Christmas

This Christmas one was a very unusual one for our family... we were home! Because our extended family lives all across the country, we always travel to see them for the holidays. Since we've lived in MT, we've never attended a Christmas Day service at our church. (Just one year, we went to church here on Christmas Eve but then flew out on Christmas Day.) So, it definitely felt strange this year to not be packing up or traveling anywhere.

We certainly missed our family for the Christmas celebrations. But, we did see the majority of them in Texas just a few weeks prior, so it ended up being a perfect balance. On Christmas Eve, we attended a 6pm candlelight service. Jaden and Cody looked very handsome in their green and red tops from Grammy and Papa!

I'm not sure what the hand gestures are here, but this pic gives a good view of their fancy church shoes, too.

The highlight of the service for the boys was holding a battery-operated candle (that the church provides for little ones) during Silent Night. Unfortunately, the boys figured out how to turn the candles on and off, so our candles were flickering quite a bit. :)

After church, we came home, put on PJs, and let the boys open their stockings. 

They needed very little help with the wrapping paper this year.

The boys received just a couple of small gifts-- Hot Wheels motorcycles (which they didn't want to put down!) and a pack of Thomas stickers (which we used for church the next day).

Christmas Day didn't quite go according to Mommy and Daddy's plans. We will likely never have another Christmas morning like it! Originally, we thought we could open presents first thing, before church. But, both boys slept until 7:30 (like I said, probably the last time THAT's ever happening!), so we ran out of time. Neither boy asked about presents at all, though, so it worked out fine.

Here are the boys on Christmas morning. Would you believe that I found these sweaters at 2 different garage sales this summer? Perfect! It was hard to get good, natural smiles for the pictures, but these sure show a lot of personality. :)

Cody, Jaden

After church, everyone was hungry, so we ate lunch first and then went downstairs to open presents. Cody kept saying, "No open presents, play hide-and-seek!" Jaden started asking to take a nap. At some point, both boys started throwing a tantrum So... Mommy and Daddy decided that our gift-opening needed to be delayed, and naptime took priority. (Can you tell that Jaden and Cody don't quite yet get the concept of opening gifts??)

It was a good decision. Both boys woke up much happier, and we started our gift opening around 4:00pm. Probably one of the last families in the country... :) First, we looked at a picture book of Jesus' birth and talked about why we give gifts.

Then, when the gifts were actually right in front of them, Cody and Jaden did seem to show a little more excitement.

It was fun to watch them be quite independent with the unwrapping. 

After opening 2 or 3 gifts, however, the boys seemed to lose interest. Apparently, running laps around the living room holds a much greater appeal for a 2-year-old. :) We made it through eventually, though, and then spent the evening with some good friends in town. Overall, it was a very relaxing couple of days and nice to avoid the hassle of winter/Christmas travel.

Most of all, we were thankful to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. We praise God for sending His Son on that First Christmas long ago. We would be lost without Him. What an indescribable Gift!