2010 Christmas Memories

Ever notice how the things that are meant to be good is twisted and turned around to be bad? The one day a year that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, surrounded by joy, peace, giving and family has become a hallmark season greeting that's filled with stress, debt and family squabble? Don't let me get started on what Easter has become either!

We prayed against the cultural norm this year. Here are the Highlights from Christmas 2010. The anecdote of stress...

Silly potluck dinner
with my couples small group

Micah and Caelan sing their heart out
to their first joint Christmas concert.

Our good friends, Karen and Michael, (remember my Seattle trip?) came with all sorts of bribery for the boys: A pop up Knight castle, a bigger-than-life Transformer for Micah and a new Spidy outfit for Caelan. Precious!

Our annual tradition of
seeing the National Christmas Tree
in 28 degree cold....

and having yummy pizza
afterward...

Christmas morning and the BIG Gender reveal of Baby Boy Ring...but first before the stocking stuffers, the reading of the Christmas story to the boys.

...and later, family time with lots of gifts for the children

Of course my niece
is going to get a princess dress,
new shoes, and her tiara
from her auntie Soryda!

And since we spent Christmas with my side of the family this year, we had a traditional Cambodian Christmas meal. Mouth watering...steaming Cambodian noodle soup [kuh-theah] with a tall glass of chilled iced-coffee.

Cambodian steamed pork puns [Num Paow].

And my sister-in-law baked like nobody's business.
She's a wonderful addition to the family, is she not?

We hung out for the rest of the day relaxed, played board games, watched Avatar and the kids napped and ate the yummy food all over again for dinner. It was a wonderful stress-free Christmas.

Look at cool-cat Caelan. :) We look forward to adding to our growing family next Christmas!