what a wonderful weekend

Christmas weekend was a whirlwind full of family, laughing, and insane amounts of chocolate. What an incredible and beyond amazing way to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.


Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased! -Luke 2:14


Because Christmas was on a Sunday this year and Connor and I were scheduled to lead worship at church on Christmas morning, we had our Christmas morning celebration on Christmas Eve. It was better this way because we're stay-at-home-all-day-in-your-pyjamas-on-Christmas kind of people and we didn't want to have to rush off to church in the midst of our festivities.

My aunts and my grandfather arrived at around 9:30 and we all immediately attacked the food tables.
Every year, my mother prepares the most outstanding Christmas breakfast. It's truly worth waiting for year after year after year.

The food kept everyone happy for a while, but, but 11:00, Cora couldn't handle just staring at her presents any longer. At this point the tearing, the oooing, and the ahhhing commenced.
We open our gifts one-at-a-time so each person can really take the time to appreciate the gift. It takes a lot longer, but I love it.

From me, Cora got a plush Rapunzel doll. She hasn't put it down since she opened it and that makes me ridiculously happy.

The boy likes owls. Can you tell?

Most pictures are worth one thousand words. I think that this one is worth at least two thousand.

(Daddy got this survival medical handbook and, apparently, the illustrations are very realistic.)

I got some very exciting presents. So much more than I had been expecting and I'm overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do with it all.

 I got this amazing bag. No, seriously. I'm pretty sure that this bag is going to change my life. It has pockets inside of pockets which are a dream-come-true for an organizer like me. It's huge and can hold my laptop, my thick study Bible, my journal, and the multiple books that I'm currently reading. I actually feel like it's deserving of its own post, so, more on the bag later.

These earrings are a highlight of my life right now. Mom got them from etsy for me. L-O-V-E.




Terrible photo, but I'm trying to show you all my new robe. It's flannel and gray and oh-so-literary.

This book was somewhat of a gag-gift from Mom and Dad, but I love it. It's witty and funny and informative too. Awesome.

Connor gave me a card worth one pound of chocolate from See's Candies and Aunt Kristin and Aunt Mandy gave me a gift card for Anthropologie. Oh, yes...

From Mom and Dad, I also got two maxi skirts, a scarf, audio books, a CD collection of Ronald Regan's Presidential speeches, and some books from Vision Forum. I am literally drowning in fabulous books and I started four of my new ones because there was no way that I could possibly pick only one to start with.



The next day, on the actual Christmas morning, I woke up earlier than I would have liked, did my chores, ate leftover Christmas eggs, and begged Mama to let me make myself some hot chocolate. No dairy before I sang, though. Sadness.

We were able to get at least one decent family photo of us all in our Christmas finery.

The church was decorated beautifully. What better way to rejoice in the birth of our King than with candles and greenery and beauty?

Our church is relatively small, but we are blessed to attend a church with two other homeschooling families. Hannah and Emily's family is one and the other family has six kids; three boys and three girls whom they adopted from China.

This picture makes me laugh so hard. When you have fifteen kids, from three different families, and you ask them to make a silly face, this is the hysterical result.



By the time we got back from church, I was exhausted. I had practiced all nine songs for church with Connor in the morning. Then, once we were at church, I practiced my song with Hannah and Emily three times and then I practiced my solo once. We all then ran through Go Tell in on the Mountain just because it's fun. That was all before the service. For the real deal, I sang seven songs with the congragation, one solo, and then a special music with Hannah and Emily.

Singing for Jesus at church was my gift for Him and it was with great joy that I gave Him that part of me on Christmas morning. Nevertheless, singing is very physical and I. Was. Tired.

Once at home, I made myself some hot chocolate to help perk me up. Dark French drinking chocolate with whipped cream and candy cane sprinkles.

That, my friends, is pure happiness in a mug.


Aunt Kristin, Aunt Mandy, and Poppop came over again in the evening when we ate our traditional Christmas dinner of ham, cheesy potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, and other delicious things. We exchanged a few gifts and just enjoyed spending time together as a family.


Monday morning was fabulous. Aunt Kristin, Aunt Mandy, and Poppop picked me up to go to Pasadena to visit one of our favorite bookstores.

I (heart) lens flare.

I left with three brand new books. Room, True Grit, and 1984. So exciting...

After our book extravaganza, we ate lunch at Chipotle and just had an all-around amazing time. The rest of my day was spent helping clean up after Christmas, playing with Cora, and weeping while watching The Help, which was, by the way, an incredible movie in every aspect.



What did you all do for Christmas? 
Any food, gifts, or experiences that were especially thrilling?


I hope that you all had a Christmas weekend just as wonderful as mine was!