Christmas 2012

here are all the pictures I took over Christmas

I think they are out of order and half of them are from my camera and the rest are

from my phone.  I didn't feel like making multiple posts :)

We had a fantastic Christmas and spent lots of time with family and got to see some friends new and old as well!  We are so blessed.

opening presents at Papa and Grandma R's house 

opening presents at Papa Jay and Grandma Hunni's house 

 our 16 hr drive turned into three days because of snow :(

it was long.  very long.

yay!  we finally made it to Grandma's house! 

snow on the farm 

 be careful whose phone you take pictures of yourself with :)

Grandma Hunni teaching Lincoln how to shoot?! what? 

a fun girls only afternoon 

independent playing at it's finest

all is calm, all is bright

Luke 2:1-20

"2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Saviorhas been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Did you notice there are no presents under our tree yet?  The main reason for that is because I'm behind on my wrapping : /  But as I thought about it more I realized that I kind of like it that way.  This way we can look at the tree and think about and remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas and not focus on what's underneath the tree (focusing on ourselves and what we want and hope to get for Christmas)  I'll put the Christmas presents out at the last minute before we leave to see family but this way I don't have my toddler thinking all about himself and all the presents he's going to get.  This way I can help him focus on Jesus and HIS birthday.  

And while we are talking about presents we've decided as a family to start doing presents like this:

something they want

something they need

something to wear (jammies on Christmas eve!)

and 

something to read

I've heard of a lot of families doing this and wanted to give it a try!  

"it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...."

Christmas has made it's appearance all over our house!

Here is a glimpse at our Christmas wonderland...

snuggles by the Christmas tree never get old

I made this last year for Lincoln....post here

L's own tree and peppermint lights

 I'm starting an Advent countdown with Lincoln this year too.
I'm really excited that he's finally old enough to understand.
I'm only going to do 12 days since we leave WAY before Christmas day
to head west to see family so this way I'll just do the 12 days leading up
to the day we leave.
I'll do a post about it as soon as I get it up but if you want to make your
own in the meantime here's the link
Oh and she made it for all 24 days not just 12 like I'm going to do.

Now our weather just needs to start acting like it's December around here....
sheesh!  Love me some snow!