December was busy
with Christmas cheer and enjoying our first Santa Barbara holiday season settled
into our own little home— we managed to fit two trees in 1200 square feet!
Celebrating
advent together is beginning to hold deeper meaning as the kids can understand
and interact with the true meaning of Christmas. Ben enthusiastically and
seriously accepted the responsibility of lighting the first advent candle of
the season, the candle of Hope.
Santa’s cutest
gift wrapping elf, she uses just as much tape as her mama.
Before David and
Judy headed to Santa Fe we celebrated “Sassy Christmas” together with presents,
hot fudge sundaes and general silliness.
We took over “the
deck” to watch the boat parade and fireworks over the water. This is our second
year of this hot chocolate laden tradition and it’s a favorite.
The kids made
salt dough ornaments this year to adorn the little Christmas tree at the
cemetery for Erik and Jordyn Kester. We are humbled to be entrusted with this task and the chance to show our love for this special family.
…the evening
began with a stop at Rusty’s Pizza, of course. As the kids like to say, “Rusty’s
is pizza paradise!”.
Clara hosted a
pajama party for all the animals under the Christmas tree.
We made special
deliveries for our annual Hands of Grace day.
Christmas Eve
kids.
We then took a
trip up north to Merced and Sacramento to see Leah’s parents and a few close friends.
The chief photographer of the family got sick which means hardly any pictures (a
clear indicator of how bad I was feeling). But it was a great time with
Pop-Pop, seeing cousins, visiting Nana Zipper and Papa Steve, catching-up with
both Katie and Ben and Darla.
Clara obviously wasn't in the mood for pictures, too.
Merry and bright.
Thankful hearts.
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