Christmas 2012

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays.  Although this was a sad month, if we had not lost my 4th pregnancy then our baby would have been born this month. We also ended up losing my 5th pregnancy this month so it was doubly sad. I learned early on that we don't always get what we want for Christmas.  I also know that God has a plan and it's bigger than mine.  Despite the sadness, it was a wonderful holiday and the most important part of it was celebrating Christ's birth and spending time with family.

We realized that we have not spent Christmas in the States since 2007. So the past 4 years we were in Germany. We sure missed our friends from Germany this year as well as visiting all the Christmas markets. However, I think Caden enjoyed his first Christmas in the States and with extended family and overall are so happy to be back. We also were blessed with a white Christmas! Caden was super excited to see the snow Christmas morning. We have not seen snow since the day we left Germany.

This year's newest tradition was starting December 1st, Caden opened one book a day about Christmas until Christmas Day. We read Luke 2 on Christmas. He loved it and so did we. He still has his favorite stories he wants to hear every night before bed but this added to them.

We really enjoyed spending our first Christmas at our new house. We are slowly going to add to our Christmas decorations. Collin decorating outside with candy canes. One of Caden's favorite Christmas stories is The Legend of the Candy Cane. When we saw we could decorate with candy canes we were excited. We even added a mother goose and her two babies. Hopefully next year we'll put lights up on our house and in our bushes once they grow a little more. I think the house looked great.

December has been a fun and busy month. Caden saw Santa Claus three times and Mrs. Claus once. We took him to a Christmas Market in Arlington, my dad took him to see him at the mall, and he visited his school. We don't really emphasize Santa but he knows who he is.

Caden helped me bake lots of cookies. We took some to friends, neighbors, and the people who work at my grandmother's nursing home. He loves helping me cook and bake and I love his help.

We took Caden on a drive to look at Christmas lights and he fell asleep. Hopefully next year we'll do the Christmas Express where we pack hot chocolate and popcorn and take him in his pjs. Collin and I enjoyed the looking at them but wished Caden was awake to see all the beautiful lights everywhere. Thankfully our neighbors did a great job decorating so he got to see those and the ones in my parent's neighborhood.

Christmas Eve we mainly spent the day at home. I cooked a cranberry stuffed, pecan covered pork roast, brussel sprouts, and colorful potatoes for lunch. That evening we went to my parents for a variety of dips and a taco dinner.

Christmas morning Caden woke up and got his new toys. He gets three gifts on Christmas Day just like Jesus got three gifts. He was so excited and has been playing non-stop with all his new toys. Christmas Day was the big family celebration. We were planning on having it at our house this year but with Caden catching the flu last week and me having the miscarriage, my parents thought it was best to host. Everyone had a great time. There were 20 of us and poor Caden was the only kid. One day hopefully he'll have some cousins or a sibling. He had a great time anyway. Being an only child he's used to primarily being around adults.

The only thing that would have made Christmas even better would have been if Collin's parents and families could have joined us and if Grandmother Dot could have joined us.

We hope your family had a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year! Here are lots of pictures from Christmas this year.

He picked his first book to read

Father and son reading together

Baking with Mom

Such a good helper and student!

Best part of baking cookies is eating them!

Look at my gingerbread man!

Some of the cookies we baked and decorated

Christmas Eve morning

Which ones can I open?

Christmas Eve lunch

Night before Christmas

Everything is ready

Christmas morning.  Love my child!

I got a big tool bench!

He also got some musical instruments

The third gift was a scooter!

With my cousin and sister

My parents

Love my husband!

Most of the family, thanks for taking this Collin

Caden and Great Grandmother Charlene

Caden with his granddad and great grandmother

4 generations

We loved all the snow!

I wish our lights were on.  First snow at our new house on Christmas Day!

We loved all the cards from friends and family



This year's Christmas card

Me and Grandmother Dot!



Caden slept in Christmas morning. A true gift to us!