Christmas Celebrations

A good friend of mine commented the other day that all of their Christmas celebrations are spread out so much over a few weeks that it feels more like Hannukah than it does Christmas...that made me laugh, but it has been true for us, too!
December was one very full month of many different celebrations of the season!

Of course, we kicked it off with decorating our house and our Christmas Tree!  While I was off with some girlfriends for our annual Christmas wreath-making event, Scott and the girls headed out to pick out our tree.  Scott let them make the final selection and they brought home a pretty nice tree, I must say!
So, that evening we put on the Christmas Music and began the process of decorating our tree.  I say "began the process" because it took us 4 days to finally get it all decorated...between non-working Christmas lights, tired girls and a missing tree topper...we had to decorate the tree in stages :) 

Nonetheless, our efforts resulted in one beautifully decorated tree!

The next big event to help us get into the spirit of the season was the ECC's annual Christmas program.  This was the first year that Megan was in the program by herself and I think she enjoyed the extra attention! 

Next on the celebration activity list...making and decorating Christmas cookies!  This was one of the kids favorite activities and we actually had a night where we could all sit down together as a family to decorate these yummy treats!

Here is the final display of cookies...they had some pretty impressive creations, for sure!

And...although it was well past their bedtimes...it was a Friday evening, so we let them each pick two cookies to eat that night.  Here they are enjoying their creations!

Once the tree was decorated, shopping was done, gifts were wrapped, cookies baked and decorated...we began to gather with family and friends to celebrate Christmas. 
I, of course, have a bunch of pictures and video footage from our gatherings, but here are just a few pictures to give a quick snapshot of our fun times together :)  Hopefully I will soon learn how to post video footage, since I have more video than pics this year!

Now, while we had a great time as we always do with our Christmas celebrations, I have to confess that this year felt a little "off " for me.  As I have reflected on this the past couple of weeks, this is the conclusion I have come to...it's not one that everyone will agree with and that is okay...it's just how I feel...

As it happens each year, our girls received more gifts than they could possibly know what to do with...they are always thankful for everything they receive, but I have to say that the amount of gifts that came into our home for them this year felt a bit excessive (and I was definitely guilty of falling into the over-indulging in Christmas shopping this year).  It's not that I don't appreciate the gifts for them or want them to receive special gifts, I do...but, as a parent, I feel convicted to try and maintain a balance for them so that we don't lose the focus of what this season is all about...the celebration of the birth of our Lord!  There are many traditions and discussions we have to help keep the girls centered on the true meaning of this wonderful holiday, but it's a challenge at best to keep that at the forefront of our celebrations!  Next year I will be more aware and more intentional of setting some good boundaries and expectations so that the girls can TRULY APPRECIATE the gifts they do receive from family and friends...and we can keep our focus on JESUS...the TRUE REASON for this holiday season!

As I reflected on what I LOVED about this Christmas season the biggest thing for me was having extra time as a family.  With Christmas falling on a Sunday, Scott had some extra days in a row off of work, which was so nice and just helped things to feel more calm and relaxed.  I loved experiencing Alexia lead the adult worship service in some Christmas worship songs...watching her and seeing the joy that poured out of her on that stage was simply priceless!  We enjoyed having my parents come and stay with us and didn't have a lot of running around to do, so we were really able to just enjoy some quality time with them...we enjoyed our annual Christmas Eve services and small celebration back at our home...this year a new friend, Jodi, joined us for dinner and it was just really nice having her come and spend time with our family.  The girls LOVED having her here and begged her to stay longer. I think we'll have to invite her to come back again sometime soon!  
The biggest message I always hope to have shine through the different activities, gift-giving and gatherings of the season is a message of LOVE...at the end of day...at the end of the season...if we have nothing else but LOVE in our lives...We are TRULY BLESSED!  I think these couple pictures of the girls together sum up this message better than I could ever say it...

It's been the MOST WONDERFUL time of the Year

So, I guess you all have been wondering where I've been for the past couple of months...clearly we have been enjoying all the fun and activities that come with the "most wonderful time of the year."
Obviously, I'm extremely behind on my blogging, but here is a "brief recap" of the rest of October and November.  Not sure I'll get to December in this blogging session...but that will be coming soon!

We had a birthday celebration/gathering at Grandpops house for his birthday.  The girls always have a great time when we go there, especially because they get to hang out with their cousins, Jillian and Joshua.

As Cousins...Jillian and Alexia are becoming such great friends, too :)

October brought our only significant snow fall so far this season...and it was a big one (for us anyway).  Thankfully the girls had their cousin Autumn here to join in the fun of playing out in the snow.

