Happy Birthday, Jesus!

This Christmas season has come and gone very quickly.  We were surprised to still be living in the Atlanta area, but very thankful!  It looks like we may be living somewhere else by next Christmas, but it's hard to know for sure!  We did a photo shoot with our photographer, Summer Adams, to use for Christmas gifts.  Here are some of the shots:

Zeke and I planned to spend a week at Wynna and Granddaddy's, but Gregg's travel schedule changed and my mom got an awful cold, so we came later in the week.  We still had a wonderful time with "Nynna" and "Papa."  I got to go see my friend Dena's new baby, visit with Ellen and Teresa, and go to the annual Atlanta Athletic Club Christmas dinner (Gregg had to work, though, which was disappointing).



Heading to the AAC dinner

 

At the "Build-a-Moose" station!



Zeke and his moose

 

Keeping his eyes on the robot



Wynna was protecting him from the robot...ha!

He loved the "balls" (ornaments) on the tree

 

Real reindeer!



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Christmas Eve we got to visit with my friend Kristen who was visiting from NYC, then we headed off to Perimeter Church for their Christmas Eve service...always a blessing!  Zeke went to the nursery with Wynna, then we all went to dinner at Di Paolo's.  Yummy!  After Zeke was in bed, my dad and Gregg put together the kids Little Tykes toys.  It took longer than expected, which made us appreciate their efforts even more!

 

Ready for bed in his flannel pjs!



Trying to get one more family shot, but Zeke was over it!



The guys "working!"

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On Christmas day, Jared, Jami, Kariss, and Sophia came over to my parents' house so we could all celebrate together.  We had a wonderful meal prepared by my mom and opened gifts.  The kids had fun playing with their new toys (and so did Jared as you'll see below)!  Haha!

Happy Birthday, Jesus...it's Christmas day!

 

We couldn't get a good one of all three kiddos, but this is pretty cute!

 

Heehee!

 

Sohpia's new scooter!




Kariss' new big wheel

Zeke's new truck (just like Daddy's!)





Jared having fun on Kariss' big wheel...haha!

 

Playing in the garage because of the rain



Sophia driving the truck!

 

Helping clean up after a long, fun day!



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Gregg and I have prayed and talked a lot about how to "do" Santa next year.  We don't feel comfortable with the traditional way of doing it, although we totally respect parents who make that choice.  We both feel uncomfortable telling him something is real when it's not.  We never want him to wonder if Jesus is real because we have told him Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc. are.  It may seem ridiculous to some people, but that is the good thing about parenting...we follow God's lead for OUR family, while others do the same! 

My friend Amberly gave me some good ideas about how to still include Santa.  We will still "do" Santa, but Zeke will be told that it is pretend.  We will take him to get his picture with Santa if he wants to go, and just "play" Santa each year.  The focus will be on celebrating Jesus' birthday.  We will sing "Happy Birthday" to Him and have a cake.  We will give each other gifts to celebrate Jesus.  We will also focus on reaching out to our neighborhood and community.  I'll have to let you know how it all goes next year, but that is the plan for now.  I'm thankful Gregg and I are able to pray about these things and make decisions together about what is best for our child (and future children).  We certainly don't have all the answers, but our hearts desire to glorify God. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 ~ "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Well, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas celebrating our Lord's debut on this earth as a tiny baby.  What an amazing way to save the world!