Three kids and Hope: Christmas Times Three

We had our first family Christmas on December 19th. Opa, Opa, Aunt Steph, Uncle Jon and Jack Jack all came down to our house for the weekend. We had a great visit. We started with Andy's Christmas performance. Then the next morning we went to have family portraits made. The kids all smiled and behaved so that was fun.

Then we had a giant family shopping trip to Wegmans. After a nice lazy afternoon playing in the snow, we had a big Christmas dinner. Then we all opened presents.

It was a great visit and I am so thankful they were all able to travel down and spend the time with us for the holiday.

We stayed home for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Christmas Eve the kids and I ran a few last minute errands. Including a trip to Zwalens for apples and Wegmans for cookies to deliver to our southern family that can't get such yummy things. I thought Zwalens would be crazy but it wasn't too bad. They had the apples laying out all over the store, so it was quick to go in and pick up a few. Wegmans was insane. There were cars parallel parked everywhere. Fortunately we were only there for cookies. So I was able to grab a parking spot near the cafe and run in a get the cookies and pay for them at the cafe. Next we went straight to church to serve in the nursery for a service. Then Chad met us there to attend the next service. The music was awesome. The did a rendition of Transiberian Orchestra that was unreal. Evan was really rockin' out. The kids enjoyed the "God" voice telling the story of the creation. And of course holding their own lit candles was the highlight. After church we went out to dinner as a family. We came home and the kids took showers and jumped in bed, afraid Santa would come while they were still awake and not leave presents. (I don't know who could have planted that thought in their heads). Chad and I spent the rest of the night packing up for our trip to North Carolina the next morning and finished wrapping.

Christmas morning the kids were allowed to get up at 6:00. As our clock struck 6 am we heard Gabi running around downstairs yelling "boys get up its Christmas. Boys get up its Christmas!" They quickly ran upstairs to get us. The kids had a great Christmas.

They loved their Santa gifts and were very sweet handing out the gifts that they bought for each other and us.

After gifts, Chad packed up the car and I made fresh banana muffins. By 10:00 we were in the car munching on muffins and on our way to NC. We made great time and got to Nanni and Pops house by 5:00. Even in torrential rain for half the trip.

Once at Nanni's the presents came again. The kids each got some things "I always wanted"! We had a fun time and even got to meet the Edwards' new Christmas puppy "Buck".

Nanni saved the real Christmas dinner for the next night since we had been traveling all day. She made an amazing beef tenderloin, brocolli, oven browned potatoes and rolls. Just as we all sat down to eat Chad noticed that Molly was missing. Nanni said she had gone out the front door. We called and called and she didn't come. (She never wanders off!) So about everyone but Nanni headed out to find her. A couple cars were driving around the block. Chad and I were wondering around the house calling her. When we were about to give up Chad finally found her. She had gone up on the next door neighbor's deck. Thinking she was at the right back door she was whining when we called her but not coming to us. She was thinking "I am right here at the back door, just let me in" So we felt really bad that we had to eat Nanni's special expensive dinner cold, but it still tasted amazing.