend, Meghan.

Meghan is one of my dearest and best friends.
We have been friends since the 7th grade!
Meghan, and her husband Chad have three little ones and they live literally right around the corner from us.
I hate to say it, but even though they are so close to us, we don't get together nearly as much as we both would like.
Birthdays and holidays are always great reasons to be together!!
Christmas birthday parties are always so much fun.

The boys had fun decorating (and eating) gingerbread men.

And check out this adorable cake Meghan made!!!!
It was amazing!

Well...that's our weekend. I hope you all had a great one too.

We are looking forward to a wonderful (and busy) week!!!
Can't wait!!!!

Cookie Madness!!!!

I had two cookie exchanges to go to this week.

That's a ton of baking and about bazillion calories!!!
(smile)
Oh well!
Calories don't count during the holidays anyway! =)
right!?!?

Boy, did I have a hard time deciding what cookies to make, but I went with these...
and I think they were a great choice.

Mint Chocolate Crunch Cookies!

1 bag mint chocolate chips (or, Andes Mints)
2 1/2 bags (or 5.5 C) dark chocolate chips
1 pkg. Oreo cookies
4 C Rice Krispies

So EASY and...

Oh so.........YUMMY!!!!

How could they not be with all that chocolate!?!?!? right!

This recipe makes a lot of cookies.
I had plenty to take to my exchange and enough left for a few gifts too!!!

Christmas Card Carousel

Today, I am participating in my sweet friend, Faith's, Christmas Card Carousel! Getting Christmas cards in the mail is one of my favorite things about the season! I so enjoy going to my mailbox each day and receiving sweet Christmas wishes from family and friends--both near and far!!

All cards get hung here--on my pantry door. That way we can enjoy them all season long!

Getting a good photo of our family proved to be quite a task this year. We tried several times, on different occasions, but getting the kids to cooperate (all at the same time) proved to be quite the challenge-lol!

Oh well! =)

My sweet friend Jessica did the design.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!!
(I popped our cards in the mail yesterday---so they are on there way!)

Savoring Some Christmas Moments

I am truly enjoying this wonderful time of year. I just LOVE the Christmas season. We have been super busy, but that's just part of the enjoyment of the season!!

This weekend the boys participated in our churches Christmas concert. What a worshipful experience it was, and one that directed our hearts to the true reason we celebrate--Jesus!! There were two performances, one during the morning service and one during the evening.

I have the privilege of directing Riley's choir and just adore all my little four and five year olds!!!

They sang " Silent Night" and all 34 of them did a super job! I was so....proud of them!

Corban and his buddy Jack.

After all that singing, we came home and enjoyed some hot cocoa!
When I was a little girl my Grandma would make us cocoa in these Santa mugs. What sweet memories I have of sitting around my Grandparents table sipping cocoa with them.
Last week, my Grandma decided it was time she passed these mugs onto us!
Yes--that's a little whipped cream on Riley's nose!

One more sweet moment to share....
Riley has been working so hard on memorizing part of Luke 2 for Christmas!


I'm so proud of him!

I pray your family is enjoying the WONDERFUL Christmas season too!

There's no place like HOME for the holidays!

WELCOME to our HOME!

Today, I am participating in The Nester's tour of homes! I just LOVE sneaking a peek into other homes and admiring all the beautiful holiday decorations-- don't you?
I always come away inspired and full of ideas I'd like to try!

Come on in out of the cold!

Our wreath on the front door.

It started as a plain, simple, old wreath, but with a little inspiration from The Nester, I "shopped my house", and TADA --didn't cost me a dime to dress it up! SHHHHHH--- The "B" is from my guest bath.

Our tree!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care!



Our kitchen with a banner that reminds us why we celebrate
--Christ is BORN!!!!


Christmas BLESSINGS from our family to yours!