Tradition

This year we went to BD Mongolian Grill for the traditional married children's Christmas gift. We sorely missed Angie and Dylan as this was the first year we celebrated without them. As you can see by the smiles on our faces, the food was superbly yummy!! Toby and Belle accompanied us. Dinner was followed by the movie "Blindside".

Christmas Day

We are ready to open gifts. Nathan is awaiting his turn.
The table is set and Nathan and Mya are ready to eat

One last picture before dinner is served:)

Grandpa and Grandma with the newsest additions, Toby and Belle.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we went to the service at church where we learned that Jesus probably lay in a stone water trough which reminds us that Jesus is the living, life-giving water. When we got home everyone dressed in their jams and settled down in sleeping bags for the night while Dad started a fire (in the fire place:) The four children receive new pillows with blue flannel pillowcases with snowflakes made by their mother.

We ate various snacks - shrimp, meatballs, hot drinks, chocolate candy,

mini pizza bagels - mmmm

I think Nathan and I were the only ones awake at the end of the movie - White Christmas.

Christmas morning

Christmas morning Jenna lit the final candle of the advent wreath.

Lydia read the Bible passage, Elise read the prayer thought and

Nathan read the final verse. Dad read the Christmas Story

while Mom listened to it all:) After we sang "Hark the Herald

Angels Sing" it was time to open presents!!

Angie sent these outfits from Indonesia.

Above you can see Carrie and Kristen displaying them.

Below you can see Toby and Belle modeling them:)

Elise's Debut as Donner

Elise was given the part of "Donner" for her Christmas Program at school called the "North Pole Star" which is a take off of American Idol in which the eight reindeer compete with a song and back-up dancers to win the North Pole Star. They actually had a vote to see who the crowd would choose. The boy to the far left won the North Pole Star trophy, but Elise did a great job. She didn't seem nervous at all up there! She is pictured here with the other seven reindeer who are all asking the crowd to vote for their performance:)

Here's Elise with her good friend and next door neighbor, Merritt.

Mya & Toby coming to Town (part 2)

Lydian and Toby vistiting with
the sheep and goats.

Mya pondering whether or not to taste some

pita bread.

My camel friend:)

Mya and Toby Came to Town

After picking up Kristen, Mya, and Toby from the airport we ventured over to the Bethlehem Marketplace at Elmbrook church. We ate lunch which consisted of middle eastern fare - yummy!!

Then we got ready to enter the marketplace that took us back to the time of Jesus' birth. I especially enjoyed seeing the camels and tasting the food. We were given coins with which we could purchase small items from the merchants. They were abuzz with the news about the star overhead and the rumor that a king had been born.

Holly & Belle's Birthday

Scott took our family out to Odyssey for a birthday breakfast. Kristen, Mya, Toby, Lydia, Nathan, Jenna, Elise and Lina joined Scott and me for waffles, eggs, pancakes. etc. YUM! Upon entering the restaurant I was serenated by Santa who sang Happy Birthday to me:)

Mya and Toby with Santa.

Elise with Santa.

We went home with full tummies and waited sort of patiently for a call from Carrie and Evan to let us know of the arrival of baby Belle Ione who weighed 7 lb. 8 oz. and measured 19 inches. We could hardly wait to meet her that afternoon!