We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

Christmas made me really homesick this year. I was homesick for Philip. I was homesick for traditional Christmas Eve with cousins. I was homesick for Indiana. I was homesick for snow. I was having a hard time getting excited for Christmas. Part of me wanted to pack up and head to Indiana- a larger part of me did not want to drive that long with a 4 month-old. We stayed home, for a quiet Christmas just the five of us (me, the kids, and Mir). It ended up being so worth it! I end up loving our quiet Christmases at home the most. I love opening and playing with presents all day long on our own time frame.

This years presents and stockings. Stockings always have some food for munching.

Alexis got an art kit with supplies, feet stilts, a bird costume, a dinosaur costume, a couple stuffed animals, a few hard plastic animals and dinosaurs, a large dino, a gift card, a dress, blocks, and other goodies.

Emily got an art kit with supplies, feet stilts, a nurse costume, a dino costume, a couple stuffed animals, several other animals, some dolls, an outfit, a gift card, blocks and other goodies.

Nater got a train set, cars, more cars, a dino costume, an outfit, stuffed animals, other animals, a golf club, a fridge toy and other goodies.

William got a gift card, clothes, balls, a blanket, a stuffed animal, and other goodies.

I decided this year that there are a lot of things I want to start as traditions for next year:
I want to do fabric bags to contain the kids toys. During the month of December they will get to fill the bags with things they want to give away. That way there are not too many toys.
I want to limit our gifts to the following- something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read and gifts from your family. (see below)
I want to do homemade gifts for each of our family members. The kids will have time with either Philip or I to make a gift for all of their family members. Philip and I will also make everyone gifts. It was so much fun to watch the kids receive gifts I had put so much time into.
I want to have duck for dinner on Christmas and a "themed dinner" on Christmas Eve (this year we did "p" theme- pizza, pears, popcorn, pop).
I want to serve more.
I want to focus on the gifts we give to Christ. (see this article). We have a birthday cake for Jesus and this year when we sang to him, we talked about the gifts we are going to give to Christ that day. I want to extend that to the gifts we give him all month.


 I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you have a great new year!