Christmas Memories

I got this book as a gift from my brother's family in 1992, and there is enough room to record 25 Christmases inside it (Blessing #141).  Jacob was only 3 months old when I began writing about each year's Christmas activities, and now (19 years later) he's in college.  Here's an excerpt from 1992:  "Jacob learned how to lip-sinc the words to "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" with a little help from daddy.  They performed this at the "Damgaard Annual Christmas Program". . .  Jacob wore the new outfit he received from his gma and gpa and it turned his legs blue from the dye."  That's when I learned the importance of washing Jacob's clothes before he wore them ~ no matter how cute they are. 

We are a family that LOVES to play games (#142).  Sami joined us (#143) for the afternoon on Christmas Eve, so we had lots of "trains" as we played 10 rounds of Dominoes.  For Jillian's benefit, we were "just playing for fun."  If she knew we kept score, she would quit for fear of losing.  "You don't have to be perfect" is something we're still working on with her.  Afterwards, we made homemade pizza before going to the Christmas Eve Service.  It's a tradition (#144) we started when Jenica was a baby.  Jillian's pizza is as happy as her toothless grin. 

As Jacob would say (while shaking his head), "mom and her pictures!"

After we were finished, Jenica volunteered to read The Christmas Story from Luke (with a little help from Jacob on the hard names), and then Jillian read the books "Christmas Is. . . For ME!" and "The Christmas Prayer." (#145)

After the Christmas Eve Service, the kids asked if they could change into something more comfortable.  They definitely went comfy!  I should have gotten a picture in front of the tree before they changed.  You're probably wondering about jacob's shirt.  He played on a soccer team last summer at Cornhusker State Games on an 18-and-older team, and their coach (a classmate of Jacob's) came up with the name and had orange t-shirts made.

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On Sunday, we spent the day in Minden with my parents and sister's family (#146).  We always have such a great time when we get together, and you just never know where the conversation is going to end up.  We laugh until it hurts, play games until the men win at least once, and eat and eat and eat. 

We all spent the night and the kids all camped out in the living room in sleeping bags.  (#147)  Bedtimes go out the window at Christmas (along with diets).  And the next morning, we enjoyed pancakes, bacon, eggs, and muffins for breakfast.  Did you know you can brown bacon in the oven?  It's amazing! 

Just line a couple 10x15 pans with foil (make sure the foil goes all the way up the sides), and arrange the bacon side-by-side.  Put the pans in a cold oven, then turn the heat to 400 degrees and walk away.  Bake 20 minutes for thin bacon, or longer if you use the thick kind.  Watch bacon the last 3-4 minutes to make sure it doesn't get over done.  Remove from pans and place on paper towels to absorb some of the grease before serving.  So many benefits to baking bacon in the oven:  No burns from splattering grease (#148), you don't have to stand over the frying pan for an hour, your clothes don't smell like bacon when you're done, (believe it or not) the bacon doesn't splatter all over the inside of your oven, and the bacon even tastes better.

I'll leave you with one final photo from the weekend.  Jillian modeled her new Rapunzel wig and said, "I look like Rapunzel with a tan." 

Tonight, we enjoyed the movie "Miracle on 34th Street".  (#149)  It's one of my favorite Christmas movies, because it opens the door to talk with my children about faith and things unseen.  The movie takes believing in Santa Claus, and uses it as a metaphor for Believing in God.  It was a great conversation starter for Jillian and I.  And another blessing from above.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

Christmas isn't over yet. . . we will be making more memories this weekend with Chad's family when his brothers, sister, nephews, and parents come to our home.  Stay tuned. . .