Christmas 2012

We wanted to do something special to remember Ember during Christmastime so we decided that we are going to donate Christmas presents to a child about her age each year. This year we went to the Angel Tree (operated by the Salvation Army) and picked a little two year old girl. She needed the basics: clothes, jacket, shoes and socks. But, we also got her some fun toys. It was so special and Asher had a great time doing it. I of course cried like a baby when we dropped the stuff off. It was bittersweet for me. Heartbroken that I wasn't going to be able to spend our first Christmas with our baby, but so happy to help another sweetie pie in need. It was interesting because the Salvation Army ladies had each lost a child and so they both just cried with me. It's indescribable the kind of instant bond that mothers feel toward each other when they have lost a child. They just completely understood everything I was feeling without me even saying a word. And I knew they understood. It was such an amazing moment and I left feeling so blessed.

Here we are with all the special gifts we picked out. It was so much fun!

We spent Christmas Eve and Day down at my parent's house. Here we are bundling Asher up so he could go and throw some magic Reindeer food on the grass.

We had dozens of homemade cookies, but Asher was very specific that he wanted to leave out the Christmas Oreos for Santa.

I don't remember why he started crying, but seriously? Who cries when putting out cookies for Santa? Maybe he was scared all he would get was coal...

NOOOO!!!! Not coal!!

Pointing very sadly at the cookies.

Good thing I am so dang funny and got the kid to laugh. Otherwise I'm pretty sure Christmas would have been ruined.

Christmas morning...

Doing the happy dance??

We went up the hill for a special visit to Ember's tree. Having too much fun to take a serious picture.

Another face...

Ok, that's better!

This is totally unrelated to Christmas, but Asher spent pretty much every night in December sleeping anywhere but in his bed. I have no idea why. As you can see he brought half his bedroom to the hallway most of the time.

And our beautiful gingerbread house. I found the perfect pattern online. I love how big the roof is! (and it has a chimney!)

Merry Christmas!