Christmas Eve

Me and my two sweet sisters :)

Precious girls ready for Christmas!

Grandma and 4 of her 5 grandkids! (Drew was definitely missed this Christmas!)

Me and Will with Kate and AnnaClaire

Beautiful AnnaClaire who loved everything about Christmas! (other than big Church!)

Sweet Kate who we enjoyed her first Christmas home!

The birthday cake for Jesus was a big hit

Putting out cookies for Santa!

Little girls checking out Santa's cookie stash

Kate thought they were for her...

We had a very fun Christmas Eve and Christmas! It was so fun spending Christmas with TWO sweet, precious, adorable little ones... and watching Christmas through their eyes, which were lit with JOY! Christmas Eve went by very fast. Mom and Grandma went for some last minute stuff in the morning and I baked a cake for Jesus' birthday "party." Soon enough, we were pulling the cake out of the oven and waking AC and Kate so we could head to the 5:00 family Church service at our Church! This was the second time Kate has been to Church. (she has been staying home with Dad on Sundays, as we aren't ready to put her in the nursery and anyway, Dad has trouble sitting in the pews with his back- by the way, he's getting surgery on the 8th, finally! So pray for him! This has given them some good bonding time, too, as Kate isn't smitten with her daddy.) Anyway, she was much more content and quiet the first time she went to Church. With her and AnnaClaire, our pew was filled with chatter and movement. At one point, AnnaClaire piped up, "I'm ALL DONE with big Church! I want to go play in the nursery!" Both girls decided that they wanted Sissy and so they both sat on my lap chatting and grabbing at things. Atleast it was the family service. I don't think both girls will be sitting in big Church any time soon, that is for sure. They did love the candlelighing to "Silent Night." I wish I couldv'e captured how Kate's eyes LIT up when the candle was lit. It was such a beautiful sight! After Church, we went home for some pictures and dinner. We had potato soup in bread bowls and it was DELICIOUS. One of our Christmas Even traditions is baking a birthday cake for Jesus, lighting candles, and singing the birthday song. So we continued that tradition, to the delight of both girls. AnanClaire loved blowing out the candles and Kate (also known as "Cakers" or "Katie Cakes") proved her nickname true as she chowed down on her cake. The little girls put out cookies for Santa, which really confused Kate. She thought they were for her and started eating one! She definitely has a sweet tooth, if you couldn't tell! She then went to bed and AnnaClaire watched F*rosty the Sn*owman before heading to bed. She was SO excited for Santa to come! She was talking all about how he was coming down the chimney to bring her chips and dippin' sauce!

So there's a recap of our Christmas Eve. It was so fun excitement and joy of two sweet little ones to celebrate with. Christmas day was just as good.... but I'll save that for another day :)

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:9-12