Christmas 2012 (long post)

This is the first chance I have had to post about our Christmas! Yesterday we had a bad ice storm and lost power for most of the day.  We made the best of our situation by taking everyone out for pizza!

Any who! I finally have a few minutes to post some Christmas pictures.

This year we drove home to NC to spend time with family on the weekend before Christmas.  We ate at Marc's parents one night, visited my grandparents one afternoon, and had breakfast with my brother and his family the next morning.

We decided to make a new tradition and go to Cracker Barrel instead of cooking.  It was just as good, and we didn't  have  to wash dishes after!!!

 After we ate we went to my brother's house and opened presents! Those were four very excited little ones. 

When all the presents had been opened my brother handed my mom one last gift.  It was a baby bib! YUP!!! A new baby is on its way.  Caroline is going to be a big sister!!!

The excitement of a new baby made my mom smile (and cry) this Christmas and for that we were all grateful.  

For the rest of the afternoon the kids played, Caroline napped, and we ate...more!   In no time it was time to pack up and drive home so Santa could visit our house. 

Sunday we went to church and Monday (Christmas Eve) we baked!!!

 and baked....

 and baked...

We ended the night with a candle light service at church.  Once the kids were all tucked in to bed, we got to work!

Christmas morning my sleepy heads didn't wake up until 7:30...and I still had to wake Ella up!
Santa left some really fun surprises, including two guinea pigs named Toby and Tucker!

 Nathan is holding Toby.

 Ella is holding Tucker!

 While lunch was cooking we let the kids play on their new Flickers.  

Pippa was gone when we woke up on Christmas morning.   She was a handful and we can't wait to see her next year!

We made new traditions this year and said goodbye to old ones.  We felt joy, we felt sadness but most of all this year He brought beauty out of the ashes!

Mindy