Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was stretched out from Thursday to Sunday but we always enjoy spending time with our families so it was a lot of fun!  Thursday night we went to the Christmas Eve service at church and then out to eat with Brandon’s family.  I love the way our church does the service….we sing some Christmas carols and listen to scripture readings and then we participate in the Lord’s supper with our family.  Since it’s Christmas eve there is no childcare so the kids were with us.  There is a poster of a lion that hangs in the sanctuary and every time Max sees it he growls.  Well…when we got down front for our turn at the Lord’s Supper Max turned around and saw the lion and started growling. :)  We had a hard time not laughing. 

This year we were smart and started assembling toys the night before Christmas eve so there wouldn’t be so much to do on Christmas eve.  So Christmas eve we just had to stuff stockings and set everything out.  

This was after Santa left….before the kids tore into everything.  Max got a motorcycle, dump truck, Mickey choo choo, and 2 books.

 

Faith got her pony, camera, leapster, and 2 books. 

Christmas morning I decided to get up before them so I could shower and cook breakfast as we had to be at Mimi and Papaw's at 10:00.  So I got my shower, cooked breakfast and then waited….no one was awake.  It was hard not to run and wake them up but finally about 8:15 they started stirring so we went down and got them and brought them to see what Santa had brought.  Faith was so excited when she saw her pony….she jumped out of Brandon arms and ran to it.  

Santa knows what she likes…he put 2 chapsticks in her stocking!!

Daddy showing her how to use her new game.

I let them each pick out a toy for each other.  Well Max had a little help but Faith was so excited to pick one for him.  She picked a “po-po” car for him and he picked a guitar for her.

Santa gave her these FUN socks!!

Then at 10:00 on Christmas day we went to Mimi and Papaw’s to open even more presents.

 

All the grandkids got a trampoline.  They LOVE it!!

 

At lunch on Christmas day we went to my Granny and Papaw's.  We ate yummy lunch and then….yep you guessed it…..MORE presents! 

 

At this point the kids were EXHAUSTED.  We left Granny’s about 2:30 and came home for a quick nap.  While the kids were napping Brandon’s family starting arriving.  Everyone wasn’t here on Christmas night so we waited to do presents with them.  But the kids went ahead and got their new chairs and got to open one present!

 

Christmas night the Jeffcoats came over for a visit. And brought….MORE presents!!!  We are so blessed that they are part of our “family”!!

 

Saturday we spent the day with the Milton’s.   And then Sunday we went to my mom’s for the Love family Christmas.  It was a hard year for us to all get together after Ma passing this year and Pa being in the hospital  but honestly that get-together was probably my favorite of the season.  It felt so much like Christmas seeing everyone together.  I know Ma and Pa would be so happy that we were together and celebrating the birth of our Savior!! 

 

Sunday night Uncle Steve and Aunt Sharon came in.  It was a quick visit with them this year.  Hopefully we can get together again soon!!  We opened presents AGAIN before they left. 

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we talked with Faith a lot about the true meaning of Christmas.  About how Jesus was born and where he was born.  Before bed we would read Christmas books that told the story of baby Jesus.  Her favorite song became Away in a Manger she called it “Baby Jesus was born in a barn” and would ask me to sing it over and over again….because that is what Mimi did when she showed her each of her manger scenes.  This is the best memory I will cherish from this Christmas.  My heart melts each time I see her and my mom singing that song together as they look at the scene of Jesus’ birth! 

It seems like all we did for a few days was open presents and play with new toys but we feel SOOOOOO blessed that our children have so many people that love them and express their love all year….not just at Christmas!  God has truly blessed our family beyond what we could have ever imagined and I we give Him all the glory!!!