Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve photos

This is the beautiful nativity set in the family room. There's a new beaded garland that I found at Costco the other day - garland was too thick for the depth of the mantle. We moved the leather sofa beneath the mantel so there would be walking/opening room.

This is a new nativity set that Scott gave to me. It sits on top of the piano. Next year Scott will build me the creche like the set. The official Willow Tree creche is $89 - I am thankful to be married to a wood-worker.

This is the hand-carved olive wood set that Scott brought back from Jerusalem when he went in 2003.

Luckily, people don't expect lights along the very top roofline in our neighborhood. The ones that we do are scary enough. This is our house on Christmas Eve. We were kinda hoping for a little snow flurry but it's not happening.

On Monday night we were invited to our friends' home to eat with the missionaries, go caroling, & act out the Christmas story. It was a ton of fun. Along the way, we have tried to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas. It seems like this season has rushed by without having time to do the things that make it feel Christmas-y to us. We only baked one evening. Next year we are going to plan ahead - don't we always say this? But I think that we really will.

Tomorrow we are feeding the missionaries after they call home. I do this because I love them, but also because someday when my boys are far from home on Christmas day, I hope that someone will take them in, feed them a great meal, & let them use their phones to call home.

Merry Christmas - hope yours is merry & bright!!! I can't wait to see my kids' faces tomorrow.

Kids hung out & watched the extra video on Kung Fu Panda.

Umm... don't change into your jammies while mom has the camera out. Every Christmas Eve the kids get a new pair of jammies. And usually mom & dad if we're on the ball.

We had to take 6-7 pictures to get this one. Jared could not keep his eyes open. We finally told him to close his eyes until we said "3" & then open them. He popped his eyes & mouth open. Too bad we already did Christmas cards - this is a keeper.

Stockings were hung by the gas fireplace with care. Family room was rearranged so there's room for chaos in the morning.

Christmas card

Click on the picture if you want to read the gory details - mostly just the good stuff.

I totally lifted this idea off of Kerri Bradford's blog... saw the idea, bought the template, & cranked them out. Costco even printed them up at 5x7 for 38 cents each & threw in free envelopes ... another reason to love Costco. I am thinking I will address these on the way to see Bret. Too bad they won't work for next year too, huh?

Cool Christmas lights video

We have decked the halls with lights, garland, a beautiful artificial tree with a kajillion ornaments, set up the Santa mantel in the kitchen, & put up four beautiful nativity sets. I will try to post some pictures later - but while reading through my Google reader list (146 posts behind@!) I surfed into an amazing Christmas light show. Umm... our lights don't look that great but usually we remember to turn them on!!! :)

A few random shots

Jared's teacher has a fun Thanksgiving feast every year with her team teacher. All of the parents bring a side dish that they've made & everyone eats together. The teacher even has former teachers & family members come serve so the moms & dads can sit with their kids. Jared was delighted to have mom attend; Scott was in the air on the way home from a business trip.

The swing at the lake house is great fun. All three kids were actually caught smiling & playing together at the same time. Jared loved hanging out on the boat with Aunt JeaNette too.