Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! We had a wonderful Holiday filled with wonderful weather, good food, loving family and lots of laughs. We began our Christmas morning with the traditional opening of presents from Santa Clause. Ellie has been very excited about Christmas this year and is to the point where she's beginning to understand the traditions such as Baby Jesus, the Nativity, Santa Clause and presents. So, come Christmas morning when it was time to open presents she could hardly stand it! She would open one gift and want to open it and play with that particular thing and would forget about all the other gifts. We had to keep reminding her that there were other things still under the tree. She's been constantly playing with her new games, reading her books, playing and singing us songs on her new keyboard and sharing her chap stick with EVERYONE!

Thomas enjoyed Christmas as much as we had thought he would. It was a pretty usual day for him he received some new clothes and a few toys to chew on. I have to be careful not to keep calling them "chew toys" because it sounds like I'm talking about my dog or something.

Heath gave me a earring-necklace set of some hearts and they are absolutely beautiful. He kept telling me that he didn't know what to get me, but I really do love them. Plus, I told him I like to receive jewelry from him because that is something that I wouldn't go out and buy for myself. So it was very thoughtful and a lovely gift. I really do love and appreciate all that he does for us!

Heath's big thing for Christmas was that he purchased his out of state hunting license and tags for an elk hunt in Idaho for next year. The tags for the fall '09 season went on sale Dec 1st so he got his gift a little early, but I think he is certainly the most excited! My dad said it best when he said we all got lucky with Heath's gift because Heath will get to go hunting and the kids and I will get to stay with my parents for a week and a half! So really we all win! He also received a deer call from Mom and Dad which will aid in his hunting this year too.

After we had our morning fun we drove over to Heath's sisters house. Lila and James have new baby goats at their house and they are absolutely adorable! So we spent some time with family, and enjoyed our 70+ degree weather! I have to say with as much snow that everyone is receiving throughout the country...I am loving this winter in Texas!

We then came home and made a delicious Christmas dinner and enjoyed it with Janie and Rayford. I'm truly grateful for all of my many blessings and for all the countless ways the Lord has blessed my life. We had a wonderful Christmas day and hopefully the spirit of love and giving will extend into our new year!