Celebrating at Home into 2019

We were planning to open gifts on New Years Day but the kids convinced us to do it all on New Years Eve! We had no idea the girls had actually put gifts in our stockings and each others.

 Leighton gave Sadie a map and $20 (loving the selflessness of money at this stage) and Sadie wrote Leighton a note on a colored picture. My favorite Christmas gift of all this year was a note I got from Leighton in my stocking. Wes got one too.

 The note said "If you are sad read me" and then she went on to write Isaiah 33:6 as they had memorized it at school. I told her she couldn't give us anything better than TRUTH! So encouraging L.

 She threw in some pictures she took of each family member :)

 We laid out their stockings and three gifts. They were excited and told us "we nailed it". We enjoy watching them enjoy :) 

Stockings are so fun! 

especially with PEZ

This year they were really into Barbies, Mad Matter, and Marble Run.  To be honest Wes and I like playing with these toys too! I usually give Leighton on of R.C. Sproul's kids' book. This year it was The Barber Who Wanted to Pray.  It is about Martin Luther and discuss how to pray using the 10 Commandments, Lord's Prayer, and Apostle's Creed. Leighton had learned about Martin Luther at SCCS in kindergarten and then in 1st grade they memorized the Lord's Prayer and APostle's creed. It is neat to see those foundations learned being able to be used and taken deeper. 

 Sadie loves coloring and crafts. Levi loves pretend play, action figures, baseballs, and Lion King.

And behind any gift is a dad assembling. 

After gifts and dinner, we had some sparkling grape juice for dessert to ring in the New Year (at 8pm) 

Cheers to 2019!