Our Christmas Whirlwind

Christmas Eve morning at Gran & Papa's

Christmas Eve night ready to go to Mamaw & Papaw's

Christmas morning at home

Christmas night at Big Daddy & Nanna's

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We headed to Moulton on Christmas Eve Eve to kick off our Christmas WHIRLWIND! Daniel, Laura Ann & Kate had lots of fun playing together & we enjoyed lots of Gran's good cooking. Gran & Papa treated the kids to lots of goodies that kept them occupied for our stay. We enjoyed a visit with Grandmama Compton and Christmas Eve dinner with all of the McWhorter clan at Papaw and Mamaw's before heading back to Trussville to get ready for Santa. We kept a close watch on our drive back, but never saw Santa. When we got home, we quickly put out cookies & milk for Santa, said goodbye to Jingle (they were both sad about this) & got into bed. Laura Ann wanted to keep her blinds open so she could watch and listen for him. Dan & I prepared ourselves for little sleep after last year when Daniel got up at 1:00 am, 4:00 am & we finally stayed up at 5:00 am, but were pleasantly surpised that he didn't get up until a little after six for the first time! I told him to stay in his room until I called him to come downstairs & he did it. He never even opened his door, we just heard him go to the bathroom & knew that he was up. We wanted he & Laura Ann to come downstairs together, so I woke her up not long after Daniel got up. I told her that it was time to come downstairs & that Santa had come. She said, "But I didn't hear him!" & was a little sad about it! For the first time in several years, we got Daniel's first reaction on camera & video.....Yay!! He usually beats us up! They were both thrilled with what Santa brought.....everything they had asked him for & a few surprises. We enjoyed cinamon toast for breakfast, finished our last devotional from Looking Forward to the Nativity, lit our last Advent candle & then spent a couple of hours playing with all of the new digs before it was time to head for Georgia. Papa called us to say that Moulton was a Winter Wonderland & by the time we left at 9:00, it was snowing here too. We drove in snowfall all the way to Big Daddy & Nanna's & watched it snow for the rest of the day. What a treat to have a WHITE CHRISTMAS!! Daniel & Laura Ann were super excited to see Caroline & they all had fun opening gifts & playing with all of the new toys. Patsy & Granny stuffed us with our traditional Christmas dinner & we enjoyed a visit from some of the James cousins, Marshall, Lynn & Delaney. Daniel & Caroline spent just a few minutes outside, but there was some rain & sleet mixed in too, which made play conditions not so fun. We didn't brave the elements until the morning after Christmas when the front had passed. Sleds, snowballs & smiles about sums up that experience. We went in, dried off & then had a visit from some of the Meeks cousins, Carrie, Baby Hayes, Leigh Anne & Aunt Beth. By the time they left, it was time for us to head back to Birmingham! WHEW!!! We had a thoroughly fun, exhausting time and are so thankful for the time we get to spend with each other and our families celebrating the birth of our Savior! Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER: AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE. ISAIAH 9:6

CAROLERS!!!!!

 
Daniel & Laura Ann on the porch listening to the carolers
 
The Bowden family at our neighbors across the street

Nothing says Merry Christmas like Kristen Sharp and family caroling at your front door.....seriously!! I know my Trussville friends are jealous! Kristen sings on the praise team at our church and there are just no words to describe her talent. Dan thinks she's a rock star! And we just so happen to live on the same street as her parents. Yay for us! Based on the performance we got tonight, the whole family has some serious singing abilities. Daniel and Laura Ann thought it was the greatest thing ever. We sat on the front porch so we could hear them going down the street & got an encore performance when they passed by again. Oh, and they gave us freshly baked chocolate chip cookies too! Thanks Bowden family! You made our night!

On a side note.......Mr. Bowden, teaches DRUM lessons & just may have had a part in what Santa is bringing Daniel for Christmas!! Too bad they didn't sell singing ability at their yard sale a few weeks ago!! :)

Coon Hats & Make-Up

 
Daniel had a blast visiting the Bass Pro Shop (again today) with Jeb's family (a little boy could never get enough of that place, seriously!). They saw Santa, along with all of the wildlife & came back sporting these hats. Looks like our Super Heros have turned into Frontiersmen!!! Davy Crockett, anyone??
 
While the boys were away, Laura Ann played in her make-up kit. Is she beautiful or what??? I won't even comment on what she's wearing......pj top stuffed underneath the leotard!
 

Our Biggest Baby

 

Gotta love when the 125 pound lab tries to lay in the 15 pound dachshund bed!!

