Christmas Day!!!

Merry Christmas!!!  Christmas Day is finally here!!! 

The birth of Jesus is an amazing story and every time I meditate on it, I learn or think of something new!  Why do you think Mary went with Joseph to be taxed?  Wouldn't it have been much easier to stay home and have her baby in a cozy place with her mom's help and a midwife lined up???  Of course!  But maybe she was facing some accusation from her family and friends?  Maybe she knew that God would care for them if they stuck this whole pregnancy and betrothal out together!  I'm sure there was much decision about the trip before they ventured out and God truly was with them the whole way through!  When Joseph was trying hard to find a dry, warm room for Mary to rest and maybe birth the Son of God, I can just picture Mary in sweat, breathing through each contraction.  Trying to catch her breath and wondering why God doesn't shine through here and provide the perfect place for them!!!  But, they ended up in a stable, out of the wind and crowded streets!!!  Together.  In labor.  With no running water and barely enough of blankets to keep the scene sanitized.  But, together ... they gave birth to baby Jesus!!! 

Christmas morning was a lazy start here in our home.  Mike had to go to the shop for a last minute "now you have it now you don't" gift.  He took Austin along and gave him a fork lift ride!  Austin loved that!!!  Meanwhile, I was in the kitchen baking a chocolate cake to take along to the Lapp Family Dinner!!!

The kids got woken up and dressed and we quickly delivered cookies to our neighbors wishing them a Merry Christmas!  Then we went to Mom Lapp's for Mike's family Christmas dinner.

Mom always has the table so pretty!

This is the first Christmas without Dad Lapp with us!  It was sad but we really did have a great time celebrating Jesus and being together as a family!

 We don't exchange names with the Lapps but Mom had a gift for everyone.  Then we did the "now you have it now you don't" with just the adults.

 

Austin was given a toy skid loader!

Ashlyn got a new chair!  Now she has a chair for campfires and summer cookouts!

 

Matthew got a new comforter.

 
And so did Hadassah!

She also gave some gifts to the siblings!  Thanks so much Mom!!!

We had another day of yummy foods!  We also had a group of youth stop by to sing some Christmas Carols to us!  It sounded so nice!  Thanks for blessing us!

We stayed till late in the night playing Marble Chase again!  This game is fun and it's become a favorite for this season in life!  Normally, we play Settlers but that game will never be the same without Dad.  Marble Chase was just as fun!  We helped Mom get the house cleaned up before leaving.

We missed Dad Lapp again so much and the grieving is real.  Christmas and family gathering will be complete again without him with us but the day was still a great blessing!!!

We miss you Dad Lapp!  We love you Mom Lapp!!!

Christmas Eve ...

 We woke up still half tired from the night out with my family last night but we got ready for church and enjoyed some carols and a sermon based on the wise men that can seeking to worship the baby Jesus!!!  It was a time to reflect on the story of Jesus' birth, see church friends and fellowship before heading back home for a fun lunch at home!

I heated up some ham and oyster stew.  We added cold shrimp, a festive salad, cranberry salad, homemade bread and sweet potatoes to our meal! 

The children were so excited to open up their gifts, so we did that right after the dishes were done!

 We started with giving Austin his gift first.  Here they sat and waited until Mike and Matthew brought it inside.

And here they come!

A jeep!!!  He will love this toy this summer!!!

 
Then we gave Ashlyn her gift!!!  Her very own American Girl Doll ... Tenny!  She loves it and now has a doll to go with all her accessories she got earlier this season!

 Matthew and Hadassah only got stocking stuffers for Christmas because earlier this fall, Matthew was given a new set of golf clubs and Hadassah was given a mirror with lots of lights around it!  Both knew that they would just get smaller gifts but they were still grateful!  Matthew got a hover board case and Hadassah got some jewelry, Bose remote, OX cord, etc..

Then Austin and Ashlyn opened up some stocking stuffers too!  A new pal patrol battery operated tooth brush for the little one here!

I found this American Girl Doll case at Fashion Cents and could not leave it there!  Now Ashlyn can be organized with all her fun doll clothes!

I got my necklace back from Ashlyn!!!  :)

She loves this!!!

How sweet ... from Ashlyn!

We put stickers on the jeep and then took it back outside for a ride!

 

Christmas Eve came with naps and relaxing on the couch!!!

I love this man SO EVER MUCH!!!

I just didn't know what exactly to get Mike for Christmas, so I just went the easier route and bought him a new dress shirt and tie.  He can always use those and he will look great in it!!!

I am so super excited to get my gift from him.  He ordered me a leather wallet/clutch from Urban Southern!!!  I hinted about this gift but still didn't know he ordered one for me!  It came delivered in the mail today but to the shop.  So I need to wait till tomorrow to actually get it.  Thanks so much Babe!!!

We got invited to go out to Matt and Lena for the rest of the night!  Mom Lapp and Ritchie were there too.  We gave the boys each a small gift and then we played a game.  The kids absolutely love going to Hunter and Adrian's house, so they played the entire night until it was time to come back home!!!  Cousins are the best!

 

Christmas Eve was a time of reading about Jesus' birth once again and then gift exchanges and fond memories!!!

Riehl Family Christmas

 We started off the Christmas Season with a fun family gathering with my family.  Mom made in incredible meal for us all and we all enjoyed it sitting around tables in the rec room.  The good was so yummy with plenty to go around!  Then we exchanged gifts amongst the children.  They were so, so excited to see who has who and what their gift will be!

Shae and Austin play so nice together!!!

And these two cousins will be forever friends!

Ashlyn got a lot of things for an American Girl Doll.

Austin got a guitar.

 Then mom and dad gave everyone a gift.  Austin got a new tractor!!!  His favorite!

Ashlyn got an outfit that matches one for her and for her doll.  She got crayons, coloring books and a doll table set.

Matthew got a hunting chair and a baseball hook for his wall.

Looking good girls!!!

 

Hadassah got a floating shelf with succulents to put on it.  It's gonna look great in her bedroom!

 

Mom and Dad gave Mike and I a new pressure washer!!!  Wow!!!  Thank you!!!  Then we played games of Marble Chase!  It was a time of laughing together.  Playing games.  Eating good food and being with family!  The cousins had a real blast playing!

 

Another Christmas with my family was spectacular!!!