A Merry Christmas to all...

This was such an exciting Christmas.  The season seemed to go on and on (in a good way!) and we just enjoyed every minute of it! The kids were really in to all of it this year and it was so fun!  Compliments of the Cheathams, the kids got to wake up each morning and look for "Phelps" the Elf on the Shelf.  As the story goes, he'd fly home to the North Pole every night and report back to Santa about how the kids behaved that day and then he'd return each morning and land in a different spot.  Some mornings he even brought little gifts with him!  The kids had such fun looking for him and were so excited when he brought a gift; they'd scream "thank you Phelps!!!" We also did lots of baking! I broke out the Kitchen Aid (which has lived way up high in a cabinet for a very long time) and made numerous batches of sugar cookies.  We'd roll them out, with the kids using the rolling pins from their play-doh set, and then ice and decorate them with "sprinklers".  We celebrated Christmas Eve at Chris' parents this year for the first time since we've been married.  It was lots of fun, even if a bit chaotic.  It was sad being away from the Abilene bunch, as we are normally there for Christmas.  And it was my mom's first Christmas EVER away from my Grandma!  But the kids loved getting to be with their cousins and it was all a great time.  Santa made a pretty big delivery at the Andrews home.  A roller coaster ride and a total sports center made the season complete and the kids will no doubt be excited when next Christmas rolls around!

Not to neglect the true meaning of this wonderful season, I bought the kids some little activity books that went through the Christmas story.  We read these books a lot and the kids are really learning.  I was kind of quizzing them one night though and asked whose birthday we were celebrating at this time of year and they thought a minute and said "Savanna!" whose birthday is in fact 12/21 - but obviously not the answer I was looking for!  They'll get there though, I have no doubt.

It is amazing how blessed we are.  I cannot imagine a more wonderfully complete Christmas season!