Christmas 2007

Avery was Joseph in the preschool Christmas play! He was so excited. Ella was Mary. When the time came, though, he was a little terrified. In fact his teachers said he turned white and they gave him some water to help him get settled. We were proud of him - he didn't cry and he didn't run off. He did look more than a little grumpy. He looked downright ticked off! - see the picture!

This year was our first Christmas at home - normally we travel to one set of grandparents or the other. And while we missed that fun, it was certainly nice to begin our own Christmas eve and morning traditions here with the boys.

After a turkey dinner and attending the early Christmas Eve service at Wheaton Bible Church, we drove around to look at lights (definitely one of the highlights of the season

for me!! I love all the light displays. Wonder why it is that Christmas memories are so much more deeply emotional for me...) While we were driving around the neighborhoods, Josiah says out of nowhere (pronounced exactly as written), "Avwy, are you finking what I'm finking?" Avery harrumped, "No." Then we asked Josiah what *was* he thinking about. The lights, he said (no duh implied). Nut. 

After the lights, we went home and made Christmas cookies and opened the last little window of the advent calendar (we have to open Josiah's up and replace the chocolate with a mini marshmallow before giving it to him - he's not a chocolate fan).

After our cookies and hot chocolate, the boys opened one gift. Blue plaid Christmas pjs. My dear Avery is so much like me. Didn't want to hurt our feelings - so even though it wasn't a toy, after the *tiniest* flicker of disappointment, he was totally like "Oh! Yes! Thank you mom and dad! I love them!" He said, "You even got me the kind with buttons I can do." Oh my gosh! Could you just die at his adorable attempt to find something really good to say?

On Christmas afternoon, we drove to Mark's parents' home for two nights with them. NEWS ALERT: Don't think you'll find food on the road when you're driving on Christmas

day. It won't happen. Good thing BP carries snacks!!

After we got home, we had a really nice snow - perfect for snowball packing. We had a fun snowball fight with the boys and the dog and then built a tiny snowman and, well, snow dog. At least that's what it was supposed to have turned out to be...:)