Our Christmas Nest . . .

So proud of my dollar store stockings.  

Prouder yet that there are SEVEN!

(Thank you Kim for the inspiration)

Theadora Fu Xiao prepares to 

celebrate her "first" Christmas . . .

it was a sweet one!

Flit and Grinner find it hard to contain the excitement!

No snow at The Nest . . . except for these beautiful 

pictures Bryce brought from Spokane.

That my friends is a Christmas tree

decorated by the Creator himself!

Teddi received her very own stocking 

from Grandma Winder, so proud.

We joyfully added it to the stocking line-up

. . .  we've kept Grandma busy over the years!

Christmas Eve, after church and dinner, we 

had our "Happy Birthday Jesus" party . . .

We've started a new tradition of "bringing" a gift to

Jesus.  This year it was a donation to charity:water

(To give a quick plug, 100% of all donations to charity:water

go directly to providing clean drinking water to those in need.

A $20.00 donation provides clean drinking water for one

 person for 20 years.)  

Water = life!

Teddi learns another tradition, opening new 

Grammy jammies on Christmas Eve . . .

Thank you Grandma, you did sew good!

Grinner jumps in wearing his Grammy jammies.

Big brother reads before bedtime.

Silent night . . .

turns to noisy morn, as Teddi learns to "do" stockings.

Chocolate before 8:00 a.m.--

 a girl could get used to this!

Another sewing grandma made new blankies--

thank you Grandma Suz!

Teddi got ladybugs, C-U-T-E!

Once everything was opened inside, 

Flit and Grinner had one more big surprise outside . . .

('cause that's what happens when mama gets on Cra*g's List!)

Christmas morning in Texas . . . a balmy 70 degrees,

perfect swing set weather.

Flit was a happy girl!  Thank you Baba 

for the late night Christmas Eve set-up!

Back inside to feed babies with sister.

For Christmas dinner we were joined by my cousin's son

Aaron and his wife Michelle.  Aaron's mama, Patti, and I, grew up 

in Michigan together.  We both married military men, and then we 

had our first babies (Bryce and Aaron) three days apart.  

Now Bryce and Aaron are both men in blue.  Aaron and Michelle 

happen to be stationed here in SA with us, so we actually

have family to share special times with--a sweet blessing!

We were also joined by Taylor's fiance, Frankie, and 

by Frankie's mom Olga, and his sister Kathy 

(all soon to be "family" too)-- but I didn't get a picture of them.  

So sorry guys, we sure enjoyed your company!

My handsome oldest bird Bryce . . .

My Taylor bird, with Frankie the Fiance.

(Taken during our trip to the Riverwalk the night after Christmas.)

My middle bird Brady, with his new baby,

a long awaited Fender guitar . . .

purchased last night, partially with Christmas $, and 

partially with his very own workin' boy income!

Yes, he's happy!

The Christmas Queen "wraps up" the evening in her

new robe from Olga, Frankie and Kathy (too sweet)!

 She is wearing jewels compliments of Grandma & Papa . . .

 and lucious Hello Kitty chapstick.  

The chapstick (also from Olga and family) may go 

down in history as the favorite "first" 

Christmas gift--along with

 her kitty-cat keyboard.  Simple pleasures!

Blessings from our nest to yours!

(Thank you dear friend Erin for the photo,

taken after the Christmas Eve service,

we appreciate you!)

A final thought from my little flip calender (thank you for sticking out this long post) . . .

"I do hope your Christmas

has had a little touch of Eternity

in among the rush and pitter patter

and all.  It always seems such a mixing

of this world and the next -- but that

after all is the idea."  

~Evelyn Underhill

Blessings from my nest . . . so thankful for the Eternal reason for the season!

Tina