Christmas Fun!

Christmas has always had great meaning for our family, in that it is the celebration of our Lord's birth, but I have to say, having Claire with us to share in the celebration brought great enjoyment this year!

We started the festivities Christmas Eve. Aaron participated in the leading of worship at Flipside in the morning. Claire and I were in attendance. Then Aaron lead worship at Cross & Crown in the evening with Claire & I in attendance. When we returned home Grandpa Joe, Grandma Debbie, and Aunt Amy came over for the traditional opening of one gift containing pj's. Aaron went to play for the candlelight service at Flipside while we hung new oramnets and enjoyed eachothers company for while before Claire had to retire for the night.

Christmas morning we spent at Grandpa Joe & Grandma Debbie's home where we enjoyed yummy breakfast and exchanging of gifts. Aunt Melissa made it down in hill in record time so we all could be together Christmas morning! Aaron made his masterpiece french toast for everyone to enjoy. Claire had a lot of fun revealing her stocking's contents but was too tuckered to open her presents. She napped while the rest of us visited and exchanged gifts.

We then went over to Grandpa Mark & Grandma Cathy's home for Aunt Nicci's Birthday party and Christmas fun! Grandpa Mark had prepared a game for the family to play. The goal being to discover 3 things about the Christmas gift we were to receive. 1)the location where it is hiding 2) the material it is made from and 3) the store where it had been purchased. The basis for game was "Clue" but the cards & board was remade by Mark specifically for us. It was a lot of fun!
Again Claire was tuckered out and fell asleep on her Poppy's chest, which is uncharacteristic of her. She usually falls asleep in her crib by herself. So it was a nice treat for Aaron & I. We had dinner and then the traditional Gift Exchange which I have recently heard called a Yankee Swap. There were about 35 people playing this year, although there was far less swapping than years past.

We then went back over to Grandpa Joe & Grandma Debbie's home to have second dinner & dessert. Claire got to open the presents she had slept through earlier & enjoy the company of her Aunts who both did a bit of traveling to be there. Claire was so cute with her presents. She liked to hit at them and chew on the wrapping more than anything else.

It was a full day.....full of family, love and fun. We were very happy that we could share this day with so many of the people we care so much about and who care so much for us!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!