Christmas at Home

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted anything on this little blog.  Christmas was almost two months ago, but I still wanted to share some photos of our time together during the holidays.  I'm a bit disappointed in myself for not snapping more pictures on Christmas, especially since it was Landon's first Christmas.  But the memories we made we'll have to suffice.  We decided to stay in Oregon again for the holidays, and although we missed being surrounded by our families in California & Kentucky,  we had a cozy Christmas at home, just the six of us.  It also gave us the opportunity to really make our Acts of Service Advent Calendar a priority.  Every morning the girls would excitedly come downstairs and request to "do advent" before breakfast, and we would plan our homeschooling activities for the day around our acts of kindness.  Decorating sugar cookies and delivering them to our neighbors and church staff was the girls' favorite act of service.  A close second was making cards for our garbage man and mail man.  It gave me great joy to watch the girls selflessly and enthusiastically serve people in our community!  McKinley & Piper both had solos in their kid's choir performance: Angel Alert.   McKinley played Mary and sang a solo during the song, "A Strange Way to Save the World."  Piper had a speaking part as Angelica the angel, memorizing several lines and fearlessly delivered them on cue. On Christmas Eve, Benji, Landon & I played the parts of Mary, Joseph & Baby Jesus during our church's service.  But what made it really special, were the girls singing Silent Night all by themselves as we walked towards our seats on stage.  Landon's role as Baby J had all the critics buzzing about his Oscar-worthy performance, as he slept through the entire service.  Christmas morning, Landon was the first to arise, and by the time we were eating pancakes for breakfast, he was already taking his first nap.  We spread the opening of presents throughout the entire day, and I made fried salmon for dinner.  We also introduced the girls to one of the most beloved musicals off all time: The Sound of Music.

Modeling Christmas duds after church.

My little elf.

Christmas morning.