Christmas Blessings

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This year the Disney trip was the kids gift from us. Nana and Papa graciously supply the treasures with a surplus of toys. We tried to fill our schedule throughout Dec with fun events and doing things that will fill their hearts with fond memories of Christmas time. We went to Disney, our zoo has a special Christmas event, and of course we went to the Polar Express event that I blogged about recently.We baked cookies, Gingerbread houses, trimmed the tree, filled our shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, read books about Christmas, watched movie after movie about Christmas and listened to endless Christmas music, we had an evening that several church family friends came for dinner and the children exchanged small gifts, a tradition we have had since Ryan was very young. I think they had a lovely Christmas season. Under our tree was bare, but our hearts were very full and overflowing with blessings of family time and giving to those we love. Daddy to 4 and I never exchange gifts with one another. We choose a special charity that is close to our heart. This year we gave to Love WIthout Boundaries nutrition fund and we gave to a very special friend that had some unexpected medical fees suddenly come up. This is one of our favorite things now that we have started it a few years ago.

Christmas Eve we had my parents for dinner and Christmas morning we woke and went to their house for breakfast and gifts. Jacob received several games he had asked for, a couple of transformer things, a guitar, skate shoes...Chloe and Caitlyn received a FP dollhouse that they both LOVE, as well as barbie guitars that are also a favorite. They always receive a cabbage patch doll from Nana as well, they all received a watch, lets see... Caitlyn and Chloe also were blessed with cookware, food for their kitchen, a cash register, a little mommy doll, oh they also got a little pet shop playcenter, and I am probably forgetting a few other things as well. Nana and Papa are very generous and we are ever so thankful for their love. Ryan received teenager stuff like clothing, a movie , cd, wallet, a watch and was very happy as well.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. If there was anyone I was supposed to send a card to that did not receive one PLEASE forgive me. Caitlyn got into my office and scribbled all over the list and I could not tell who had a check and who did not. I tried to send one to anyone who requested one as well as those I received one from. I apologize to anyone that was left out, I assure you it was not intentional.

Baking Christmas Cookies... excuse Jacob's shirtlessness. He goes without a shirt every chance he gets and I forget sometimes to ask him to put one on. Caitlyn was baking in her ballerina leotard.