Merry Christmas!

We started our Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve with our church's Christmas Eve Service. Mark did a great job and it was a beautiful service.

After the service, we had cookies, cake, punch, eggnog and coffee. It was such a wonderful time of fellowship and I enjoyed getting to spend this special time with everyone who came to the service.

After the service, we came home and played Uno, Checkers & Mark tried to teach me the basics of Chess. I tuned out after the first 10 seconds. I don't think I'll ever get that game down.

Ethan chose to play on the computer.

When it was time for bed, Emily set out cookies and milk for Santa.

I also took pics of the kids in their PJ's in front of the Christmas Tree.

And here's the tree.

On Christmas morning, the kiddos woke up and opened all the gifts. Ethan got a new bike and Emily asked for a Monster High hair coloring kit, which he came through with. She's also into the British Teen Group One Direction.

Then we went to my parent's house for lunch with other family members and my kids cleaned up with presents as well.


Mark gave me a new tripod for my camera, so I wanted to do a little photo shoot before we left my parents.

Then I got my mom involved...

Then  my mom and dad...

My kiddos and my parents...

Mark and I...

And again...

Lastly....

Can't you just see the pain in their faces? I had to threaten them in order to get this picture.


We had such a wonderful Christmas. I decided before the Christmas season was upon us, that I was going to be intentional with incorporating the true meaning as much as I could. I have to say, this was the best Christmas I have had in a long time. I'm not talking gifts, but the joy of the season. The last couple of years I have dreaded Christmas. Last year, I told Mark I didn't even want to decorate the house. Of course he wouldn't let me do that, but yes, I had had a bad year and not feeling Christmas at all.

I decided that this year was going to be different. I gave my family, my problems and my bad attitude to the Lord and I told him I didn't want to keep taking my issues and problems back. And I so enjoyed this Christmas season, I hate to see it go!

I was so proud of Ethan participating in the Christmas Eve service at church. He had a smile on his face the whole time. And my sweet Emily, who never gets tired of me telling her the true meaning of Christmas. I am so thankful that I got to have this wonderful day with my family.