First Christmas with Ruby

She looks like a little Christmas munchkin in her hat. We had the best Christmas yet. Ruby and I woke up early and got the house ready and food in the oven and then took a nap with Daddy. Then we sat on the couch and read The Living Christ together, afterwhich we said a family prayer of thanksgiving for the Awesome reason for the season. Then we opened our gifts. Here are some pictures.

We love Belle at our house.

Ruby and Daddy enjoyed opening gifts together.

And Ruby was just interested in the paper.

Merry first Christmas Ruby Ru.

Holiday Highlights

Ruby and George celebrating Christmas while Uncle Joey holds them.

Aunt Sandra bought the bear...

with a ruby on the front.

Christmas brunch at the Pattersons'.

Ruby unwrapping her Christma PJ's from Grandma Jan.

Grandma insisted.

Morgan playing "chubby bunny" with her favorite treat, green olives. No one challenged her.

Corrie wrote a story with rights and lefts and criss crosses in it for our gift exchange. We sat in a circle and passed the bags around according to the directions in the story.

We all had so much and took home some neat ornaments.

The finale to the Patterson baking days.

Patterson Baking Day...s

Grandma Jan, Ruby and I got together for some Christmas baking days. We made three double batches of cookies and spent two days doing it. Wow! And here are the pictures to prove it.

Mr. and Mrs.

Cookies...

...cookies, and more cookies.

Ruby is a big helper. She watched and watched us patiently throughout the day and could not wait to get her hands on the cookie making stuff.

Ruby looks out at the spoils of the day.

Mommy's little cookie helper.

Smiling girls.

We love roll out cookies. It has always been our family Christmas tradition. I have to admit that I miss the days when both of my sisters were there to help.

Mother is the best cookie decorator ever. Give her an Excedrin and she is good to go.

Ruby just hanging out.

Away in a Manger: Nativity Exhibit

The Kendallville Branch had a Nativity Exhibit for our Christmas party. There was live music. In fact, Brandon and Liberty Stump came and sang for us.

The Hepworth kids made their gingerbread Nativity. How cute.

There were lots of beautiful Nativity scenes.

Thanks Kendallville Branch for sharing your Nativities with us.

And here is our live Nativity, after the three kings got done hitting each other.

Family Pics

Ruby in one of her Christmas dresses. Isn't she so cute!

We decided to show our family off in front of our little Christmas tree.

Then we took a relaxed picture with Sam in his "Trophy Husband" shirt. He is the trophy husband!!