After being snowed in on the farm, we had several traditions to continue when we got home.....(it was sort of like the 12 days of Christmas for us this year)
First came the gift exchange from relatives afar (packages from Nana and Papa and Aunt Carrie's family were waiting for the kids when we arrived)....Thank you to all who sent gifts! We had quite the celebration! Here are a few pics of the kids opening/playing/modeling their new items....
And then our family gift exchange....(didn't get many pics on this day -- I think I was tired out from taking so many pictures earlier in the day of the kids opening the first round of presents - I neglected to take any pictures of Luke)
The next morning the kids opened their stockings (I sent Santa an e-mail to let him know what happened so he would know to come fill the stockings a little late ;-) )
Advent Lighting....(we lit our Advent candles every night at the dinner table for our centerpiece. So we ended up having to change out the original candles and replace them with gold)
Catching up on our Advent Calendar....putting baby Jesus on the scene....
and last but not least....A birthday party for Jesus (with the traditional Black Forest Cake) (never got a picture of the cake before we cut into it!)
Although things were not done on schedule, our holidays were still filled with hope, peace, love and joy! And Jesus' birth was celebrated by all!
The Christmas cookies are gone, the tree is down, and the lights are packed away for next year but Jesus is still living in our hearts and shining in all the dark places of our lives and we remember God's gift to us each day as we thank him for sending Jesus to earth.
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