Merry Christmas!

What a beautiful Christmas day! We got some fresh snow last night so we enjoyed a white Christmas. Our two oldest woke up at 7:30 am. We told them to let the others sleep until 8am. All of the kids enjoyed opening presents. Ree opened hers so fast that she thought everyone else had more presents. K loved tearing off the wrapping paper. He didn't care about the presents until everything was unwrapped. Then we had our warm Christmas breakfast; this year: waffles, sausage, bacon. After that the kids raced to get Steve and I to put together presents for them. We were debating about pulling them away from their toys but did it to make it to my parents' for the phone call at 11am. We visited my parents, talked with my youngest brother on the phone, then visited my mother-in-law. We then spent the rest of the day doing my favorite activity: playing with our kids!

Last Saturday we went on a miniature train ride. We stopped at Santa's workshop and he reminded the kids why we celebrate Christmas. After he gave each child a candy cane he told them that when it is held upside down it is the letter J for Jesus. When held upright it is the shepherd's crook, reminding us to follow Christ like the sheep follow the shepherd.

I love the symbols of Christmas! Red = blood of Christ, white = purity, wreath = eternity, tree = point to heaven, star & candle & lights = Star of Bethlehem, bell = follow our Savior, bow = ties mankind together, candy cane = shepherds crook, green = hope.