christmas highlights

Christmas morning...



We spent the afternoon at Uncle Adam's house...

Belgium waffles with ice cream and strawberries! A new tradition...
on my NEW waffle maker...
delicious!
Our Swank Christmas...

This year we started a new tradition with the Swank side of the family. We decided to NOT buy presents for everyone. Instead we just hung out, ate, played games. With the dollars we "saved" we decided to allow the kids to search the World Vision catalog and buy something for another family.

Aunty Erin gave a nice talk about how we can give presents to Jesus (the birthday boy) on his birthday. Jesus would like us to give to the poor and needy.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

So aside from all the other "givings" we did throughout the season/year we we able to give as a family on Christmas. The kids had a great time picking out things (and learned that it isn't like *this in other countries)...

Something we are excited to continue throughout the year...

* this being comfortable America