I love Christmas!!! Every part of Christmas is amazing.....Jesus' birth, the songs, the colder weather, gingerbread houses, hot chocolate, warm fires, making cookies, the lights, and family time. Christmas for us included all of these things and much more!!
Ava Grace and I baked cookies one cold Sunday afternoon and later took them to our neighbors houses for their enjoyment. Ava Grace LOVES to cook/bake and definitely loves to help in the kitchen. Despite her age, she can be very useful at times while in the kitchen. We chose to make cookies that she could really make "herself" - rice krispie treats with red & green icing on top, pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate with sprinkles, brownies, and sugar cookies made into reindeer. They were really yummy!!
A few days before Christmas, Cece came up for a visit. We all went to the Grove Park Inn to see the amazing Gingerbread Houses. They are so incredibly neat, but I think the most amazing ones are the ones that the children do. The creativity is beyond words!! If you have never been to see these creations, it is a must if you are ever in the Asheville area.
We all attended church on Christmas Eve. A few years ago, we played the roles of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. This year, we were in the congregation as Ms. Joy told the story of Christmas in simpler terms. At first, Ava Grace wanted to sit on the floor at the front like the other children, but after about 15 minutes, she made her way back to our seat. I think she enjoyed the "play", but was more fascinated with taking communion and lighting the candles while singing "Silent Night". After church, we went back home to have some family time. Ava Grace spread reindeer food in the front yard in hopes that Santa and his reindeer would find our house. She also placed carrots and cookies alongside milk on the table so Santa would be able to maintain his strength to visit all of the other houses. The tradition has become that Ava Grace can open one present on Christmas Eve after church. The gift she opened was something similar to what most of us know as paper dolls. Instead of actual paper, you change the outfits, shoes, etc. with magnets. It is really neat and I think she has enjoyed dressing the doll up.
When we woke up Christmas morning, we had a beautiful blanket of white snow!! This is our second year in a row to have a white Christmas!! It was beautiful as it lasted all day and into the next day. The accumulation was somewhere close to 8 inches. We had a great time playing in the snow, making snow angels, making a snowman, and having a snowball fight. Ava Grace, of course, enjoyed eating the snow every chance she got.
Christmas morning was also exciting as Ava Grace awoke to find out Santa Claus had indeed found her house. She wasn't really sure about a strange man entering her house during the night while everyone was asleep, but she soon forgot about it as she looked at her new things. She carefully looked at every item in her stocking and on the sofa (where Santa laid her gifts). She wanted to play with each item as she looked at them. You can imagine how long Christmas morning lasted, but no one cared since Ava Grace was having a ball! She continues to play with every single item she received for Christmas which we are very thankful that she liked everything!
Due to the snowy weather, we were unable to go to my brother's house to celebrate Christmas. We were able to make it to Meme and Pop Pop's house in Spartanburg. We had a wonderful time as always!!! Everyone was able to make it - Tim's brother, sister-in-law, nephew, Tim's sister, brother-in-law, two nieces, Meme, and Pop Pop (and us of course). We had an amazing meal together before opening a few presents. Ava Grace had a great time playing with her cousin, Rebecca as well as opening her presents. I think she was actually very overwhelmed with all of the lights, music, people, laughter, and everything. She loved being able to sit at the table with the "big kids" as she called it. New cousins, Justin and Brittany (high school students), are always so good to her and laugh with her (and at her sometimes). I think she loved being "one of them" and away from her mommy and daddy for a few minutes. When we left, I asked her if she had a great time and she replied "that was fun!". She loves her family and loves being with everyone!! 
Christmas time was a whirlwind of adventures, excitement, and special memories!! Although Ava Grace still wonders why the we had to take the Christmas tree down, she continues to sing Christmas songs and it really melts my heart (especially her rendition of Away in a Manger).
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