A Very Merry Christmas

We had a very nice Christmas in our house this year. On Christmas Eve we went to the candlelight service at this beautiful, HUGE church in Charlotte. It's not our regular church, but we've decided that it's the nicest candlelight, so we go there every year. Anyway, it was especially beautiful this year. This church has an organ with gigantic pipes, a full orchestra and a choir. Then, to top it off, they had a man leading the singing who sounded like Josh Groban and another man playing the bag pipes (I love love love the bag pipes. I keep begging Keith to learn to play the bag pipes but he refuses. He thinks you must wear a kilt at all times if you play the bag pipes and he won't do it...boo). The candlelight part of the service was really terrific too. There were a ton of people there, which translated into a lot of candles. After everyone lit their candle, they turned off the church lights and we sang Silent Night. It was wonderful, spectacular, beautiful, and glorious!

It was a lot of fun watching Nicholas enjoy the whole Christmas experience. He doesn't really understand about Santa but he did get that he would be getting presents under the Christmas tree. If you asked him what kinds of presents he wanted, he would always answer the same--trucks and trains. It was very cute! Of course, that was the majority of what he got from Santa. Lots of matchbox cars, a matchbox semi truck that hauls the cars (his favorite present) and Thomas trains and track.

Avery had a nice first Christmas. She didn't get much since she doesn't understand what is going on at all and there really isn't anything she needs. Santa did bring Avery a little baby doll, a pink glo worm, a few smocked outfits, an activity ball, The Velveteen Rabbit book, and her "My First Christmas" ornament for the tree. I think she was pleased!

Of course, most everything that Amanda and Alaina wanted was super expensive so it's always a challenge to find a good mix of presents for them that won't break the bank. I think their favorite presents were the Wii from Grandma Pat and the Wii Fit from Grandma B and Grandpa Ron. They have been playing with it almost non-stop since they opened it on Christmas Eve! They also each got an ihome, which they really like.

So, it was a very nice Christmas. I am glad that all of the stress and work involved in preparing for the holiday is over and that things will start to settle down a bit. I think we'll take our tree down tomorrow (trash day is Monday) and get our house put back together. We're cramped for space as it is, so throwing a large tree into the mix is a challenge! On Wednesday evening my mom is flying in for the long weekend. A visit from mom and grandma will be the perfect topper to our holidays and a great way to kick off the new year!

We have been so blessed this year and have so much to be thankful to the Lord for providing for us. My life is covered in the fingerprints of God! I pray that the coming year will be filled with as much or more love, joy, peace and happiness in our family and in yours!