Day 25 - Happy Birthday Jesus!
The multitude of things we would like to do for this day on our Advent Calendar will have to be postponed until next year. The airlines would not have approved our Advent Wreath nor our candles for the Happy Birthday cake we wanted to make. Next year Elianna will be able to understand better anyway so we will make a big deal of it then next year. But for now, we will discuss this year.
Because I forgot my camera at Eric & Syndey's house, Elianna couldn't look in her stocking until everyone got here and brought my camera. She got her favorite - snacks! That girl could snack all day if I let her! We figured what better stocking stuffer to give her than snacks along with a little baby doll which she has no interest in.
She received many gifts: Paddington Bear book & stuffed bear, monkey plate, books, a small sock monkey, dishes & pan for her kitchen, and doll. But probably the most special gift she received this year was a recordable book that Papa and Grammy gave her. Papa read the dedication page and then he and Grammy took turns reading the pages. It is a very special gift that I know I will treasure for years to come and hope to instill in Elianna that same treasure.
Chris and I got some cool gifts too: gift card, Tervis mugs, picture books and other things I can't remember right now.
We ate a big Christmas dinner at my parents house and then headed over to Chris' mom's house for dinner and to open presents there. (I added the presents we got there in the list above - in case anyone was wondering. If you weren't then please disregard this sentence and the one before this one. All other sentences theretofore and hereafter can be regarded.)
One of my personal highlights of the day was listening to C (he is 8) read the Christmas story from Luke 2. Not only did he do great on the big words (ie: Quirinius, lineage), but it was so sweet to hear him read the story of our Savior's birth.
"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger..."
Luke 2:7a
Caleb reading the Christmas story from Luke 2
Elianna texting all her friends "Merry Christmas"
It was a FSU filled Christmas!

Dad and Mom recorded a storybook for all 3 grandchildren

Dad bought Mom a beautiful ring
After gifts, some got a make-over courtesy of K with her new "makeup"
And then it was off to stuff ourselves ...

... eat Christmas dinner

And for some, take a nap
Christmas at Chris' Mom's house