Christmas Day

This was our first Christmas with Eva, and it strikes me the importance of communicating that Christmas should be about celebrating the coming of Jesus.  He is Emanuel - God with us.  According to Hebrews, he is the exact imprint of God's nature.   We continued some of the traditions that I had growing up - such as reading the birth of Jesus from the gospel of Luke, and plan to continue some more - like the advent tree that we (sometimes) did leading up to Christmas.

Our Christmas was also full of fun times with friends.  We went to a friends' house for a large Christmas Eve lunch on Friday, another friends' house for Christmas day lunch and then yet another friends' house for Christmas Day dinner (really, light snacks) and a gift exchange.  I was given a book of Arab proverbs and English equivalents.  I'll share the really good ones on here. 

Unfortunately, Alison and I didn't do ANY Christmas shopping this year.  However, Grandma saved the day and had sent us a package full of presents - 3/4 of which were for Eva.  Here's a video of Eva opening her very first present. 

And here's just one of the goodies that Alison made to take to people's houses - homemade apple pie (she also made scrumptious candy cane cookies, delectable raspberry squares and succulent sugar cookies). 

Last, just because I can - a video of Eva bouncing on Mommy's knee.  Its so great to hear her squeal with delight (sorry, the picture is a little dark)