We had a wonderful time celebrating our last Christmas as a family of three. Because it is so near my due date with little Lorelei, we had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas here in Louisville. My mom, Stephen's parents and his brother and sister in law came to visit us, which was such a blessing. We loved getting to spend the day with them! On Christmas Eve Julianne along with both of her grandmas, made a birthday cake for Jesus. Julianne then got to open one gift, which was actually a really neat manger scene from Mr. Dave and Ms. Karren. She played with it a bit and then went to bed, so the elf grandparents could get to work on Julianne's gift. Julianne's Mimi got her a toy kitchen, so the rest of the evening was spent putting it together and watching "The Nativity Story". On Christmas morning we woke up and decorated the birthday cake for Jesus, had a yummy breakfast and then opened gifts until lunch time. Julianne loved opening gifts and had lots of them to open. We actually saved some of them for after nap time so she could play with all of her kitchen stuff. She absolutely loved the kitchen and got toy food, bowls, pots, pans, aprons, cooking utensils, and an iron/ironing board. We ate a delicious lunch and then lounged around during the afternoon. After round two of Julianne's presents, we watched her play, ate leftovers, and then had a family singing time with some of Julianne's instruments. She mainly listened to us sing, but joined in when she knew the words. When she didn't know the words she made her mouth into the "O" shape and just kind of wiggled her head around like she was singing something along with us. We had a great time celebrating Jesus' birth and remembering why we have a reason to have hope and joy this season.


Baking Jesus' birthday cake with Mimi and Gigi


Playing with the manger scene with daddy and Gigi


Grandparent elves busy at work


Our Christmas Tree with all of the gifts under it - I think it's the fullest it's ever been since we usually take all of our gifts somewhere else, rather than having people bring all of their gifts to us


Decorating Jesus birthday cake


The finished product


Julianne and Daddy with the cake - she really was more excited than she looks in this picture


Coloring her last picture of the Christmas story - Each day we read scripture pertaining to a certain aspect of the Christmas story then Julianne colored a picture that went along with it


Christmas Breakfast


Checking out the stockings


A stocking not only holds really cool stuff, but it can actually be worn


Opening a set of bowls from Uncle Jason and Aunt Laura


Aunt Laura made Julianne an adorable apron


Stephen's reaction to his gift of Seasons 1-3 of Arrested Development


Ironing a sock


The littlest chef cooking in her kitchen


Jason was very excited about his new books


Eating some yummy felt pizza


Taking a bath after all that cooking


This is Julianne's singing face - kind of creepy and really funny


Playing with a gift from "Uncle" Mark and Uncle Marcus, Aunt Melissa, Laura, and Mady


Reading a book with Gigi


Daddy and Papa were very tired from opening gifts


Mimi and Jackson