Christmas Around the House

We are ready for Christmas! The house is decorated, the presents are bought and wrapped, the family is arriving and there is still so much to see and do! We haven't made it to The Festival of Lights at James Island County Park, we haven't seen the Christmas train at Charleston Place, and the baking hasn't started!

We're doing Christmas at our house for the first time. I'm really excited to be able to start our family tradition of Christmas morning. It won't vary too much from what our families to already except for the fact that we will wake up in our house, in our den Santa will leave presents, and I will be responsible for a Christmas breakfast! What am I going to cook? Well, of course, shrimp 'n grits. I hear Santa likes that kind of cooking!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nick would soon be there.

I love my boys' stockings. I bought them two years ago and have an extra one waiting in the boxes.

Growing up, we always got a new ornament every year. I have continued that tradition with my own children. These are their ornaments this year. Hughes' ornament is the Buzz Lightyear/Wood ornament while BAnks' is the dinosaur from the movie. I bought these ornaments in Disney World during our vacation this past October. Their initials and year are written on the feet of the characters.

These are the ornaments I bought for us our first Christmas as a married couple. David loves fish and, well, I loved these. I still love them!

Jack the Elf has gotten really tricky in his hiding places lately. Right now, he's pretending to be in a jungle spying on the boys. Who knows where he's going to move to next?

I love those faces!

And, the Reason for the Season! It is my Christmas wish that all my friends would know and share the true meaning of Christmas with their fellow friends and family. My family has been blessed by so much this year. We have faced adversity and have been comforted during the hard times by the Father. I believe it is because of our relationship with God. Without his strength, his patience, his forgiveness, and his plan, I would be a lost sheep. Without the babe in the manger, there would be no holiday.

Have a very Merry Christmas!