My Very Bestest Christmas Present Ever

Want to see my favorite christmas present ever?  I thought it deserved it's own spot so I didn't include it with our christmas pictures.  That's how awesome it is.

I was speechless. 

Rob said my smile said it all!

Here it is.  A hope chest.

But not just any hope chest.  A handmade one from the best husband in the whole wide world.

See all that detail?  He did it all himself.  Even without the right tools.

The inside is lined with cedar.  Can you smell it?

He even made a tag for me so everyone would know it's mine.

I had been wondering what he was doing out in the garage.  I was banned from it so I knew he was making something for me but I never would have guessed this.  So many nights he came inside with his poor hands frozen because he was working out there until 10:00 or 11:00 at night in 30 degree weather with no heater in the garage.  I didn't even see him for two days when he got really busy with making it.  He didn't even come inside to eat lunch - just worked all day.  I still can't believe this is mine and that my hubby made it for me!  

Merry Christmas 2011

I hope you are prepared for lots of pictures!  I want you to feel like you are here with us so I tried to get a variety of them for you. 

Christmas Dinner.  Yes, we all fit around our tiny table in our tiny kitchen.



 Anthony, Hannah, Cerah, Jenny, Morgan

 Anthony

Opening his gift from Rob

Showing off some of his presents

 Stockings this morning

 Anthony and Jenny

Jenny with her presents

Rob ready for the Christmas Eve service at church

 and for presents at home

 Showing off presents

 Robbie and I in front of tree

 Time for stockings

Cerah waiting patiently for presents

 Here's the gift her dad made her

Cerah with all her presents

 Stocking time!

Now it's Morgan's turn to wait

 with her trusty dog

 Morgan's present from her dad is a spoon holder for her collectible spoons

 Here's some of her gifts

Yay, she got a stocking too

Hannah didn't wait quite so patiently

but the wait was worth it.  Here's her gift from her dad

And some of her other presents.  Cerah made the goose for her

Then, of course, it's time for her stocking

My mom and dad enjoyed themselves

Santa didn't forget them

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  I know we did!



Christmas Concert

Today the youth choir, of which Anthony, Cerah, and Morgan are a part, was part of the Christmas presentation at church.  Rob, Anthony, Morgan, and Hannah were also part of the Christmas play but I was unable to get pictures of them during their scene.  I did, however, get some pictures of the choir.  Unfortunately, most of them are a little blurry because we had to take pictures from the balcony and then zoom waaayyy in to see them.  But, you can still see them and get the general idea.

Waiting for the song to start.  Morgan is front center.  Cerah to the right of her - half of her face is covered by the microphone stand.  Anthony is to the far right, third row back.

Morgan and Cerah singing

Whole choir - can you pick out the kids?

Morgan enjoying herself.  Cerah, not so sure

Another side view at the end of the concert

Morgan, Cerah, and Anthony relieved that it's over

Don't they look so cute?