Christmas Catch up

We had a great Christmas. We were so pleased with staying home for Christmas morning this year instead of traveling. It was great to wake up in our own home, start our own traditions, and enjoy just being a family of FOUR!!!!

We continued with a family tradition of mine of giving the boys Christmas Jammies to sleep in christmas eve (we went with ones with just Christmas colors so they could wear them longer). After suiting up in the jammies we took a little ride to look at Christmas lights. Cort really enjoyed this.

A half-way happy Christmas Eve picture.....


After we got home, we read the full Christmas Nativity advent book with Cort and added Baby Jesus to the nativity.

The boys actually slept in a little which was a great Christmas present to Mom and Dad!!! When Cort woke up we brought him to bed with us and read the Christmas story out of the Bible. Cohen was still sleeping so we actually went ahead and let Cort come out and play with some of his presents first. It was nice to get some one on one time with him. Cohen joined us shortly and they both enjoyed all the festivities. We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and enjoyed a birthday cake we had made for Him on Christmas day. Cort was so excited all week about the cake and kept talking about getting a "messy face with Jesus' cake." He also kept asking if Jesus would have a messy face too. After explaining how Jesus wouldn't actually being eating the cake with us he kept saying that he would "actually eat Jesus' cake for him and get a messy face." Too cute.

Eating Jesus' bday cake....

Enjoying the presents. I love that Cort loves his stocking because that was always my favorite growing up...


Cohen enjoying his loot...
Cort Helping Cohen open his stocking.....
Cort on his new bike!!!! He's so grown up!!!


I know it'll take us a few years to refine our family traditions and what works best for us. We're striving our best to make sure Cort and Cohen grow up really understanding the true purpose behind Christmas.

We traveled home to Columbia to visit with all our family for a few days later that day. We had a good time with all the family and Cort really enjoyed playing with his cousins this year. He still got a little overwhelmed with all the gift giving but I think everyone is slowly cutting back so that's good. I really didn't get very many pictures once we got home - things were just so hectic but we got to spend time with both side of our family and to see all our grandparents so that was great. My Me-Maw and Paw-Paw were staying with my mom and Dad so we got a lot of great time with them the whole time we were there. We were so thankful to have both my Paw-Paw and Cohen spending this Christmas with us - a surprise to both of their doctors!!! On that note, please continue to pray for my Paw-Paw as he continues to battle cancer and for my mom as she continues to care for and make the best decisions for them.

A little overwhelmed....( don't worry - these weren't all for him... just most of them.)

Cohen with Grandmommie, loving the wrapping paper....

Cohen checking out one of his new favorite things.... books!!!!

What a very special Christmas for us to celebrate as a family... Cohen's first Christmas of hopefully many..... thanking God for all of our blessings and most of all for His son.