Merry CHRISTmas 2011!

(artwork by Hannah)

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

 

Merry CHRISTmas!

Hannah (our resident sleep-in child) woke everyone at 6:38 am :-)

 ....SO excited about her book "Inheritance"!!!

 ...and his box of Champion t-shirts - as many colors as we could find!!!

 Our little nanooks of the north enjoying some giggles!

 Cleo AKA Mo - such a good sport -

can't hear but loves all the activity under the tree!

 1097 pieces - built in less than two hours!

 Dad and Jackie stopped by for some Starbucks Christmas Blend!

 and Mom and Dad, too!

 Christmas dinner - and Hannah played for us!

Boppa Tom and Grammy Darls are getting her new key tops for the piano!!!

 ...chillin' after dessert...

 ...our beautiful bracelets from Grei...

 Momsie and my sisters!

 We all cracked up at Joshua's "Inherit the Mirth" calendar!

Lovin' on my parents :-)

 Joey, Andrea, Crystal, Haley, and Sam stopped by later for more dessert and wine!

What an amazing few days with lots of family and friends!!!

Christmas Eve 2011

We had dinner at Dad and Mom's ~ then headed to church at Concordia (an amazing service with children reading and lots of Christmas carols!) ~ and then back home for dessert and presents!!!

 ...setting out cookies and milk for Santa...

Santa Tebowing!

Tebowing has caught on all over here ~

and it looks like with Santa as well :-)

Christmas Vacation Begins!

va·ca·tion - noun, often attributive \vā-ˈkā-shən, və-\

1: a respite or a time of respite from something : intermission

2a: scheduled period during which activity (as of a court or school) is suspended

2b : a period of exemption from work granted to an employee

3: a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation

4: an act or an instance of vacating

Christmas Vacation Is Officially Here!!!

The Christmas List

A fabulous read, even if I was balling my eyes out for much of it :-) Thanks to Momsie for sharing this one!

“Like his bestseller The Christmas Box, Richard Paul Evans’ novel exudes true holiday spirit. Evans got the idea for the fiction while watching a local theater production of Dickens’s Christmas Carol. Almost instantly, Evans realized that is the story he wanted to write: the transformation of a present-day Scrooge into a caring human being. The list in the title isn’t a conventional reminder for gifts; it’s a roster of the people whom protagonist James Kier has most wronged. Unabashedly heartfelt and sentimental, The Christmas List has all the best elements of a redemptive Yuletide tale.” – Barnes and Noble

Birthday Celebrating!

I am blessed to work for an amazing boss ~ I worked a half day and then played!  We started with lunch at Cafe Del Sol (fried ice cream, too) - then went to Bethlehem's afternoon Christmas program "Miracle on Main Street". 

 ...getting ready for the evening program - still missing a few of the girls...

Hannah played the part of Cathy ~ a young mom whose husband is away in the Air Force ~ the carolers visit her home and she is able to convince the mayor (her father) that the Christmas pageant must go on because CHRISTmas started with the baby Jesus in the manger!!!

Hannah and her sweet cousin, Alec 

 Allison and Hannah

 Seth (the mayor) and Hannah 

 Hannah and Nathan

It was an amazing show and perfect for getting everyone into the REAL spirit of the season!

The Festivities Begin!!!

We just enjoyed the best weekend - great company with no scheduled activities! We made homemade pizza and Merry Cherry cocktails, watched Christmas movies, did some ice-skating and shopping, and played and visited non-stop :-)  Fabulous!!!

Ninja Fun!

...shopping at Penzeys Spices...

 Ice Skating!!!

That's correct - no pictures of Natalie and I skating since we were Christmas shopping throughout Belmar and staying warm inside at Baker Street Pub :-)

Tunneling through the snowplow's pile :-)

 Merry Cherry Cocktails!

Later on Sunday we decorated Dad and Mom's tree and did some crafts and baking there!

Join me in my Christmas snowglobe,

won't you?!?!