Merry Christmas!

 I just wanted to share some pictures of Christmas, but I didn't want to add a bazillion pictures so I made a bunch of collages instead. 

On Christmas Eve we had a party at the church with the family. We ate and acted out the Nativity. I played the piano while everyone sang, and the kids did the nativity on stage. Tessa finally got to be the angel. For years she has wanted to be the angel. Maggie was a shepherd. Then we played Bingo (again!)

Then we went home and got ready for Santa. The girls still needed to sprinkle their magic reindeer food in the snow. Then they got new  pj's-which they loved! Then it was prayer and off to bed!

 Tessa heard jingle bells, and Santa yell "Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas." She said she heard a clatter. She was so excited she could hardly stand it. Maggie slept right through Santa flying over our neighborhood.

 In the morning Santa had come! The girls saw his footprints by the fire place. In years past we have had to wake the girls up when we couldn't wait any longer. But this year they woke up before Dad and Doreen and my brother Joseph were over. They got up at 7:00am. We let them do stockings until Grandma and Grandpa got there.

Which by the way, Joseph and I DID steal all of their presents again this year. (Read here.) But this year they knew about it!

 We opened presents. The girls gave each other books. (See them hugging above?) And the girls gave me a diamond "mom" necklace. (See us hugging above?)

We took a break for some breakfast. Then opened more presents. We played games, napped, ate grapefruit, made appetizers, and relaxed all morning.

Our Family on Christmas Morning

 My brother Garrett and his family came over at 1:00 to go sledding on "our hill" behind our house in the park. Their boys got new sleds and they wanted to try them out. The snow was very deep, but once we got it all mashed down the kids had a blast!

Necha and Josh on Christmas Day

We had a great, and very relaxing Christmas. We hope you did too! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!