Our Christmas!

This Christmas was our first Christmas as a family and it was so special! I was so excited to see Taylor open his presents from Mommy and Daddy! Especially the talking Cookie Monster! That one's my favorite! It was amazing to see him try to rip off the wrapping paper and see what was inside. And of course, the wrapping was just about as cool as the presents! :) That figures.....we should have just wrapped wrapping paper! Can you imagine? :) It truly was a very special Christmas! I loved every minute! After Taylor opened his presents, Mike and I opened ours while he played with his new toys. We both love him so much and loved that precious time together!

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Merry Christmas!

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself,

and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him,

and given Him a Name which is above every Name:

That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow,

of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

Today was Christmas Eve!!! It was a different Christmas Eve because it landed on a Wednesday and the day got broken up into quite a few sections!!! We all got to my mom and dad's at 11 to have a fabulous brunch that my mom prepared - egg bake, monkey bread, baked fruit and punch....I ate way too much! We played games and hung out, Jess got into a tennis tournament with Steven and Deron and I ate way too much! :) We girls were in charge of dinner and the appetizers afterwards. At around 3:30 we started getting the Chicken Parmesan ready. Heather and Jess did a wonderful job while I worked on getting the appetizers ready for after the church service. We ate at 5 just like we planned and then everyone scampered to get into their church clothes because we all piled in the blue van to ride to church together - all 17 of us!!! It was the best time! The service at the South Campus perfect - we three girls were able to sing together for the special and our old youth pastor was in town for Christmas so he brought the message. Mike and I were able to sit together for the service and that was something that we haven't been able to do in a very long time......I really enjoyed it.....
After the service, we stayed around til the "place closed" and then we all jumped back in that big blue van and took the trip home!!! When we all got home, I don't think that I have seen 17 people change faster into pj's!!! We prepped the food and got the buffet ready and then we all opened presents.....it was as magical as it could be! The food was awesome and after, we all played games. We didn't get home until 3 this morning but it was wonderful! Merry Christmas Eve!!!

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Birthday Party!

Tonight we celebrated Mike and Mom Henderson's birthday by reserving the party room at the Olive Garden in Coon Rapids. Both sides of the family were invited but as life would have it, Andy and Angie and their kids, and Mark and Amy and their kids were sick and couldn't make it. Then Heather and Donald, at the last minute, got tickets to Disney on Ice so they took Ryan and Trevor to see that which I don't blame them for that at all! ;) If I were three and had a choice between Disney on Ice, popcorn and fun or a dinner at Olive Garden with a bunch of adults, I know what I would pick! :)
But my parents, Garrett and Matt and Jess were able to make it so it ended up being a cozy wonderful night! And I love Olive Garden no matter what! It was so nice though, that everyone took the time out of their schedule to come and celebrate these birthdays! We love our family!

Christmas Shopping with Erica!!!

We went Christmas shopping with Erica today. We didn't have any shopping left to do (most of my presents are already wrapped) but Erica had hers left to do and it was a great excuse to get out and have some coffee and spend a ton of time gabbing! We met at Caribou and then headed over to the Rosedale Mall. I had to post these pictures because Taylor is so cute and they look so precious together! :) She's such a good "auntie" to him!

Celebrating!!!

Today we were able to celebrate Mike's birthday as we normally do - we go downtown after getting breakfast somewhere and end up at Macy's. We walk through the floors and do some window shopping then end up at the holiday exhibit on the 8th floor. This year was really cute and I was glad that Taylor was able to see that one for the first time. There's been a few in the past that have gone a little on the weird side but this one was original and cute! We headed over to Target after that to look at the toys together and see which ones we wanted to get for Taylor. We picked out some that he will be able to use in the next year as he grows. I'm going to pick them up from the Target near our house since we can't haul them all the way back through the skyway to our car...:) It was an awesome day! We ended up back at the house with Taco Bell and a movie - what a fabulous way to end the day!

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Joy to the World!

The Childrens Choir Christmas play is finally here and gone! I can't believe that we got through it tonight and it's already over!!! Each year, it amazes me how much you can prepare for one hour in time and how quickly that one hour can go. This year, the children did a reading and singing program. There wasn't any acting or specific story but each child had a reading part and all the children either sang in groups or as a big choir and it turned out really well! And each one did so well! They memorized their parts and songs so well and I was so proud! Afterwards, Mike and I gave them their Christmas presents and we all went downstairs to enjoy cookies. I'm so proud of each child and how well they did and how commited they are to Christ and church each week!

Mike's Birthday!!!

It was Mike's birthday today!!! Because it's Wednesday, he had to work and we had church tonight, but because I'm not working any more, I was able to plan a surprise birthday party for him at church! I baked a cake and Mom Henderson picked up balloons and it all just came together. I had to tell Dad Henderson to let out a little early and that almost gave it away because he was so excited about it but we were able to keep it a secret until Mike came downstairs. The kids loved surprising him like that and I know that he enjoyed it! When we finally got to surprise him, he was totally shocked! It worked out so well! I love that I was able to do that for him! I love him so much!

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Campbell's Birthday!

Tonight, we went to Chucky Cheese to celebrate Campbell's 2nd birthday! Angie did a Curious George theme and it was so cute! It was such a great idea to have it there because she was able to have the cake and icecream in a private room and all the kids could play games and not just the kids, but the adults too! :) Campbell is a cutie in every way and we were so happy that we were able to share it with him!

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