Decorating and Interlochen

Christmas 2008 Decorations
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An exciting thing was that Nadia could help decorate the tree this year. She was a very good helper and she has only moved a few around in the last month. She has knocked off quite a few running around, but she always puts them back on or asks for help, which I think is cute.

Christmas 2008 Decorations

Christmas 2008 Decorations

Last week we went to see the lights at Interlochen. It’s a neighborhood pretty close to us and they are well known for their displays. When Mike and I have gone in the past we have always had to wait for a long time to get through. Going a week before Christmas on a weeknight seemed to be the perfect plan. We practically had the neighborhood to ourselves.

Christmas 2008 Decorations

Christmas 2008 Decorations

The best part of the night was when Nadia suddenly said, “Lots and lots of pretty lights!” It was so cute!!!!

Christmas 2008 Decorations

Staff Christmas Party

Mike and I went to the church staff and elders Christmas party and they had a Chili Cook off to change things up a bit. And of course I brought a cake 🙂 It was buttermilk Chocolate cake with a chocolate marshmallow fondant layered over chocolate butter-cream icing! The party was great fun as usual.

Christmas party 2008
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Christmas Party
Here are the cook off judges – working hard.

Christmas Party
Here is Darwin explaining the rules of the game.

Christmas Party
Cynthia and I.

Christmas Party
Kaye and I.

Christmas Baking with Mama

*A note to all our regular readers – we have been so busy the last few weeks that I am just now getting around to blogging and uploading photos. So the posts may be heavy for a while as I catch up, but I will include lots of photos of Nadia 🙂

Christmas Baking with Mama
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Nadia watches me work on cakes and do other cooking related things, so I wanted her to be able to “help” me do some baking this Christmas. So we bought some cookie dough and she had a blast baking cookies with me.

Baking with Mama

Baking with Mama

Baking with Mama

Baking with Mama

And one day we made cupcakes with some extra cake batter I had from a Christmas cake.

Baking with Mama

Merry Christmas 2008!

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends. We pray that you have a wonderful day filled with peace and joy!

Luke 2:4 -20 

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them inthe inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lordappeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Forunto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christthe Lord. Andthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,


“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earthpeace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.