We have had a wonderful week. Kris has been able to be at home most of the week, which has been wonderful! He and Caleb played in the snow on Monday, and I have a feeling that, due to the additional snow we have gotten, more time outside is in the near future!
We spent most of the week with our family, and were able to see my two great friends (Brandy and Shawna) and their families as well. My Mom (as always) did a fantastic job of taking care of us while we were there!
Caleb had fun opening gifts. It was so cute to see him get excited about each one. Even cuter was that as he opened each gift, he exclaimed "ooohhh, this is my favorite!", sometimes before the gift was even fully opened. =) He officially has a lot of favorites. Love him!
For the past month or so, we have been teaching Caleb about the real meaning of Christmas. At church, he had a "birthday party" for Jesus, and has made a handful of crafts reflecting the spirit of this season. He knows that Christmas is all about Jesus, and he knows that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth. He watched a Christmas cartoon about the events surrounding Christ's birth, and we have read that part of the Bible many times over the past days. We made a special birthday cake for Jesus. Oh, and he likes to sing "Away in a Manger", complete with hand motions! We pray that one day he understands and believes with all his heart that Jesus was born in a manger (or a basket, according to Caleb) so that one day He could die on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for him, and for us, and for anyone else who believes!
Meredith, being her 4-month old self, did not really realize there was anything different about this week, although she did seem to enjoy the extra cuddles and kisses she got from Daddy and her grandparents over the past few days. Of course, we are so excited for the day when she, too, recognizes God's love for her.
Enjoy some (of many) snapshots of our fun week...
Caleb was yelling for Mommy to come out and pull them. But, Mommy was enjoying the nice warm house!
A couple of Caleb's projects from church...
Meredith checking out her stocking...
It's almost as big as she is!
Caleb's stocking...
Caleb helped me make this cake...I didn't realize that I had gotten pink frosting...oh well, I don't think Jesus minded. =)
Caleb wanted to hold her hand...=)
Millen kids, Johnson kids, Sipes kids...
With the mommies...
Trying to get a posed shot....Meredith apparently thought something was pretty funny!
Caleb in his great gift from Auntie Kir, Uncle Jon, and Evangeline...a Thomas tent/tunnel! He absolutely LOVES this gift!
Meredith's cute Christmas jammies...
A harmonica....another one of his favorite gifts...doesn't take too much to please this kid!
His first baseball glove...
Okay, so they obviously don't fit her just yet, but how cute are these pink all stars?!
Meredith got her first dollie...and, while she did love to hold it and smile at it, and "talk" to it...
...she mostly liked to eat it.
Grandpa built Caleb this great train table for all of Caleb's Thomas tracks and engines!
Cuddle time with Daddy...
Playing the wii (which will be a fun new addition to the Johnson house!)....I pretty much didn't beat Kris at anything. Better get some more practice in...
Every year, I always feel a bit saddened when Christmas is over. After spending the previous weeks preparing for Christmas in so many ways...shopping, baking, decorating, etc., it always seems like the actual day of Christmas comes and goes so quickly!
Thankfully, the spirit of Christmas is not one that ends....Jesus was not only born, but He lived an amazing life, became a perfect sacrifice for our sins, and gives us eternal hope. And those are things to be celebrated every day of every year.
We hope that you had a blessed Christmas and that your celebration of Christ's birth continues into the next year!
