Christmas Festivities

Every year our church as a Christmas song service.  Last year Garrett sung with Tom for the first time and this year he had the courage to sing all by himself on the big stage!  He absolutely loves singing Christmas songs...I mean we've been listening to Duck the Halls since July!  (I know it's a little crazy but it makes car rides a little more comfortable some days!) He decided that he wanted to since Hark the Herald Angels Sing.  We practiced and practice and he was ready!

He just about got a standing ovation when he finished.  He was so excited and proud of himself and we were too!  Here he is singing his heart out on the big stage!

This Christmas was extra special because Tom's parents were able to join us on Christmas!  We were all ready for them to come it had been a long time since Tom was able to spend actual Christmas day with his parents.  The boys were so excited to see their Nina and Papa, and of course Roxy!  The day they arrived the boys were running around the house beyond excited and acting super silly!

Once they arrived we enjoyed catching up and doing a little last minute shopping.  They were able to join us for our Christmas Eve service and then we ate a yummy lasagna dinner.  This year we decided to let the boys open one gift...(new Christmas pajamas).  We thought they would be excited, Garrett loves to get new PJ's but to our surprise he was quick to tell us that presents are suppose to be toys.  I was a little sad but it was kind of funny to see him act that way.

 

After much convincing they put their new PJ's on and came back down stairs to chase Roxy around a bit.

After they went to bed it was time to get serious about our gifts.  Tom and his dad worked together to put Garrett's bike together and I finished up the last bit of wrapping.

Everything was all set and ready for Christmas morning.  We were all excited to see and the joy and happiness Christmas day brings! 

Our family tradition of our advent calendar.  This year both the boys got to put the star on the tree.  Then we ate breakfast and read the Christmas story out of our family Bible aka the "fat Bible" as Garrett likes to call it.  This year Papa got to read us the Christmas story. 

They were both anxious to get downstairs to open some presents!!!

Ready. Set. Go! This year Garrett's big present was his first bike.  We got Graham a really cool super huge truck.

Little Man wanted a bike too!  He loved trying it out too!

This was the year for board games.  Garrett got Mouse Trap and Shark Mania.  All Christmas day was spent playing these and along with his new Angry Bird set.

Papa showing Garrett just how to ride a bike.  Here he is practicing before Tom and Papa took him to my school to ride around the blacktop.  The weather was perfect which made bike riding even better!

 

For the past few years Garrett has helped me make a birthday cake for Jesus.  Here we are gathered around to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!  Garrett just couldn't wait to blow out Jesus' candle!

The next few days we just soaked up all the Nina and Papa we could!  We enjoyed hanging around, eating, laughing, and playing.

We even ventured "downtown" for coffee and snack.  Tom took the boys for a wagon ride while I met them at the daycare's parking lot for Garrett to ride his bike.

 Graham and Roxy enjoying a ride together!