More Christmas Moments

The days surrounding Christmas, we had other various family moments together that are worth remembering. 

The Sunday prior to Christmas Grandma Sweigart came to Mom and Dad's for the afternoon/evening. 

(Ben is pictured because Jonah refused to be in the picture unless he was holding him.)

Mom and Dad performed a couple songs using bells and those tube things...quite impressive :)

Christian and Kade...excited about their Lego sets from Grandpa and Grandma.

Plenty of foosball was played.

One evening we all went bowling. It was fun for all ages (Isaac and Abriella had their own form of games running back and forth on the carpeted area). I had the highest score I've ever had (or probably ever real if we're honest)..178. Oh, and we were all wearing our new Kansas Electric sweatshirts that Mom got us for Christmas.

Isaac and Abriella holding their new baby dolls they got from Grandpa and Grandma.

Mom, Carissa, and I went to McPherson one day for lunch and a short shopping outing. 

Gingerbread house extravaganza...all kinds of decorating, and all kinds of candy eating!

I would often come back over in the late evening, after my house of boys was asleep. We mostly played nickels...and had popcorn/apples (Dad is the official apple slicer...he does it just right.).

Lots of good times. 

Christmas [ Sweigart ]

On Christmas Eve late afternoon, all 21 of us gathered at Mom and Dad's to begin our Christmas celebration.

We had a "live" nativity, the traditional appetizer meal, opened up stockings and gifts to each other (not the gifts from Mom and Dad)...and some late night game playing.

An original nativity scene here...including a very proud Mary (Eliana), a very compliant Baby Jesus (Abriella), a not so compliant cow (Isaac), a Joseph that must have been allergic to all the barn animals (Christian), some sheep (Mia & Gia), a donkey in full gear (Dad), wise men that did quite the rendition of We Three Kings (Brent, Mitch, and Tim), and the rest of us filled in per usual...angels, more cows/sheep, and shepherds. 

A gift I didn't exactly "ask" for...my sports pins from high school and my keychain collection from childhood. We (Brent, Carissa, Mitch, and I) all received something along these lines that for some reason were not wanted in Mom and Dad's house any longer :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We all stayed the night on Christmas Eve. After breakfast, "Santa" came bearing gifts for the kids.

Mitch read the story of the birth of Jesus from the Bible, and then the grandkids opened their gifts from Grandpa and Grandma.

We ate our traditional Christmas meal that Mom made (ham, noodles, cranberry salad, bread, baked beans, etc.)...all verrrrry good. 

My portion of this day was interrupted by having to leave for work. It was my scheduled holiday (3-11p). The rest of the family shot off a rocket, played foosball, etc. I very fortunately didn't need to stay until 11, so I was able to join back in the festivities just after supper! Before the kids went to bed, we did a version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" where we were divided out (by Mom) and had to sing our "day" and also do little ditty to go with it. Everyone played along well...and it was quite entertaining. 

The adults opened our gifts from Mom and Dad after all the kids were in bed. Following the gifts, we had a very impromptu train back rub that ended with LOTS of laughing...and then we played more games..which also resulted in more laughing. 

We have much to be thankful for. 

Christmas [ our family ]

Our family Christmas!

The best picture of these four little boys..that littlest one on the right doesn't sit still for much of anything though :)

Books can make him sit still though.

Opening stocking gifts...wearing a new shark stocking hat (Noah).

We gave Jonah a set teeth (4 of them)...he is always wanting to put some kind of 'costume' on..so funny.

A new book..."When I say Ooh, you say Aah"...its a funny one.

I  had wrote on the outside, To: Someone who likes Nuts (because if you shook the box it sounded like a box of nuts)

And when I read the tag to him, his face was stunned, he said, "But I don't like nuts."

This is right after he opened it, and then he did his excited giggle and said over and over again, "YOU TRICKED ME!!!"

Christian with his new beanbag chair and reversible sequins pillow. 

I'm so glad we can enjoy the gifts to and from each other...while remembering it is because Jesus is the greatest gift of all and He is the true reason why we celebrate.

Christmas [ Hershberger ]

The Saturday before Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa H. came to our house to celebrate. 

We enjoyed playing, putting a puzzle together and going on a walk to get some fresh air. 

They were able to spend the night, we played some more in the morning before heading to the extended Hershberger gathering at John and Chris's.

Advent season

The warmth that fills our hearts and homes this time of year is something that I want to do better at holding onto. I am guilty of getting sidetracked by the things "I need to get done", etc. But here are some things that we've enjoyed and I want to remember as we have prepared for Christmas this year. 

Mom, Alyssa and I had a craft morning where we made this chunky yarn Christmas trees. They were not only incredibly easy to make, but also very quick...and fun. Plus, Mom had scones and coffee and fed us lunch..so it was a good morning!

We made Christmas sugar cookies...and frosted them. These three were really good frosters. They did them ALL (in years past, they would kind of fade out and I got to finish the rest).

 This is a few of them that they made.

One morning, Noah came upstairs dressed like this..totally NOT matching. Ben noticed, and brought out two different pant options that he could change into. He very clearly did NOT care for this gesture, as he said, "NOOOO! I am NOT changing!! I'm dressed like Christmas!!!!!!"

So, the argument ended pretty much immediately..and his festive little self went to school in his red shirt and green pants.

We have a shepherd boy, named Freddy, that moves every day (sometimes he forgets, but he tries to move when others rest) that the boys enjoy finding. He leaves a verse and sometimes a special treat. He is on his journey to find Baby Jesus, but along the way he shares the good news with others. 

During this season, the town of McPherson offer a series of free movies shown at the Opera House. I took Noah and Christian to see the Polar Express. We got popcorn (which Noah has reminded us isn't very healthy as it has too much salt and butter...as he learned in school that that is just not very good) and had a little outing! Jonah opted to stay home with Daddy to have one on one time with him, while Isaac took a nap.

 The boys were in the church music program on Sunday morning 12.16. The pre-K and Kindergarteners sang a few songs and then the Wednesday night choir kids (Noah and Christian are in that ) did the longer program. 

 Christian singing his duet with another boy in church. 

Amazing how last year, he was not even 1 year old..and this year, he is INTO EVERYTHING!