I'll Be Home For Christmas

For the first time since we have been married, we spent Christmas day at our house!!!  It was so nice, waking up in our own beds and seeing what Santa brought the boys.  We opened a few gifts with our immediate family on Christmas Eve.  Eli got some books and Isaac got a couple games and a couple books, but the big gift for the boys from Santa was a new basketball goal (mini court).  It was so fun seeing their little faces light up with the excitement of Christmas!  It was also nice just being at home and not having to rush from place to place for a change.  We stayed at our house all day as my extended family joined us in our home this year for Christmas meal. The only downside of the day was that poor little Isaac had a fever and didn't feel well.  Even though he didn't feel great, he still seemed to enjoy himself. We had a great time celebrating the birth of Christ!

Sarah's small group

My small group decided to go to Shogun Bistro for our Christmas gathering.  We had a great time of fellowship as we enjoyed some delicious food.  The man cooking at our Hibachi grill made this (see picture above) out of the rice, veggies, and meat for us to send to our husbands!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love Christmas!  It's always exciting to get all our Christmas decorations out of the attic and put out to enjoy for the season.  This year we all decorated our house together!  Isaac loved helping put up the ornaments and the nativity scene.  Eli also tried putting up ornaments as well.  We had to put all the unbreakable ornaments on the bottom of the tree, within reach of little Eli.  We only broke 4 ornaments in the process of tree decorating.  Eli loved taking ornaments off the tree and stealing the sheep from the nativity set.  I have to admit, drinking hot chocolate and watching Hallmark movies during my decorating are two of my favorite things to do! Even with all the lights and fun of Christmas, I want our children to understand the real meaning of Christmas.  It was neat to see Isaac excited about The Christmas story and his enjoyment in helping set out our nativity set.  We are ready for Christmas at the Coats' household!!!

Thanksgiving Day With The Cosby's & Whitley's

On Thanksgiving Day, we headed to St. Louis to meet baby Callan for the first time!  We went to Aunt Stephanie's friends, the DeWitt's home, where we met up with Grandad and Mimi, and Uncle Eric, Aunt Stephanie, Anna Katherine, and baby Callan.  We again enjoyed a delicious meal!  After the meal, we played some cornhole, as it was exceptionally warm that day.  It was a lot of fun! 

The four of us slept in Aunt Stephanie's basement.  Eli had been teething and woke up at 3:30 in the morning, so none of us could sleep.  Since we were all up, Adam decided that we should just go Black Friday shopping for the first time.  It was kind of fun!  We bought a bed spread and waffle maker for ourselves for Christmas.  Later on that morning after the rest of the gang had woken up at the Whitley house, Grandad and Mimi offered to watch the grand kids and let us go shopping.  Eric, Stephanie, Callan, Adam, and I all went to the mall, where we ate pizza for lunch then got a good start on our Christmas shopping!  We were so thankful for Grandad and Mimi! 

Since we were not going to see the Whitley's at Christmas, we had our "Christmas" with them, and let the kiddos open a few gifts.  Isaac got some Bernstein Bear books and a Dick and Jane book.  Eli received a couple of outfits, which were so cute!  We had a great time with our family and are so thankful for each of them!