Happy Birthday Jesus - video

Here is the video I mentioned previously.  She sang it other times much more clearly but of course the time I get the video camera out it's not the greatest.  Most importantly it will always be a reminder of one of my favorite memories of this Christmas season. 

Enjoy! 

We hope you had a really special Christmas and have a very Happy New Year. 

It's a little difficult to understand her when you don't know the words to the song so here is the part of the song she was singing:
Happy Birthday Jesus by Reba McEntire
Long ago in a stable there was a baby being born
God sent him down to give the world a second chance
for you and I. 
That's why we have Christmas at this time each year.
It's the babies birthday party that brings us so much cheer.
(Samantha liked to say...I know what cheer means - it means "happy"!)
Then at the end of the song she sings:
"Happy Birthday Jesus - I'll open this one just for you!"

Christmas program

Here is a little clip of the girls in the Christmas program.  Danielle and her preschool class did a few songs and Samantha was invited to participate as well.  Samantha comes to preschool when I help in the classroom and she fits right in so they were very kind to include her.  I had no idea how she would do but she enjoyed it a lot!

Samantha got a little distracted by the "firefighter" next to hear sticking his head in his jacket!  Too funny.  The preschoolers were dressed as members of the community (Danielle was a teacher, Samantha was a mommy, there was a doctor, cowboy, etc.). 

Christmas Eve & Day

The girls before Christmas Eve service. 

Me and my girls.

Reading "Humphrey's First Christmas" on Christmas Eve

Putting Baby Jesus in His manger on Christmas Eve (the girls couldn't wait until morning!)

Snuggling with Grammie Christmas morning.

Samantha got a CD player with 2 microphones!!



Danielle got a real guitar!  She loves it.



All smiles at the end of a wonderful Christmas day.
Grandpa, Grammie & Girls

 Well, the pictures and captions pretty much sum up our Christmas day.  It was a wonderful time of family, giving, relaxing and making memories.  The kids were constantly entertaining us! 

The story behind the manger is that in the weeks leading up to Christmas the girls get to put hay in "the manger" each time they get caught doing something loving.  The idea is to encourage loving actions and kindness as that brings Jesus joy and makes his manger more cozy as we prepare to celebrate His birth.   Then on Christmas morning (or Eve in this case) we put Jesus in His manger and sing Happy Birthday before we open presents. 

Speaking of presents I will have to get a video on here soon of Samantha singing a song that has become a Christmas tradition of ours. 

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!!

Week before Christmas

A week filled with much fun and blessings...

Gram and Samantha

Baking cookies.  Yes, that's my dad with the rolling pin.  He's a pro when it comes to dough!

Teamwork.  I love my Dad.

LOTS of teamwork!  Getting started...many cookies to decorate.
(My hubby, brother, Gram, cousins, and uncle.)

Finished decorating...now can we eat them?!

Cousin time!!

We had a very full and very special week filled with family time.  Our girls have no cousins so spending time with my cousins kids is a real treat.  The girls got to play together, build a gingerbread house, squeal, giggle, etc.  We also have Gram visiting and are thankful for her as well. 

Preparing for Christmas

The girls and I on a float in the Christmas parade.

I sure love the weeks preparing for Christmas! 

One of my favorite days of the year is the day we put up the tree, turn on our Christmas music, get out the decorations, put all of our special ornaments on the tree, and read the books that have been put away since last Christmas.  The girls were SO excited this year!  Of course they enjoyed the singing snowmen, the sweet rudolph we hang on our wall and the santa who plays the saxaphone (a white elephant gift that makes us think of Grandpa Terry so it will always be a part of our tradition), etc.  They also were in awe of the nativity scene, the ornaments that represent our family in different stages and the precious Christmas songs playing in the background.  I ended up getting the video camera out many times this evening because I never wanted to forget these memories!

We like to have an ornament on the tree that represents something special from the previous year.  Grandma got the girls two perfect ornaments: Danielle a girl playing soccer and Samantha a sand castle (she loves the beach!).  I was going to have them put those new ornaments on first but I went to grab the camera to capture the moment and next thing I knew they were putting up the ornaments pictured above....another set of ornaments we have had for years that also represent them this year.  Samantha with the puppy (her love of all loves this year!) and Danielle with the baby Jesus (this year she told Jesus she wanted to follow Him forever).  Very, very special.

Now we get ready for the Christmas program through the preschool, some special visitors, baking, etc.  I love having all these things to look foward to!