Merry Christmas!

Although Emily is only days away from her first birthday, she experienced her first Christmas this year.  She was completely overjoyed and eventually overwhelmed by all the fun of unwrapping presents and playing with family members and lots of new toys.  We spent time in Pennsylvania with my family, and then traveled back to Michigan to celebrate with Eric's immediate and extended family.  We made frosted cut out cookies, gave Emily baths in the sink, and went for walks in sunny, snow-free PA.  We went to church on Christmas Eve, opened Christmas pajamas, and ate Christmas breakfast casserole (twice!).  We played with more ball popper toys than I could have imagined were in existence, dealt with our fair share of temper tantrums, and all wanted to just close our eyes and take naps on occasion.  But I also got to watch the wonder in Emily's eyes when she experienced Christmas traditions for the first time, got to see her interact with cousins, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, grandparents and lots of other friends and family that she doesn't get to see nearly enough.  And most importantly, I got to tell her the story of Jesus' birth as she went to sleep on Christmas Eve, hopeful that one day she'll understand the real meaning of the holiday, and experience the joy of her Savior's birth.

<