JOY

We had much Christmas JOY this year!

The lights on the square were extra special to us this year since our daddy is now part of the lighting committee. He spent hours upon hours perfecting the display that draws thousands to our town.

His personal addition to the light show is the beautiful gazebo. Many many family pictures were taken here, and one couple was even engaged in it!

The participated in a Christmas art contest. Audrey's project was a tree made with rolled up pieces of paper!

Brenna made a Matisse style abstract Christmas tree collage!

Our elf Jingle was back this year! The girls always love his shenanigans.

We made our annual gingerbread man for the Gingerbread Hunt at school...always a hit!

And of course, we met the big guy...

We all took turns as bell ringers. It was a long chilly shift, but we had lots of laughs tallying people that came into the store. Brenna was a sore-loser until a busload of kids got off across the street and gave her 40 tallies immediately.

Snow (machine) on the square!

Pretty girl ready to sing at church

"helping my mom carry in the groceries."

Polar Express Field Trip--Audrey 3rd grade

A forever favorite Christmas memory...Christmas morning in church with their new Bibles

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Our Christmas finale was held at Uncle Kevin and Aunt Deanna's house in Justin. It is always a fun time with family as we eat deliciously and take turns watching each other open Christmas and birthday gifts. There is also a hilarious gift card exchange between the adults.

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Time for Mimi and Pop's house! We thought last Christmas was the last in Krum but we were blessed with another year.

 And the greatest blessing of the season is the news that there will be another grandbaby next Christmas! James and Sydney are expecting their first baby in June!

 I'm married to a 35 year old!

 Mimi passing on her sewing skills...

 The girls also really enjoyed playing with Jake, the cousin dog :) Pidge wasn't so crazy about him lol...

Christmas finale next!

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Christmas morning and Santa came! This was actually the first year we have ever spent Christmas morning at home. And the girls were a little concerned that Santa would know where we were especially since we had moved.

But never fear! Their visions of sugarplums came true...

Brenna's Native American doll with horse to ride, Aquabeads, and books!

Audrey's new "American doll" with jewelry accessories and Aquabeads...

Stocking surprises...

And then my most special part of Christmas morning...we dressed in our best for church. I wish every Christmas would occur on a Sunday morning! How special to be in God's house with our little family to celebrate the birth of His Son on His actual birthday!

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Christmas Eve at Granny's--this is where I have spent Christmas Eve for my entire life.

We were missing a couple of important cousin families, and you can't see any of the men since they retreated into the TV den, but you can see the activity of the night...

This may be the busiest/most crowded/loudest/wildest/hottest/most tiring place anywhere in the history of Christmas Eves...but I love it.