The Greatest Gifts of All:

Time spent with family and friends celebrating His birthday ...and her ruby red slippers!

Jesus' birthday cake (made by Uncle Darren)

The Christmas Story at Living Stone Church

Empty boxes are fun for kids and adults, right Chas?

Big Sis

Handmade gifts, brown paper packages, and E's artwrap 

Tinker Bell's pixie pals

Christmas morning...Santa brought her the tops and candy canes she asked for;).  May it always stay this simple!

"There's no place like home" for the holidays!

Hansel and Ella

She awakes from her nap and discovers a cottage built of gingerbread, surrounded by bowls of colorful candy:  two for her, one for the house...

...and, with leftover icing and gum balls, she makes a triple layer birthday cake for Jesus!

 Probably a better activity to do AFTER dinner;). 

: : : : : The Day of the Tree : : : : :

: : : : :  The smell of fir needles  : : : : : 

: : : : :  Dashing through the rows of trees  : : : : : 

: : : : :  Puddle jumping  : : : : : 

: : : : :   Disco ball ornament turned microphone  : : : : : 

: : : : :  Playing to the Christmas Tunes  : : : : : 

Out of the blue yesterday, Ella said to Troy and me, "I miss my grandmother and grandfather so much, and I am very sad."  Of course we all cried!  She never had the opportunity to meet my parents--and her time with Troy's was short and sweet.  Little family photo books have been at her fingertips since she was born.  She loves looking at them again and again and hearing silly stories.   As a tribute to her grandparents, we placed four guardian angels on our tree this year.  And of course, she wanted them all facing her bedroom;).  We love her sensitivity and kind spirit!

:  :  :  :  :  A little hootenanny for the grannies--and grampies featuring an out-of-tune bango :  :  :  :  :  

:  :  :  :  :  All the picking and decorating made her tired  :  :  :  :  :  

:  :  :  :  :  and thirsty  :  :  :  :  :  

And so our season and celebration begins!