Sweigart Christmas

Tuesday (Dec 29), we were all gathered together to start the Sweigart Christmas festivities. 

Brent & Alyssa had made it back from PA, and all 19 of us were at Mom and Dad's.

We had our appetizer meal...which always includes QUITE a spread of various appetizers.

Jonah and Uncle Tim laughing at Uncle Mitch

After eating, we opened up stockings.

Noah was a fan of his new minion stocking hat.

We all got PJ's (except the BIG boys)...

poor Maddox had his hands full!

We played games, ate snacks, and I think Ben, Brent, and Mitch attempted to stay up and watch a movie. I'm certain Mitch and Brent were sleeping within minutes.

The next morning, we had breakfast mid morning...and then started our Christmas gift opening.

We sang songs, and Maddox read the story from the Bible...and then the upstairs gifts were opened.

We moved downstairs to open the gifts from Mom and Dad...oh, there were some very happy faces!

Mom had made some blankets...and chose a very fitting theme for each. 

Noah wasn't in the picture with the rest..but he had received one as well, with Noah's ark on the one side.

We ate a very good Christmas meal...very good. Mom treats us well :)

The kids had naps, we played games.

We had our own live play of the Christmas story again, the Baby Jesus stayed sleeping so peacefully.

My favorite outfit this year, would either be Noah as a donkey or that very fitted robe that one wiseman (Ben) is wearing. I should've probably inserted the picture of him putting it on!

That walker in the background in the above picture, was used in another play that the kids (and Carissa, Mom and Dad) acted out. It was very good!

 Somebody (Dad) had a great idea to make a pyramid....

we did it! But I would kind of doubt he would suggest it again :)

 We are blessed to be apart of this family.

Gpa and Gma H Christmas

Ben's parents and brother came to our house to celebrate Christmas on Saturday afternoon. We had supper, then opened presents...then played with presents. After the boys were in bed, the rest of us played "Nickels" (which we just learned from Mom). We had a very good time.

Jonah checking out Daddy's new gloves

Noah got a new sleeping bag.

Jonah was much more friendly than in the past times they have visited.

Christian flying his new helicopter....he was very excited to get one that works again!

Grandpa H and Noah working on his 100 piece Toy Story puzzle he got.

Sam and Christian figuring out different knots. We had given a book of knots, that came with a rope to Sam. They were equally interested in this!

They all spent the night. The idea was that we would go down to Harper for the Hershberger gathering mid-Sunday. The weather didn't look so promising with snow/ice..so they cancelled that celebration. We had breakfast and played all morning...while staying in our warm, cozy home.

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas!

We went to Mom and Dad's house in the morning.

Then, a man in a red suit came...there were some pleased children.

He even got a cookie this year..and a kiss from Grandma!

Then, the fun of playing with toys..and Uncle Mitch.

Wherever Eliana is, there is a little boy named Jonah trying to get as close as possible. He is quite a fan of her.

We had a delicious Christmas meal made by Mom.

I was scheduled to work 3-11, but was put on call, so that was nice.

Noah was also very happy to hold his new baby cousin. He was very gentle, and talked very lovingly to her. It was SO very sweet.

Eliana's first Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, Mitchell invited us all over to his house for supper. 

He's quite the cook you know...for real.

We had barbeque...ribs and brisket. Both really good. Baked beans, potato salad, lettuce salad, and bread.

As an added bonus, he has plenty of toys for all the kids and adults to enjoy.

Attempting a cousin picture, in their fancy coordinating clothes.

We all went to the Christmas Eve church service at Whitestone.

Prior to going to putting the boys to bed, they had a frosted sugar cookie, that they had helped make.

Christian took our picture using the "big" camera...it isn't the clearest, but that's just fine.

After the boys were in bed, I went over to Mom and Dad's to play cards for a bit with Mitch, Tim & Carissa, and Mom/Dad. Ben was gracious to let me have fun :)

Our Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Hershberger boys!

We celebrated our Christmas on Christmas Eve day. 

We had haystacks for lunch (that seems to be a family favorite for all of us to enjoy). Ben read Humphrey's First Christmas (the Christmas story told in the eyes of the camel Humphrey), and then we opened presents.

Jonah did not care about the "opening" part of the presents. If there was something small he could rip apart that was fine, otherwise he wanted them opened for him. Primarily, he was interested in getting into things (nativity characters are scattered throughout the house...as they are at Grandma's house!).

 Christian opened a minion stocking hat and new lunch box from Noah.

We gave Noah a carnival set of Magnaformers.

A family gift was this super large and SUPER soft blanket.

 And the very last present was for Christian....a very large box of Legos. There were an assortment of things in there, but ALOT nonetheless. A woman at work had said her son doesn't play with them anymore, and I was quite excited about that!! Christian and Noah were pretty excited...well, I think Daddy said he was equally as excited to get to play with all of them. The rest of the afternoon, they were busy busy busy, constructing all kinds of things!

JOY!

Grateful for Jesus, the greatest gift of all. 

Because of Him, we get to celebrate...and that is just awesome.