Christmas 2011

Christmas is always a fun time of year when you have children. Brooks, Reese and Sloane were very excited this year! They are old enough now to understand who Santa Clause is and all of the fun activities like looking at Christmas lights and making cookies. Brooks, Reese and Sloane also know that Baby Jesus was born on Christmas and that He is the reason for this special holiday.

This year I wanted Brooks, Reese and Sloane to make their own cookies to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve. Here are the finished products:
We had fun making a mess with flour and cookie dough.....notice my "glass" rolling pinon the table...ha ha ha...
Brooks, Reese and Sloane ready to start the cookie making process...good thing they were wearing their PJ's and aprons because it was a big mess but they loved every minute of it!

Each year on Christmas Eve, we attend a family friendly church service. I love this tradition because it is the only time we can attend "big church" as a family. The Trio are normally in the childcare during the church service. Brooks, Reese and Sloane know that this night is important because it is the birthday of Baby Jesus.

I love this picture of Steve and Brooks watching the live Nativity Scene...

The children wear hats or headbands and create a live Nativity during the service. Here are our 2 stars and 1 king:
Sitting in the church holding the candles for the candlelight singing of Silent Night

After church, we go out to dinner and then return home to get ready for Santa's arrival...

Our 3 little blessings...

Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, we read T'was The Night Before Christmas and then set out the cookies and milk for Santa
Those cookies look good!
Then we head outside to leave food for the reindeer so they can fly!
Magic reindeer food...
Christmas morning
Opening our stockings from Santa
We are ready to open gifts!
What an amazing year it has been for our family. We are blessed with healthy and happy children, a nice home, amazing family and friends and a year full of wonderful memories! I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for us!