Christmas 2011

With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, and Stephen being a pastor, obviously some of our traditions had to be adjusted a little...but it was really good!  We had a service at church Saturday night for our traditional Christmas Eve service.  A large group went caroling, but since it was only 48 hours after me getting the stomach flu, I was pretty wiped out after the service, so I just went home with the kids.  Sunday morning was so much fun at church, and especially cool since it fell on Christmas day!  Stephen set up round tables and so it was like a family style service where we had communion, shared with each other, sang Christmas carols, and so much more.  You could just feel the excitement and fun that everyone was having together, celebrating Christmas as a church family.  It was amazing...and made me wish Christmas fell on a Sunday every year! :)

But anyway, back to our altered traditions - with pictures :)

 Our first tradition is opening stockings on Christmas eve...slightly earlier in the day than normal because of everyone going caroling after and me and the kids going to bed :)

 Even Eva got one...

 Treats of course!

Ornament from an anti-human trafficking organization - which ironically I bought one very similar to this when they did a workshop at our church...I guess that shows how much Stephen knew I would like these!!

 Damaris has been asking and asking for monkey pajamas for a couple years now...

Christmas morning we normally read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible and make home made doughnuts...but since Stephen gets to the church super early on Sundays, we knew that wouldn't work.  So we did doughnuts on Monday instead, and opened presents Sunday afternoon...

Another tradition we have is that the kids pick out a small gift for each person in the family...this is the kids opening their gifts from each other.

 Titus took our pictures while we opened his gifts :)

Then we do our gifts that we bought for the kids...

 We unofficially (but now I really want to make it official) buy a game for the kids every year

 

 Titus with his gifts

They got a sled too...well, we kind of gave it to the whole family, because the only one we own is a baby sled.  It was definitely time to get us something!

 Damaris with her presents

Our next tradition is making a super nice dinner for Christmas...and we go all out!

 Amazing brownie recipe from one of my friends in Indiana.  Seriously rich - but very good!  As if brownies weren't rich enough, this also has 3/4 C of brown sugar, 2 C of chocolate chips, and 40 PB cups!!!!!!!!!!!

 Here is our yummy meal...pot roast and potatoes, homemade dinner rolls, cheesy vegetable bake, shrimp, sparkling apple cider, our brownie dessert, and a really amazing salad with a LOT of stuff in it (dried cranberries, french fried onions, cucumber, romaine lettuce, egg, croutons, ham, carrots, cheese, real bacon, and I still feel like I am missing stuff!)

So, as I said, on Monday we ended up doing our doughnuts!  I think this is the kids' favorite tradition :)  And I tried out Stephen's grandma's chocolate fudge frosting...which was really good!