"Mater...like ta-mater, but without the ta"

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

(Pictures taken by Maggie at the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Alpine.)

'Tis the Season

We are all ready for Christmas!!! We have our tree up and gifts underneath, lights are on the house, and the wreath is hung by the door. What do these things have to do with the real meaning of Christmas??? I love the fun and celebration as much as the next person, but the decorations and shopping somehow swallows the true meaning of Christmas. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our savior! Without whom we would all be lost souls.
I am having trouble teaching my children the story of Jesus's birth. They seem to lose interest when I am telling them or reading it to them. We talk about the nativity characters, but they still call the baby Moses and just want to play with the characters. I told them they each have 3 gifts under the tree because Jesus got 3 gifts. They still seem uninterested. I am praying for an interest in their heart to learn this wonderful sweet precious story. I know they are both so young, but I still think they can grasp the story as a whole. I want nothing but the best for my children, and I know that the best thing for them this Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our KING!

Longview Christmas Parade

Last night we not only attended, but we were actually IN the Longview Christmas Parade. The kids and I sat on the Alpine Christian Academy float while Aaron walked next to us to ensure the huge blow up snowman did not fall over on top of anyone. The parade was so much fun! We just smiled and waved and told everyone on the streets, "Merry Christmas!!!"

Here is Aaden on the float waiting for the parade to start.
Here is Kendrah and her kiddos, Olivia and Aubrey. Kendrah was the mastermind behind the whole float. She entered the school and got all the rules, and then she built the float and organized everything! Yay for Kendrah!!! And, thanks to her Alpine Christian Academy won the "Grand Marshall's Award". Our name was even on the FRONT page of the paper!!!

Here is Rylan...I know it's blury, but I had to show how bundled up she was. It was soooooo cold!! BRRRRRRR.

Here is my pal Christy and her two sweet kiddos, Kinzie and Jackson. We rode the float together and laughed and waved the whole way through! (Especially when Jackson fell asleep, but kept waving! He's a trooper!)

And, here is me and my sweet babies. We had a great time! I would encourage anyone who has not gone to go next year. It is so fun, and totally worth the frozen fingers and bad traffic.