Scenes from the Season {Christmas 2012}

I know in most parts of the world, Christmas is long gone and people are focused on New Year's Resolutions while Christmas remains a distant memory, but we are still holding on to Christmas in our faith... and in parts of our home too.  So while this post may seem slightly out of date, by my faith account, it's actually not!  So without further ado, a pictorial account of our celebration of the Christmas season...

{picking the perfect tree}

{light one candle for hope...}

{an advent tradition... our thankful tree}

{a visit from st. nick}

{3 sets of stuffed shoes + 1 duckie for Abby}

{st. nick baskets for friends}

{ding dong... run... peek}

{surprise from your secret st. nick}

{noah's 2nd grade class christmas party}

{emily's school christmas program}

{written with love}

{ready to mail}

{angel emily in the live nativity}

{"joseph" in the live nativity}

{bless the baby jesus ceremony at church}

{holiday treats after bless the baby jesus}

{botanica light illuminations}

{telling santa their "wants"}

{the whole happy crew}

{writing his letter at the "north pole depot"}

{his single request}

{bundled kids...pretty lights}

{making reindeer food for friends}

{my helper}

{finished jars of magic reindeer food}

{a collection of the children's gifts for family}

{christmas countdown}

{gifts for friends & neighbors}

{ready to be stuffed & mailed}

{christmas eve tradition... new PJ's for all}

{dressed for christmas eve mass}

{just cute}

{at church on christmas eve...
this picture made me laugh because everyone is smiling, but everyone is looking in a different direction!}

{celebrating the reason for the season}

{christmas princesses...
another laugh in this picture is the level of superior care emily is giving her brand new american girl!}

{finally... they open a present}

{her one requested gift}

{a newfound interest in reading + he got his own "diary"}

{light up tinkerbell shoes}

{santa baby bottom}

{a microphone for my little performer}

{a shared dollhouse for the girlies}

{all the girls got personalized music boxes from aunt toi & uncle brycie}

{gifts of love for their aunt & uncle}

{handprint painting for nonny & papa}

{special "gifts of love" for yaya}

{santa's snack}

{the stockings were laid...}

{last pic before bedtime}

{putting out the reindeer food}

{messy reindeer}

{proof}

{a reminder from santa about the reason for the season}

{spoiled... again}

{a last look before i head to bed}

{a "horsie ride" for molly}

{a telescope for noah}

{a gymnastics mat for emily}

{a few of em's stocking treasures}

{a few of noah's finds}

{molly's stocking loot}

{i love this}

{opening their joint gift from santa... perler beads}

{the after mess}

{playing with all the new}

{christmas day dinner at nonny's}

{nonny's gorgeous table}

{2nd annual dinnertime biblical christmas story reading}

Luke 1:32-33
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”