I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

To prepare Emilia for Christmas this year, we have been telling her the story of the birth of Jesus as well as teaching her about the real St Nicholas. She has learned about the gifts we give to each other representing the gifts the wisemen brought to baby Jesus, and she has learned the blessing of giving to families who we were able to "adopt" their children to put Christmas gifts under their tree when their parents weren't able to. It has been so amazing to see her get into the spirit of giving, and in her own sweet way explain the meaning of Christmas. So here was our Christmas Day...

This year my parents and Uncle Danny came over again for Christmas morning festivities. We had yummy cinnamon rolls and coffee, while Emilia enjoyed her favorite… bugs and bananas (craisins on sliced bananas). Emilia got an array of presents… a new pink baby buggy, new matching jammies my mom sewed for her and her baby, Sarah, some books, and a few other goodies. She was very excited about each one!

We were supposed to be at my aunt and uncles house that afternoon for dinner at 3pm, and we left in plenty of time considering they live 1 mile away, but after getting stuck in three snow drifts before we could even get out of our neighborhood, we opted to dig my car out with the help of some nice neighbors and go home for dinner. My brother in law, Markus did not accept this idea and was at our house shortly after to pick us all up in his SUV. I will say it came in handy, though, because he did run us into a snow drift, and we were stuck for like 2 seconds before we were up and over the drift like it was nothing… I need to get me one of those!

It was so nice to spend time with family and celebrate the birth of our Savior! Happy Birthday, Jesus!

As for today... we are snowed in and LOVING it! I think buying her snowboots for Christmas was a fabulous idea! She had so much fun!

 

Christmas Eve

So this year I actually had to work Christmas Eve, and unfortunately had driven my husbands rear wheel drive truck to work that day. I knew it was supposed to snow a bit, but how bad could it be, right? Ummm... my mom and Uncle Danny came to the rescue and actually picked me up from work in the 4 wheel drive so I could make it to my sister's annual Christmas Eve party in one piece. For the record: Mom and Uncle of the year award! The party was a lot of fun and everybody made it home safely in time to put out the annual ritual of reindeer food, and snuggle up in bed to wait for Christmas morning!

5...4...3... this is how we...

This is how we count down to Christmas...

And this is how we...

decorate Christmas cookies...

and share germs at the same time!

And this is how we...

make our own Christmas ornaments and paint our own picture frames for gifts...

And this is how we...

receive homemade gifts...

And this is how we...

eat sweet homemade gifts from our friends!

Christmas is around the corner!

6 to go... but still time to nap!

Less than a week to go? The holidays have been pretty busy this year… this morning we had church, followed by a quick lunch with friends, a much needed nap, and then to our Sunday school class Christmas party. Good friends, good food, and good times!

I'm getting quite spoiled with our Sunday afternoon naps...

rough job, but somebody has to do it!

10..9..8...7

Presents are wrapped, stockings are stuffed… we are ready for you, Christmas!

8... don't loose count!

9!

Have you been naughty or nice?

10 to go!

11 days... are we almost there?

Waiting for Christmas can be exhausting!

12 days (or 288 hours...)

Sweet rewards!

13 days to go on the 13th of December!

14 shopping days left!

PS... Happy 14th birthday, TY!

15 and counting... oh and I love chocolate pudding...

16 to go!

17 days til Christmas

18 days left

Today Emilia and I went shopping with my sisters, ate lunch at Nordstom Cafe, and finished the evening shopping with Chris while drinking hot chocolate… great day, although a bit cold!

only 18 days till Christmas!