T'was the night before the night before Christmas...
This year, the 23rd was Christmas Eve. Lovely Christmas Eve service. Christmassy PJs. Putting out presents. Staying up 'till midnight assembling a train set for a little boy. Since we were traveling on the morning of the 25th, we decided to have a relaxed "Christmas Morning" for the kids on the 24th.
It started with Christmas smoothies (and Christmas mustaches.)
Presents and stockings...
I guess I didn't take very many pictures of present opening. Though I believe we got some good video, which may surface at some point. Besides the few things we got for the kids, they had many wonderful and generous gifts to open from Grandma, Grandpa, and the Rockrose Crew [Martin/Kim Family]. Here's Peter, maxed out on present opening, chillin with Mrs. Carrot Head.
[A week later, we are so enjoying our new presents! Thanks, all!]
The morning of the 25th, we got to celebrate with this festive bunch!
Siena's been quite taken with Peter's hair.
We love our Trabandt family, and love seeing our kiddos play together.
The 26th was our "Christmas Day" with Grandaddy, Oma, and Aunt Gege. Something was bothering Anna throughout the holiday, the main reason I have so few pics to show for the 25th and 26th. But here's a great series of these two goofy guys:
At the Gregg house: Here's the happy hunter. Happy in spite of the fact that he was just finally putting away his gear when 3 deer traipsed across the back field, each taking a turn to pose in front of his just-vacated tent hide.
A beautiful morning for Christmas Day #4.
Oh yay--blackout curtains!
The girls
Before the drive home, we went out on a long walk in hopes that it would yield long naps in the car, and maybe a train sighting (it did neither.) But I always love letting the boy (and his Mama) run around out in the fresh country air.
So that was our Christmas 2014.
It was the first year that Peter was able to understand a little of the coming of Emmanuel, God with us. He loves the stories of that Bethlehem stable and all who belong to it--the shepherds and their sheep, the wisemen and their camels, "the donkey bearing a precious load/ who trudged the long and weary road." He loves the "warrior of light" who came to the shepherds. He loves baby Jesus who, I think he understands, grows up to be the Jesus of his Bible stories, the Jesus of our songs and prayers. Amen. May his love for Jesus grow year by year, and may the mystery of the incarnation blow our children's minds.
As 2014 closes, we are very grateful, with much much much to be grateful for.
All praise and glory to God, and thank you to all who were part of it.
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