Christmas (just a month later!)

I'm determined to get caught up in my posts.  I have many still from our Canada trip in the summer and our birthday Chicago trip, Christmas, etc.!  I mostly would like to have them 'journaled' to have for us to look back on later.  So, here is a post from our Christmas morning....

We went to Chicago on the 23rd and celebrated our Christmas on Christmas Eve, since we would be spending Christmas Day at Doug's parents with Steve Sauder family.

Throughout the season, we reflected on the amazingness (if that's a word) of the coming of our Savior as a baby of a virgin birth.  

'Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!' - 2 Corinthians 9:15

"Who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing
   by taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death—
      even death on a cross!"

-- Philippians 2:6-8

We watched the Nativity Story together this year, for the first time.  It really helped the depth and awesomeness of this great story/truth sink in.

The kids coming down the stairs in the morning - very excited.

We first lit all the candles of the advent wreath and the final Christmas candle, and read the Christmas story and related verses.

Each year we enjoy advent and what it means.  Each day the kids read a verse and open a small gift from  the advent box calendar my parents made for them years ago.  It's been a fun tradition for us along with lighting the advent candles each Sunday along with the songs and readings.

ready to open presents!

opening stockings

We did things a little differently this year and put presents in piles by who they were from, instead of piles of who they were for.  Sutton and Grandma have had sewing dates and they made this cute, little dress for Kerrigan for her Bitty Baby.  So cute to watch the kids love to give gifts.

Fun gifts from Aunt Beth, Uncle Daniel, Caleb, Rebekah, Jacob and Isaac

Bracelet and ring kids made me :)

the girls

knitting stuff from Gran & Gramps

legos and telescope from Gran & Gramps!

Mini Kit doll from Gran & Gramps

Sutton loves her awesome art set from Gran & Gramps

Microscope from Mommy & Daddy

Kaya's horse she's been wanting for so long.

Princess castle for our little princess

Our Christmas brunch

Doug made yummy omelets

and I made yummy almond flour scones

It was fun having a White Christmas

Doug borrowing Precision's skid steer (I think that's what it's called :) ) to clear our roads to go to church in the morning.