Christmas 2013

And, just like that, Christmas is over.  But, it's never really over, because we should celebrate Christ's birth every day!

Even though we're back in CA, we still did lots of driving over the past 5 days…but it was worth it.  We had such a wonderful Christmas.  We drove up to Antioch on Saturday and arrived in the early afternoon.  We helped Grandma F to finish decorating and sang Christmas carols.  Sunday morning, we attended a service at the church Peter grew up going to and saw a lot of friends.  Afterward, we met up with some of Peter's cousins in the Sacramento area for food and games.  Sunday night, we hung out with one of our very favorite families (Peter's good friend Ezra, his wife Karyn, and their 5 awesome kids).  Monday was "Christmas".    We bustled around doing errands.  Then, we came back to the house for a scrumptious ham dinner.  That night, we opened gifts with Peter's parents and his brother.  Tuesday morning, we made the long drive down to the LA area.  We arrived at my Grandma's at around 3 and waited for the tamales to be done.  We all opened gifts that night, and we had a fun "camp out" at my parents house (there were 7 people and two bedrooms--lots of fun!).  Christmas morning, we slept in and had a light breakfast.  Then, we headed out to my other Grandma's house for a couple hours before heading home (Peter had to work a 12-hour shift today, which is why we didn't stay another day).  Once home, the kids opened their few gifts from us and we had a light dinner of sandwiches and fruit..  We watched Elf one last time with hot cocoa and candy canes and then we CRASHED.

It was a fun and busy Christmas holiday.  Hope yours was too!

Ready for Christmas Eve Eve with Peter's parents and brother

My gift from Peter and his parents and brother!  I was shocked and thrilled!

Christmas Eve at my Grandma and Gramp's house

Tamales!

With Great-Grandma and Gramps

The Fam

With Aunt Jill

With Grandma and Grandpa

 Cousins

Mayhem

Christmas morning and Christmas Day at my other Grandma's house

Wrestling with Charlie

With Great-Grandma B

The Season of Advent

For the past several years, we've been celebrating the season of Advent.  That is, we've been focusing on Jesus' arrival as opposed to all the hoopla of "consumerism Christmas".  We do get gifts for the kids (a few inexpensive ones) plus some stocking stuffers (practical things that we'd buy anyway, such as markers, crayons, toothbrushes, toothpaste, a special treat), and we buy or make small gifts for immediate family members, but that's about it.  (We do buy or make an ornament each year for the kids, including Ezra.)  We've never done Santa or Elf on the Shelf.  We stopped getting the chocolate "advent" calendars several years ago and opted for special activities to do each night.  In addition, we've added daily Scripture readings that are directly related to Jesus' birth.  It's been a fun tradition and we plan to continue even as the kids get older.  We're just adjusting the activities each year to be age appropriate.  We're spending time with our kids and building memories that will last a lot longer than anything we would have spent money on.

This year, I thought I'd post our 25 Advent activities and Scripture readings and some photos of the fun we had.  Here they are:

Day 1 -- Make snowflake decorations. (Isaiah 9: 1-7)
Day 2 -- Tell a friend from school you think they're cool. (1 John 1: 1-5)
Day 3 -- Pray for deployed soldiers and their families; pray for peace. (Jer 33: 14-16)
Day 4 -- Write a list of 10 things you're thankful for and share it with someone. (Micah 5: 2-5)
Day 5 -- Make a card for a loved one and mail it. (Isaiah 11: 1-5, 10)
Day 6 -- Mail out Christmas cards. (Luke 1: 5-25)
Day 7 -- Sing a song of praise to Jesus. (Luke 1: 26-33)
Day 8 -- Draw a picture of baby Jesus and give it to a friend. (Luke 1: 34-38)
Day 9 -- Light a candle and pray for a sick loved one. (Luke 1: 39-45)
Day 10 -- Create some DIY gifts. (Luke 1: 46-56)
Day 11 -- Sort through clothes and toys and find a place to donate some.  (Luke 1: 57-66)
Day 12 -- Say thank you to a teacher today.  (John 1: 1-4, 14)
Day 13 -- Walk around and look at Christmas lights in your neighborhood.  (Matt 1: 18-25)
Day 14 -- Make treats and bring them to a neighbor you don't know. (Phil 2: 3-7)
Day 15 -- Go see the live nativity at Oak Park Christian Church. (Matt 2: 1-2)
Day 16 --  Pass out candy canes in the community. (Matt 2: 3-6)
Day 17 -- Light a candle and pray for the poor, the sick, and the homeless.  (Matt 2: 7-8)
Day 18 -- Watch "Elf".  (Matt 2: 9-12)
Day 19 -- Fill a stocking with goodies and leave it on a friend's doorstep. (Isaiah 60: 1-5)
Day 20 -- Watch Christmas cartoons. (Luke 2: 1-7)
Day 21 -- Sing Christmas carols. (Luke 2: 8-12)
Day 22 -- Invite friends over to play games.  (Luke  2: 13-14)
Day 23 -- Go for a hike (we didn't get around to this one this year.....)  (Luke 2: 15-18)
Day 24 -- Learn about the family Christmas traditions of parents and grandparents. (Luke 2: 19-20)
Day 25 -- Celebrate Jesus today!  (Read Luke 2: 1-20)

Day 1

Day 4

Day 6

Day 8

Days 9 and 17

Day 10

Day 14

Day 15

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 24

Merry Christmas!

Here's our Christmas card this year!  Sorry if you didn't get one.  We have 12 left--if you want one, email or text me your address!  Hope your day is Merry!  I will recap our day tomorrow!  ❤

Alayna's B-day Weekend

We celebrated Alayna a lot this week.  First, with the trip to Disneyland.  Then, she picked all the meals we're eating through tomorrow.  Then, mini cupcakes in her classroom.  Then, a Spaghetti dinner with the Coxes, and more cake, plus ice cream.  Then, my parents came for a visit and we had brownies before they took her out to dinner.  After my parents left, we watched a movie of Alayna's choice and had popcorn and hot cocoa.  Finally, today after church, we went for a bike ride to the park and afterward, she helped me bake cookie bars for a cookie exchange party I'm going to tonight.  It's been fun celebrating her.  Here are some photos from her birthday weekend and a short "interview" with the birthday girl herself.

Handing out treats to her classmates

 NINE!

With M&Z

Grandma and Grandpa!

With cross-stitch art she worked on with Grandma F -- framed as a gift

Playing a new silly game given to her by Brian and Ginger

Movie + Popcorn!

Bike ride to the park

 Even MORE baking!

Birthday Interview
What is your favorite color?  BLUE

What is your favorite food?  MEXICAN RICE

What is your favorite animal?  WOLF

What do you like to do for fun?  DRAW, PAINT, READ, PLAY PIANO, PLAY GAMES

What is your favorite board game?  LIKEWISE

What is your favorite book?  RAMONA FOREVER by BEVERLY CLEARY

Who is your favorite musician?  FIVE IRON FRENZY

What is your favorite song?  WHERE ZERO MEETS FIFTEEN

What do you like most about yourself?  BEING AN ARTIST

What do you want to be when you grow up?  ART TEACHER