This was our first Christmas in the nine Christmases we've spent together as a married couple without any extended family on Christmas Day. We did many fun things during December leading up to Christmas. We did a daily advent calendar (in which we read a Bible verse pertaining to the Christmas story and did an activity), we went to several Christmas parties, went to Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb" concert without the children, baked lots of Christmas goodies, sang and played instrument to Christmas songs, drove around and looked at Christmas lights after getting Graeter's ice cream (an annual tradition), made and wrapped many presents, read lots of Christmas books, and during the last week before Christmas we completed an interactive nativity set called "What God wants for Christmas?".

On Christmas Eve we went with some friends of ours to a nursing home and sang Christmas carols and visited with many of the residents. The older girls, Sadie Beth and Julianne, had drawn pictures for the residents and proudly gave them out. We had lunch together and then went to a Christmas Eve service at Southeast Christian Church. Julianne was so excited about getting to go to "choir" (this is how she refers to the church service) and she did really well sitting quietly and participating in some of the singing. That evening we ate a dinner of "snacks" (Julianne loved the idea and the snack she requested was cookies) and watched the Nativity Story. That night the girls both slept in our bedroom so that we could prepare their Christmas gift in their room.

When they awoke the checked out their new bunk bed and had fun playing on the top bunk until breakfast was ready. Right before breakfast we opened stockings then enjoyed a delicious breakfast of monkey bread. We went to our church a little later for a Christmas worship service, where Stephen sang with the praise team and even had a solo. Julianne really enjoyed being in the service. For lunch we had one of Stephen's co-workers and a family from our ABF class over. We had a great time of fellowship and lots of yummy food. That evening we opened gifts between our immediate family and then were very ready for bed. It was a very Merry Christmas!


Opening gifts from Mrs. Karen (from daddy's work) a few days before Christmas


The girls(minus Melody) posing by the beautiful tree before the Christmas Eve service -


The Mobleys and the Balzers (minus Melody)


Licking the bowl after making our birthday cake for Jesus


First thing on Christmas morning Julianne notice her Christmas gift - a new bunk bed - she gets to sleep on the top bunk


Lorelei likes playing on the top bunk but will eventually be sleeping on the bottom bunk - we'll make this transition sometime in the next couple of weeks


Opening our last box for the interactive nativity


We all got oranges and pennies in our stockings (a Northrip/Bryant) tradition - we also got some other practical items


Lorelei had to reach way in her stocking to find her orange and penny


Our delicious monkey bread


Decorating the birthday cake for Jesus - needless to say there were many sprinkles on the floor and counter that missed the cake


Ms. Mahitha, a co-worker of daddy's, gave the girls some presents one of which was a hooded blanket


Lorelei loved her new cup and spending time with her new friend, Lydia


Posing in Christmas jammies by the Christmas tree


Daddy got a batch of Bunn Bars for Christmas and everybody else wanted some too


Lorelei's new bed complete with the pillows


Julianne's new bed with her new pillows