Christmas 2005

Even though we didn't travel back to Iowa and had no relatives visiting us, we still managed to have a fairly busy Christmas. Or maybe it just seemed like it due to three very young children! :) On Sunday, December 11, Ethan was in his first ever Christmas Program. This was also the first time Krystin and I had been to church since she was born.
The following Sunday - on the 18th - we opened gifts from Gpa and Gma Jordan. (Papa Masson's arrived later in the mail and Gpa and Gma Collingwood are bringing theirs in January) That night we drove around looking at Christmas lights. Christmas Eve day we opened our stockings. Dan then had to be at church by 6:00 pm because he was singing in the Christmas Cantata. Christmas morning we went to church and then came home and had our Chirstmas Brunch. (scrambled eggs, grapefruit, and cherry turnovers) After nap time, we opened presents. Then we had our snack food and watched a movie. I hope in spite of Dan's and my sleep depravation /lack of energy that the kids still had a fun Christmas - and more importantly "caught" that Christmas is about baby Jesus. I think they did - especially with help from the music CD from Ethan's Program. One of the kids favorite songs to sing at home says: "Christmas without Christ, there's no reason to rejoice. Christmas without Christ, there's no Saviour, there's no joy. Christmas without Christ, oh it makes me want to cry. Why bother having Christmas without Christ"



Ethan in his 1st-Ever Christmas Program on Sunday, December 11th. The 3 & 4 year olds sang with the kids choir for the first 4 songs and then came back on stage for the final song. Ethan did SUCH a good job - both singing and actions. Dan and I were very proud (and i had a hard time not bragging to other parents that he was the BEST 3 year old up there! He even did better than some of the older kids) :)


The girls in their matching pink dresses after church on December 11th. (Aren't they precious?!)


The stockings were hung by the fica tree with care...


Dan sang in the Cantata for both Chirstmas Eve and Christmas Day church services. He also had an entire song solo which he sang magnificantly (OTHER people said so, too!). The song lyrics and tune were beautiful, but written in a fairly high key. I think in a couple spots he sang higher than I do! I was going to take a pic of him singing his solo, but didn't want to distract him and mess him up!


The "Fam" decked out in our finest Christmas attire in front of the Church's Christmas tree.


Krystin (8 weeks) waiting for the Christmas festivities to begin. Her cute outfit is compliments of Gpa and Gma Collingwood.


Kaylin getting pretty excited about the pretty paper and bows. Which, by the way, she can now say "bow". She has recently added "dog, pink, bee, blue (boo), and ball" to her list of words she can say. (Dad, Mom, up, NO) She just BEAMS when we recognize what she is trying to say :)


Ethan waiting patiently for his gifts


Ethan's gifts. The red box on left is a pop-up punch bag. The "V-Smile" is a learning video game for the T.V. The eggs containing 3-D puzzles of a snake, alligator, lizard, and turtle. Not shown are his bag of whiffle golf balls from Kaylin.


Kaylin's gifts. The star wand is from Ethan.


Krystin "opening" her gifts.........with the help of her siblings!


Krystin's 1st Christmas loot. So far Ethan and Kaylin have been enjoying the gifts for her :) (Ethan bought the Food book and Kaylin bought the Animals book)


The kids with their "Christmas Money" jars. The month of December they would get dimes and quarters for doing various tasks around the house. Then the Wednesday before Christmas we went to the dollar store so they could purchase gifts for everyone. They really got into it and were so cute dragging their shopping hand carts around! Then they each got to personally hand the cashier the money (she was very patient and kind) for their purchases. That afternoon they got to choose which paper and bows to wrap their gifts in.



Britt with her gifts. Coasters are from Ethan and the cow milk mug is from Kaylin. The Gift Certificate from Dan is for a 1 hour professional massage.


Dan with his Christmas Gifts. The "Hercules" and "Car Crash Rescue" VHS tapes are from Ethan and Kaylin.


Our Christmas Goodies
For Supper on Christmas day we spread a blanket on the Bonus Room floor and ate the above goodies while watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". This was the first time either Ethan or Kaylin saw the cartoon. It was a big hit and we think we'll do it again next year.


Watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". The kids were enthralled :)