Christmas With My Family

I know that Christmas is way past, and that everyone is out of the Christmas spirit, but with all that has been going on around our house, I have been unable to post about Christmas at my parents home. This is the final posting that has to do with Christmas '07, I then I will move on. I will do my best to keep it short and to the point.

Christmas Eve morning was spent with most of the girls in the family coming over to my parents and helping out with the baking. Usually, my mom has all of this done beforehand, but with new knee surgery she was a little out of commission. It was my suggestion that we help out and make a girls day out of it. So, we made sugar cookies, gingerbread, and fudge. My children had never frosted gingerbread, so it was a treat for them and all of us girls just enjoyed being together.

That evening we all went out to dinner at Olive Garden and then it was home again to start our Christmas. While we quoted the Christmas Story from Luke 2, we had Brooklyn, Brittan, & Rena dress up as a character in the story and 'act' it out. This turned out to be adorable and something that we all really enjoyed, so we now have a new tradition. It made the story really come to life for Brooklyn and she was in Heaven getting to be Mary. Even though it took us several hours going around the room, taking turns opening gifts, the evening went by way to quickly.

Next to the kids dressing up for the Christmas Story, I would have to say that the most special part of the evening for me was when Brooklyn passed out the gifts that she had picked out and bought with her own money for everyone. She was so excited! Watching the excitement and anticipation on her face as each one received, and opened, their gift was priceless. Each gift had a personal meaning to her that she had bought for each one. Each gift may not have been much, but they were given with more love than any of the other gifts nd that is what it is truly all about!

Christmas morning we had our traditional breakfast of butterhorns and fresh fruit, it was delicious thanks to Allen. Then we spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon opening our stockings and just having fun being together! It was another wonderful Christmas, we got more than we probably needed to, but the best part of all was just being together as a complete family!