Merry Christmas

This is a very special Christmas for us...

the first with our baby bear.

It has a totally different feeling now...

so much love and joy. I can't even describe it.

We are looking forward to fun and family for the next 3 days. 

and of course lots of snuggle time with our little man.

 ::photo credit: taken by tate::

Merry Christmas 

to you and your family

Luke 2:9-14
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Gingerbread House 2011

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is building our annual gingerbread house. When we were little, little kids my grandparents started sending us a kit that we would make for the holidays, and now that we are older mom bakes a home made house for us to assemble and decorate. It is more about the family time and less about the house each year, but we do enjoy seeing just how much candy we can get to stick on this house. 

This year was special too because my grandparents are visiting from New York and it was their first time to see Durham! Everyone got a little snuggle time in and he was busy taking a good nap while we ate way too much candy in the kitchen! haha

just a few pictures from the past couple years. 

Notice how I am wearing gray in every picture. 

::sigh:: 

looks like next year I need to mix it up a bit.

2008

2009

2010

2011: This Year

 {brother, I told you this was going up! LOL}

 {the person who broke the house and had to rig it with gram crackers will remain nameless}

{my favorite part... powered sugar. let it snow. let it snow. let it snow}

 {the hubs adding "people" inside the house...with spaghetti tongs}

 {granny trying to get a good angle... dad about had a heart attack with her on the chair.}

Durham looks like he is about to eat it! LOL. 

Not quite what he was looking for, haha, but yeah for baby's first ginger bread house picture! 

Absolutely a tradition we will continue with our kids.

if you want to take a trip down memory lane... (mom)... here is the link to last years ginger bread house. 2010