Christmas

We celebrated Christmas Day this year with just our immediate family, like we did last year. We got to enjoy watching the kids open their presents in the morning and see what Santa had left them in their stockings. We had to make sure the wrapping paper went immediately into a trash bag since Judson's favorite part of opening presents was chewing on the wrapping paper! Caleb and Isabelle had fun helping him open his presents- they got him a little soccer ball and went to Build a Bear and made him a teddy bear that has a Saints jersey. They named him "Drew". Caleb and Isabelle each got their own Bible, which contains many pictures and short bible stories for them to read. They both enjoy bringing them to church and reading it on thier own (Isabelle of course likes to look at the pictures). Caleb got a new Wii game and a big nerf gun. Isabelle got a matching nightgown for her and her American Girl doll, Kit. That was the biggest hit, I think. She wore that nightgown the rest of the day and that night, and basically didn't want to take it off for about three days (I made her so I could wash it).
Later that morning, we Skyped with Grammy and Pappy and they got to watch the kids open the gifts they had sent. It was fun to get to spend some time with them, and even though they were hundreds of miles away it felt like they were right there with us! Caleb and Isabelle got their own watercolor palletes and nice watercolor paints, among other art supplies, to enhance their budding artistic talents. Then the kids got to see Grammy, Pappy, Uncle Heath, and Nana open the gifts from us, so it was neat to all be a part of each other's day on Christmas.
For our Christmas dinner, we enjoyed a Logan's Farm honey baked ham, that we got for free as a gift from one of the clinics that gets business from MEA.
Overall, Christmas day was a relaxing and fun time that were were able to spend as a family and reflect on the gift of Jesus Christ as we celebrated His birth.
The week after Christmas, Barrett's family came for a few days and we then celebrated with them and opened gifts together. Despite some really bad weather that came through the day they were traveling to get here, they made it safely. We enjoyed a traditional New Year's dinner, with Grandmamma's black eyed peas (no cabbage, though!) and then it was like Christmas morning all over again as we opened gifts with them.

Christmas morning

Getting their new Bibles

Judson's new Saints bear

Isabelle and Kit with their matching nightgowns


Christmas the next week with the Jones' side of the family (Isabelle with Kit and her new outfit)


Judson with Uncle Tim

Judson's favorite part was playing with, or eating, the wrapping paper

Granddaddy with the kids

Grandmamma and Granddaddy with the kids