Christmas 2009

"Don't rob yourself of the joy of this season by wishing you were in a future or a past one. Each season has it's unique value; focus on the present possibilities, and be content with today. Live each day to it's fullest." (C. Biehl)

We have done our best to live each of the last few days to their fullest & create many happy moments that we will remember with joy in the future.

~ December 24 ~

The day starts early as we leave home & make a short 2 hour drive to stay with one set of dotting grandparents.

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The drive is foggy, but nothing too hard to navigate.

We open our gifts & this mommy feels as though the boys & herself are very spoiled!

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My hubby is off work for 2 days & the weekend!!! We love having him home with us.

Joseph has been very into "babies" recently, so he is delighted to open a package to find one. He says his favorite words, "oooooo" & "wow," several times.

Another favorite of both boys is a continer of foam letters. They spend hours emptying & filling the container, stacking the letters, and putting them into any small space they can find. I am certain we will be discovering letters in many interesting places through the next few weeks {grin}.

A few minutes are spent with the boys' great grandmother. The boys just about destroy her small apartment, but they throw her kisses as we leave, so I hope that all of the chaos they create is forgiven.

We attend a candlelight Christmas Eve service at Doug's home church & are so glad to have a few quiet moments to reflect on the reason we are celebrating.

Doug & his dad make a beautiful fire for us to enjoy.

~ December 25 ~

The boys wake up in their very cuddly & super adorable Christmas jammies from Grandpa & Grandma C.

We open stockings together.

The boys just love their new crayons & spend a large amount of time taking them out of the box & then putting them back into the box.

We eat way too many Christmas goodies.

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The boys continue charming their Grandparents & take a nice long nap.

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I am so blessed by my loving inlaws who show their love for us in so many ways.

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We head home & survive some icy roads.

My hubby gets to shovel our sidewalks with his new Christmas present (a shovel!).

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The boys take a 2nd nap for the day.

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We open gifts from the other set of adoring Grandparents & each other.

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I miss having my parents close by at Christmas.

Doug & I delight in the children God has blessed us with!

My sister & her husband join us for the evening.

We make a cake for Jesus & sing "Happy Birthday."

We eat cake {yummy}.

~ December 26 ~

Unpack

Realize the boys have WAY TOO MANY toys.

Benjamin spends hours playing with his favorite Christmas gift...

A BOX!

My sister & her husband return once again, this time with gifts.

We feast on chilli & corn bread.

Joseph makes us laugh as he demonstrates his fear of the toy horse his Uncle & Aunt gave him.

Benjamin makes us laugh as he repeatedly declares every thing to be "all done."

Doug & I are thrilled with the gift of a future night out with free baby sitting & a movie (thanks sis!).

We give thanks for our family who blesses us in so many ways & for the season we have been given to spend in celebration of our Savior's birth!