Get Ready, Get Set, Get Looking at a Slew of Photos!

It's been a few days since I've been able to post on here for multiple reasons. The busyness of the holidays (and the clean-up afterwards), having all my school kids here this week because school is out, the stomach bug hit Samantha and I yesterday, and I was having difficulties getting my photos to post on here. But as you will see, that particular issue has been fixed seeing as I have many photos posted for everyones' visual pleasure.
I'd like to start by saying that I hope all of you had a blessed Christmas, enjoying the excitement of the celebration of Christ's birth!
Christmas Eve we always spend at my parent's house. It is a fun tradition, mostly because it doesn't take us away from our own home and family on Christmas Day itself! We enjoyed spending time together, and yet missed my brother Benjamin and his girlfriend Melissa (they had to work) We had a nice meal together, sang some Christmas Carols, and exchanged gifts!
We were up a little before 7 am Christmas morning. The kids opened stockings and we did our family gift exchange. I loved all my gifts, but I must say my favorite was my big gift from Bob. He got me (and him) two months of ballroom dance lessons. I used to love to dance (I did country line dancing, couples dancing, and a little swing) and I am always begging for dates with him- his gift helps me to have both- dancing with him and a date! I am SO EXCITED! :)
Samantha's favorite gift was a new flute- she squealed with delight when she opened it! Wayne had two favorite gifts, one was a gameboy from dad, and a remote control snowmobile from Wayne's other mother. Wayne also got a full sized electronic keyboard that he really likes (I bought it used because they are so expensive in the stores, but it is really nice!- he has expressed an interest in learning how to play piano, so I'm hoping this might help. One of the ladies from church volunteered to help teach him. Samuel has a few favorites- he got a Little People's Noah's Ark from Daddy he loves to play with and chew on the animals. He also got an electronic Nursery Rhyme book that he loves to "read". His other favorite came from his cousin Corynn- she with the help of Mama and Papa got Samuel a large white Christmas Puppy. He loves to cuddle with it and play with it. I love watching him play, he is at the point where you can sit him down, and he will play by himself with his toys!
I finished Samuel's baby bible book- as seen in the photos. I hope that he will enjoy reading it at church (and home) and it will be a stepping stone in his love and knowledge of the LORD.
We enjoyed worshipping the Lord, and celebrating Christ's birth the right way at church. It was really nice enjoying a sermon about the true meaning of Christmas! We also had a wonderful meal together and finished up our meal reading the Christmas Story. Enjoy the photos, and I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours!

Page 10- Last page of Samuel's book, but Certainly Not Least! 

Page 9- these photos aren't that exciting, but I felt it was important to include them in Samuel's baby book because they are all about his Salvation! 

Page 8- how appropriate for this time of year! 

Page 7 

Page 6 

Page 3 

Page 4 

Page 2 

These got out of sequence, but you'll get the jest! Page 1 

Page 5 

Samuel Baby Bible book- made by me for his first Christmas! 

Our table set in splendor in Celebration of the birth of our King Jesus! 

Samantha, our little hamhead (can you tell which one is our Sunday dinner?) 

Wayne was excited to receive a Remote Control Snowmobile from his other Mother! 

Samantha in her holiday PJ's opening a gift. 

Opening stockings Christmas Morning 

Kissin' Cousins :) 

Wayne looking at his new devotional book 

All the children gathered for the distribution of gifts. 

Nazion, one of Santa's little helpers! 

My mom staring in wonder and amazement 

I'm ready to lick my candy cane now! 

Time for our Christmas photo shoot Mama! 

Enjoying some "NON" alcoholic wine! 

The Countdown till the Celebration of Christ's Birth

I wanted to post yesterday but I couldn't find the time, even in the wee hours of the morning. I have barely enough time to post this morning but I really wanted to at least write a paragraph or two.
I too have been doing baking, but none so grand as my sister or friends. I have made Peanut Butter Buckeyes, Oreo balls dipped in white chocolate (thanks to the idea from my sister-in-law Sherry), chocolate dipped pretzels, frosted sugar cutout cookies, shortbread cookies with caramel and nonpareils, chocolate peanut butter fudge, and today I will be moving away from cookies and candies, and making banana bread with some too ripe bananas I have (I've been making so many fattening things that the healthy fruit was put to the wayside) :(
I decided I wanted to make a fabric church book for Samuel for Christmas but it isn't turning out as planned- I'm very disappointed. I bought fabric markers in bright colors, so that I could draw the pictures on myself and color them in brightly for Samuel since he loves color. I did two pages, and they look faded and boring. The bright colors faded once on the fabric. It looks more like a cheezy coloring book than a nice church book. At this point I don't think I have time to even try to salvage it. I may have to scrap the gift for the time being and try and make a new one for his birthday, but it stinks because I was really excited about making him a gift for his first Christmas.
Today is my last day with my daycare munchkins until next Monday. I bought them each a gift, and gave each parent a Christmas card as well. I have been doing this for 3 years now, and I have one parent that never even says thank you, or gives our family a card. Then I have another parent who gave me a personal gift, Samuel a gift, a Christmas card and two family photos. Talk about a serious contrast! The sad part is that the 2nd one is new- I've only been caring for her daughter for a few months, the first one is from when I actually opened my daycare. It is nice to feel appreciated- just a pat on the back makes me feel encouraged and "golden"!
Well, time is up for now, have a blessed Holiday!