Of course, top priority as soon as the snow started to fall was to build a snowman :)

The girls absoutely LOVE their big cousin, Autumn.  Alexia "secretly" aspires to be just like her some day.  And we don't mind that one bit....Autumn is one pretty amazing young lady.  She is so great with the girls...she loves on them so much and takes on any challenge they put before her...like teaching Alexia to do a cartwheel.  I love that they look up to her so much...Autumn will tell Alexia the same things that I do to encourage her and she will actually LISTEN TO and BELIEVE what Autumn says.  I guess that's just how it works!

This Fall...Alexia joined the Kids Worship Team at Daybreak.  This ministry has been a perfect match for her.  She absolutely loves it.

Here she is leading worship for the first time during the Kids Worship Time on a Sunday Morning...I was so proud of her.

Megan, unfortunately is not old enough to be on the Kids Worship Team yet, but God has created a heart for worship in her, too.  The girls love to put in the worship practice DVD and worship God together at home while Alexia practices her songs.  It brings joy to my heart every time they do it....I don't think it will ever get old in my eyes.

October wrapped up with some trick or treating...however it was freezing cold that night, so I didn't get any great pictures (as I was sitting in the car watching the girls as Daddy took them from door to door)...I think that is a sign that I am getting old...yikes!

As November hit...so did all of the holiday celebrations and activities.  The first big activity was participating in Daybreak's annual food drive to collect food for New Hope Ministries.  This year the girls helped me collect food and buy a few extras at the store.  They were so cute when we were shopping for the food..."I bet the families would like to eat this", the girls would say as they kept putting different food items in the cart.  I love that, although they are still very little in many ways, they are learning that when you get involved in helping others, you can make a BIG impact...no matter what your size :)

Each year, the ECC holds their annual "Thanksgiving Feast," where all of the kids dress up as Pilgrims and Indians and enjoy a "feast" together.  This year was extra special because Grandma and Papa from Erie were able to join us at the feast.

Megan was such a cute little pilgrim...

Megan took a moment to pose with her teacher, Mrs. C...who has been such a great teacher for Megan.  I am very thankful for Mrs. C because she loves on Megan, but also challenges her to "try" and believe in herself that "she can do it"...which is a message that Megan needs to hear on a regular basis.

Alexia also enjoyed a special visit that day from Grandma and Papa when they showed up at her school to

have lunch with her.



This year we headed back down to North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving at Rich & Donna's house.  I didn't take very many pictures (for a change), but here are a few of the girls enjoying their NC cousins :)

This first picture was of Alexia holding Caleb's snake...that girl is so much more brave than I ever was at her age...snakes still make me squirm and run the other direction.

Of course they did some Wii "Just Dance Kids" with Grace.



LOVE the expression on Alexia's face!

We played many games of pool during our visit (I'm pretty sure I lost every one I played)

Caleb humored Megan with several games of Hide-n-Seek...her favorite game these days.

Grace taught Alexia how to make "duct tape flowers" which Alexia found fascinating.

And, of course, Thanksgiving dinner found all of the younger ones at their very own "Kids Table".  The girls had a ton of fun and made some new friends on Thanksgiving, too.  And, of course, Caleb refused to cooperate for the picture...oh well...kids will be kids!

On our way home from NC, we stayed overnight in InnerHarbor in order to visit the Baltimore Aquarium.  Here are just a few pics of our time at the Aquarium...

Part of the fun of going on vacation is that we now stay at a hotel (thanks to Grandma and Papa)!  It is one of the best things about vacation in the girls' minds.  They enjoyed it so much!!
There are so many fun things you get to do at a hotel that you don't normally do (like go down to breakfast in your PJ's) :)  The girls thought that was very cool!

And, of course, there was a ton of jumping on beds...

Being silly with Daddy...

Playing video games in bed...

Swimming late at night in their heated pool...

Not sure what Megan was doing in this next picture...we just looked over and found her hiding under these pillows and blankets...there may have been an iphone game involved somewhere under there!

Playing a baby grand piano in the hotel lobby...

Eating Carrot Cake Cheesecake in bed at 9:30 pm...only on vacation...that's all I'm saying about that :)

And, a perfect way to wrap up our vacation...Snuggling with Daddy while we watched the movie "Elf"  Megan was pretty tired out by this point and I think had fallen fast asleep.  She didn't have any of the cheesecake...maybe that was the problem :)

We truly had a Wonderful Family Vacation!!!