Love, love, love spending Christmas with family.  And even with the stomach bug and the flu going through the house, it was a wonderful week.  (Just hoping we're not taking the flu back with us to share with Bella.)  Because of the stomach bug getting Brian and I on consecutive days, we only got to spend one day at his parent's house, which was a big bummer.  I think they appreciated us not sharing the pukes though.

  This year, Brian and I did Christmas as homemade as we possibly could.  With the exception of two presents, all of them were made by either me or Brian.  It took a long time, but we were more excited to share our presents this year than any other.  They were all personal and took lots of time, love, and effort.

Our homemade Christmas was also partly inspired by participating in the Advent Conspiracy.  It was helpful in not just deciding what Christmas shouldn't be, but what it should be. 




As our family grows, we are keenly aware that we are teaching and creating what Christmas will really mean to our kids, and we definitely want to avoid, as much as we can, the consumerist score-as-much-loot-as-you-can Christmas attitude that is so pervasive.  Apart from the fabric store, we didn't set foot in a store for our Christmas gifts this year, and I think that alone will make for a different kind of Christmas growing up.  We had time to focus on waiting expectantly to celebrate the coming of our Savior.  We are so thankful.   
  Even at one gift per person and drawing names, our Christmas gifts added up.  Gifts of time and meaning.