{christmas eve and christmas day}

on christmas eve we decided to go to a christmas eve service at grace community church in goshen.  we have a friend who goes there and is the drummer and our church doesn't do anything so we thought it would be a good time to visit. it felt strange walking to a church were we didn't know anyone.  the service was very upbeat and the kids loved it.  it felt a little showy to john and me but you could definitely feel the spirit and it was a beautiful service.  afterwords we went to hacienda because we had tons in gift cards.  it was a beautiful day. the kids asked if we could go to church and hacienda every christmas eve.  

we came home and opened our christmas pajamas, played games, and watched a christmas movie.  it was such a great day. 

 i think it will be a miracle if i ever get a decent picture of all my kids.  easton recently learned to cross his eyes and he thinks it's so funny.  he does it any chance he gets. i didn't notice he was doing it until it was too late to take another one with all four of the kids.  lol. 

so for a few months we had been telling our kids that they weren't going to get any gifts from us except for stocking stuffers.  instead we let them choose ways to give.  we bought a strangers haircut, tipped our waiter more than normal, bought someone's meal, helped with medical bills, etc. they enjoyed giving and loved seeing people's faces and the thrill of giving in secret the past two months.  however, they are kids and they shared a little disappointment before going to bed that they wouldn't have any gifts to open. we reiterated why we chose to give instead of receive and they knew they did a good thing.

little did they know, we really did get them gifts for under the tree.  the twins were up at 5 am and came running into our bedroom very joyfully and easton told us there were gifts under the tree.  and lots of them...like ten! they couldn't believe it.  of course they had to wake he other two up and they were all so joyful and grateful for the gifts they weren't expecting.  we related it to the story of jesus dying for us even when we don't/didn't deserve it but he did it anyway because he loves us. 

we read the birth story, opened gifts, and ate homemade cinnamon rolls (they actually were pretty good!).  the gift highlights were a weight bench for greyson, doll toys for kenna's american girl doll,  tablets and bibles for the twins. i won't ever forget how surprised they were and extremely grateful.  kenna asked if we could give every year and then be surprised like they were this year because the surprise was so much fun.  i explained that it wouldn't work again because they'd be expecting gifts.  ha!  

my parents came down and checked out all the kids gifts and ate a late breakfast with us.  it was so nice (like in the high 50s so later in the afternoon we went in the woods with the four wheelers.  we walked around, played, and rode a lot.  dad got his stuck so john had to pull him out.  during this time, i dropped my phone in the mud and couldn't find it for a while.  it was covered and i couldn't get my charger in for a while because it was caked with mud.  thankfully once it dried out a little i was able to get the dirt out.  

we celebrated with my family the weekend after christmas.  i also included the cousin picture from a chrsitmas earlier in december.  the kids love being with all their cousins. this is a christmas i'll always remember.