Celebrating Christmas

The Christmas Season is upon us. We welcomed Christmas during the wee hours of the night, celebrating midnight Mass. True midnight Holy Mass, where Holy Mass began at the stroke of midnight. This was a first for the kids. It was beautiful and the music was grand. A half hour before Mass, we sang Christmas Carols with the choir. Between songs, they retold the age old story of the birth of Christ. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the congregation. The church was nearly full. It brought back many memories from when I was younger. We always attended midnight Mass preceded by a big dinner with the Franciscan Seminarians. While growing up, Christmas Eve was a festive evening full of good food and good company. Keeping in tradition from my childhood, we came home to our stockings stuffed and a gifts from Santa. We stayed up and opened all our gifts before heading to a much needed rest.







All Charles asked for for Christmas was Lego. That's what he got. Lego, Lego and more Lego.












Savanna only wanted a new doll. Now she can be Mama to 4 dolls.



To help focus on the True meaning of Christmas, gifts are kept to a minimum around here. (Though, Mike doesn't observe the rules too well.) Christmas is a time to celebrate Chirst and welcome Him into our hearts and homes. We try very hard not to loose sight of this.

Christmas day was relaxing. We hung around the house, playing, building and enjoying our new toys and each others company. Dinner was as Kato's house with the family. It's funny, though I live very close to my brothers and their families, and we do lots of stuff together, there is still something special about us gathering for Christmas. The cousins ran around and played while the adults got to spend time talking and just kicking back and enjoying good company.








The cousins on the top of the hill as the sun was starting to set on Christmas Day.







This Christmas for Bryan, I made him a recipe book with pictures from his birth to now. When he was little, there were lots of pictures of me with him. As he got older, I noticed there were no pictures of just the two of us. So, to remedy the situation, we took one together this Christmas.














My brothers and me:
Kato, Anthony, me and Joe





Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas Season (which doesn't end until the Baptism of Jesus!) and a Happy and Blessed New Year. God Bless you all!