Christmas 2010

Well, as promised here is my post on Christmas. This year was sweet and special as it was Cohen's first real Christmas that he was able to get in to. Last year, we had to help with opening presents and he wasn't really aware of the season. This year, he needed no assistance with presents and took in every bit of the season as for the first time. His fascination with all the lights("yites"), trees("tees"), stockings("tockings"), snowmen("nomain") and Santas was precious. We also got him his own little nativity set, and it was so neat to see him learn who Joseph, Mary, & Baby Jesus were. Here is a short video of him playing with it in his sweet 22 month old way.



I look forward to him understanding the incredible meaning behind those small little characters and the amazing gift that little Baby was to this world.

Our Christmas involved a little more travel than usual this year, but we are SO thankful to have both sets of family within 2 hours of each other. We alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving with each family each year, and this year it was our turn to go to Hector's family for Christmas. They do most of their celebration on Christmas Eve, but we headed over on the 23rd to enjoy some extra family time. It was a great time of relaxation, good food, lots of laughs, presents and enjoying their REAL fireplace. We also were able to witness our niece, Morgan, get baptized and dedicated at their church on Christmas Eve. It was a sweet service led by their childrens choir. Cohen did great and loved watching all the kids sing while dressed up as shepherds and angels. Since the baptism was at 4 we had our Christmas Eve lunch before the service. Hector's parents got an electric fryer before Thanksgiving and wanted to try something new. So we had fried Cornish hens which turned out great! I made a light celery and pear salad to add to the other rich and delicious sides and a mint chocolate chip cheesecake for dessert. It was my first cheesecake but turned out pretty good! Here are a couple pictures from our time with his family.

After a late night of presents and too many desserts, we got up and headed to my parents house for Christmas day. Thankfully the roads weren't too bad as we traveled, but we got to their house just in time to see the first layer of snow covering their yard and house and watched it continue throughout the day. It was beautiful! Cohen saw snow last year but again this was his first real experience with it. He wasn't too sure at first, but it didn't take long for him to be playing in it and helping build our first snowman. Daddy and Papa did all the hard work, but Cohen helped as much as he could. Our Frosty turned out pretty good, I think. We were so thankful for such a pretty Christmas snow! We spent the afternoon just hanging out and playing games while Cohen napped. For dinner my mom made her traditional prime rib, and it was wonderful. My brothers weren't able to make it up this year, so we had a smaller celebration and missed them and their families! We are so blessed to have such wonderful families on both sides who make holidays so much fun! Here are a few pictures of our time with my parents and a short video of Cohen's first snowman.

Cohen got lots of great new toys...legos, a basketball hoop, his first Thomas the Train set, a toddler chair and beanbag, and much more. It was so much fun experiencing Christmas through his little eyes as he was so excited about everything. We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas. I pray the Lord was honored in our celebration! I'm still praying about and searching for ideas on how to keep even Christmas day more focused on Him. I pray you and your families were blessed as well not with gifts and food, but with a chance to reflect on Christ and the gift He is to us all year long!