Holland, MI for Christmas

I remember being quite nervous about spending Christmas day without other relatives around. But, it turns out that it was very fun spending time with just the 4 of us. :)

The evening of the 23rd we went to the Critter Barn to see their live nativity scene. The boys were super excited to pet the bunnies, watch all the cats in the cat cage, collect eggs from the chicken coop, etc. Except for the fact that it was very cold, we all had a blast together.




I'm not sure how my desire to make cut-out cookies with the boys started, however, I was determined to put that on the agenda for the weekend. I had bought our first cut outs, found a recipe that looked good to try, bought the ingredients, and was excited to start baking on Christmas Eve! It turned out to be a success! The cookies were delicious. So it might just have to become a tradition.









Christmas Day!!! It started with cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then baths for the boys before church. I love going to church on Christmas morning because it reminds me of the real reason for all of the celebrating.







We had to pose for a family picture before everyone either spilled on their Sunday clothes or decided to change into something else. Then we ate a traditional meal of ham, potatoes, etc. Then we opened presents. The boys are both old enough now that the gifts are more fun than the paper so it was fun to watch them. Nathan and I had decided not to exchange gifts with each other since we were going to be heading to Hawaii. However, Nathan did surprise the boys and I with a few things to open: a couple of bird feeders, a squirrel feeder and the food to go with it. Later that afternoon the boys helped daddy hang them up outside. So at the last minute, I felt the need to also get something for Nathan since he had nothing under the tree to open, so we bought daddy a tape measure since he had said that he needed one. Not too exciting, but I felt better that he had something to open. We bought the boys a play kitchen since they both love so much to help out in the kitchen with mommy and daddy.







After naptime for Levi, we brought cookies to a few of our neighbors, made a Skype phone call out to mom and dad who were at Rodney and Kerry's house. The boys were playing peek-a-boo. :) I'm thankful for Skype! The boys opened the ornaments that were in their stockings (appropriately...a cut out cookie ornament :). They added them to the other ornaments on the tree. It was especially fun to have Dorian's 1st homemade ornament on the tree that he had made at Story Hour. Before bedtime, Nathan read us the Christmas story.