Christmas! I love Christmas. It is possibly my favorite day all year, not because of the gifts although I LOVE giving gifts but there a few other reasons why I love Christmas. One it is always one of the most intimate times all year with God because every Christmas morning my Mom pulls out these boxes that she has and they say Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh and then the fourth just says Heart. Each box explains the gifts given to Jesus when the Wise Men came to see him. (Yes we all know that the wise men did not come until he was a toddler but we still do it on Christmas because it's fitting) The little booklets in the boxes goes on to explain how we can give gifts to God and what and why the wise men gave these gifts. Every time we read these boxes I feel like I recommit my heart to God in a new way. It's like a married couple renewing their vows, not because they HAVE to but because they love each other so much that they WANT to make a public statement once again that they are totally and 100% committed to each other always. I feel like I renew my vows with God on Christmas. I recommit to love and cherish Him all the days of my life and I make a statement (in my heart) that His birth will not go unnoticed or untold this year, and neither will His life or death.
The other HUGE reason that I love Christmas is because of my HUGE family! lol. I'm in love with my big, loud family and get such a kick out of them whenever we get together. SO I am posting some photos from our family Christmas Eve Party which we do at the Holiday Inn every year (because we've outgrown any one's home. lol) and hope you enjoy them as much as I do. :)
Selah was literally passed around to every single person there, I'm shocked she didn't come home with a cold since it seemed like everyone else came down with one after the party!
My Dad and my beautiful Mom!
The food is always fantastic and most of the time gone if your the last person in line (at least the tex mex is lol) so you hurry up and get your food asap with this family.
We played a game and Lily helped Grandpa with his.
Beautiful Shiela did amazing with her first Christmas with our family. lol. I think Lee had to leave the room every 10 minutes during his first Christmas with us so compared to him, she was a rock!
My gorgeous Grandmother. She was radiant that night which is not a surprise, she usually is.
The one time that I got to hold my daughter that night. lol
We always sing Christmas Carols, this year Uncle Mike and his sons created a little band and they did great!
Passing out the unending pile of gifts.
Lillian with Great Grandpa
I love this picture of my Grandmother
All in all it was a wonderful Christmas. It was Selah's first Christmas which was very special and Asa and Lily really got it this year which was sooo much fun to see. Although they both pooped out with the present opening Christmas morning and were totally uninterested by the last 4-5 presents because there were just so many of them. lol. Asa hasn't put his woody doll down since Christmas morning, Lily is obsessed with her play kitchen that she got and neither of them have stopped playing with the tent and tunnel that they were given. They love all of there toys and clothes that they got and Mom is having a blast dressing the in their new outfits. :) So ok, now it's the New Year and I have a list of resolutions that I'm going to do. The first is to become a Vegetarian and stick with it this time, the second (which ties to the first) is to lose weight and get healthier and the third is to spend as much time possible loving on my children and my husband. If this year has taught me anything it's that you never know how long you'll have some people in your life and it's worth every ounce of extra energy you take to hug and love on them over and over. SO HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE BLANCHARDS!!!!
