Silent Night, Holy Night

Christmas - Part Two (Don't worry - there's only one more part after this)

Christmas Eve!  Jackson sang with the Genesis Choir at the 6:30 service at church.  I love the Christmas Eve service.  It is so beautiful and peaceful and makes us even more excited to celebrate Jesus' birth!  I cannot put into words how moving the service was this year...Zach came pretty close, though.  He said, "You could feel God's presence wrapping around you."  He's exactly right - you could just feel the warmth and amazement of God's love for us.  That He loves us enough to have sent his own son in human form to walk as one of us, with us, for us - Wow!  Our God is an Awesome God!!!

Some of our cookies for Santa.  Jackson did the angel, tree and gingerbread man.  Kendall did the nutcracker and declared, "This too hard!  I just make balls."  And that she did!

 

Playing with our magnetized Nativity scene from Yommy while we wait for our cookies to bake.

 

So my children won't be winning any Martha Stewart awards, but the cookies sure taste good!

 

Jackson ready to sing with his candle and robe.

One quick Jackson story before we move on.  After Jackson finished singing, he came to sit with us.  As each part of the Christmas story was read, actors portraying the characters would walk down the aisle to the altar.  When Joseph and Mary appeared, Jackson leaned over to me and said, "Wouldn't that be fun to be Joseph, Jesus' Dad on Earth?"  Thus began the first of my tear moments of that evening. 

Yommy, Papa, Debbie, Danny, Jason and Dezz came to church with us - a special treat and a big thanks for missing the service at their own church!  They sure do love our kiddos!  After church, we went back to Yommy and Papa's for Christmas Eve sandwiches with some our favorite people.

 

Not sure who was more excited about Danny's Grinch shirt and hat  - Danny or Kendall

  

Funny girl!



One of Jackson's favorite presents - his globe!  Love that boy!

Warning - Gratuitous Christmas pictures with my children ahead!!!


With Danny and Debbie



With Jason and Dezz - so glad they're back in Lubbock!

 

With Yommy and Papa



With Mommy and Daddy

Another Warning - This next part of our Christmas Eve I stole straight from my friend Ann.  She is an amazing mom (and friend) and celebrated each day of Advent with a different activity for her children.  I have loved following her blog this joyous season.  Thanks, Ann for this great idea! 



Yommy and Kendall get settled for our activity



Jackson is ready to read "What God wants for Christmas"



The book, the manger and the presents all came in a box from Mardel.  Looks fun!



Kendall opens box #1 and finds an angel



Jackson finds Mary in Box #2

 

Box #3 - There's Joseph!



Jackson was excited he got to open Box #4 - Baby Jesus!!!



Box #5 - a shepherd!



and a Wise Man in Box #6!  Only one box left - the box that contains what God wants for Christmas...

 

What does God want for Christmas?  He wants you!  The box had a mirror inside so the kids could see themselves.



The manger after all the boxes had been opened.  Such a fun story and activity! 


Much fun was had by all - then we headed home to get ready for the big day!


We lit the Christ candle on our Advent wreath.



We iced and sprinkled a few cookies for Santa - and yet again, sister does not have her shirt on!



We laid out the milk and cookies for Santa along with our stockings, of course!  Then, off to bed!

To be continued...Will Santa come to our house?  Will he like the cookies?  What time will the children wake up?  All these questions and more will be answered in Christmas - Part 3.

Verse of the day - But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

Blessings,
Kelli

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time!

Christmas - Part One

I LOVE Christmas!  I love the time with family, the traditions, the decorations, the songs, the food, the festivities, the lights, and most of all our LORD!  I sincerely hope each of you are having a wonderful Christmas time as well (Dear Paul, you'll always be my favorite Beatle :)

Before I begin our tale of Christmas 2010, let's play a little game.  I'll show you a Christmas ornament from one of our five trees and you decide which family member the tree belongs to - come on, it'll be fun and if you don't want to play just scroll down and cheat!



Clue #1 - He likes to fish, but seldom get to because of his wife and children.



Tree #1 (a.k.a. the fishing tree) belongs to Zach.  He's my catch of a lifetime.



Clue #2 - She's our little angel.  This one's way too easy.

 

Tree #2 belongs to Kendall.  A pink, glittery tree for a pink, glittery girl!

 

Clue #3 - He's our handsome, strong cowboy.



Tree #3 belongs to Jackson.  How appropriate for his guitar to be right there - Happy Trails!

 

Clue #4 - She loves all things handmade, especially those made by her children.



Tree #4 belongs to me!  A tree full of all the ornaments made by my children through the years.  Next year, I'll need a bigger tree.

 

Clue #5 - I realize we're out of family members, so just take a wild guess.



Tree #5 belongs to us all - can you tell where Kendall hung the ornaments?

Thanks for playing along.  Sadly, there are no prizes.  But like my dad always says - you get the satisfaction of being right! 

Christmas Eve's Eve we spent with my mom, dad, brother and sister-in-law.  We have missed the hound dog out of Timothy and Jessica since they have moved and my kids were over the moon to see them!  Here are the highlights...
  

Wrestling with Uncle Timothy.  I'm a little scared about what will happen when Kendall starts wearing high-heels.  Just kidding, she wasn't using it as a weapon.  It had fallen off, but she didn't want to stop wrestling to put her shoe back on.  That's my girl!


 

Love these guys!




Kendall and Jackson played "Santa" and passed out the presents.

  

More proof she's my daughter...walked around for hours unaware she had a gift tag stuck to her hiney-bone!


 

Lots of presents!



So exciting to be a child at Christmas time!

 

Kendall and Papa - two of my favorite elves!


 

Finally snapped one of Yommy and her presents!



To infinity and beyond...in a Snuggie no less!

The future Jackie O!  Love the pill box hat and princess shoes.  By the way, the bow on the hat is interchangeable - love it!



Jackson showing Jessica how to turn people's pictures into embarrassing photos works of art.



**Disclaimer**  She had been playing dress-up, that's why her shirt if off.  She's showing Aunt Jessica how to call Andy in Mayberry.  Yes, my kids have a strange obsession with the Andy Griffith show.



The stockings were hung by the chimney with care! 




Good news - Kendall's shirt is back on!  Kendall got twin babies from Yommy!



Uncle Timothy and Aunt Jessica gave her this precious vanity table.  She especially loves the "tool box" where she can keep her hair dryer, combs and accessories.

 

Brushing Uncle Timmy's non-existent hair.  Funny in it's own right...



Papa likes Big Jack's Bop It!


Our Williams Christmas was so much fun.  I am truly blessed to have such a loving, caring, supportive family!

Verse of the day - "And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From now on all generations will call me blessed, ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. ⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation." Luke 1:46-50

Blessings,
Kelli