Our first Christmas as a family! We were very blessed this year with family visits and wonderful gifts. The weekend before Christmas we traveled out to visit Sue and Fred in Iowa. Morganne was a trooper and really didn't fuss at all the entire way there and back. (Did I mention we are blessed!?!?!?) We also had good weather for both trips, were as Lynsey and Derek unfortunately can not say the same (an 8 hour trip home turned into 13.5 due to a severe ice storm). We enjoyed the time spent with family and watching the girls interact in their first Christmas together. They both were great all weekend. I must say I was very impressed by my sister-in-laws craftyness as she made the girls felt lunch bags with toy food inside. They were adorable! Justin was also very excited as he got his Camelbak from his parents for his bike rides. He really made out quite well this year. The only dissappointment for the weekend was at the end when I accidentally deleted all of my Grant Christmas pictures (about 75 of them). Yes, I cried. This was Morganne's first family Christmas and now I had no pictures left of it. Those of you who know how I am with my camera, can attest that I was very upset by this loss. So, the only pictures I have are ones Sue took on her camera and a few of the girls before we left that morning. We have good memories however. We had delicious dinners all weekend including steak and a fabulous cheesecake made by my brother-in-law Derek. I'm not usually a cheesecake person, but this was great. BTW, he sells them, so if anyone is interested I can put you in contact. (He is also starting a catering business Asher Foods and Catering, so if anyone needs a good caterer, again, I can put you in contact.)
We then went to dinner and Christmas eve service with my parents at their church, as ours doesn't do an eve service, and it's a good time to see people we haven't seen in a while. Everyone loved seeing Morganne and we got to see a friend of ours new baby girl for the first time. She is 3 months old, and is just now weighing what Morganne weighed when she was born, and she's still not even as long as Mo was. And, Gracie was full term. Ha! My girl is definitely healthy! Anyhow, we had a good time.
The next morning we woke up and had a small family Christmas together. My dad made us probably my favorite Christmas present, a wooden mirror coat rack for our living room. It's beautiful. (see picture below). I am so impressed by his talent. We went to my parents for breakfast and their Christmas and then up to Phil and Sue's for dinner (they are close member's of the family, practically another brother to my mom growing up). It was good getting to see my grandparents again. I wish we were closer. Morganne makes them smile. Again, we have been so blessed by family, friends, and our health. Justin's mom pointed out that things could have been much worse when I was upset about losing the pictures. She's right. It was a good Christmas.
A few pictures of Morganne's reaction to her new toys:
(Please ignore the clean clothes on the back of the couch in this photo! :cP)
Every child needs a good teddy bear. This one came from Grandma and Grandpa Grant.
Nana made her a sock monkey! He is now loving named King
Luey by Justin (the monkey from the Jungle Book, Justin's new/old favorite kids movie).
I love this picture, they are reading "Pat the Bunny" and there is a mirror on this page.
So tired from opening gifts, Morganne has already crashed on Daddy just an hour and a half after waking up for the morning.
The gorgeous mirror my dad made us... I can't wait to hang it up!
Our annual Christmas photo on Christmas eve in front of my parent's tree. Last year I had a big belly in the photo.... :c)
The vest is one that my mom made me when I was 2 years old. It fits Morganne now... Thought it was fitting for the Christmas get-together.
Morganne and Denver, their first Christmas', playing with their new toys. Aren't they cute!
On our way to
Muncie, to Phil and Sue's for Christmas...
Mo and Granddad being ornery.
Nana and Mo singing Christmas carols together. Well, Mo knew what she was singing....
After dinner, 4 generations snoozing.... This is priceless...
The Grant Christmas pictures... Annabel using Morganne as a step stool...
The lunch bag that
Lysney made the girls even had bendable bacon! How cute!
Kissing cousins!
Morganne and Annabel with Grandpa and Grandma in their matching outfits from Great-Grandma Peg!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!! God Bless!!
Last note: found this video on Jen Sherrick's blog. It's a little after the point, but is pretty awesome and wanted to share. This year with limited budgets, our families made more gifts instead of buying lots of things. I'd like to continue this tradition and then when we can afford to buy more gifts, we give it away instead. Sound good anyone???
