Christmas Day 2012

After seeing what the big guy brought and eating breakfast comes my favorite part of Christmas Day...church! What better way to celebrate the birth of Christ?! The year Luke was born Christmas was on a Saturday, so they decided to omit the Christmas Day service and I hope that never happens again! 

 

The service is simple. Kids come in their pajamas and bring something special that they received. Adults come casual. We sing a few hymns celebrating the birth of our Saviour, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and then John reads the true story of Christmas found in Luke 2. It is short, sweet, and powerful.

Austin, Emma, Sean & Blair

 

 

 

B & E

 

 

 

All 3:)

 After church we always go to Nana and Papa's for lunch and

  possibly a present or two. But before we could head that way we

had to get some jumping time in. The kids (and I:) had a blast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year Nana got to open her prize first...a charm bracelet with

  picture charms of the kids. We're pretty sure she liked it okay;)!

 

 

 

 

 

 Then the kids got to tear into some things! E's big

surprise was wrapped in about five different boxes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful necklace in the shape of a crescent

 moon that says "I love you to the moon and back." 

 

 She also got a gorgeous charm bracelet from Maz.

 

 

 Luke got a Thomas desk and a plethora of

 other things, but he's too busy for many pics. :)

 

 

 We spent the evening napping, playing with all our new loot,

 and eating leftovers at MawMaw's. It was a wonderful Christmas!

 

The Big Guy from the North Pole Strikes Again

Last year we decided as a family that we would only ask Santa for three things since Jesus only received three gifts...and it is His birthday and not ours.

This year E got an unintentional, but important, lesson in prioritizing and finally settled on the following list:

1. iPod Touch 

2. American Girl Doll clothes

3. trampoline 

Luke's list was short and sweet...

1. tractor 

At some point between 10:52PM and 7:00AM Santa

Claus made an appearance at the McCollum household.  

 

 

 

 

 

Since E is our early bird, we were ecstatic

when she slept until 7! We let baby brother sleep

while she went to see if the big guy showed up.

 

 

 

 

 Of course, Santa couldn't leave the trampoline under the

tree. E told us that he must not have been able to bring it

but that was okay (melt my heart:). She was one excited

little girl when she finally looked out the back door. 

 

Stocking time:)

 

 

Finally at a little after 8, Luke Man woke up. He

was thrilled to see that Santa brought him a tractor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Since Luke wasn't specific about his second and third items, Santa

  went out on a limb and brought a helmet and uniform set. We

  finally had to pry the helmet away from him when we went to 

 Nana's, and he wore his "muscles" (jersey with shoulder pads) all

  afternoon. Emma told us that she thought Luke would also like a

  trampoline, and since it was so big that maybe they could both put

  it on their list and Santa might be able to bring it. I love that girl!

 

 

 

Luke opened about three things from his stocking and he was over

  it. He took everything else and put it in the loader of his tractor.

 

 

 

 

Love my babies!!