Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  We couldn't help but think through out the day that this would be our last Christmas as a family of three, so we soaked in each moment with Adair as an only child.  We woke up early to discover that Santa had visited with three special gifts, enjoyed watching Adair open our gifts, then headed to church.  

One of the highlights of the day was during the service.  Our pastor, Tim, had all of the children come to the front and began to ask them questions about the Christmas story.  One of those questions was, "Who is your favorite person in the Christmas story, besides Jesus?".  Now, bear in mind, he was obviously talking about THE Christmas story...the story of Jesus...one Adair has heard a thousand times before and knows very well.  Her hand shot up and I fully expected she was going to say "Gabriel" or "Mary", but when Tim called on her, her response was "Santa".  Hank and I almost crawled under the pew!  It was one of those "proud" parent moments!  Everyone in the congregation had a great laugh and Adair was quite pleased with her answer.

After church, Mom, Dad and Mama Alice joined us for lunch.  Adair was spoiled this Christmas, as usual.  I think she would say that her top gifts were her see saw that Santa brought and the guitar that Nona and Joe-pa gave her.  She also thought it was very special that Santa brought a baby doll for Emalyn just like the one he brought to her.

It was a wonderful day full of joy and remembering the birth of our Savior.  So many times this season, I

 was reminded that without the birth of Jesus we would still be hopeless....without the birth of Jesus there would have been no cross and there would be no salvation.  I am so thankful that God had a perfect plan to redeem His people.

First glimpse of Santa's gifts

Checking to see if Santa finished his milk and cookies

Lifelike grocery cart complete with Emalyn and her baby dolls

See saw!

Adair, Adair's baby doll, and Emalyn's baby doll

Excited to open gifts

Adair and Daddy

Adair, Mommy and Daddy

Princess Belle

Mommy, Adair and Daddy

Nona, Mama Alice, Adair and Joe-pa

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Festivities

Picking Out the Perfect Tree

Adair loved the wagon ride at the tree farm.

Daddy "measuring" the width of the tree we chose with Adair.

Checking out the tree from below.

Advent Wreath Making

One of the highlights of this Christmas season was creating an advent wreath and reading the verses of advent at home each night.

Adair and Caroline enjoying pizza.

Passing the light.

Our (almost) finished wreath.

Homemade Tree Decorations

Stringing fruit loops for our kitchen tree.

Visiting with Santa Claus

Adair loved the idea of Santa this Christmas.  She still wasn't super keen on the idea of him coming into our house, but she was enthralled with the stories of the North Pole, Santa's reindeer, and Santa himself.  She was excited to visit with him, sit in his lap and tell him what she would like for Christmas.  She remained consistent all season on her list.  She asked for a see saw and a baby doll, making Santa's job relatively easy.

She insisted on taking Santa's picture before sitting in his lap.

Telling him her wish list.

Adair and Santa.

Zoo Light Safari

Adair and Ginger the deer after Ginger gave Adair a "kiss".

Adair and Anne Fulton.

Baking Christmas Cookies

One fun family tradition is baking cookies together.  It's something my mom and I always did together and now, Adair enjoys it too.  We make a big mess, but we have so much fun in the process.

Cutting out the cookies.

Decorating our Gingerbread House

Any activity that involves candy is a favorite of Adair's, so she was dying to decorate our gingerbread house.  She had so much fun icing the house and placing all of the candy. 

Proud of the finished product.

Christmas Eve

Adair and her new Christmas eve pajamas.

We spent Christmas eve with our sweet friends the Hawleys this year.  Adair and Webb had a great time bouncing on the trampoline (yes, even in the cold), decorating cookies and playing together. 

Webb enjoying the candy from his cookie.

Adair decorating her "tree".

Adair, Marlen and Webb.

After our company departed, Santa went to work.