Pizza Night with the Rogers Family

 
Laura Ann, Anne Stewart & Daniel

Getting Cozy with Santa

 
We went to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop today & my kids crawled right up into his lap (as always) with no fear & just layed back. I told them to sit up & they did for a second or two, but then layed back against him again. He must be a really, really cozy guy! Daniel told him that he wants a space shuttle & rockets. Laura Ann told him that she wants a Jasmine costume and a 'baby Jesus set'.
 
 
 
Making their Daddy proud!

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No Christmas Break.....

 

........for the neighborhood Super Heros & their Princess. Apparently bad guys are still on the prowl even during the holidays!

Children's Hospital

 
Hard at work on their cards
 
 
Daniel & Laura Ann with the Child Life Coordinators
 
Daniel, Laura Ann & Kathy

Daniel heard me talking about a little girl with cancer who will be in the hospital through Christmas and suggested that we make cards & visit some kids like her who won't get to be home for Christmas. What a great idea! I called Dan's cousin, Kathy, who works at Children's Hospital and she got us in touch with some people in the Child Life Department to set something up. They suggested that we stick to goodies & cards to be passed out since you have to be 14 to visit. So, Daniel and Laura Ann got busy making cards for the 6 children in the burn unit & I bought puzzles & activity books to go with their cards. Kathy and 2 sweet girls from the Child Life department met us on Monday to get our goodies. We found out that there are lots of volunteers and donations at Christmas, but that it gets really thin throughout the rest of the year, so we are very excited about planning some service projects there in the upcomimg year with our group of friends. Look out Children's Hospital........here comes Kids of Compassion!!

The Candle Light Service at FBCT

 
Pastor Buddy reading the Christmas story to the kids
 
Not sure which of these cheeser smiles I like the best......
 


This is hands down my most favorite service of the year. There is nothing more beautiful than a sanctuary lit by candles (one at time) while singing Silent Night.

Special Visitors

 

We were so excited that Buster & Reta came to visit us on Sunday! They were doing a shopping trip in Birmingham & stopped by to see us while they were here. What a treat!

The Live Nativity

 
 
We always love the live Nativity at the Methodist Church!
 
 

The Angel Choir

 
Laura Ann with members of her fan club
 
 
Walking in the sanctuary
 
Singing & doing the motions

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The Wee Center Christmas program did not disappoint this year. As always, there was a gigantic angel choir (the 3K & 4K classes, about 170 kids combined) and the one 5k class performed the Christmas story. I wasn't sure how Laura Ann would do after being absolutely terrified for the spring show, but she walked right in & did great! She sang almost every word to every song & did all of the motions. Yay Laura Ann! I think the 'Hallelujah' parts were her favorite, at least that is what I've been hearing a lot of in the car lately!

The Zebra Class Christmas Party

 
 
 

Mrs. Laura kicked off the Zebra class party with a sweet book about the Christmas story and then they all enjoyed some yummy snacks. The biggest treat of the party was getting to drink Sprite out of mini cans instead of juice boxes.....it's all in the little things, right? We left with a sack full of ornaments that Laura Ann had made and a handprint angel plate that she had made for me. I am such a sucker for handprint anything, but was especially excited to get this one because Daniel made one when he was in Mrs. Laura's class and now I have one for each of them! Laura Ann could hardly wait to get home & put hers beside Daniel's. The party wasn't goodbye, though, because the Zebra class transformed into a choir of angels for the Christmas program later that night! See next post......

Daniel's Class Celebrates Christmas

 
 
 
 

Whew! What a week! Daniel's class has been so busy getting ready for Christmas. Everyday was filled with ornament making, a toy drive for the Salvation Army, tshirt making, Christmas stories (How Santa Lost His Ho Ho was Daniel's favorite!) & Christmas concerts from the High School band and choir. Daniel's class party was lots of fun. They had plenty of sugar, along with gifts from Ms. Elledge and from the room moms. Ms. Elledge put them in a circle and played Jingle Bells. She put one gift in the circle at a time for them to pass around. When the music stopped, whoever was holding the gift got to go back to their desk to open their gift. So simple, but these kids thought that was the greatest game EVER. I've never heard so many giggles! To be such a rowdy class (thanks to some very energetic boys, including Daniel), they were so sweet & well behaved during the party. For the last day of school, they had a pajama day & watched the Polar Express. And of course, that meant refreshments (sugar cookies and yoohoos) for everyone. Daniel had a blast through it all, but was also thoroughly exhausted. He will definitely enjoy some down time during the Christmas break!