Hiking in search of the "perfect" Christmas tree.
(We learned there is no such thing as a perfect tree,
but it was fun searching!) :)
Snowball fights as we searched...
Kids seem somehow cuter when they are outdoors...
...and also when wearing snow pants and flannel shirts :)
What a joy to take in the gorgeous view and fresh air!
I love living in Montana!!!
Paul thinks he found the perfect tree...
...and Isaiah thinks he did too! :)
Heading home with our "nearly perfect" tree...
...and our nearly perfect kids--ha ha :)
Here is our tree covered in lights.
There is just something so magical and wonderful about Christmas lights.
I love waking up each morning to this sight.
We continued our Advent tradition of placing hay in the manger
for each good deed, hoping there will be plenty of soft hay
for Baby Jesus to sleep on when Christmas arrives.
We also did the fun tradition of moving the Wise Men each day of Advent,
imagining them following the star to find the newborn King.
Isaiah was my biggest helper moving the Wise Men.
He also liked to hide them and have me try to find them :)
Each night at dinner we would read from Ann Voskamp's Advent devotional
and then place an ornament on our Jesse Tree (followed by a piece of candy). :)
And each evening before bed Paul would read our Advent adventure book
by the author Arnold Ytreeide. Our whole family looked forward to the book each night
(even our teenagers...although I don't think they'd admit it) :)
I'm embarrassed to admit that this was the first year we decorated cookies.
Cooking is just not my thing, and little boys just don't seem to get excited about cooking either.
But, I think this will become a new tradition because it was so fun (and delicious).
Finding treasures in the stockings Christmas morning!
And there was lots of soft hay for Baby Jesus on Christmas morn :)
Hopefully all of our good deeds and attempts at preparing our hearts for Christmas
consoled Jesus' heart and made Him smile :)
Watching children open presents is always a joy!
Isaiah happy with his new LEGO set!
Natey happy with his new LEGO set...
We should have bought stock in the LEGO company long ago :)
Dominic is happy with his new gift from his god-parents.
Thank you Dann and Rachel---you are always so generous and thoughtful! God bless you!
Isaiah and Michael checking out their new gifts.
The littlest 3 had a LEGO building party for much of Christmas day :)
Isaiah proud of his mini X-wing fighter that he built (mostly) by himself :)
Joseph was happy drinking Coke and laughing at Garfield comics on Christmas day :)
Grandma Jean (Paul's mom) came to visit for Christmas.
She had fun hanging out with the older boys...
and the younger boys :)
Here is Grandma and the little ones waiting for our hotel room
at Fairmont Hot Springs to become available.
Funny how both young and old are entertained by electronics these days :)
All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas. It was great to spend time with Grandma Jean/Mom H. We especially loved her marvelous cooking! She is one talented lady in the kitchen, which is a gift to me because I am not :) And she is always so generous when she comes to visit, insisting on paying for everything, which is also a beautiful gift. I pray that God will bless her generous heart abundantly! Paul and the big boys did some skiing at Discovery and Great Divide. I loved soaking in the hot springs at Fairmont with the little boys and sleeping in most mornings during Christmas break :) We hope your Christmas was grace-filled and fun-filled too, and that Jesus found room in your hearts to fill you with His love and mercy and graces for the New Year!!!
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