So This is Christmas

The past 8 Christmas seasons I have been employed at Great Harvest Bread Co.  If you have been inside their store during the latter half of December you know that you are lucky if you don't find a long line.  This means that they have to up their production of yummy breads and sweets to accommodate for all the people wanting to share their favorite treat with friends and loved ones.  As an employee you are reminded that you will be putting in longer hours and to be more flexible and patient with your own schedule.  In other words, you won't have much of a life in December.  You won't have much room to carry on with all the traditions you once had or time for the festivities you like to participate in.  Don't get me wrong the compensation you get back is well worth all the long hours!  That was my life then, but since I don't work there anymore, this Christmas season was much different.
I enjoyed Christmas music.  I made sweets (just not for everyone in my hometown).  I watched some snow fall, and played with Andrew in it.  I went to Christmas parties, and stayed the whole time.  I had time to make Christmas presents.  I slept at night.
To be honest, I had almost forgotten what a Christmas season was really like.  Some days it was kinda weird.  But I liked it.

I still helped a little by making signs and doing the board.

The weekend after putting up the Nativity, we put up the Christmas tree.  Andrew got to put up this years family ornament...

Andrew liked Santa!

For Christmas this year, my Mom gave us the 12 Days of Christmas.

Day 5...  5 jars of jam!  YUM!

 Concentrating on unwrapping Day 6... 

A block (6 sided) with all my siblings family pictures on it!

 He loves it!

During most of November and December I worked on knitting Andrew's Christmas Stocking.  I finished it on Christmas Eve at 6PM.  Just in the nick of time.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  We were able to Skype with Briant's parents while they talked with his little brother serving a mission for our church.  He has changed so much, and we can't wait until he comes home next May.
Then, we had Christmas morning as a family.  Santa brought Andrew a fun ball, and Briant's parents gave him an Activity Walker.  He got some other fun treats and toys from Mom and Dad too.

Briant got some socks.  He needed some.

Briant has permitted me to learn how to cut his hair.

Thanks for the clippers Tiffany!

We only had 1 hour of church since Christmas fell on a Sunday, and the musical program was amazing.  We felt much joy & the Spirit warming our hearts.  Definitely a wonderful part of our Christmas this year.  I love our Savior, and I know he loves us.

We spent the rest of Christmas with my parents & Aunt Pam.  We had a wonderful dinner featuring  ham (and might I add... it was the most delicious ham I've ever had).  Then we played an Apple & Pear game that Chris and Chantelle gave us for Christmas.  It was alot of fun!

We had a wonderful Christmas!  Thanks to all who made it special for us!