Christmas night at BB and Papa's!

Christmas morning!

Tired boos on Christmas Eve night, snuggling in our big bed.

And then fast asleep in their own beds...

The kids were so excited to see if Santa came on Christmas morning. Clayton was a little confused about how the whole thing worked. Before we went downstairs he asked me excitedly, "Did Santa come? Is he downstairs in the family room?" Apparently, he thought that Santa not only brought presents, but stayed for a personal visit on Christmas morning!

There were stockings to open...

And presents. Oh, the presents!

Drills, trumpets, and gadgets for Clayton... (and a superWhy costume)

Dolls, Dress-up clothes, and books for Caroline...

Blocks, clothes, and noisy toys for Austin...

What a wonderful Christmas for all!

Baby Kellan's 1st christmas!

This is my nephew Kellan's 1st Christmas. Merry Christmas little buddy!

Holiday activities...

This week, we continued celebrating the Christmas season with many fun activities. In addition to our advent calendars and christmas carol sing-a-longs, the kids helped me make chocolate crinkles for my cookie exchange with my women's small group. The had a ball rolling the dough in powdered sugar!

We then decorated christmas sugar cookies with Godsisters Sofia and Eva and Godmother Erica. It is hilarious watching toddlers decorate cookies. I think everyone frosted their tongues more than the cookies, and the amount of sprinkles consumed was...well, more than any one person should consume.

Here are the girls in the christmas "smockets" I made them...(well almost. I still have to sew on Caroline's pocket. Yes smock + pocket = smocket). I will be making Clayton an apron too, but using a different pattern that's not so girly.

We got to go through the holiday lights display in Vernon Hills at the Cuneo museum (which I highly recommend if you've never done it.)

Then we decorated gingerbread houses with the Sontag family.

Austin even helped...by sucking on a gingerbread boy. He really was quite happy doing it. I think "the look" is one of worry that I will take the cookie away!

Our masterpiece

Caroline's school christmas show

Bad video quality because it was so dark in there, but here it is anyway...

A Prayer for December

A Prayer For December:

Dearest God,

Please never let me

Crowd my life

Full to the brim.

So like the keeper of Bethlehem’s Inn,

I find I have no room for Him.

Instead, let my heart’s door

Be ever open,

Ready to welcome

The newborn King.

Let me offer the best I have

To Him

Who gives me everything.

--author unknown

Some christmas pics...