Christmas Celebrations

 Pakjes with M's family always includes lots of music!

On Christmas Day we went to a Christmas service and community dinner at River of Life in Niagara Falls. Following the dinner we enjoyed the lights displays near the Falls.

Mom and Dad came home with us afterwards for a cozy evening and the children's production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas... 

"He turned around fast, and he saw a small Who!

Little Cindy-Lou Who, who was not more than two.

The Grinch had been caught by this tiny Who daughter

Who'd got our of bed for a cup of cold water.

She stared at the Grinch and said, 'Santy Claus, why,

Why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?'

But, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick

He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick!

'Why, my sweet little tot, the fake Santy Claus lied,

There's a light on this tree that won't light on one side.

So I'm taking it home to my workshop, my dear.

I'll fix it up there. Then I'll bring it back here.'"

When they were practicing for this part - with William playing the part of the Grinch's dog Max - I overhead Joseph say to the other kids in an admiring tone, "Willie makes a perfect dog, hey?"

Meanwhile... Isaiah is finally daring to stand unaided, amid the ecstatic cheers of his fan club of seven. :)

 Of course his littlest mother / big sister always wants to "help" him.

Gazing at the Christmas tree, a hundred colored lights shining in his eyes.

 Boxing Day was set aside for our own much-looked-forward-to family festivities.

 We opened stockings. Zay got to go first.

 He's possibly thinking this red, squishy ball looks familiar...

 It tastes familiar, too.

So does this plastic cookie!

(Perhaps this is taking the regifting idea too far. Didn't he just play with these yesterday?

Oh well, he still seems to be enjoying himself!)

I loved all the creative Christmas cards from the kids.
Marike made this for William; perhaps she got the idea from one of our favorite Christmas songs (It's about the Cross).

a new hair band from Anna and a Christmas bear from Jim

This is the third of four days in a row that Marike wore her Christmas dress. (I insisted on throwing it in the laundry today or I'm sure she would have had it on again!) The scarf was a present from the ladies at River of Life, and the heart necklace was a 10 cent stocking stuffer from Bibles for Missions (my favorite place to pick up gifts for the kids! :))

 Each year the kids draw names, and for the person whose name they draw they make a treasure hunt with clues leading to a present. 

 This all takes quite a while, so we took a little break for hot chocolate served in my very special dutch mugs (one of my wedding presents from M.)

Candlelit Dinner

The following day was Joseph's Christmas Carnival. He had given us all free admission coupons as stocking stuffers.

 The Carnival ended with a showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Excited children, sparkling lights, flickering candles, scrumptious food, sweet surprises - all gifts from God, and we are so very thankful.
"Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?...
Thy mercies, how tender, how firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!"