MERRY MERRY

We had such a wonderful Christmas celebrating with our sweet boys! Sam was really into Christmas this year. I think it was the 1st year he really understood the "reason for the season". Cupid, our elf, came a few days after Thanksgiving and Sam spent every waking moment asking questions about Cupid. He wanted to know "do Jesus and Cupid talk?" Tanner was starting to ask us really hard questions about some of the "magic" of Christmas. I was really sad at first but then I realized through all of his questions that he understands the IMPORTANT WHYof the season...Jesus' birth. The closer Christmas got the less questions he asked but he is my serious and practical guy so I'm sure his wheels are still turning.

We started our celebration of Jesus' birth with the Phillips family.

 We spent the next afternoon with my parents and sisters. There is something so nostalgic about Christmas with my parents. I love the little traditions they have for the boys some of the same ones they did for my sisters and I.

See that excited face on my mom???

My parents are SO hard to surprise with GREAT gifts because they always just buy it for themselves.

This year I took the boys to a friend, the owner of MiniMasters, to paint a painting for my parents. Look in the photo below to see the painting...its the long rectangle in front of the other painting. We also had the boys do a painting for Mr. and Mrs. Phillips. I think they turned out really well!

It's hard work being so loved and spoiled with oodles of gifts. The boys were exhausted after round 2 and we still had more to go. They are so very blessed. I hope that the things we do like Christmas shoeboxes, baking for community helpers and writing down our gift for Jesus help the boys realize how very blessed they are.

BEST GIFT...SNOWBALL FIGHT

(below)

We have played with these at least 20 times since they opened them. Mom ordered each of the boys a "bucket of snowballs" from etsy. They were about the size of baseballs, made from really soft fabric and the boys just blast each other! BOY HEAVEN!

Traditions. When my sisters and I were little we opened new jambes every year on Christmas Eve. My mom still gives us all new jammies every Christmas Eve. 

Chris and I wanted to give the boys a gift on Christmas Eve also so we decided a few years ago to do a new Christmas book.

This year we got:

Christmas morning

I always love to see what's a big hit Christmas morning. The boys each picked a play-doh set for the other and they played with them for hours Christmas morning!

I absolutely love gifts that keep the boys outside...our house is small and their energy is big!

Phillips cousins minus one sleepyhead. It was so much fun this year watching all of the little ones at Christmas!

glory to the newborn KING

Merry Christmas

Love,

The Phillips Family

Rev 19:16 KJV - 16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

gingerbread house making

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Sunday night we had some good friends over to make Gingerbread Houses with the kids.

This is the first year the adults really didn't have to do much supervising

although

in the photo it looks like they are all eating the candy and not putting it on their houses?!?!

sweet moments

Tanner is our official "prayer" guy this Advent. 

Every night when we close he reads the written prayer then closes with his own prayer.

 I am so very proud of the young man he is becoming. 

He is so blessed to have such a Godly father who has taught him to pray.

tis the season

1st Night of Advent

Every night we read our scripture, then the story and say a prayers.

We use a (made up by us) version of the Jesse Tree. 

This year the boys are drawing a picture each night to add to our tree.

Weekly Advent Calendar

Sunday-Light candles and sing/listen to hymns...we like the Third Day versions

Mondays-Baking special thank you's: friends, teachers, service workers

Tuesdays-special treat/lunch note

Wednesdays-christmas craft...sewing, beaded ornaments, name of Christ ornaments, etc

Thursdays-writing cards/drawing pictures for people who serve us and mailing them

Fridays-family movie night

Saturdays-special family date to a Christmas activity

Westminster Christmas Program

1st grade recited Luke 2:1-15

It was beautiful!

For some reason Chris and I got the FATTEST tree on the lot. It takes up like 1200 feet of our 1660 foot house.

It fell...so now it is bolted to the wall...don't ask?!?!

And no worries...Sam emailed Santa and "Cupid" the elf his Christmas list!

wintery walk

Christmas afternoon, Chris and I took the boys to Shelby Farms to go on a hike.  We'd both run the trails on Christmas Eve and seen deer so we were hoping to see deer on the walk...no such luck but it was still lots of fun!

First things first...they always have to find a good walking stick.

Skipping stones

"bear" tracks

Afterwards, we stopped by my parents to grab a bite to eat and by that point the boys needed a restroom break as well.  We loaded back up and headed over to Starry Nights at Shelby Farms.  It has been a few years since we have taken the boys...my parents had taken them the last 2 years.  It was lots of fun...Sam was really into it!  He kept saying, "look ewree-body i finks its a ___  no actually i finks its a ____".   Everybody had to have their windows down so the heat was on high. 

christmas morning

How do you do your Christmas?
We sit "Santa" gifts out and they are unwrapped.  The boys get three gifts from Santa because the wise men brought baby Jesus three gifts.
The boys shop for each other and wrap the gifts for one another. This is really sweet.
Chris and I give the boys a gift from us.
And the stocking goodies are from us not Santa.


Some of the Santa things bug me...I do not prefer to hear parents say "if your good santa will come" or "santa's not coming if you act like that".  REALLY?  Don't use that on your children...just have consistent discipline.  They should not think how must stuff they get on Christmas moring is a reflection of whether they are a good or bad kiddo.  So we don't use Santa to try to make the boys behave.  It's very simple he comes and brings the same number of items...3...every year...because that's what Jesus got! Sorry to rant it's one of my many "soapboxes".



Sam got his OWN skateboard...super exciting!

Legos were a big hit for Tanner and I think Chris too!

My sweet Sam loved the candy...not suprising...this was pre breakfast!

Tanner has been begging for tickets to The Magic School Bus...of course since he wanted to go Sam wanted to go also SO Chris and I gave the boys tickets.  Tanner is thrilled...we have read every book from the library at least 2 times!  It's a "family date"...the show is at 11:00 so maybe lunch after with a trolley ride!

pure joy

pure joy...this is what it is all about
it makes parking and shopping with the crazies worth it


To see the looks on their faces Christmas morning is so precious.  The boys were so excited they could barely contain themselves. 
We have a special tradition...each year before the boys rip through the stuff we stop to reflect on Jesus.  Each family member has to tell what our "gift" to Jesus will be.  What will work do or work on during the upcoming year that will glorify or honor God? We videotape our answers so they can be remembered!
Now it's time to bust into the toys!

christmas card 2011

christmas eve

Christmas Eve...after 3:00 church...Big Dee and DeeDee's!