Can you believe that Christmas has already come and gone? My desire to make Christmas more and more about Christ and less about stuff, busyness, and to-do's gets stronger and stronger the more I think upon the reason for our celebration. I long to have God honoring traditions and purposeful meaning in my life- even more so around Christmas- in order to grow and nurture a grateful heart full of praise and love to our God in me as well as my family. Feel free to share in the comment area any family traditions you have that centers your family on the Lord, I would love to learn from you! Here are some of my thoughts thus far:
* Continue adopting & delivering gifts and food to a needy family in our neighborhood.
* Continue to make gifts for others, spending less & giving more of ourselves.
* Continue to make goodies to deliver and visit with our neighbors.
* Read the story "Three Trees" on Christmas Eve.
* Read the story of Jesus' birth out of one of the gospels on Christmas morning as a family.
* Spend time praying, giving thanks, worshiping on Christmas as a family.
*Making dinner (homemade pizza, soup???) as a family on Christmas day.
For now, here's some pictures from our Christmas this year....
'Twas the night before Christmas... and we were heading to Bubba's parents house... we had our little one in her Christmas finest, all ready for the evening...
My parents came all the way down for Christmas in Bakersfield, what could be finer??? We were glad to have Papa and Grammie here to join us...
All the tiny ones squished on one chair, Bubba's cousin's daughters (Peyton & Devin) and Emery with her littlest cousin, Griffin.... or Big Guy as we like to call him.
The pretty little princesses trying on their poofy princess skirts that I made them!
CHRISTMAS MORNING! Emery was hesitant at first, not knowing what to expect....
but then her sass came out and she went wild with the wrapping paper of course!
Emery waited patiently while Papa put together the shopping cart him and Grammie gave her.
And here she is again waiting for Papa to assemble her other toy- a ball blowing jalopy if you ask me- this bad boy got the boot and headed back to Target.
Then we headed over to Bubba's parents house for breakfast and more hang out time with family, and a few more presents, like this carriage- a Radio Flyer Wagon for Grammie Jackie and Papa Mike's house... they've already taken it for a spin!
Uncle Buddy got the babies matching Cal Poly tractor shirts, too cute!
My mom and Gelayol with baby Griffin on Christmas morning, how cute are his jammies??? They just say Christmas all over them :)
Jackie sporting the apron I made her, she's only been asking me for one for 2 years! It's about time!!!
My silly girl all decked out in her Christmas gear thanks to Uncle Buddy and Auntie Gelayol! We headed back to our house for Christmas Day dinner- thanks mom and dad for all your help, I couldn't have done it without you!
Emery grubbing on her Christmas dinner, raspberries and avocados, which she ate without clothing due to her messiness. 
And of course, what Christmas dinner would be complete without a child in the kitchen sink rinsing off after her meal...
A shot of the Christmas day gang! (Left to right in a loop: Feri (Gelayol's mom), Billie (Bubba's grandma), Jackie and Mike (Bubba's mom & dad), Nader (Gelayol's dad), Buddy and Griffin (Bubba's brother & his son), Debbie and Emery and Resti (Andrea's parents), Bubba & I, Kassara, Noah, Evan, and Jessica (Gelayol's brother, wife, and boys), and last but not least Gelayol.
