Christmas with Grandpa & Grandma Ludemann

My parents drove to Iowa to spend a few days Celebrating Christmas with us.  We enjoyed having them here and being able eat meals with them, play endless games with them, talk with them, and enjoy all the new gifts with them.  We had a wonderful time.

 

 

After Christmas with the Hukee family, our own family Christmas, and Christmas with the Ludemann's, we are officially exhausted, thankful, blessed, joyful, and excited.

Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Hukee

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Luke's parents house here in Iowa.  It forgot how exciting it is to watch kids open gifts.  Leighton and McCabe tore right into them.  Brooks just stared at the camera for a while, but once he realized there were presents behind the colorful paper, he got the hang of it.  

 Leighton enjoyed a hunting RV with pickup truck, a huge semi-truck, games and few other things!

McCabe, who often gets asked by Grandpa Bruce if he has 'ants in his pants," received a game by the same name, a fishing RV with pickup truck, a semi-truck to transport farm animals, and some comfy pants which he probably wont wear since he is obsessed with his grey jeans.

 

 Brooks got presents of course, but he mostly enjoyed his wild uncle Jake, a lot of desserts, and throwing a new football.

 

Beautiful Wynnlee experienced her first Christmas.  She got her first baby doll, a lot of extra cuddle time, and some spiffy new clothes.  

We had a great week celebrating Christmas with Luke's Family and My family, that came latter in the week.

Christmas Morning at Home

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Have you even seen children open presents?  

It only takes a few seconds for them to tear into all of them.  That is why I only have these two pictures to show for it! 

Despite opening gifts in record time, I think we were able to successfully stretch Christmas out to more than just a few minutes of opening gifts.  We did an advent book reading which talked about several prophecies that were made and then fulfilled in Christ's birth.  We did an advent felt tree with daily scripture reading that coincided with a felt ornament the kids took turns attaching to the tree.  And we had several conversations about Christ and about how God loves to give and actually gave us the greatest gift of all time. 

In fact the morning after Christmas, when our advent felt tree had been completed with the brith of Jesus,  Leighton said, "It's not over yet, doesn't Jesus have to die on the cross?" It is truly encouraging to see the faith of a child and to begin to see them ask questions and put together things that you have been teaching them. 

Praise God for Jesus.  Oh what a precious gift he is.  I find so much hope in reflecting upon the reality of Christmas.  If you have never stopped to think deeply about what Christmas and Easter really mean, I would encourage you to do so.  Do you really believe Christ is who he says he is?  Did what the bible says he did?  Have you made a decision to accept the greatest gift of all time, Jesus, who would grow up to die on the cross to pay for your sins, so that you wouldn't have to pay for them in Hell.  Oh it is so encouraging for me to think about this.  So hope giving.  So amazing.  

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Hukee's House

We enjoyed a deliciouc meal and then hours of present opening. Actually it was hours for the adults, just minutes for the kids. Obviously they had way MORE gifts, but they also had way LESS self control so it didn't take long to rip through their stuff.