A typical McClain Christmas tradition: Kids get up way, way earlier than the adults want to. Ellie generally sits and stares at all the presents, in the dark, until a yawning adult stumbles along. (This year, she awoke at 5 AM and I had to cuddle her back to sleep. Unsuccessfully: “Can we open presents yet?”).
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Once coffee is adequately prepped and quaffed, we begin with the stockings, then move up to the gifts, doleing out one gift per person, then rinse-and-repeat till all gifts are opened. At last, with more coffee at the ready, we feast on pancakes..
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It was a good year. Grandma and Grandpa got the kiddos their very own tablets this year — which is fantastic because they were really feeling left out. (All their peers have phones, tablets, and notebooks. Our digitally deprived kids can finally catch up!) Elllie got lots of artsy stuff, AJ got some gadgety and fidgety stuff, Julie got some artsy stuff, too, and they all got hand-crafted treasure boxes from Grandpa’s workshop..
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Jen and I couldn’t afford much this year, but I was delighted to receive my favorite coffee, a Michigan Cherry blend from Grand Traverse Pie Co., and I was able to get Jen’s wedding ring repaired. She got the more comforting gift, but mine is tastier!.
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We are so grateful to the Lord for the gift of his Son and I hope and pray that I can carry within myself an perpetual sense of gratefulness, joy, and generosity in light of the gift and sacrifice made on my behalf..
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Merry Christmas, friends!
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Once coffee is adequately prepped and quaffed, we begin with the stockings, then move up to the gifts, doleing out one gift per person, then rinse-and-repeat till all gifts are opened. At last, with more coffee at the ready, we feast on pancakes..
.
It was a good year. Grandma and Grandpa got the kiddos their very own tablets this year — which is fantastic because they were really feeling left out. (All their peers have phones, tablets, and notebooks. Our digitally deprived kids can finally catch up!) Elllie got lots of artsy stuff, AJ got some gadgety and fidgety stuff, Julie got some artsy stuff, too, and they all got hand-crafted treasure boxes from Grandpa’s workshop..
.
Jen and I couldn’t afford much this year, but I was delighted to receive my favorite coffee, a Michigan Cherry blend from Grand Traverse Pie Co., and I was able to get Jen’s wedding ring repaired. She got the more comforting gift, but mine is tastier!.
.
We are so grateful to the Lord for the gift of his Son and I hope and pray that I can carry within myself an perpetual sense of gratefulness, joy, and generosity in light of the gift and sacrifice made on my behalf..
.
Merry Christmas, friends!
via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/qxeXcK
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