Christmas Recap

Christmas Eve was extra special this year--it was spent with Chris' family, including the two new additions in 2016. So much about Christmas is extra meaningful with little ones, so we loved having Isabella and Henry this Christmas. 

Jamie made delicious pecan-crusted chicken, salad, mashed potatoes, "green stuff" and rolls. I contributed a dairy-free green bean casserole and a triple chocolate cheesecake to go along with Courtney's delicious pecan pie, Jamie's fabulous cranberry cake, and all the other yummy sweets! Stephanie made sugar cookies and icing for the kids to decorate their treats for Santa. We opened gifts in between baby feedings and naps (whew!) and enjoyed Noah's piano and Michael's guitar contributions.

Also, the "big reveal" occurred when Noah opened his gift from Chris: his very own slot car. Then, Drew, Jimmy and Chris pulled out their own slot cars they had been secretly designing and assembling. There's a little place near here where they go to race on huge tracks and try to best each other. Looking forward to seeing them race soon!

Noah's and Chris' slot cars

We got home with just enough time to put out the cookies and milk for Santa and the reindeer food, then off to bed so Santa Claus would come!

Christmas Day fell on a Sunday this year, which made it a little different from usual. Chris and I don't recognize Christmas as Jesus' birthday, since it is not actually the day He was born and we don't know the exact day. Of course, it seems that the whole world is celebrating His birth, and we take that opportunity to remember that His birth was just a part of the larger plan. Christ was born to fulfill many, many prophecies and ultimately, to die on the cross for our sins and then to overcome death by rising again on the first day of the week. My favorite scripture talks about this:

 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Philippians 2:5-11

 I love that Christmas was on the first day of the week this year, a day we recognize every week by meeting with the saints, other Christians, and remembering the ultimate sacrifice He made so that we don't have to pay the price for our sins. We celebrate every Sunday the fact that Jesus gave up his status and place in Heaven with God and came to earth as a lowly human being in order to save us--we do this by taking the Lord's Supper every week (Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 10:16). Christmas was no different, so we got the kids up extra early to see what Santa Claus brought them, then headed to Bible class and worship. 

Audrey received a trampoline from Santa!

Noah was surprised with a Kindle Fire

Audrey asked for "Littlest Pet Shop" this year!

Noah opens the Kylo Ren costume he wanted from Santa

Ready for Sunday morning worship!

After church services, we headed over to my parents' house for light lunch, gifts, games and our traditional beef tenderloin dinner. Beau is 15 months old now and lots of fun to watch as he opens gifts and plays with the toys (or packaging, which is just fine). We are so fortunate to have Mark and Diana around so much, even though they live an hour away. It warms my heart that Beau recognizes and reaches for me, Chris and the kids. He has even started saying our names! Mark just had a BIG birthday two days before Christmas, so we had dedicated an evening to celebrating the big 3-0 with him in Richardson with yummy pizza and Diana's homemade lemon pie. Between family Christmas gatherings and Mom's birthday on December 28th, we have gotten to see my sister's family many times over the break!

Audrey gets her own NERF gun from Daddy

Noah gets another costume--this one a Death Trooper--from Audrey

Beau received a slide from Nana & Pandy!

 The festivities didn't end on Christmas Day. Monday we went to Aunt Ninny's house (my dad's sister Nancy) to spend time with everyone from the Bennett side that could make it.

My kids are really loving these gatherings because their second cousins' ages and genders work out perfectly. 

Audrey is four, just a year older than Kate and not even a full year older than Zuri. These are the only girls so far!

Noah is eight, almost one year older than Bryden, who is one year older than Gabe. These three had a lot of fun playing football!

Kate is playing football while Audrey pretends to be a cheetah. Beau and Pandy look on.

 There's never a dull moment in the Bennett "dirty Santa" gift exchange!

It always wraps up with candy cigarettes and, new this year, wax lips!

Out of Pa's great-grandkids, the only one missing was Matty (his family spent this Christmas in Denver).

Kate (3), Audrey (4), Gabe (6), Beau (1), Noah (8), Zuri (3) and Bryden (7)

 First cousins and their spouses:

Chris, Chase & Kendall, Matt, Diana & Mark, Jenn & Evan, Tina & Josiah
Angela, Andrew, Adrian

 And, per tradition, we get a picture of the siblings. Jennifer was the only one missing this year.

Kay, Tony, Nancy, Janet, Lynn, Barby
Andy, Dan

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my family to yours!