365.207: Church Christmas Performance

Holden sang in a Christmas performance at church this morning! It was so cute! This was actually the second try at the performance. It's a funny story really. We were running kinda late for church, but his teacher assured me he would take Holden over to where the other kids were getting ready to perform. When I got into the auditorium, the other kids were already on stage! Holden was brought onstage during the second song or so, and seemed so embarrassed. He wouldn't even turn around and face the audience, much less sing, so he just stood behind the risers and hugged a sweet teacher.
After the service Ryan went and asked Holden if he wanted to try again during the second service. Holden said he did, mostly because he was promised not one but two donuts afterward, and these are pictures from a much more fun second try! The even gave him a personal helper to make him feel comfortable and help him remember the motions. So sweet.
Here's Go Tell It On the Mountain:


This was when Holden spotted me sitting on the front row, and was trying to sign "I love you" to me. Be still my beating heart.

365.206: Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Tonight was our Christmas party for Elevate, which was an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" theme. Everyone brought a dish, so we ate and hung and had a blast playing a white elephant gift exchange with around 40 gifts!

We each voted for the person with the ugliest sweater/best costume and these three were the winners! Andria and Annabeth and Keith Morgan.

Cristie-of course I LOVED her makeup (and no, I didn't do it).

This is Cody. He's awesome. He says "sim'n rows" for cinnamon rolls.

Andria and Charles. Being fab.

Ashley. The jacket, which she got from the Middle East says "American Chritmas," and she made the skirt out of a tablecloth. Amazing.

JoePa, his girlfriend Erin, and Joshua.

Since I got no close-up of our family (hey, I was organizing the thing, so my mind was on a million other things!) this will have to suffice. We're on the bottom left corner. Ryan is wearing a dickie that isn't quite long enough under his v-neck sweater , so you can see a little chest hair. Hawt.

365.205: Meet Meghan!

Meet our Thursday-night-sitter, Meghan! The boys absolutely adore her--almost as much as I do! Meghan is a beautiful girl who loves the Lord passionately and whole-heartedly. And she loves the boys so well, too! She has spent many nights working on her laptop in the rocking chair in their bedroom in an attempt to get them to fall asleep. She is patient, but firm--just what they need. We LOVE Meghan!

365.204: Creating Our Christmas Card

Today I sat down to create my Christmas card. In years past, I've always used sites like Shutterfly for our cards. They're quick and easy and have really cute designs. But this year, I got a little too confident and thought I could just create my own from scratch on Photoshop.
Bramp.
This was as awesome as I could produce:BOOOOORRRRIIINNGGG.

So I browsed on over to Shutterfly and saw these adorable cards:

You may remember this little gem from last year (also from Shutterfly).

You can find more cards here and here, and even custom gift tags here.

It's so easy; and if you know me, you know I am all about easy.
Watch your mailbox to see which one we choose!

365.203: Tree

So excited to have this up!

The boys got to help hang the ornaments, which they loved.

And had Christmas cookies...

...and apple cider.

Lots of cookies and cider.

365.202: Making Christmas Cookies

365.201: "Reading" Books

The boys listening to the book my parents sent them that has theor voices recorded, reading the story. What a sweet, special present!
(And please excuse all the hacking going on--we all have coughs.)