2013 Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Chris and I worked on Christmas Eve...but we were able to get off a little early so that we could attend the 5:00 Christmas Eve service at church. It was such a nice service! Then we came home and made up our traditional snacks -- 7 layer dip, rye bread dip, cheese fondu, summer sausage and cheese, veggies and dip, and cake batter dip. Aspen had to work until 8:00, and once she got home we enjoyed our snacks together and opened gifts. It was a very nice evening with my little fam.

Me and Chris, taking a Christmas selfie!

It was a year of necklaces for me! Three from Aspen, that I can wear alone or altogether for a layered look, and one from Poppy and Ocho that has a little paw and bone...so cute! I did look like Mrs. T though, when I had it all on! :)

Mr. Baber's big gift -- a bedliner for his new Ford truck! Appointment is set for 1/7!

Chris thoroughly enjoying his new back scratcher from Aspen

A book about a boy soldier in Africa, one he's been wanting to read. He declared that he plans to read about 8 books in 2014 -- for him, that is a huge goal!!

I am super excited to have received these adorable Hunter rain boots :) They are superb. Now, I just need rain!!

New flannel pj pants for Chris, from Aspen

Aspen's big gift was a camera! She will need something to capture all that beauty in Ireland when she goes in July!! She was super excited and took pictures all Christmas day...

Mimi loved her rag bag made by Kim!

New ceramic measuring cups!

What a fun (and intimidating!!) gift! A book about how to make sushi, and some of the materials needed. We still need a few things, and I'm excited to try it out...but it's a little scary too!! Very clever gift, Mr. Baber!!

The photographer...it's so fun to see her develop this passion!

On Christmas Day, we woke up around 8:30 and had yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast...then we opened up our stockings. Lots of goodies to be had in there too...one that I am really excited about is my subscription to Birchbox. Each month for a year, I will get a box from them that will have random samples of beauty supplies, makeup, hair stuff, etc. All tailored to me coloring, skin type, hair type, etc. Fun! It allows you to try out all kinds of different stuff that is possibly high end and expensive, or things you can't find where you live. Then, if you like it, you can buy bigger sizes from their website. Fun fun!!

Afterwards, we relaxed all day long and that was so nice. We ate a yummy lunch from Al's BBQ, and it was nice to not have to cook. We basically ate all day long, and then we watched 3 movies as a family -- The Internship, Elysium, and The Colony. It was a good day.

Aspen went to her mom's around 5:30 for Christmas there, and spent the night into today.

We are all supremely blessed...above all else, above gifts and the food, is the gift of Jesus. There is no greater gift than that...thank you God for your grace and your mercy and your sacrifice!!!