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Christmas at Home

This year we decided to spend our first Christmas at home instead of with family in Mobile, Alabama. It was a hard decision to make because we really do enjoy being with family and Christmas is different when you are not surrounded by family. However, as Joey and I were at a Christmas luncheon hosted by his boss, we both realized how much more relaxed we are being home. This year we will start our own family traditions.

On Christmas Eve we plan to attend the 4:30 pm Christmas Eve service at our church, St. Luke's Lutheran. We are discussing our dinner options for Christmas Eve, either dinner at Outback Steakhouse or dinner at home. The winning vote right now is dinner out but Brad wants to eat taco's at home....taco's for Christmas Eve dinner. Who eats taco's for Christmas Eve dinner?

Christmas Eve night before the kids go to bed we will read the Christmas story from the Bible, we will take turns reading the versus. In the past we read "The Night Before Christmas" too but my kids are over that story and want to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Reading the Christmas story from the Bible will be a first in our family, in the past we just read from a children's book. Personally, I am looking forward to all of us participating in the reading instead of just me reading to everyone.

We will wake up Christmas morning, the kids will bee line for their Christmas stockings and then wait patiently at the Christmas tree as their dad and I get our camera and video camera ready. It will take all of 15 minutes for them to tear open their presents and 15 minutes for me to clean their mess. After presents are opened, I will make a Christmas brunch. The kids will play with their new gifts most of the day and I will spend time in the kitchen preparing our Christmas dinner feast of Honey Baked Ham, Green Beans with Bacon, Hash Brown Potato Casserole, Garlic Mashed Potato's, Fruit Salad and for desert Pumpkin Pie (store bought of course, remember I don't bake).

The best thing about being home for Christmas is so far Ashley is not sick. In the past Ashley has always gotten sick during Christmas. This year she is healthy and we are going to keep it that way. Knock on wood, cross your fingers, and a little prayer doesn't hurt either.

Here is a picture from Christmas past. This picture is from Christmas 2003, Brad is 7 1/2 years old and Ashley is 5 1/2 year old. Skylar, the cat, is 6 months old. Aren't' they just adorable!

Below is a picture of our house all decorated and a picture of this years Christmas tree decorated with white lights, red pointsetta's and gold ornaments.




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