Christmas 2013

PART 1, December 21

Top Left: Elijah is looking at his new easel and Battleship game (which his parents enjoyed playing later)
Top Right: Aubrey is sporting her new Rudolph glow nose.
Bottom Left: Joshua is showing off his Christmas Hat while checking out his new plush talking Dusty (the plane)
Bottom Right: Steve and Kimberly watch the kids as Courtney is probably texting (that all too familiar glow).

So we started the Christmas Festivities on December 21 over at the Shulman house in Dacula. But before we headed that way in the afternoon, I started the morning in Colbert at my Men's Bible Study (like every Saturday), but then went back home to pick Elijah up to take him with me to our service project (building a new wheel chair ramp for a family). Can't say he helped as much as I would have liked... hope that just comes in time. Then he and I did a little last minute Christmas shopping for his lovely mother. Then we came back home to get ready to go to our Christmas #1.

Steve an Kimberly had quite a few presents for our little ones. And Elijah could hardly contain himself through dinner preparation and the meal. He kept pulling out the boxes and finding his name on tags. He kept pulling out the boxes and finding his name on tags. Needless to say neither kid was very interested in food. So after we tried to enjoy a delicious meal together, we let the children open their presents.

Elijah has already been enjoying his new planes and keeps bugging me to put up his cool plane display shelf. Both kids have loved their sleeping bag and just had to bring the along to Tennessee. Talking Optimus has been a hit, but the little girl has taken to it more than her brother. Elijah has already put together his legos, and can't wait to see the TMNT movie. Aubrey absolutely loved her Hello Kitty pajamas, and wore them several times over the next week.

And Steve and Kimberly were so sweet and got us a new grill. Can't wait to give that a try--and Stephanie more so (but I have to put it together first). Thank you so much, guys.

PART 2, December 22

Elijah and Aubrey play with Aubrey's new doll house. Aubrey wonders what the world would look like through Obi-Wan's eyes. Elijah looks at his new TMNT toothbrush that he pulled from his puppy stocking. The most creative Christmas pancake that Mama makes.

Well, we got back late, and neglected to even tell the kids that we were going to open presents and stockings here at home the next morning. So once Aubrey got us up (she's always the first one up), we woke Elijah and Joshua up and moved into the Living Room to see what Santa brought. Elijah got a new desk for art and schoolwork from us, and then presented him with all the dress-up stuff that Chuck and Jill and their boys gave us. We gave Aubrey a big doll house (the kind that has no front and just sits agains a wall), and presented her with lots of Kitchen stuff from Chuck and Jill (Thank you so much guys). Once the guys looked through their stockings (candies, puzzles, toothbrushes and a cup, legos, some art supplies, etc.) and opened a few presents, we at a festive pancake breakfast.

We got to relax a little before we started getting ready for our trip. We were planning on getting out of here around 4 so we could make the Christmas Service at The Church at Southside, but even though we worked hard, it just couldn't make it out of here on time. So we ended up leaving after 5 and getting to my parents for a wonderful meal of Chicken Pot Pie. Once again, Elijah kept trying to examine the presents to find which ones were his. So we got the kids in bed, with them anticipating the next round of gifts.

Part 3, December 23

Grand-Mommy enjoying her boys. Aubrey opening her new RaggedyAnn and Andy book. Grand-Da taking pictures. Elijah showing off one of his new Bumblebee figure.

So we got up in the morning, still having to wake Elijah up (he's such a great sleeper). The kids were excited to open yet more presents. I messed with Elijah and handed him everybody else's presents to hand out before giving him his. He acted all dejected at each gift until I handed him his stack. He was most excited about his Bumblebee Rescue Bots (these guys have gotten lots of play time). We had an enjoyable morning, and we surely loved all the wonderful gifts. So we spent more time that morning loading the car back up, then we left shortly after lunch for Tennessee.

Part 4, December 23-25

The Family Afternoon Service at Brentwood Baptist Church. Aubrey, such a doll in her Christmas dress (worn two years in a row). Elijah with his decorated gingerbread man. The 11:00 Christmas Eve service at Brentwood Methodist Church.

Well, the trip to Tennessee was great. The kids slept a lot of the way, and we didn't have stop at all. So once we got to Tennessee, G-Mommy made some delicious home-made chicken-and-dumplings. Afterwards, the kids made Christmas cookies with G-Mommy. The kids weren't too messy, but lots of sprinkles were used in the process. It was hard to keep this kids focused with the enormous new television in the living room constantly calling to them. Of course, it could have been a 13 inch black and white television and it would have still beckoned them.

It was pretty late when we got the kids in bed. Elijah and Aubrey slept together on the air mattress. It didn't take Elijah long to go to sleep after we told them to stop talking, even though he was excited and Aubrey kept crawling over him. But our little girl kept getting out of bed (even more than usual), and we had to go in there probably a dozen times.

Anyway, so the next day, Christmas Eve, we had our evening packed. We went to the early Christmas Eve Service at the Baptist Church with my sister and her family. It was enjoyable, but we got there a few minutes late, the place was packed, and trying to sit through any service, even a short one with kids all around, can be a little distracting. Then we all went over to their house for a wonderful dinner of chicken tortilla soup (It was most yummy, yummy). There we decorated gingerbread men, and then took the kids back to G-Mommy's house to get them in bed.

Then, Stephanie and I were privileged enough to go out on a date and actually enjoy a Christmas Eve Service, just the two of us. We went to Brentwood Methodist Church, a large traditional building with stained glass windows and giant organ pipes. The pastor there had moved there only a year ago from the Methodist church in Lawrenceville and had married Steve and Kimberly last November. It was probably the most beautiful service I've been to. The Sanctuary was spectacular. I usually don't even enjoy choirs, but this one which was made up of probably 100 youth (high school and college) and was spectacular, and combined with soloists and a small orchestra made for the most beautiful worship music including Hallelujah and It Is Well. Pastor Davis Chappell's sermon was wonderful, and we sat next to a nice couple who made us feel most welcome. It made a perfect Christmas Eve.

When we got back, we watched a little Elf, and then went to bed. The next morning we woke up to celebrate Christmas morning at G-Mommy's.

Aubrey enjoying her new skating Dora and Boots. Elijah, checking out another Rescue Bot. Joshua, laid back as ever, just enjoying the show. Elijah and Aubrey enamored by the television.

The kids were excited (I guess it never gets old) to open all their presents. Elijah had not stopped touching all the presents as soon as we arrived, and so he was thrilled to finally open them. Aubrey racked up with playsets, figures, and yet more cute clothes. I think her favorite was the skating Dora and Boots toy. Elijah got a hand-painted Movie Night box filled with popcorn, candy, and a TMNT DVD from Uncle Greg and Aunt Riya (you guys know the way to his heart-the kid loves movie night).

Thank you everyone for being so generous with your gifts and most of all your time this Christmas. We enjoyed spending time with everyone.