Christmas Wrap-Up, finally!

My very favorite moment this Christmas was hearing Sophia tell what she was giving Jesus for Christmas. Every Christmas we start our morning out by gathering in Jamie's and my bed with the kiddos and our stockings. The first stocking is Jesus' and we each take a turn and offer something from our hearts to Jesus for His birthday. Sophia decided it would be best if we "blew" our gifts into the stocking. So, she led with, "I love Jesus," and gently blew her gift of love, her gift of herself, her gift of her heart, into the stocking. It really was almost too much for this emotional pregnant Mama to handle!

Of course celebrating with our own exchange of gifts and then with our families through-out the weekend was great fun as well! Seeing the kids' eyes light up with pure joy at the gifts they were given, and then seeing them play happily day after day with their new treasures - I just loved it! And, I've got to admit... I don't mind opening a gift or two either. :)

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One of our favorite moments with Jamie's parents was when Jamie presented our gift to his Dad - a huge shadow box (that Jamie made!) displaying Jamie's Grandpa's old boxing paraphernalia from his professional boxing days. This is a part of Jamie's Dad's Dad's (is that confusing enough?) life that Jamie's Dad is so proud of and we're all so excited to have this new family heirloom!

Our favorite tradition with Jamie's parents is The Great Scavenger Hunt! This is an old tradition, started years ago when Jamie was young. After all the gifts are opened Sophia (and Riley too - he'll get it more as he gets older, same goes for Baby Rose) receives a series of clues from Jamie's Mom that leads them around the house until they find one last gift - this year she found one for Riley too!

Sophia, about to find her next clue in the tub!

Riley's scavenger hunt gift - a really fun train book!

Sophia's scavenger hunt gift - a new doll, Natalie, and matching outfits!

Papa, Grandma Susie and the kiddos (Riley was SO done with pictures!)

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Celebrating with my side of the family has become so sweet as we have more and more little ones to watch enjoy the spirit of Christmas fun! Riley and my sister's daughter, Cora, were SO cute this year as they opened and played with their gifts. Sophia was overjoyed to receive some "big girl" gifts, like a lite bright and a Bride and Groom doll! My favorite moment at my parent's was when us kids gave them their gift. I just knew my Mom would cry, and she didn't disappoint. Back in November we got professional pictures done to present to them as a gift. They adored the big print of all of us kids/grandkids/grand dog, and Mom totally lost it as she looked through the photo book we'd created of all the other shots. Dad liked it too... but I don't think he cried. :)

Mom and Dad looking through the photo-book.

Riley adores his new Mr. Potato Head play set!

It's a Lite Brite!!! Can't you just feel the excitement?!?!

All the girls.

All the boys.

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So, Christmas is over, our tree, at the moment, is still up - but hopefully it'll get packed away this week. Now we have winter to enjoy (I say that just a bit sarcastically, ha!), a crazy house to organize, and the birth of a little girl to anticipate!!!

Christmas is sort of like a great vacation... so fun to plan for, anticipate and experience, but, when it's over, I'm sort of ready to move past and get on with things. I thank the Lord for a blessed Christmas!