Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we had a fun busy day full of old traditions and new memories! 

Brent had to work for a little bit that morning so Addison and I started the day off cooking our Happy Birthday Jesus cupcakes!

Addison choose for baby Jesus to be one this year! :) 

That afternoon we headed to the Christmas Eve service at church. 

This is always one of my favorites with the candle light service and christmas music.

We started taking Addison to the square to see lights her very 1st christmas and have continued it ever since. She LOVES to walk around and look at them and so do I! :)

 In awe... she is at such a fun age! 

 dancing to the christmas music

 I love our little town! 

We came home, ate a few appetizers...

and then started our fun little christmas traditions.

Growing up we always did a German tradition, Finding the pickle. 

My dad would hide the pickle on Christmas eve 

and whoever found it would get to open one gift!

Addison LOVED this and lucked out with being the only child right now! :)

Then we bundled up to sprinkle our reindeer dust..

sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jesus..

and read the christmas Story before heading to bed for Santa to come! 

We could not wait to see her sweet face in the morning...

and enjoy her new gifts!

This year we had so much to be thankful for! A beautiful new home, health, a great job for Brent so that I can be a stay at home mom, wonderful family and friends, a amazing church and so much more.

I am so thankful God has blessed our little family in ways I could never imagine!

Merry Christmas!

-Meredith

Psalm 69:30  I will praise the name of God with song, And shall magnify Him with thanksgiving

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary to my amazing parents and Addison's Gigi and Pop! 

I am so thankful for such a great example and all the love they have shown our family!

Christmas with Family

The Saturday before christmas we had Christmas with Brent's Parents.

After dinner and before opening gifts we did a little craft with Addison..

she loved this and piled as many stickers on her gingerbread house as she could!

It was so fun to watch her open gifts this year. She was really in to it and her expression on every gift was different.

We had fun and Addison loved all of her sweet little gifts from her grandparents!

Sunday, Addison helped me bake and decorate our cookies for Santa!

We do this the day before so that on Christmas eve we can focus on Jesus and his birthday.

 Loving the icing and sprinkles!

 I asked A to show me her crazy face... ha

YUM! Im sure Santa LOVED all the icing and sprinkles on our snowmen cookies :) 

That night we headed to Brent's grandparents for Christmas with his Dads side of the family.

Brent's Nona and Nono always get Addison the sweetest little gifts.

 Addison loved her book and water baby! 

Do you remember having one of these? 

Addison plays with mine that I had as a little girl to this day! 

We had a great time and enjoyed christmas at Addi's great-grandparents!

Love

-Meredith

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. "

Matthew 17:20

I spy Ginger!

This year we did Elf on the shelf at our house and had so much fun!

Addison was at the perfect age to understand.

Ginger, who Addison named all by herself, came to our house December 1st.

EVERY morning she would wake up and the first thing A would ask to do was to find Ginger.

It was so sweet!

So here are a few of her favorite hiding spots....
Welcome Ginger..

 taking a marshmallow bubble bath..

 A little note for Addi..

teaching us to brush our teeth everyday..

I saw Ginger kissing Santa Clause...

 Hanging around...

 Ginger brought the nativity scene out..

Happy birthday daddy..

Ginger brought us Elf on the shelf movie..

Ginger reading the Christmas story..

 Wishing for a white christmas..

 decorating with Candy canes..

 counting down till christmas..

 Ginger brought Baby Jesus to our naivety scene..

 ready to make cookies...

 doing a little baking...

 ready for story time..

 oh no... Ginger got ahold of the toilet paper..

 Ginger brought us some window clings..

 Ginger added her christmas card to our collection..

 snow angel...

 dress up with candy necklaces..

We had so much fun this year with Ginger! 

It was fun watching Addison and also adding in the true meaning of Christmas Jesus christ!

Today she woke up and asked for her... I quickly reminded her that she had to go back to the North Pole. Addison then informed me... "I need to obey until Ginger comes back" :)

precious words to my ears!