Christmas Fun!

This year we decided to scale back on the activities and make more time for our little family. We went to the Candle light Christmas Eve service at our church. It was so beautiful! But more than that, it was awesome to be celebrating the One who left everything wonderful in heaven for this earth and more unbelievably, sinful us. The kids loved it too. They got to go down (we were in the balcony) to the front to hear a story by the children's pastor and sing a few songs. We loved being there.

Then we came back home and enjoyed the rest of the evening. I finished up a few remaining projects (as this year was the year of the homemade gift for all of the extended family on my side.)

The next morning we enjoyed opening our presents at a leisurely pace.

Mason finally got his homemade blanket that I have been promising him for 3 years...

They all got a webkin (which they LOVE!) Can you tell?

Lochlan could care less about gifts. He just wanted to eat the wrap.

Click on the picture to see what Santa said in his thank you note for the cookies...

Last year in this shot Lochlan was a tiny baby!

My family came around 11 and we just had fun hanging out at our house. With 9 kids 8 and under, there is a lot of napping going on, so we use every available space... Our walk in closet (which barely fits a pack-n-play), our laundry room (which also barely fits a pack-n-play) and the 3 regular bedrooms. It's tight, but it works. I love how everyone is so flexible and easy going about it. It makes it so much more enjoyable.

We sat around and played games, ate, talked, sang, watched the kids dance to music, played with flubber, and tried to keep the noise and energy of many small children down as much as possible... :) It's so great to have these cousins all around the same ages. We really enjoy all of them so much.

Here they all are! Mason, Lochlan, Ethan, David, Kaiah, Katelyn, Evelyn, Cambria, and Luke.

Here, the kids are singing songs with Mimi. Mason and Kaiah even did a couple of numbers they learned in their homeschool choir this year.

It was such a fun relaxing time. I honestly feel so blessed that everyone who was there that day knows Christ personally and are walking with him. What a great celebration of his birthday!