Christmas

Christmas was so much fun this year with Lily being more aware of what was happening all around her.  We had a chaotic but nice service at our church on Christmas Eve.  Our pastor is an artist and he painted an amazing piece as part of the service.  It was hard to pay attention during the sermon because the little bug kept climbing over us, eating her raisins and crackers and wanting to sit in different people's laps (namely Emily and Hilary.)  Phil had to take her out for the last fifteen minutes but she did pretty well for most of the service.  I just love the end of the Christmas Eve service when all of the candles are lit and the lights are out and everyone sings Silent Night.  It is beautiful and a reminder that Christmas is about the birth of our Lord and King.

We stayed at our house on Christmas Eve and the bug woke us up at 6:15, bright and early.  I had to break out my flash to get some decent pictures, little stinker.  We are trying to keep Christmas reasonable, and we gave her two presents from us, one that each of us picked out.  A ball from Dada and a doll from Mama.  She also gets a cross ornament every year, but I'm a little behind and haven't ordered it yet!  There were many more presents from grandparents and aunts and uncles, so she was still spoiled rotten.  Later that morning, Phil's grandparents came over and rode with us to his parents house.  We celebrated with them and had a nice lunch, then came back home.  Our poor tree was so incredibly dry this year, and only half decorated due to the two and a half foot terror, so we ended up taking it down that night.  Normally we are sad to take down our tree, but this year we couldn't wait to get it out of the house, it was that bad!  We had such a wonderful Christmas and had so much fun watching Lily experience it all.  

Opening presents

Loves her new ball

 The doll is ok, but this bag is awesome

 Snuggles with Dada

Snacks for Thimba

 

Loves Pops

Mimi's snow village before it was destroyed by Lily

Thimba the prisoner