Christmas 2013

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Last year Collin was just a 2 month old at Christmas. So I was still in a postpartum fog to really enjoy the Christmas with TWO kiddos....but this year was totally different. Collin really loved all the excitement, he wasn't quite sure what it was all about, but he had fun.

Mady is really starting to understand the "why" behind Christmas. Jesus, his birth and who he is, why he is so important and why we give gifts in remembering our greatest gift, our savior. She was, however, quite interested in who this "Santa" character was. No hiding from this now....so we had to make a choice about how we would address him. .....

Which was sort of a debate, but we landed somewhere in the vicinity of him being a character based off of St. Nicholas, who was a real man who gave gifts to children and the poor in remembrance of Christ, our savior. So when we see Santa at the mall and Walgreens (yes, he was even there this year!) we can wave and remember who he represents and laugh...because he's kind of fun and exciting and silly......

So guess who Mady thanked for all her gifts Christmas morning (and at the top of her lungs)....
"Thank you St. Nicholas and Santa Clause!!!"

Hahaha! Well, whatever. Its kinda unavoidable and really not that big of a deal.
Our kids hear the gospel and about Jesus daily. They hear about Santa for a few days out of the year. I'm going to hedge my bets that they are going to remember more about Jesus than Santa and St. Nick.

So without further ado....here are our pictures from Christmas 2013.
Enjoy.

Christmas Eve....ya know, before St. Nick (or whoever) came and brought the gifts.

Christmas afternoon at the Baises

My mother in law really does a beautiful job at decorating for Christmas. There house is sort of a dream around Christmas time. So warm, cozy and beautiful.

Even the Cousin dogs had fun together

Sweet! Bryan's Dad and his Mom (Bryan's Grandmother and the kid's great grandmother)

My love!!!!! He's so cute. I'm obsessed.

Cousin play

Collin and Uncle Andy. Poor Collin was not a fan of anyone other than Mommy and Daddy this trip. I'm ready for this phase to pass soon....

Bryan on dish duty....he really does enjoy it.

My gorgeous SIL and Maui again.

My favorite gifts.

I hope you and your family enjoyed celebrating another Christmas. I pray that you truly know the meaning behind why we celebrate. I pray you would know and treasure Christ in your heart. Knowing his saving power and transforming work he can do in your life. I pray that 2014 would be a year rich in blessings and deeper understanding of our great God.

My prayer for our family is that we would seek Him more. Matt. 6:33. His righteousness would be known more than any riches of this world. That we would trust Him for our good and live daily in JOY in His presence. I pray for health and love to abound!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Season Tradition

We have this Christmas Tradition that we did in my household when I was little. That is cookie making (and giving). This year we had to have two rounds of it. One reason being because it was so fun...but also because round one was pretty pathetic. I bought a weird mix we've never used to make the dough and it didn't quite turn out right.

So here was round 1...at least Bryan was here to help with one of the rounds. He was able to enjoy this tradition with Mady. That made a failed attempt pretty special.

The dough that was disappointing...

Decorating is the best part!

 

Mady trying her best to make it look like she actually liked the cookie. Hah!

I mean really....they looked pretty pathetic. Kinda like a blind person did them, not three seeing individuals....two of them being adults.
Oh well.....

Here's for round two!...

I just love her.

Waiting to be decorated...

Things were already going better than our first round....
One thing I learned. Don't take a chance on a random cookie making kit box from Trader Joes.
Just go with what you know, Pillsbury and Betty Crocker icing. Sorry, nothing from scratch over here. We ain't that fancy when it comes to baking. 
 

Having FUN!!!! Can you tell?

My favorite cookie as a kid

Kid tasted and kid approved!!!

Mom what are we going to do with all these cookies????

Eat some, give most!!

We had fun. Nothing says "Holiday Season" like a good ole' fashion cookie baking and decorating. I love the history behind this for me in my memories and am thankful to be able to do this with my sweet daughter too.

Almost Christmas....

Mady, the photographer

Recently Mady decided to take my camera and capture a rather uneventful Saturday at the Baise Household.
So funny what shots she took...enjoy.

Clearly, her parents are very appropriate....

And the randomness of things that were "photo-worthy"....

Poor Buck, he was nervous...

I think this shot is particularly hilarious....
she has good taste :)

Her art work....

Her sippy cup, very important...

Her candy necklace...(propped up and all)

Her booster seat....

Fallen Batman, Gotham is doomed.....

Bubbers even posed for her....

the best part is these shots is that it is LIFE and she captured it, a lot of it....unbeknownst to us, but so fun to look back on. Because rarely do we shoot our everyday lives. Laundry piles and all. But now we have proof that we too are ordinary. But a beautifully, wonderful ordinary life that I wouldn't trade for nothing!

Thanks Mady!