Christmas 2007

Christmas 2007 has come and gone. I find with each year, the period before Christmas that was once long, exciting, and full of anticipation, passes more and more quickly, and in a much more stressful, chaotic way. I'm not saying I don't enjoy the Christmas season. The magic is still there and of course, I still wait anxiously for the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. But I'm just so busy the entire time, frantically trying to cross tasks off my to-do list. The next thing I know, it's Christmas Eve and with Santa's help, we are finalizing our Christmas preparations and then boom - it's Christmas day. I guess that's what happens when you "grow up". Thank God for our precious little children who keep us grounded and still allow us to fully experience the joy of Christmas. The moment they come down the stairs on Christmas morning, all wide-eyed and bouncing with excitement, is the moment I enjoy most of all.

Despite the craziness this year, we did have a wonderful Christmas. We had our annual Christmas get-together with our very good friends from down the street. There was food and drink and presents - but most of all there were friends spending quality time together and making Christmas memories. It was the perfect evening!

Before opening gifts (look how excited Andrew looks!)

After opening gifts - what a mess! :)

We made lots and lots of cookies! The most enjoyable ones to make, of course, were the ones the kids and I made together - the special iced sugar cookies we always leave out for Santa. Alex and Nathan had so much fun decorating the cookies... Alex especially enjoyed smearing lots and lots of icing and adding handfulls of sprinkles and mini-chocolate chips. His were some delicious, sure-to-change-your-figure, cookies! Amy only helped decorate one cookie, which she quickly ate.

It's a messy job, but someone's gotta do it!

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house celebrating with my family. It was a day spent eating and hanging out together. One of my favorite things about Christmas each year is this day with my family. I so enjoy just being with each other. My family puts out luminarias each year as part of their neighborhoods' tradition. The kids were a big help this year, setting the sand-filled bags out and carefully placing a candle in each one. They were so excited when the time came to finally light the candles! In years past, we have always piled into the back of my dad's truck and driven around the neighborhood to look at the lights and all of the lit up luminarias. But this year we were all too worn out. Time got away from us and it was late by the time we'd reached a point where we could go light-looking. We went ahead and left for home instead, but still took the time to drive around just for a little while - long enough for a couple of our younger family members to fall asleep. And of course, the rest of the night was quite busy!

Gift-opening on Christmas Eve - just a tad disorganized

All the little cousins

Reading The Night Before Christmas, once all was peaceful again

Chistmas morning was magnificent as always. My parents came over early before the kids were up. I think Alex brightened their morning when he came down and happily greeted them before even noting what Santa had brought him. Of course, it didn't take long before he did notice! I just love to watch the kids go through their stockings and open up all of their of goodies. We had a hard time getting Amy to open up anything besides pieces of candy, though! She so enjoyed her chocolate! When everything had been opened, breakfast consumed and the last Advent candle lit, we dressed and headed over to my sister's house for Christmas lunch. We had a wonderful time there. I have to say though... There is such a think as over-eating, especially when it comes to cookies and various sweets. I think I know what one of my New Year's Resolutions needs to be! And I may need to slow those kiddos down a tad, too!

Christmas morning

It amazes me how quickly it all goes, but Christmas is still such an amazing time. And why shouldn't it be? I am so very blessed, but I know that no matter how many presents we receive or are able to give, no matter whether we have lots to eat or nothing to eat at all, whether we spend it with family and friends or all alone.... it's still Christmas, the day our beloved Jesus Christ was born to save us all. I think no matter what circumstances you find yourself in or how busy and hectic your schedule is from one year to the next, it is still a time to be joyful and glad and celebrate in all you do. I'm going to try my best to remember that next year when I find myself caught up, once again, in my long to-do list.