Musical Renditions

I don't have a whole lot of time to post this morning because I HAVE to get my Christmas cards written out and placed in the mail today, otherwise they won't arrive it time for Christmas. We went to Samantha's Holiday concert on Thursday evening- It was the best school concert I've ever been to! They had different groups of singers, and people playing instruments all around the auditorium. After one group stopped playing, the spotlight went to another group who started immediately playing. This went on for one full hour straight. They ended the concert with all the kids gathering around the auditorium like a circle, and we all sang Christmas Carols (Bob even sang a little, but don't let him know I told you or it may upset his reputation) :) I was so sad not to have a battery in my camcorder, but the school said that they may offer it on video to be purchased- if it isn't expensive I want to get it.
Saturday was our Christmas program at church. We first went Christmas Carolling (a few of us mind you, showed up for that) Then the "masses" came for snacking and the program itself. Our entertainment consisted of Wayne playing jingle bells on the keyboard. Michelle and Bethany singing a duet, and me reading "The Legend of the Candy Cane". We then sang a few carols, but we had to do it from heart because most of our hymnals that had the carols in them were destroyed in the flood. I wish I would have had more time to organize the entertainment part, and I would have run off copies of Carols for people if I would have been on top of things, but I only decided to do the program a week ago. In that time I shopped for, and made a veggie tray, cheese and pepperoni tray with crackers, chips n dip, warm and cold apple cider, chocolate chip cookies, plus got tableclothes, plates, napkins, and set up decorations. I even brought my portable CD player so that we could listen to holiday music while nibbling on niceties.
Sunday, after church we went to celebrate Christmas with Bob's mom. We had pizza, wings, chips and soda with her (she is in a nursing home, and rarely gets such treats) We accidentally left a few of her gifts at home so we are going to put them in the mail for her. I think she had a good time. We also brought her new (and good used) clothes, slippers, socks and unmentionables so she probably thought we were the big guy with a sack full of goodies ourselves!
Well, I've written more than I planned for today. Have a blessed Holiday those of you who are reading this, and won't be reading again till after Christmas!

Santa, Shopping, and Snowmen...

I suppose I should try writing something controversial in order for people to post, since, with the exception of Leah, and no one has done so lately. So, my question is what is everyone's take on "Santa"? I always enjoyed believing in Santa growing up, and I don't believe this affected my Christianity as a child, or as an adult. There is something magical about him, and tiptoeing downstairs in the wee hours to see what this fellow left for me, because he saw enough good in me to leave me a gift. I tend to have a very vivid imagination, so I also believed in Fairies, Unicorns, Animals talking amongst one another, etc...(I'm sure you are all thinking "Now I know what is wrong with her!" :) I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Samantha and Wayne made their first snowman of the season. They put it right up against our porch with the hopes that people of the neighborhood won't destroy him. I hope people will be nicer and allow their snowman to stay up for a while. (Every year they make snowmen and every year someone knocks them down, or takes the head off and smashes it)

I finished up most all of my shopping with the exception of a few small things, now it is time to start on the wrapping of presents, and baking. On Saturday we are having a Christmas Program at church (I sort of took the reigns on it this year because no one wanted to do it) It isn't going to be big, or extravagent, just some Carolling, snacking, and a few people putting together their talents for a small program. I hope it will go well! We don't have the opportunity to meet outside of church for fellowship very often, I think it will be nice.

Samantha has her Christmas concert on Thursday evening. We always enjoy going to it, it will be extra-special though because it will be the first concert in the brand new auditorium in her brand new school. So, the end of my week shall be busy, but fun! If I can just get through the beginning of this week I'll be all set (Samuel hasn't been sleeping so well due to a sinus infection, and teething)

Our Snow Friend is as tall as Samantha and Wayne (which is amazing because we really don't have THAT much snow on the ground!)