Christmas Morning 2013

Our Christmas is spread out between two days. On Christmas Eve the Pagel side comes to our house and we do our family Christmas with theirs. Then on Christmas morning we open stockings then head to the Cohans then head to the Mikesells.

We use Christmas to celebrate Jesus' birthday. On Christmas eve we include a cake and everything. On Christmas morning we open the best gift that's ever been given.....

 Our Manger sits empty all season long.

 Until we open Baby Jesus on Christmas Day!

 It is his birth we celebrate on this Holy Day. It is on this day we add him to the stable!

New Tree

Ryan and I have never bought a tree in the 7 years we have been married. We were given 2 trees when we got married, that we lost in the flood. We were then given a pre-lit tree from a lady at mom time when they asked what we need after the flood. That lasted us 3 Christmases. Well the lights started to go and Ryan really wanted to get a new tree. So, we got 2. We got this white one and then a green one and are going to alternate the trees between the years. We were able to get both trees for $87!

Favorite Christmas Gifts

Sammie's rocking horse she got from Juli...that she loves and carries around the house!

Sammie's baby that she named George...she likes to feed him/her the bottle.

A wooden train set from Mommie and Daddie.

A motorized "coops". (scoop)

The kids received lots of gifts this year for Christmas. Thank you to everyone that gave them something! Here are there current favorite gifts. If you dont see yours give them time!

Jesus' Birfday

Dash and Sammie had helped us put up the Christmas tree this year. We were given a new one after our two were flooded. The one we were given is a pre-lit and smaller. So we were able to start decorating a lot sooner :)
We bought the kids some new ornaments(Cars and Princess) to put on themselves and that were not glass. Most of our ornaments are glass! After we had the tree decorated we put the star up and Dash said "mama, birfday" WOW way to observe or just know. I am not sure where he thought that from, all i can think is that the lights looked like candles.
I said you are right Dash it is Jesus' Birthday. "Yeah birfday". And we all know that cake is one of the best parts in celebrating a birthday. Thus starts the tradition of making a birthday cake for Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread Houses

Today we made gingerbread houses out of grahmcrackers, powdered sugar, and frosting. Sammie pretty much just wanted to lick the frosting while dash put more on the house than ate :)

I am excited to keep up this tradition.