it's christmas morning

and it was full of so much excitement and joy and love!!!

christmas eve night

we love celebrating christmas eve at grandma's and grandpa's house with brad, steph, and the boys!

after a yummy dinner and the cutest christmas play ever, it was time to exchange gifts.

grace got a for real sewing machine!  i've already got big plans for her...i'm thinking, i'd like some new pillows for the living room! ha!!!

carter got a huge magna tile set!

and, then the playing began!

someone was excited about his new soccer jersey!

after all of that fun, we went home and started getting ready for bed.

jammies on.

milk and cookies out.

carrots out.

goodbyes said.

kids in bed.

the christmas story

An angel appeared to Mary and said: Fear not, Mary.  You have found favor with God.  You will have a baby boy and will call him, Jesus.

Oh angel, I believe what you’ve said to me. The Lord is with me.

I had a cool dream.  An angel came to me and said I should take Mary as my wife.  We will have a son and call him Jesus.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were greatly afraid.  

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.

behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

Merry Christmas!!!

christmas eve day

so...it's christmas eve (aka: the longest day ever) and we have filled it with lots and lots of activities in hopes to make the time go by quickly.

the kids built a lego nativity which needs a lot of explanation, but my favorite part is the megaphone by the shepherds.  "hey, everybody!  there's a new baby King born and His name is Jesus!"

then, we surprised a friend with christmas carols, a tree, treats, and craziness!!!

we saved all of our baking for today...cookies for santa and us!

and, our traditional happy birthday Jesus cake!

christmas.eve.eve

we went to the annual christmas eve eve candlelight service at church.  this is always a sweet service and this year it was super exciting to have the service in our new building!

these crazy kiddos sang their song from the christmas program again...it was just as sweet the second time around!

great news!!!  i had 4 littles sitting with me during the service and we didn't catch anything on fire or spill any grape juice, but i sweated a bunch.

we had such a special time celebrating the birth of our Savior!

after the service, we put on our pjs, picked up some starbucks, and looked at christmas lights.