The Christmas Tree is up and Harry Conick is on!

Every year when we decorate we have to do it to Harry.  This is a tradition we began many years ago with our first Christmas decorating with my best friend Tamara (then) Robertson, in the (soon to be both of ours) studio apartment in Central City Philly.  It makes me go back 12 years ago and the feelings and memories are fantastic. I even caught on video, except that i don't know how to convert it from ancient tapes to DVD's.

Anyway, this year was no different other than we added Mum to the mix.  She watched mostly, but i believe we all had a great time.  Jack was very adamant that every ornament he likes was actually his (even though they were mostly Immanuel's) and carried the golden peanut M&M CP30 around the whole night.  Then we finished it off by watching the Polar Express.

The next evening we were invited to join the Boyles, a new family from church we just met and became friends with, to go to the Grand Ole' Opry Hotel to see the lights.  It was a magnificent evening and those atriums are like jungles!  So cool and i will definitely have to go back and actually do some shopping next time.  It has to be the biggest hotel i've ever seen.  So amazing!  Thanks.  :-)

I love this time of year!  :-)

 Pre Decorated.....

 Everyone's first ornament pick to place on the tree this year....

 Mistletoe....

 Stain glass ceiling in one of the hotel's lobbies.

 Immanuel said the tree branches looked like an exoskeleton of an insect.  ;-)

Here is is with Porter.  Fast friends!

 The girls with Lily.  Lily is in Sarah's class at church.  Jack says he wants to marry her, go figure!  ;-)

Christmas Day.....Better Late Than Never ;-)

It was glorious!  This year in particular i felt overwhelmed at how blessed we had been.  It was also our first Christmas in our own home since leaving Pennsylvania and we were able to do all and everything we wanted to, Morgan Style!  Sometimes going without, truly helps you appreciate it when you have it back.


We began our Christmas morning traditions with video taping the kids coming out of their rooms and witnessing the tree and all that the Lord had brought underneath it.  We then opened our stockings.  Jack was very pleased by the abundance of horses and Hershey Kisses, that he wasted no time at all in eating.


Next in our tradition is to make hot chocolate (none of which the kids drank this year as they were too excited to move onto the presents!)  We read the account from Luke of the birth of the Savior....always a moving experience.


Then it was onto the tree.  One by one we watched each other and i soaked up all the smiles and laughter.  When i was about 16 or so i remember one Christmas where i thought about what being an adult at Christmas time would be like.  I lamented that there just couldn't be as much joy and excitement as when being a child.  I have since learnt that this just isn't true and there's is no doubt that giving especially to your children is a thousand times more exciting!  Nothing brings more joy to me in all my Christmas memories than watching my children open their gifts and being grateful to God for all they have.  

Immanuel and Eden figured out this year that Santa was not the one putting the presents under the tree.  It has been a wonderful experience for them and they were actually excited to know the whole truth.  Eden said, "I suspected something."  Now they can more readily reflect on where their blessings at Christmas time come from.


Thanks to Heavenly Father for all the abundant blessings we've had.  2010 was a good year.

 Scoffing down chocolate!

 Madagascar Zebra Pez dispenser + Pez candy = Jack's idea of perfection

 Overwhelmed?

 Yes, he's definitely wishing this was life sized....

i always make sure his stocking has cars in it.

 More stuffing with chocolate!

 Horses yeah!!!

 Awesome mug from the Schutzes!  John got one similar in red.

 Reading Luke from the Bible...

 He LOVES Lego guys!

 She squealed like a pig with joy!  ha ha!

 Knuffle Bunny Free (the third one)  These books are special for Sarah as the first one was what i read to her literally every day when i was pregnant with Jack as she sat on my lap in the rocking chair.  At two she had the first book memorized.  She now sleeps with all three books.

 The messy splendor!

 We had a white Christmas!  Perfect!

 Then the afternoon was spent with the Schutzes, our second family.

 Christmas time is not complete without English Trifle.  Just wish my mother was here to have made it for me.  Mine turned out okay though....i ate most of it myself until Jack discovered it and then it became a favorite of his too.

Now it's time to lose the 5lbs i gained!  lol!

Woody and Buzz!